Are these necessary, or is the filtered water safe without them?
268101
If you have a filter that removes water born pathogens, these are not necessary. I backpack in the boundary waters, and use these instead of a filter to save weight.
268102
I think these are meant more for survival situations where you are dealing with contaminated water. Most water filters can remove bad tasting chemicals (chlorine) and contaminants from tap water, but they are not guaranteed to remove bacteria and contaminants from standing water. I purchased them for my survival pack, but after reading all the warnings (can cause blindness, handle with gloves, wash clothes immediately after using), I decided this is probably something I shouldn't keep in close proximity with all of my other equipment.
268103
filters do not kill viruses. If you're concern about virsus you need to add a water purifier.
96539
Hi Mary - no you don't have to use the filter but I do because even pure water has minerals that can build up and clog the water inlet. This is my second one - the first lasted over 15 years. makes the best coffee - enjoy
214694
Only one is needed, but I talked with my friend who installed the exact same model 10 years ago and he didn't install a filter. He never has had any problems, so didn't install mine either and I haven't noticed any build-up.
1773561
If you mean the demineralization cartridge -I'd say not unless you want to dust everyday. The round inside the tank filter keeps the water fresh and free of mold, etc. If you clean the unit daily I suppose you could get away without the cartridges. They don't cost that much and I use them with much success. Hope this is helpful.
453289
It's perfectly fine to operate with no filter. You may need to clean the foam screen on the intake pump (which disassembles for cleaning) a little more often - and even that's negligible - but using this product without a filter doesn't cause any problems. In truth, the primary function of the filter is to make the water "taste better" to your pet, much as Brita brand filter pitchers do for us humans. If you wanted to, you could even put a mesh bag with activated carbon filter media (available in aquarium supply) into the filter reservoir space, but there's really no need.
605824
If you don't use the filters, you are not truly distilling the water. The filters act to filter and remove the various contaminants and microbes from the water. If you are using the distilled water for neti pot use to cleanse your nasal passages, you need to filter the water.
2147508
No filters needed. The water container must be cleaned out periodically which has a built in filter (screen).
76777
There is no filter. Typically you would be using bottled water and no filter would be needed.
1325670
I use filtered water and have no problems. I don't think I would use tap water.
2163865
We used them in s filter. I would worry about it not dissolving properly if I just threw it in.
1413653
I have always just used tap water and have not had any problems. I don't think distilled, filtered, or pre-boiled water is necessary.
1347518
I removed the filters from my two machines. In my opinion, the water tastes better without them.
1187979
I don't know. I stopped using them a long time ago and just use my own filtered water.
1382183
I'm assuming you mean the "diffuser grid" that goes in the return water path. No, you don't need it. It's supposed to add additional biological filtration. The idea there is to let stuff grow on it which can help remove toxins and such from the water, but filters have been successfully used for decades without them. I removed mine simply because I didn't like the extra noise it added to the filter operation.
56739
I ended up using these bottles without the filters because they were too hard to squeeze when the filters were in. I do, however, us a Brita water pitcher to filter our tap water, and it's made a huge difference in the amount of hard water stains in our pod-style coffee maker and our pets' water bowl. Hope that helps!
1933976
I can't say. What I can say is that I've used this system for around ten years to filter our drinking water (essentially creek water) and have suffered no ill effects. For me, it's safe and economical. And though I've never cut one apart, they're a lot heavier when I remove them than when I install them - discounting the water content of course.
1489128
You don't have to replace them, they are plastic. If you find yourself needing to backflush every 3 or 4 days, then the filter is pretty full. You can either remove them and clean them and reuse, or replace with new ones and then clean them for another change out once the filter fills again. I swap mine about every 5 or 6 months and clean in between. The filter is excellent at cleaning the water.