BRITA Optimax Water Filter, White

Previously had the Brita filter jug and plumbed in Franke Triflow, and this product is much better and more convenient than both of those alternatives. Great flow, much better than Franke Triflow (especially good flow when you keep the tank topped up). Much more convenient and efficient than a Brita filter jug - no jug to continuously refill, no heavy jug to lift all the time, and no more top heavy jugs where the lid comes off and unfiltered water spills everywhere when you try to pour water whilst it is still filtering. Good size, not too big, not too small. Can be placed in the fridge or in a cool dark place on the work top or cupboard. Only downside is that the tap is placed above the tank bottom (probably designed so the unit can fit in the fridge), however this means if you don't keep it topped up, you will need to pick up the tank and tilt it to get the last lot of water out - so just keep the water level above the top of the tap.

I received the water filter on the day given, I washed it & put it in the fridge, then filled it with the 8.5L of water. I came back later to enjoy a nice cold glass of filtered water...only to find the whole lot had leaked onto our carpet! I had to hire a carpet cleaner & the room smelled of wet dog for a few days! It seems it had been damaged during delivery, It got sent back & I got a replacement within the next few days. It was a bit of a hassle to send back as I had to take it to a pick up shop which was quite a walk away. But the replacement was really quick so I can't complain.The water filter is brilliant, easy to fill, fits perfectly on the shelf in our fridge. It is quite large & takes up half a shelf, we did have to move the shelf above up a bit so it would fit. I think If you have a large family & struggle to fit all your food in the fridge anyway, it might not be for you, but all in all I'm really pleased with the product. I love my icy cold water & this is just prefect!Overall...buy this water filter but....make sure you check it for cracks before filling it with 8.5L of water!!!

We were filling our jug up 2 or 3 times a day so this seemed the ideal solution. The best thing to do is fill it up and then leave it to run through. Then fill it again to make sure you maximise the amount that it'll hold. This means that you'll fill it less often but the downside is that it makes it heavy when you're trying to carry it back to the fridge.You also need to be careful if you carry it while the top 'header' tank is full as it has a tendency for the water to slop out. If the top lid had some sort of seal then this would be better.Lastly, this eats a lot of space in your fridge. You'll probably need to move things around to get it to fit. That includes checking that it will go in with the door shut. When you measure, allow an inch extra as it might not go right up to the back of the fridge.

I used to use a Brita jug which was ok but didn't hold enough water, I then went on to bottled water for a year or so but then thought about the amount of plastic that needed to be recycled so I thought I'd give the Optimax cool water filter a go as it has a bigger capacity than the usual jug shape. The tap is a good idea and doesn't drip, it's a little slow but I'm not in that much of a rush that I can't wait a couple of seconds to fill my drinks bottle. The extra reservoir is a neat idea as it always ensures I've water ready at the tap. the taste quality is not the same as the bottled water that I became used to but as with the bottled water I've gotten used to the filtered water after two weeks, the water tastes a little of charcoal from the filter but this is a lot less harmful than straight tap water and is a lot less wasteful than bottled water, the cartridges are fully recyclable and lasts about a month which is highlighted by the gauge on the lid (which could probably fit a bit better but is adequate).If you drink a lot of water which I tend to do (increased water intake has eliminated the migraines I suffered with for years), although the filters are a little expensive, it probably works out a lot cheaper than bottled water and from what I understand better for the environment!

Bit torn on this. I go through a lot of water and was getting tired of constantly filling my jug so jumped at the chance when I saw this. It works, holds plenty more water and whilst it is slow, I quite like having a tap.The problem is it’s really badly designed. The lid doesn’t fit well which annoys the pedant in me. The flow rate is too slow. There’s an awkward moulding on the bottom that sticks out and occasionally catches when you slide it back in the fridge causing water to spill everywhere. It’s ok. It does the job but it seems like it must have been designed out of spite or incompetence. Lastly, if you have a small fridge and more than one person living in the house forget it.

It's a very good alternative to the smaller Brita jugs, and it also ensures that there's less trouble at the sink with people washing and others needing water. It's great in summer as it doesn't get too warm if you have it in a cool, shaded room, or even in a fridge. It's very good for the winter as the water adjusts to room temperature from the freezing cold mains. There are only a few issues, first of all that dust can get in sometimes through the removable hatch (for pouring water through) on the lid, but that is perhaps once or twice a month, which is roughly the same time you change the filter anyway. Also, moving a full tank can lead to slight spillage. However that can be easily remedied if you have a jug to fill it up with, rather than taking the whole tank to the sink. The only other thing might be that the tap is positioned such that you have to have it on the edge of a counter or shelf, so it can be difficult in a small fridge for example, but I think when you buy it you can see that, and you find a space for it beforehand. It is excellent despite these small issues.