Review: Brita Ultramax Water Filter Dispenser (27 Cups)
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Dec 18, 2023
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Brita not only has dozens of water filter pitchers but also several water filter dispensers. In today’s review, we’ll check out the Brita Ultramax which is the company’s most popular dispenser model. Keep reading to get all the details!
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Brita Ultramax Water Filter Dispenser |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Pleated Structure, Activated Carbon |
| Filter Life: | 120 Gallons |
| Total Storage Volume: | 27 Cups |
| Annual Cost: | ~$55-60 |
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Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Brita Ultramax Water Filter Dispenser – All Specs
- Model: Ultramax (OB24)
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$55-60
- Filter Media/Process: Pleated Structure, Activated Carbon
- Filtering Capacity: 120 gal or Up to 6 Months
- Total Storage Volume: 27 Cups
- Filtered Water Volume: 18 Cups
- WxHxD: 13.94″x9.67″x5.19″
- Weight: 3.0 lb.
- Water Temperature: 32-85 °F
- NSF Certifications: Standards 42, 53, 401
- Warranty: 90 Days
Brita Ultramax – Key Features
The Brita Ultramax Water Filter Dispenser is designed to rest on the counter. However, it’s slim and compact enough to fit into most fridge shelves as well. It has a 27-cup total capacity and a filtered water storage of 18 cups. This is why some people call it the Brita 27-cup and others the Brita 18-cup water dispenser, but it’s the same model!
Anyway, the Brita Ultramax comes with the Brita Standard or the Brita Elite filter cartridge. The Elite filter is a lot more powerful which is why we recommend it. It’s essentially a pleated filter with an activated carbon core. Brita calls it their “Advanced Carbon Core Technology” which is tested against NSF standards to remove sediments, chlorine, heavy metals including lead, asbestos, microplastics, and many organic chemicals such as PFOS and pesticides – pretty solid! Meanwhile, most healthy minerals and electrolytes are preserved in the water. So all in all, using the Brita Ultramax dispenser you can expect much healthier and better-tasting drinking water.
By the way, Brita Elite filters also contain bacteriostatic silver. This is important because they have a long filter life of up to 120 gallons/6 months.
Other features are:
- The Elite filter bundle uses an electronic filter replacement indicator, while the Standard filter bundle uses a sticker replacement filter indicator.
- 90-day manufacturer warranty.
- Filters are recyclable via TerraCycle.
Brita Water Dispenser Pros
What are the benefits that you can expect using the Brita Ultramax Water Filter Dispenser?
First of all, it’s quite affordable. Also, at $55-60 a year in filter replacements, maintenance is affordable too!
Its 18-cup filtered water volume is also very suitable for family use.
We also like the fact that we have 3 different NSF certifications that guarantee an effective filtration process (more on this below).
Besides, the system is made without BPA, it is easy to assemble and maintain thanks to the long filter life (only when using the Brita Elite), and it uses an easy-pour spigot.
Finally, a filter life indicator reminds you when it’s time to change filters.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
The Brita Ultramax water dispenser removes:
- 97.4% chlorine,
- 99.6% particulate (Class I)
- 99.55-99.6% lead
- 95.5-95.9% mercury
- 96.9-99.2% cadmium
- >99% asbestos
- pesticides like atrazine (99.3%)
- PFOA/PFOS (98.1%) and several other organic chemicals
- more than a dozen emerging compounds like TCEP (99%), which is a reducing agent, and trace pharmaceuticals like Ibuprofen (94.9%)
- 99.6% of microplastics
The Brita Ultramax – learn more on Amazon.com
Assembly and Filter Priming
The Brita Ultramax is easy to set up, prime, and use. There are no complex installation steps required. Here’s what to do:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Handwash all components, avoid using a dishwasher, and keep water from getting into the electronic filter life indicator (to prevent damage).
- Fit the filter into the reservoir. The groove in the filter must align with the ridge in the reservoir.
- Press firmly for a tight seal, then fill the reservoir with water.
- Throw out the first dispenser of filtered water.
- Activate the electronic indicator. To reset it, press and hold the STATUS button for 6 seconds until the green light next to LONGLAST® FILTER blinks three times.
- Your dispenser is ready for use!
The Package (Parts)
- Ultramax dispenser
- Elite filter cartridge
Maintenance
As mentioned before, maintenance is simple and affordable (costs $55-60 yearly). A filter life indicator also alerts you when your filters have been exhausted. Here’s how to maintain your system:
- Periodically check the filter life status by pressing and releasing the status button for 1 second.
- A blinking green light means the filter is good.
- When the filter is exhausted, the red light next to REPLACE starts to blink.
- Replace the old filter with a new one and reset the indicator.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://www.brita.com/wp-content/uploads/20180419-Magnolia_User-Guide_LL.pdf
NSF and Other Certifications
The Brita Ultramax has multiple NSF certifications (for the Elite filter cartridge).
- It’s been certified against NSF 42 for the removal of nominal particulate, aesthetic chlorine, taste, and odor.
- It also holds an NSF 53 certificate for reduction of harmful contaminants like asbestos, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, lead, atrazine, cadmium, endrin, mercury, ethylbenzene, p-Dichlorobenzene, tetrachloroethylene, and simazine.
- Finally, it’s been certified for NSF 401, which clears it for removal of DEET, atenolol, phenytoin, carbamazepine, bisphenol A, ibuprofen, TCEP, naproxen, linuron, estrone, meprobamate, microplastics, nonyl phenol, TCPP, and trimethoprim.
- It also holds an NSF 401 certificate for the removal of PFOS/PFOA.
Earlier Product Versions
As far as we know, there are no earlier product versions. However, the Brita Elite filter cartridge is better than the previous Longlast filter as it provides improved flow for faster filtration.
Brita Dispenser Cons
Our first issue with this Brita dispenser is that its filtration is pretty limited. It only uses activated carbon and mechanical filtration – ion exchange resin would have been a great addition for removing salts and heavy metals. There have been complaints about the filtration not being thorough enough.
Some users also said their product arrived defective. Others mentioned leaks.
Personally, we find the 90-day warranty too short.
Brita Ultramax Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The Brita Ultramax Water Filter Dispenser is certainly a good choice for lead reduction. It’s also great for improving water taste and odor and reducing organic chemicals like forever chemicals. It’s affordable to buy and maintain and NSF-certified to remove the contaminants mentioned above + more. However, if you have salts or heavy metals like chromium 6 in your water, this filter won’t do much to help.
Overall, there are more effective water filter dispensers in the market, but they cost more, so it really depends on what you want out of a dispenser. We rate this product 4 stars.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 5.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 5.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 4.0/5.0
Comparison to Other Water Filter Dispensers
Let’s compare the Brita Ultramax to the Epic Pure Water Filter Dispenser and the AquaTru (a countertop RO system that works much like a dispenser).
Epic Pure Dispenser |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon Block, Ion Exchange Resin |
| Filter Capacity: | 150 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 35 Cups |
| Annually: | $90-135 |
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Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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AquaTru |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Sediment/Carbon, RO, Carbon Block |
| Filter Capacity: | 600-1,200 gal |
| Filtered Storage Volume: | 11.4 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$100-120 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Brita Ultramax |
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| Price: | $ |
| Filter Process: | Pleated Structure, Activated Carbon |
| Filter Capacity: | 120 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 27 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$55-60 |
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Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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The Epic Pure dispenser packs a punch: Its bottom reservoir holds a solid 1.7 gallons of filtered water, with an extra 0.5 gallons for raw water – this adds up to a total of 2.2 gallons or about 35 cups, surpassing the Brita Ultramax.
It’s compact enough to slide onto most refrigerator shelves and crafted from Tritan plastic, so it’s BPA and BPS-free.
It filters water using a potent blend of activated carbon with proprietary filter media that targets 200+ contaminants overall (NSF-tested against standards 42, 53, 401). The pollutants removed include fluoride, chlorine (98.4%), chloramine, pesticides, sulfate (79.6%), pharmaceuticals (up to 99%), cadmium (96.70%), hexavalent chromium (99.2%), arsenic (94%), disinfection byproducts (up to 99%), lead (99.94%), mercury (91.8%), nitrate (88.2%), VOCs (up to 99%), PFOA (99.6%), PFOS (99.8%), and more. Simply put, you can expect more types of contaminants to be removed from your water when compared to the Brita Ultramax.
The Epic Pure has a robust 150-gallon filter life, trumping Brita. Its built-in filter life countdown timer keeps you aware of filter replacement dates. Plus, all Epic customers are welcome to participate in the Epic recycling program: gather four used filters, send them back, and get one free replacement filter.
Epic Pure filters are proudly made in the USA, have a lifetime warranty, and are backed by a stress-free return policy. Epic also gives special discounts to seniors, students, medical staff, military personnel, first responders, teachers, and employees and owners of non-profit organizations.
Despite its perks, the Epic Pure dispenser is not without some hiccups. Past users have complained about leaking spouts. Others weren’t too happy with the slow-paced filtration and clogged filters. Then it costs more than the Brita upfront, but what really works your wallet with the Epic is the cost of replacement filters over time.
Our next competitor is the AquaTru, a countertop reverse osmosis system with dispensing functionality. It’s our favorite RO system and here’s why:
It has a 4-stage filtration process that has been independently tested and certified against NSF standards, with results showing that it effectively removes about 80 contaminants. AquaTru has 5 NSF certifications (standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473), surpassing both Epic Pure and Brita Ultramax. The certifications are pretty impressive and guarantee effective filtration and safe drinking water.
The AquaTru removes contaminants with the following reduction rates (this is only an excerpt from the performance data sheet):
- Chlorine: 96.6%
- VOCs: 95% to over 99%
- Chromium 6: 97.2%
- TDS: 87.1%
- Cyst: 99.99%
- Fluoride: 93.5%
- Lead: 99.1%
- Radium 226/228: 96.4%
- BPA: 99%
- Various pharmaceuticals and pesticides: 86.7%-96.6%
- PFOA, PFOS: 97.5%
With its space-saving design, the AquaTru is ready for use in under ten minutes, it is user-friendly, and boasts a fast filtration rate. The AquaTru also uses BPA and BPS-free Tritan plastic.
Maintenance is a breeze with long-lasting filters and quick replacements (it takes 2 minutes with no tools). Also, an indicator light tells you when to change filters, which last 6-24 months. The annual replacement cost is around $120, which is budget-friendly for an RO system.
Covered by a 1-year limited warranty, the AquaTru isn’t flawless. Some users reported leaking due to design flaws, and there have been cases of units malfunctioning after a few months.
Bottom line: The Epic Pure dispenser excels in overall contaminant removal compared to the Brita Ultramax, but it has a higher price tag. The AquaTru is an NSF-certified RO system, so its extremely high effectiveness is undeniable. The Brita Ultramax (with the Elite filter) is a decent choice if you’re on a tight budget. Still, it’s limited in removing certain water pollutants, so it can only be a suitable choice based on your water quality and the contaminants in it.
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This completes our review of the Brita Ultramax Water Filter Dispenser. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
Information provided on BOS is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.
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