Review: Crystal Quest Water Filter Pitcher (CQE-PI-00600)
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Sep 14, 2023
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In this review, we’ll analyze the Crystal Quest Water Pitcher Filter System and see if it’s worth the purchase.
The Crystal Quest pitcher is affordable to buy + maintain and seems to possess some appealing features.
Let’s take a closer look!
Contents
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Crystal Quest Water Filter Pitcher (CQE-PI-00600) |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | KDF, Ion Exchange, Carbon |
| Filter Life: | 2,000 Gallons |
| Total Storage Volume: | 12 Cups |
| Annual Cost: | ~$20-40 |
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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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Crystal Quest Water Filter Pitcher – All Specs
- Model: CQE-PI-00600
- Last Price: $39.95
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$20-40
- Filter Media/Process: KDF, Ion Exchange, Carbon
- Filtering Capacity: 2,000 gal
- Storage Volume: 8-12 Cups
- WxHxD: 4”x11”x9”
- Water Temperature: 40-85 °F
- Warranty: 1 Year
Crystal Quest – Discount Code
You can use our code “BOS5OFF“ to get a 5% discount on any purchase you make on crystalquest.com.
Crystal Quest CQE-PI-00600 – Key Features
Most importantly, the Crystal Quest water filter pitcher uses SMART filter cartridges which purify water through four stages:
- Stage 1: Eagle Redox Alloy 6500 – This is a type of KDF filter media that removes or reduces water-soluble heavy metals (like mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium), and chlorine. It also suppresses bacteria, scale, and algae.
- Stage 2: Eagle Redox Ally 9500 – This is a different kind of KDF filter media. It primarily reduces or removes hydrogen sulfide and iron from tap and well water. This media also controls microorganisms and scale. Furthermore. it can eliminate up to 99% of water-soluble heavy metals like nickel, lead, chromium, and mercury.
- Stage 3: This stage is an ion exchange resin that tackles heavy metals and water hardness.
- Stage 4: The final stage consists of coconut shell granulated activated carbon and catalytic carbon. This combination reduces chloramine, chlorine, pesticides, bad tastes and odors, and carcinogens like benzene and TTHMs.
Besides the standard SMART cartridge, other filter elements you can use with the Crystal Quest pitcher include:
- SMART + arsenic removal filter cartridge
- SMART+ fluoride removal filter cartridge
- Alkalizing filter cartridge
- Demineralizing filter cartridge
Finally, the Crystal Quest Water Pitcher Filter System stores 8-12 cups of water and has a filter life of 2,000 gallons (or 6-12 months).Its design is space-saving and fits snugly into the refrigerator. There also is a 1-year limited warranty. Available colors: Light blue or clear.
Gallery
Crystal Quest Water Pitcher Pros
We like that the Crystal Quest pitcher is affordable to buy and maintain (annual maintenance costs around $20-40).
Then, it has a flip-top lid that allows for easy refilling and a smooth handle that lets you pour a glass comfortably.
Besides, Crystal Quest products are Made in USA with BPA-free plastic.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
The Crystal Quest pitcher targets chlorine/chloramine, heavy metals, hydrogen sulfide, hard water minerals, bad taste and odor, and all kind of organic contaminants including pesticides.
What’s more, it controls bacteria and algae growth.
The Crystal Quest CQE-PI-00600 – learn more on Crystalquest.com
Assembly and Filter Priming
Assembling and priming this water filter pitcher is really easy. There are no complicated steps involved. Here’s how to do it:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Dip the filter element into cold water and let it stand upright for 20 minutes (only for the first time).
- Using mild detergent, hand-wash the pitcher, lid, and reservoir.
- Run cold water over the pitcher filter cartridge for 10-15 seconds.
- Insert the reservoir into the pitcher until the first ridge aligns with the rim.
- Fit the filter cartridge into the reservoir and press firmly to lock it in place.
- Pour tap water into the reservoir, and enjoy fresh, clean water in a matter of seconds. Note: If you’re using the pitcher for the first time, you must empty two full pitchers of water before drinking.
The Package (Parts)
- Pitcher
- Reservoir
- Lid
- Filter cartridge
Maintenance
The Crystal Quest water filter pitcher is really easy to maintain. Maintenance is also cheap (annual maintenance costs $20-40).
To replace the filter cartridge:
- Detach the lid from the pitcher.
- Remove the old cartridge from the reservoir by pushing it upwards through the holding space.
- Soak the replacement filter in cold water for 20 minutes (leave it upright).
- Run cold water over the new cartridge for 10-15 seconds.
- Fix the new cartridge in the reservoir and press it so it fits snugly.
- Reset the electronic fill indicator.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1286/9985/files/WaterPitcherManual_Watermark.pdf?v=1594751954
NSF and Other Certifications
There are no NSF certifications for this product.
Earlier Product Versions
As far as we know, there are no earlier versions of this product.
Crystal Quest Pitcher Cons
Crystal Quest claims their pitcher to be effective against several different types of water contaminants, but there’s one problem: There are no performance data sheets provided, and the pitcher seems to not be tested or certified against NSF standards either. This means we can’t be 100% sure how well it works. Although the pitcher uses the right kind of filter media, with no performance data sheets and NSF testing/certification, we can never know its true capabilities.
We also doubt that the activated and catalytic carbon will be good for up to 2,000 gallons. This might be the case for the other filter media, but especially if your water is highly contaminated, we recommend replacing your filters sooner, preferably every 3 to 4 months.
Crystal Quest CQE-PI-00600 Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The Crystal Quest Water Pitcher Filter System is made in the USA, it is affordable, and it uses the right filter media. We would have preferred it to have some testing/certification against NSF standards, though. There’s no data to back any of the pitcher’s filtration claims, and no contaminant reduction rates are provided. In all, we’ll rate this 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
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Comparison to Other Water Filter Pitchers
We’ll compare the Crystal Quest filter pitcher to two popular competitors, the Clearly Filtered Pitcher and the Epic Pure and Epic Nano water filter pitchers.
Clearly Filtered |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Method(s): | Carbon + Composite Shell |
| Filter Capacity: | 100 gal |
| Total Storage: | 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: | $$$ |
| Filter Method(s): | Carbon Block, Ion Exchange |
| Filter Capacity: | 150 gal |
| Total Storage: | 14.8 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$90-135 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
Get 20% Off! Use Code: |
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Crystal Quest CQE-PI-00600 |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Method(s): | KDF, Ion Exchange, Carbon |
| Filter Capacity: | 2,000 gal |
| Total Storage: | 12 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$20-40 |
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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.
Get 5% Off! Use Code: |
|
The Clearly Filtered Pitcher (review) stands out as a top-tier model. It has undergone rigorous testing against numerous NSF standards. The results show that it can reduce more than 365 water contaminants – truly outstanding for a water filter pitcher (this is also the most testing we’ve seen for a water filter pitcher, and the results are great!)
The contaminants removed by the Clearly Filtered include lead, pharmaceuticals, chromium-6, arsenic, pesticides, VOCs, semi-volatile compounds, fluoride, radiologicals, PFAS, chloramine, chlorine, and DBPs (disinfection byproducts).
How is that even possible? The CF pitcher uses a mix of proprietary filter media and granular activated carbon. It has a filter capacity of 100 gallons or around 4 months, which isn’t bad either. Then there’s the convenient removable lid that makes refilling easy. The filter is 100% made in the USA and completely with BPA-free plastic. Buyers enjoy a limited lifetime warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
The only con we can see in this filter is that it’s a lot more expensive to purchase and maintain than the Crystal Quest.
The next filter on our comparison list is the Epic Pure/Nano pitcher. It’s affordable (more affordable than Clearly Filtered, but still more expensive than Crystal Quest), and it performs really well. The Epic Pure (review) is suitable for tap water containing fluoride, and the Nano (review) works best for well water that contains bacteria, viruses, and cysts.
Epic Pure/Nano pitchers use proprietary filter media and activated carbon to reduce over 200 contaminants in total. These filters, too, have been NSF-tested against standards 42, 53, 401, and P473. Nano filters have also been tested against P231 for microorganism reduction.
Contaminants removed include PFOS, PFAS, chlorine, fluoride, sulfate, mercury, lead, pharmaceuticals, disinfection byproducts, cadmium, nitrate, hexavalent chromium, arsenic and chloramine.
Filter life is 150 gallons. The filter life countdown timer tells you when to replace. The pitchers are made with BPA-free materials and manufactured in the USA.
If you buy an Epic pitcher, you’re entitled to a lifetime warranty and a seamless return policy. You also benefit from Epic’s recycling program, which allows you to mail back four used filters and get one free replacement.
Bottom line: The Clearly Filtered Pitcher is our number one, followed by Epic. Crystal Quest pitchers are very budget friendly, but there are not contaminant reduction rates provided which we see as the biggest downside.
More Crystal Quest Reviews:
This completes our review of the Crystal Quest water filter pitcher. 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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