As we grow more health conscious, many people are beginning to rely on filters to maintain healthy drinking water, but is filtering enough? How do you know if your water is truly clean? Many of us have questions like this, and companies like PUR know that. That is why they created an indicator to let you know exactly how clean your water is and when it is time to replace your filter, but how do PUR filter indicators work?
As a general rule, PUR filter indicators work by relying on a light system. This light system will change its colors to reflect the state of the filter. Its light will continue to change the longer you use the filter, allowing you to better understand when you should replace your filter.
A light system is a great, easy way to understand the longevity of your PUR filter, but what if the batteries die? Keep reading to learn more about PUR filter indicators and what to do should problems arise.
Read my article PUR Water Filter Light Not Working: Comprehensive Troubleshooting Guide.
Table of Contents
How Does the PUR Filter Indicator Work?
| Key Takeaways |
| PUR filter indicators rely on a light system to indicate when it is time to check and/or replace your filter. |
| The light changes colors to reflect the state of the filter and communicate important information to you. |
| Green means everything is all good, yellow means your filter is nearing the end of its life, and red means you cannot use the filter any further. |
| The light indicator may act as a timer or counter to determine when it is time to replace your filter. |
| If your batteries die in the PUR filter indicator, it is recommended you use a TDS meter to test your water and understand if it is still being properly filtered or if it is time to replace the filter. |
Light System Indicators
PUR filters use a light system to indicate when it is time to check and/or replace your filter. This is an easy and great way to understand your filter’s functionality without having to rely on testing the water yourself or needing to remember the exact date you last changed the filter.
Notification System
The light works similarly to a notification on a cell phone. The PUR filter cannot speak to you, so it uses the only method it has of communicating important information to you: its light.
Changing Light System
The light will start off by blinking six times when you first begin to use the filter. From here, the light will slowly change, depending on how often it is used and how much water it has filtered. This light is what tells you when you should check and possibly replace your PUR filter.
Color Indicators
The first time the light changes color from green to yellow, it tells you that you are nearing the end of this filter’s life, and while you could theoretically continue to use the filter longer, it isn’t advised. When the light begins to flash red, that is the filter’s way of telling you that you absolutely cannot use it any further. It has lost its ability to filter your water properly.
Resetting the Light Indicator
While PUR has not been specific on the exact way this light indicator knows when it is time to replace your filter, it is thought that it perhaps acts as a timer or counter of sorts. As you use your PUR filter, the timer or counter counts how many times you refill your pitcher and how much water is being filtered. The light indicator will reset every time you replace the filter.
Importance of Monitoring the Light Indicator
It is crucial to keep an eye on this light, as the filter uses it as a way to communicate with you. This is how you know if your filter is having difficulties, if it is running smoothly if it is nearing the end of its life, and if it needs to be replaced. Keeping on top of replacing your filter is vital to maintaining healthy drinking water.
Check out this video to see how to rese the PUR filter indicator.
In case you’re wondering, Brita has a filter indicator on their pitcher filters. ZeroWater filters have a filter indicator, too.
How Does the PUR Filter Indicator Know When It’s Time to Replace the Filter?
Fortunately for us all, PUR filter indicators are built directly into the filter, so there is no need to struggle to understand how to use it. The filter itself will run the indicator as you use your filter more and more. You simply just have to keep an eye on the color of the light.
The PUR filter indicator also relies on an algorithm to estimate the remaining filter capacity. The indicator uses a simple method based on time in service.
Time in service algorithm for PUR filter indicator
The PUR filter indicator starts keeping track of time after you install a new filter. When you replace the filter, the indicator resets.
If you are using a standard PUR filter, it is recommended that you replace it after 2-3 months of use. The indicator simply starts a timer when you install the filter and then lets you know when the recommended time has passed. This is similar to the method used by Brita filters.
What Do the Different Colors Mean on the PUR Filter Indicator?
To make things easier, the light indicator uses different recognizable colors to tell you important information quickly and effectively. The following table explains what the different colors mean on the PUR filter indicator.
| Indicator Color | Meaning |
| Green | Everything is good to go |
| Yellow | Filter is nearing the end of its life, and you should start making plans to replace it |
| Red | Filter can no longer filter properly, and you should stop using it until it can be replaced |
Troubleshooting Your PUR Filter Indicator
If you are finding that your PUR filter indicator is not working, there are a couple of things you can try to fix it.
The Light Indicator is Not Resetting
Your PUR filter indicator should reset every time you replace the filter. If, for some reason, this has not caused it to reset, remove the filter from the system and push down the button inside the housing. Push down until the button pops back up.
The Batteries in the PUR Filter Indicator Have Died
Unfortunately, there is no way to replace your PUR filter indicator’s batteries as they are non-replaceable and are built into the system.
The good news is that even if your batteries die, there is no effect on the filter’s ability to purify water. Your filter will continue to work as normal. However, it may become more difficult to understand when your filter should be replaced if the batteries do die, as many people were probably counting on the light indicator to tell them. This means people are less likely to remember or write down the date they last replaced their filter.
Should your batteries die in the PUR filter indicator, it is recommended you use a TDS meter. TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids, and it is a sure way of understanding how clean your water is. Testing your water before it is filtered and then after it is filtered can be a great way to understand if your PUR filter is still filtering as it should or if it is time to replace it.
Conclusion
Whether you are a health guru who loves all things healthy or you simply like the taste of clean, purified water, filters are a great thing to have handy around every home; however, it is important to stay on top of replacing your handy-dandy filter. This is why companies like PUR have designed a great resource, such as a light indicator, to allow you to quickly know when it’s time to replace your filter without the hassle of remembering dates. So sit back, grab an ice-cold glass of refreshing water, and enjoy that summer day in the sun, knowing your water is as pure as possible.