Review: Clear2O CWS100 Advanced Water Filter Pitcher
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Nov 13, 2023
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This review will analyze the Clear2O CWS100 Advanced Water Filter Pitcher and address its features, strong points, and downsides.
Keep reading to see if the Clear2O CWS100 is the right pitcher for you!
Contents
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Clear2O CWS100 Advanced Water Filter Pitcher |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | 1-Micron Carbon Block |
| Filter Life: | 50 Gallons |
| Storage Volume: | 7.4 Cups |
| Annual Cost: | ~$70 |
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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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Clear2O CWS100 Advanced Water Filter Pitcher – All Specs
- Model: CWS100
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$70
- Filter Media/Process: 1-Micron Activated Carbon Block
- Filtering Capacity: 50 gal
- Storage Volume: 7.4 Cups
- NSF Testing: 42, 53, 401
- Warranty: 90 Days
Clear2O CWS100 Advanced – Key Features
The Clear2O CWS100 Advanced Water Filter Pitcher uses carbon block filtration (1 micron rating) that has been tested against NSF standards 42, 53, and 401 to remove over 200 water contaminants, such as: Heavy metals (chromium 6, lead, arsenic), bacteria and cyst, pesticides, herbicides, PFOA/PFOS, VOCs, chlorine, and all kinds or organic chemicals – not bad at all!
But perhaps the Clear2O’s most important feature is its “Quick Connect Technology” that lets you connect the pitcher directly to your kitchen faucet. In other words, you don’t fill it through a lid or the top. Rather, you connect it via tubing to your kitchen faucet (or any other faucet) and fill it that way.
Besides, we have a 50-gallon filter life and a storage volume of 7.4 cups. We estimate filter replacement cost at around $70 a year.
Clear2O CWS100 Water Filter Pros
As mentioned before, a unique pro with the Clear2O CWS100 Advanced pitcher is the Quick Connect Technology (QCT). Why is it a pro? Well, with the QCT, the pitcher doesn’t rely on gravity to push water through the filter element. The water pressure from the faucet pushes the water through, leading to much faster filtration (the pitcher fills in under a minute) even though we have a solid carbon block with a low 1-micron rating which usually would slow down filtration considerably.
Another pro is the filter life indicator that lets you know if the filter is still effective, or if the cartridge needs to be replaced.
What’s more, this pitcher is BPA-free, easy to install (adapter kit included), and affordable to purchase and maintain.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
The Clear2O CWS100 Advanced removes chemicals (like benzene, MTBE, THMs, PCBs), and dissolved solids including heavy metals (like lead, cadmium, arsenic, and chromium 6).
It also improves water aesthetics by removing chlorine, sediment, and correcting bad tastes and smells. Other contaminants it tackles include pharmaceuticals, PFOA, PFOS, VOCs, pesticides, bacteria, and cyst.
The Clear2O CWS100 Advanced – learn more on Amazon.com
Assembly and Filter Priming
The Clear2O CWS100 water filter is easy to assemble and use. No pre-soaking of filter cartridge required. Follow these steps to set up your pitcher:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Position the pitcher on a level surface and take out the insert card (you’ll find it inside the pitcher). Then, gently pull the hose to remove the lid.
- Wash the pitcher, filter reservoir, and lid with mild detergent and water (hand-wash these components. Do not use your dishwasher).
- Next, install the faucet quick connect adapter. To do this, unscrew your faucet aerator and check to see if it’s a male (threads on outside), or female (threads on inside) style. Note: The faucet aerator typically has a rubber washer that could be stuck on the metal faucet. Remove the rubber washer from the faucet.
- Find the correct-sized adapter and screw it onto the faucet.
- With the adapter secure, connect the top end of the quick connect aerator to the adapter (ensure the permanent rubber washer is in position), and hand-tighten.
- Turn on the water and confirm that there are no leaks. The pitcher is now set and ready to work.
- Open your faucet to allow cold water flow through the hose, then fill the pitcher up to the marked MAX line.
- Discard the first three pitchers of filtered water.
- After filling the pitcher with water, you must push down the outer ring and pull down the connector to disconnect it from the faucet.
- Put the quick-connect hose and connector into the handle storage compartment and keep the new faucet adapter in place.
Video
The Package (Parts)
- Pitcher with hose
- Solid carbon block filter
- Quick connect aerator
- Faucet adapter kit
Maintenance
Maintenance is simple and straightforward. The Clear2O pitcher has a filter life of 50 gallons and an intelligent-filter indicator that lets you know when the filters are due for a change. Green on the indicator means the filter can go on working, and red means the filter needs to be replaced.
Here’s how to replace old filters:
- Lift the pitcher lid and remove the filter by turning it upwards, counter-clockwise.
- Fit the new filter into the reservoir by aligning the arrow on the filter bar with the unlock sign on the lid.
- Discard the first 3 pitchers of filtered water.
Note: If you notice a drop in your flow rate, you may need to replace your filters more often.
Annual maintenance cost: ~$70.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/87/87a081bf-31a6-4648-8c6c-567003811e51.pdf
NSF and Other Certifications
According to the company, the system has NSF testing against standards 42, 53, and 401, meaning there are no official NSF certifications.
Earlier Product Versions
The Clear2O CWS100 pitcher has no earlier product versions as far as we know.
Clear2O Water Pitcher Cons
Something we found concerning about this pitcher is that there are no specific contaminant reduction rates available online. The website simply says “pass” for the different contaminants tested, but doesn’t elaborate. This “pass” obviously means the contaminants passed the test requirements, but we would have liked specific reduction rates – for chlorine, for example, to pass means at least 50% removal which is not very good.
Then, the Quick Connect Technology is only compatible with standard-sized faucets, meaning it won’t work with designer, pull-out, or sprayer type faucets. You also have to connect the tubing each time you need to fill the pitcher which can get tiresome.
Another thing we don’t like is the storage capacity of a mere 7.4 cups, not enough for a full family.
The 90 days warranty is also short.
A couple of Clear2O users also had their complaints about the pitcher. Some said that filling with the hose was highly inconvenient, as it requires the sink to be completely free. And apparently, the hose is too short, causing it to slip out of the adapter. The pitcher was also reported to be too very noisy while filtering.
Clear2O CWS100 Advanced Review: Our Verdict + Best for
We like this pitcher’s outside-the-box approach to filtering water, but unfortunately, not everyone is impressed. There were recurrent complaints about the pitcher being too hard to fill, courtesy of the too-short hose.
The pitcher’s filtration seems to be powerful (if the company’s claims on NSF testing are accurate), but we would have preferred actual NSF certifications, or at least contaminant reduction rates.
Good news is, this pitcher is pretty affordable. We give it 4 stars.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 4.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 4.5/5.0
- Annual Cost: 4.5/5.0
- Overall: 4.0/5.0
Comparison to Other Water Filter Pitchers
Time to compare the Clear2O CWS100 Advanced to other water filter pitchers!
Clearly Filtered |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon + Composite Shell |
| Filter Capacity: | 100 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 17 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$150 |
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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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Epic Pure |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon Block, Ion Exchange |
| Filter Capacity: | 150 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 14.8 Cups |
| Annually: | $90-135 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Clear2O CWS100 Advanced |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | 1-Micron Carbon Block |
| Filter Capacity: | 50 gal |
| Storage Volume: | 7.4 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$70 |
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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 Clearly Filtered (CF) Pitcher is a first grade model that’s been third-party tested against NSF standards 42, 53, and 401. It removes over 350 water contaminants including pesticides, chlorine, chromium-6, chloramine, DBPs, fluoride, pharmaceuticals, semi-volatile compounds, PFAS, radiologicals, and more.
The Clearly Filtered Pitcher targets contaminants using a combination of granular activated carbon, and multiple proprietary filter media. Its filter process likely provides more powerful results than the Clear2O – we wouldn’t know since the Clear2O lacks reduction rates. What we know is that the Clear2O could be more powerful than the CF when it comes to microorganism removal. This is because the Clear2O focuses on 1-micron carbon block filtration. The Clearly Filtered Pitcher is not tested/certified to remove microorganisms.
The CF pitcher has a longer filter life than the Clear2O, a standard 4 months (or 100 gallons). The CF has a 10-cup filtered volume and a total storage of 17 cups, which surpasses the Clear2O.
It also has a removable lid that makes refilling less of a hassle. Clearly Filtered pitchers are made in the USA and built with 100% BPA-free material.
You’re entitled to a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and a limited lifetime warranty when you purchase a CF pitcher—this is much better than the Clear2O offers.
The only not-so-great thing here is that the Clearly Filtered costs more to buy and maintain than the Clear2O.
The second pitcher we’d be comparing is the Epic Pure. The Epic Pure is a more affordable option than the Clearly Filtered and designed to filter fluoridated tap water.
It’s undergone NSF-testing against standards 42, 53, and 401. It filters water using proprietary filter media and targets more than 200 contaminants, such as: PFOA, nitrate, lead, disinfection byproducts, mercury, arsenic, pharmaceuticals, arsenic, chlorine, chloramine, cadmium, sulfate and more.
It has a longer filter life than both the CF and Clear2O (150 gallons). It also has a built-in filter countdown timer that reminds you of filter replacement dates.
Epic’s recycling program offers users one free filter in exchange for four used ones.
Epic Pure has a total storage of 14.8 cups. It’s completely free from BPA with the filters made in the USA. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty and a seamless return policy. If you’re a first responder, medical staff, military personnel, senior, teacher, student, or an owner or employee of a non-profit organization, Epic has a special discount for you.
Bottom line: The Clearly Filtered Pitcher is our number one pitcher. Second place goes to the Epic Pure, which is great if you’re on a tight budget. The Clear2O pitcher also seems effective and quite a decent good choice.
More Reviews:
This completes our review of the Clear2O CWS100 Advanced Water Filter Pitcher. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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