Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We like tap water because it’s quick and eco-friendly, but it can be host to unwanted chemicals like fluoride and chlorine, as well as hundreds of other contaminants. Some contaminants are reported, others aren’t. Some are fairly benign, others are more harmful. However, they all have one thing in common; they don’t belong in the water you drink. Call us old-fashioned, but when we think of water, we think of H2O, not the seven-syllable chemicals that come with it.

Our filters remove a number of contaminants that effect taste, such as chlorine, sulfates, and copper. We have found that many of our users choose Epic Water Filters to improve the flavor profile of their water, coffee, and tea. Some minerals in your water may cause your water to still have a slightly “hard” taste, depending on the mineral content of your local water supply. However, these minerals are actually healthy and the filter is designed not to remove them. 

BPA stands for Bisphenol-A, a contaminant found in most plastics. BPA can adversely affect your health if consumed at high levels. All of our products are BPA free and our filters reduce BPA levels in your water.

Fluoride may occur naturally but the fluoride used in municipal water systems is anything but natural. The main chemicals used to add fluoride to drinking water are known as “silicofluorides” (i.e., hydrofluorosilicic acid and sodium fluorosilicate). Silicofluorides are not pharmaceutical-grade fluoride products (meaning: for human use), they are unprocessed industrial by-products of the phosphate fertilizer industry.

Since these silicofluorides undergo no purification procedures, they can contain elevated levels of arsenic — moreso than any other water treatment chemical. In addition, recent research suggests that the addition of silicofluorides to water is a risk factor for elevated lead exposure, particularly among residents who live in homes with older pipes, which is much of the United States.

Fluoride has long been known to be a very toxic substance and considered by recent medical studies to be a neurotoxin. This is why fluoride has been used in pesticides and rodenticides (to kill rats, insects, etc). It is also why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires that all fluoride toothpaste sold in the U.S. carry a poison warning that instructs users to contact the poison control center if they swallow more than used for brushing.

Excessive fluoride exposure is well known to cause a painful bone disease (skeletal fluorosis), as well as a discoloration of the teeth known as dental fluorosis. Excessive fluoride exposure has also been linked to a range of other chronic ailments including arthritis, bone fragility, dental fluorosis, glucose intolerance, gastrointestinal distress, thyroid disease, and possibly cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.

While the lowest doses that cause some of these effects are not yet well defined, it is clear that certain subsets of the population are particularly vulnerable to fluoride’s toxicity. Populations that have heightened susceptibility to fluoride include infants, individuals with kidney disease, individuals with nutrient deficiencies (particularly calcium and iodine), and individuals with medical conditions that cause excessive thirst.

All water treatment chemicals, with the exception of fluoride, are added to make drinking water safe and pleasant to consume. Fluoride is the only chemical added to treat people who consume the water, rather than the water itself. Fluoridating water supplies can thus fairly be described as a form of mass medication, which is why most European countries and many local municipalities in the United States have rejected the practice.

Water fluoridation is the practice of adding industrial-grade fluoride chemicals to water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. One of the little known facts about this practice is that the United States, which fluoridates over 70% of its water supplies, has more people drinking fluoridated water than the rest of the world combined. Most developed nations, including all of Japan and 97% of western Europe, do not fluoridate their water.

As is becoming increasingly clear, fluoridating water supplies is an outdated, unnecessary, and dangerous relic from a 1950s public health culture that viewed mass distribution of chemicals much differently than scientists do today. The few nations that still fluoridate their water should end the practice.

The use of activated carbon to remove harmful impurities like volatile organic contaminants from water has been practiced since Roman times. Activated carbon is the generic term used to describe a family of carbonaceous adsorbents with a highly amorphous form and extensively developed internal pore structure that capture contaminants as they pass by. Activated carbon, by nature, is extremely porous with a very large surface area, which makes it an effective adsorbent material. This large surface area relative to the size of the actual carbon particle makes it easy to remove large amounts of impurities in a relatively small enclosed space.

Coconut shell-based activated carbons are the least dusty. Predominantly microporous, they are well-suited for organic chemical adsorption. Coconut shell-based carbon has the highest hardness compared to other types of activated carbons, which makes it the ideal carbon for water purification. In terms of base materials, coconut shells are renewable resources and that is why we work with them at Epic Water Filters. Coconut plantations with millions of acres of land continue to provide all the benefits of green trees to our environment in spite of using billions of coconut shells per year for activation.

Activated carbon is produced from coconut shells in a two-step process. The first step in activation is to carbonize the shells to drive about two-thirds of the volatile substances out of the shells, creating a carbonaceous mass full of tiny pores.

In the second step, this carbonized base material is activated at high temperature (1,100°C/2,012°F) in steam. Activation temperature and the amount of activation time are important to create the internal pore networks and to impart certain surface characteristics inside each particle. In essence, the total activation process gives carbon its unique adsorption characteristics.

No. A TDS meter does not measure water contaminants. It will not tell you if your water is healthy. Some healthy minerals like potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium can actually cause your TDS meter to spike.  So, any water filter with a remineralizer will cause the opposite effect on a TDS meter than you expect. 

Your tap water could also have heavy metals like lead or other contaminants like pesticides, fluoride, pharmaceuitcals, or hexavalent chromium. The TDS meter will not pick these contaminants up. So companies like ZeroWater are doing a huge injustice by telling people that TDS meters are a good way to tell if water is not contaminated. 

Things your TDS Meter will not pick up:
Lead
Fluoride
Motor Oil
Pharmacueticals
Pesticides
Herbicides
Arsenic
PFOA
PFOS
PFCs
TTHMs
Mercury
Copper

So do we. And that is why we created EPIC Water Filters. At least 70% of a person's water consumption is away from home. This means lugging gallons of filtered water with you everywhere you go. If you go away for more than a day then you have to buy bottles of water.

Our filters out-perform most home filtration systems. Why lug water from home when you can fill up from any tap in the world. And with our Outdoor Filters you can fill up from any freshwater source in the world no mater how polluted. Can your home filter do that?

You sure can. Unlike other companies we don’t claim that our filters reduce this and that. We claim that our filters remove up to 99.99% of all contaminants found in water. What can your filter do?

To see a full list, check out our Testing & Certifications page. We are always updating that list and testing for more contaminants so we can stay up to date on what matters most to you!

Our tap water filter is surprisingly easy to drink from. In fact it makes drinking water more enjoyable than drinking from a glass.

Our Outdoor Water Filter requires a little more effort as the filter is capable of removing 99.99% of contaminants from highly contaminated water, and it removes bacteria, viruses, and cysts from water which are tiny! So we think it's worth a little more effort. ;)

If you are tilting the bottle above your head like a regular bottle then no water will come out. Think of the bottle as a glass of water with a straw. When you suck through the straw the water is pulled through the filter and thus you have purified water.

Make sure you pull the mouth piece all the way back. Otherwise, it will partially block the small air hole on the top of the lid that creates a vacuum so your filtered water stays in your bottle. Make sure the straw is securely attached to the lid and that the filter is securely attached to the straw. 

Bottle cleaning tips:

1. Simply hand-wash the bottle and lid with a mild detergent. Let them air dry at room temperature. We also like to soak ours in baking soda and water, it helps get rid of any weird smells and keeps it super clean.
2. Wipe the outside of the filter casing with a clean, damp cloth. Make sure you don't use any soap when washing the filter.
3. If you plan to store the filter for a period of time, simply rinse it with tap water and allow to air dry. Then, we like to place ours in a ziplock bag and store it in our fridge or in a kitchen cabinet.

It's rare that our bottles leak....

That being said, here are two things for you to check:

1. Is the top screwed on tight?
2. Is the mouth piece pushed all the way closed?
3. And make sure to keep it upright when you can, and drink it upright too!

Our bottles (except for our Nalgene bottle) and pitcher filters are made overseas in an FDA compliant factory. 

Our bottle filters are proudly made in the USA! Our Nalgene bottles are made in the US too!

Most of our bottles come standard with the Urban Filter, which is meant to be used with tap water. The Outdoor Filter will also fit our bottles. The Outdoor Filter can be used with water sources that are prone to containing bacteria like river and lakes. The flow tends to be a bit slower with the Outdoor Filters due to the smaller micron size of the filter, but you can surely swap them out for the days you want to get a little more wild and for the days you'd rather relax at home!

Yes, we can build that for you. Please contact our support@epicwaterfilters.com.

Ouch, these things happen. We love glass water bottles but the downside is that unlike plastic or stainless, you drop them and they sometimes break. We have designed a wrap and lid to protect the bottle but it is almost impossible to protect glass completely. If your bottle broke, visit our Escape Broken bottle page and we will get you set up.

We are also coming out with a new glass bottle that has a thicker wall and a silicone wrap that fully covers the bottle, so stay tuned for less breakage in the later part of 2020.

Our Gen 1 stainless bottle is single-wall insulated. Our new Vostok is double-walled insulated, so it will keep your drink colder for much longer! We also recommend Hydro Flask. In order to filter it, you can pick up our filtration product called THE ANSWER | HYDRO FLASK Compatible Water Bottle Filter System.

The first major difference is that the Nano has just one hole in the top and the Pure has three holes. This throws a lot of customers off when they first see this difference. 

The Pure filter is designed for customers with city water because its focus is removing fluoride and heavy metals. The Nano filter is designed for customers with well water because its focus is removing bacteria, viruses, and cysts. We also recommend the Nano filter for customers with hard water as it's better at removing sediment, so it will keep your filter lasting longer!

Both these filters are interchangeable with your pitcher or jug, so you can always swap them out if your needs change.

And to see a full list of everything these mighty filters remove, check out our Testing & Certifications page. We're always updating that and testing for new contaminants, so feel free to check back on it if you don't see a contaminant listed there!

Everything except the filter is dishwasher safe. That being said, here are some cleaning recommendations:

1. Simply hand-wash the jug/pitcher and reservoir with a mild detergent. Let them air dry at room temperature. Then, wipe the lid with a soft sponge soaked in a solution of one teaspoon of white vinegar in a cup of water.

2. Washing the pitcher before first using it is a great idea.

Both the Epic Nano and the Epic Pure are strong at removing heavy metals like lead from tap water. From our published testing the Epic Pure removes at least 99.94% lead and the Epic Nano removes 99.4% of lead from tap water. We also had our filters tested in Flint and surrounding Genessee County in Michigan and the results showed that we removed heavy metals & other contaminants to undetectable levels.

This all depends on your water quality. On average, it initially takes 10 to 15 minutes to filter from the top reservoir to the bottom. Our filters are not the fastest in the world and that is by design. The longer our filters are in contact with the water, the more contaminants they remove.

It will get a bit faster with use!

Yes, we have had the Epic Pure Pitcher and Nano Pitcher tested to remove PFCs and not just 1st gallon testing like some companies do. We had both filters capacity tested out to 100 gallons for PFCs at a 3rd party accredited lab in the United States. You can see the results below for both PFOA and PFOS. See the complete test results: Epic Pure (click here). Epic Nano (click here).

Your Epic Nano or Epic Pure water filter may have a slower flow than most competitors because our filters remove a much wider range of contaminants including the Nano that removes bacteria, viruses, & cysts. Cleaner water is worth the wait! However, if you think that your filter is taking a few days....that might be a little too long (just kidding) - please then contact our support team and we will get you sorted out.

Our pitcher filter removes up to 99.99% of tap water contaminants. This includes fluoride, chlorine, pesticides, trace pharmaceuticals and other known menaces of municipal tap water. The straw’s patented filtration technology meets and exceeds NSF Standards 42 and 53 for contaminant reduction. This means that it is certified to make water odorless and fresh-tasting, as well as remove a variety of health-related contaminants like VOCs and MTBEs. Better still, it does all this without removing health-essential minerals from the water.

Here's list of key contaminants that it removes from tap water and what the EPA says about potential long-term health effects to you and your family.

• Fluoride: Longterm exposure to Fluoride can cause Fluorosis.
  
• Atrazine: Exposure to Atrazine can lead to cardiovascular damage or reproductive difficulties.
  
• Lead: Childhood exposure to lead can hinder physical development and cause learning disabilities.
  
• Chromium 6: The indigestion of Chromium-6 may be carcinogenic according to the EPA.
  
• Cadmium: Exposure to cadmium can cause liver damage.
  
• Chlorine: Chlorine combines with organic material in tap water to create harmful by-products like Trihalomethanes and Chloroform,
  
• Mercury: Mercury from agricultural and industrial runoff can cause kidney damage over time.
  

The timer on the lid of your Epic Water Filters Pitcher / Jug notifies you of when you should think about replacing the filter. The timer is set for 90 days as a reminder but depending on use and water quality, the filter may last longer than 90 days or shorter. The timer is there as a reminder and will flash after 90 days to remind you about the filter. If your filter is still working after 6 months, we recommend changing it to ensure maximum filtration.

Instructions for use: Press the start button and hold for 3 seconds (the frame will flash 3 times) then let go, the display will start to work. The upper number is the amount of days that have passed. The bars represent the % of estimated filter life based on a 90-day countdown. The lower black dot that is flashing represents that the memory function is working. When adding a replacement filter in the future, press the “Start” button for 8 seconds until the display does not flash anymore. The system will then reset and the timer will start again. To shut off the timer press “Start” for 3 seconds (the frame will flash 3 times) and the timer will shut off. To turn the timer back on, just do the opposite and press the “Start” button for 3 seconds.

First, try to reset your timer.  Hold the timer button down for 8 seconds to see if that resets the timer. After 8 seconds, it will either come back on or flash three times. If it flashes three times, push button once more to turn it on. If that does not work, contact our support team for a new timer.

THE DIGITAL TIMER ON THE LID OF YOUR PITCHER notifies you of when you should think about replacing the filter. The timer is set for 90 days as a reminder but depending on use and water quality, the filter may last longer than 90 days, (or, even shorter in some circumstances) . The timer is there as a reminder and will flash after 90 days to remind you about the filter. If your filter is still working after six (6) months, we recommend changing it to ensure maximum filtration.

INSTRUCTIONS | SETTING DIGITAL TIMER - Press the start button and hold for 3 seconds. The frame will flash three (3) times, then let go. The display will start to work. The upper number is the amount of days that have passed. The bars represent the % of estimated filter life based on a 90-day countdown. The lower black dot that is flashing represents that the memory function is working. When adding a replacement filter in the future, press the “Start” button for eight (8) seconds until the display does not flash any more. The system will then reset and the timer will start again. To shut off the timer, press “Start” for three (3) seconds. The frame will flash three (3) times and the timer will shut off. To turn the timer back on, just do the opposite and press the “Start” button for three (3) seconds.

Here is video about the timer as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZT9YnltUpE

Our new filter flushing instructions are really easy. Just fill up the top reservoir two times, let it drain and discard this water. You can give your plants a drink, dump it in your grass, or down the drain. The water might have some coconut carbon fines in it which are harmless.  

Here are some suggestions to fix this common issue:

1. Put a small amount of vegetable or olive oil on the O-ring (or that silicone gasket on the top of your filter).
2. Make sure the O-ring is pressed all the way down to the filter.
3. Screw the filter on tight and secure to the reservoir.

That can surely be confusing! The Nano filter has one hole and the Pure filter has three. So if something is still not matching up, send us an email to support@epicwaterfilters.com!

Microplastic contamination has been found in tap water in countries around the world including the United States & Canada, leading to calls from scientists for urgent research on the implications for health.

Yes, we have tested all of our products for the removal of microplastics and microbeads.

Epic Pure Pitcher: 99.62%
Epic Nano Pitcher: 99.25%
Epic Smart Shield: 99.6%
Epic Urban Water Bottle Filter: 99.8%
Epic Outdoor Water Bottle Filter: 99.25%

The filter works like a magnet to draw in and trap contaminants as they pass through the straw, leaving only clean, fresh water. Our filters are made out of activated carbon and a unique formulation of ion exchange materials that provide the greatest contaminant reduction in the industry. All our filters are made in the USA out of the following materials:

• ACTIVATED COCONUT CARBON: Absorbent carbon derived from coconut shells that remove organic compounds and pollutants from water. As contaminated water passes through the filter, absorbent carbon media trap and neutralize waterborne pollutants. These toxins include disinfectants like chlorine, solvents, PCB’s, PBDE’s, and compounds that cause bad taste and odor.
  
• CRM ION EXCHANGE MEDIAS: A blend of proprietary media bonded in a chelative matrix to effectively remove heavy metals, industrial and agricultural pollutants, and trace pharmaceuticals. Using adsorption, absorption, chemical bonding, chelation, and depth filtration, our unique formulation of activated carbon and ion exchange materials turns ordinary tap water into great-tasting, filtered water.

Our bottle filters are proudly made in the USA!

Many times, the filter will typically either slow down or completely clog once it's reached the end of it's life. That being said, a new filter will always work better than an old one. So, we recommend replacing it every 3-4 months depending on how much you use it, for our bottle and pitcher filters.

Our home filtration lasts longer, so our Sediment filter, Smart Shield Filter, and Fridge Filter last about a year, so with every new, considering starting it fresh with a filter renewal!

You also can save 20% on any purchase by signing up for our Clean Water Club. You also get 20% off all future replacement filters!

Only the EPIC Water Outdoor Filter and our EPIC Nano Pitcher Filter are designed to be used with potentially microbiologically hazardous water sources. Our fridge filter also removes bacteria, viruses, and cysts in addition to other contaminants.

Stick with tap water sources for the Pure Pitcher Filter and the Urban Bottle Filter. These products have been designed specifically for municipally treated tap water sources.

Our filters are not designed to filter salt water. These filters are packed super tight, which is how they're able to remove up to 99.99% of all tap water contaminants. So, the salt would simply clog the filter rather quickly.

You can pull off the top bit of the filter and remove the filtration media. If you can't do this, it will decompose over time. Otherwise, take the plastic shell of the filter and that can be recycled with "hard to recycle" plastics, or you can send us it back to us and we will properly recycle it for you!

We utilize an activated carbon filter. By itself, carbon is a highly absorbent material that can absorb thousands of different chemicals. Activated carbon is carbon with a slightly positive charge to it, which makes it even more absorbent to chemicals and contaminants. As your water passes over the charged carbon surface, the negative ions of the contaminants are attracted to the surface of the carbon granules. Activated carbon effectively removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, herbicides, chlorine, benzene, radon, cancer-causing chlorine byproducts such as THMs, and hundreds of other chemicals in tap water. Finally, here's the magic...activated carbon filters are NOT particularly effective at removing dissolved inorganic minerals/salts.

The recent popularity of inexpensive and portable TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meters have now made testing tap water fairly common practice. However, these devices really don’t tell the whole story. Most people are led to believe that high TDS readings are bad when this is not the case. The PPM reading is not an accurate indication of water quality. Total Dissolved Solids aren’t linked with adverse health effects. In fact, the main component of TDS are minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, etc. So, higher TDS readings often indicate higher levels of trace minerals naturally occurring in water (and are actually desirable). In fact, bottled mineral water will often have readings in excess of 250 PPM!

Our filters utilize a patented Ionic-Adsorption micro-filtration process that features a 2.0-micron pore size. This allows us to have the highest contaminant reduction in the industry! The best part about our product is that it is able to filter out the chemicals, disinfectants and heavy metals in one step but is able to leave the healthy mineral content of the water in tact. Our filters are not designed to remove minerals. So if you’re testing your water with a TDS meter, know that your readings will vary and that a PPM reading higher than the tap water is not an indication of a faulty filter. 

How can this be?

One of the things the TDS meter does is measure the conductivity (positive or negative charge) of the water. Our filters use an Ionic adsorption process leaving the water with a slightly positive charge. This can result in TDS readings higher than the tap water itself. The TDS meters are sensitive to changes in positive (+) or negative (-) charges and a higher reading does not necessarily reflect a poor water quality. In essence, it actually indicates that the filter is working and doing it’s job to remove contaminants.

So, shallow wells tend to breed bacteria. If that's the case, you would need our Outdoor Filter which is only available in some of our bottles. If you want to filter out more water at once, you can also try our Epic Nano Pitcher. That works well with well water. ;)

We also have a universal fridge filter out now that will remove bacteria, cysts, and viruses too! So you have some options.

If you're not worried about bacteria, then the Epic Pure Pitcher or our Urban Bottle Filter would be a great solution.

Our filters are made from pyrolyzed activated coconut carbon (a step up from charcoal). You can learn more details about the carbon filters here.

It is not recommended to run hot water through the filter as it leaves it vulnerable to damage. We suggest filtering the water first, then boiling.

Great question...we've gone back and forth on this topic here in the office.

It's really hard to determine this number because water quality plays such a huge role. Our filters have a really small micron size. So, the filter will typically either slow down or completely clog once it's reached the end of it's life. That being said, a new filter will always work better than an old one. So, we recommend replacing it every 3-4 months depending on how much you use it.

If we had to give you a number, we would estimate 150 gallons (565 liters), and that's true of our bottle and pitcher/jugs filter.

Our home filtration systems last longer, so we recommend changing those out every year (and that includes our fridge filter too).

FYI...you can save 20% on replacement filters by signing up for our Clean Water Club.

All our filters have a slower flow than most competitors because our filters remove a much larger range of contaminants. Cleaner water is worth the wait! However, if you think that your water filter is filtering too slowly, you may need to re-flush your filter again by following the flushing instructions included with your purchase.

If this doesn't improve the flow, then it may simply be time for a new filter. See the FAQ topic, "How do I know when to replace my filter?"

If you won't be using your filter for more than a few days, we recommend storing it while you're out and about. You can take the filter out of its bottle or pitcher, and then we recommend letting it dry out for a few hours on either a paper towel or a kitchen cloth. After you've done that, you can store it somewhere dry and cool in a ziplock bag or you can store it in the fridge. If you're using a pitcher, you can store the pitcher along with its filter in the fridge, and then it'll be ready and nice and cool for you when you return!

Be sure not to put your filter in the freezer, and make sure it only ever touches water as it's not designed for other drinks or soaps. 

Yes, and some better than others.

Our Pure removes 97.88%.

Our Nano removes slightly less at 68%.

Our Smart Shield removes about 30%, so anything under 50% we do not include in our data sheets. However, we are coming out with a new three stage under the sink system that will crush fluoride! So stay tuned in Fall 2020 for that.

Our Urban removes only about 30% as well. Since it's our bottle filter, it doesn't pack in as much punch as our pitcher filter does (but only in the fluoride department).

Our Outdoor filter removes 68%.

EPIC Water Filters Urban Filter removes up to 99.99% of tap water contaminants. This includes chlorine, pesticides, trace pharmaceuticals and other known menaces of municipal tap water. The patented filtration technology meets and exceeds NSF Standards 42 and 53 for contaminant reduction. This means that it is certified to make water odorless and fresh-tasting, as well as remove a variety of health-related contaminants like VOCs and MTBEs. Better still, it does all this without removing health-essential minerals from the water.

If you still want more, check out our Urban Filter Test Results. We are always testing for new contaminants too, so be sure to check back every so often and see our growing list!

Nope, it's ready to go.  For care and maintenance, please hand wash with just warm water.  Never use soap. 

The Urban filter is made of activated carbon fiber mesh and uses activated coconut carbon as the base absorption material.

The patented filter in the Outdoor Water Filter has been certified to NSF/ANSI standards to remove up to 99.9999% of fresh water contaminants, including Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and meets and exceeds NSF/ANSI standards 42 and 53. NSF 42 means that the our Epic Outdoor Filters removes aesthetic contaminants like taste, odor and visible particles. More importantly, NSF 53 ensures that it also effectively removes harmful microbiological contaminants.

The Epic Outdoor Filter has also been tested to remove: 99.99% of bacteria, cysts and viruses, chlorine (99.58%), heavy metals, including arsenic, copper, lead, mercury, aluminium, cadmium (97.5%), iodine (91.67%). It also removes Endrin, DDD, DDT, Lindane, Heptachlor, PCB’s, Altrazine, Simazine, Nitrite, Bromodichloromethane, Bromoform, Benzene, Dibromochloromethae, Carbon Tetrachloride, Ethyl Benzene, Methyl Tert Butyl Ether, Trichloroethane, Toluene, Xylene, Giardia, Crytoporidium, E. Coli, E. Faecalis, F+RNA.

If you'd still like more, check out our Outdoor Filter Test Results. We are always testing for new contaminants too, so be sure to check back every so often and see our growing list!

Before using the filter for the first time or if the filter has not been used for an extended period, then it is best to fill your bottle and let the filter sit in the water for at least 45 minutes. This will allow the Outdoor Filtration media to get saturated and improve the flow of water. Also the filter flow will improve with consistent use.

The Outdoor Filter utilizes nano-fiber technology and uses activated coconut carbon as the base absorption material.

Our Outdoor Water Filter requires a little more effort as the filter is capable of removing 99.99% of contaminants from highly contaminated water. Before using the filter for the first time or if the filter has not been used for an extended period, then it is best to fill your bottle and let the filter sit in the water for at least 45 minutes. This will allow the Outdoor Filtration media to get saturated and improve the flow of water. Also the filter flow will improve with consistent use.

The Epic Smart Shield is designed for a "Do It Yourself" install.  If your water supply is flex tubing (PEX), then the installation is quite easy. You should be able to install it yourself by watching this YouTube video:

But, if your water supply is copper pipes, then you will need to call a plumber.

Great question...this will all depend upon your water pressure, but it was tested at 1.25 gallons per minute.

The Epic Smart Shield is certified for NSF/ANSI 42,53 and 401.

We have also conducted follow on capacity testing for PFCs (PFOA & PFOS).

For PFOA - The Epic Smart Shield removes >98%
For PFOS - The Epic Smart Shield removes >99%

Testing was completed by a 3rd party accredited lab in the United States in Oct 2018.

If you know some things about filters and micron sizes, then you know that in order to remove bacteria from water, you need a filter that is .2 microns to 2 microns in size.  To remove giardia and cryptosporidium (cysts) you need an absolute filter size of 1 micron or less.  With the manufacturing process of applying heat and pressure to the activated coconut carbon to create the solid carbon block, it is hard to measure the exact micron size. This is because we create such a maze of different micron sizes for the water to pass through the walls of the Smart Shield via the water pressure from the user's cold water line; it's called Depth Filtration.  Based on our testing, we know that we remove all cysts at the 99.99% level. So, it's safe to say that the Epic Smart Shield filtration level is consistently below 1 micron in size.  We are probably not at the .2 micron level because we make no claim on removing bacteria with this filter. We know it removes a very high level of bacteria from the water (.2 microns to 2  microns), just not enough to make a claim.

So the short answer to your question is that we are at sub-micron level filtration while still allowing a good flow of water to your faucet. But we are not filtering consistently at the .2 micron level.

The Epic Smart Shield only filters the cold water line of your faucet.

Here's some info regarding filter replacement:

• Light Use (usually 1 person): change filter every 14-16 months
  
• Normal Use (usually a couple): change filter every 12 months
  
• Heavy Use (larger family and/or use for pets/cooking/plants): every 9-12 months

Good news, we now sell the Epic Smart Shield with a stand alone faucet and if you already have an Epic Smart Shield, yes you can attached the Epic Smart Shield to a stand alone sink. Most stand alone faucets come with 1/4 inch tubing.  We usually recommend John Guest Angle Stop Valve 3/8  to 3/8 to 3/8 - Part Number - ASVPP2LF.  The other piece we use is a John Guest Super Speedfit - Stem Reducer.  You would want the 1/4 to 3/8 Stem Reducer - Part Number PI061208S so it will fit the tubing of your faucet on the clean (outlet) side of the Epic Smart Shield manifold. This would be the piece you would plug into our manifold on the clean water side (blue sticker) and run the 1/4 inch line to your stand alone faucet.

So from your cold water valve, you will place the John Guest Angle Stop Valve on top of it instead of our cold water adapter (you can set that aside because you won't using it). From the John Guest Angle Stop Valve, you will use our 3/8 tubing up to the inlet side of the Epic Smart Shield manifold.  On the outlet side of the manifold (where the blue dot is located), you will insert the John Guest Super Speedfit - Stem Reducer.  Then hook up the faucet's 1/4 tubing to the female end of the John Guest Super Speedfit Stem Reducer and you should be all set.

You actually don't have to drill any holes at all. The bracket is secured with just two screws that go into the wall underneath your kitchen sink. Velcro can be used in place of the screws if you prefer.

The Epic Smart Shield Filter removes 95% of Trihalomethanes and removes more than 99.3% of lead.

You will need to flush cold water through the filter for 5 minutes before using.

No... the flow rate on this filter is rated at 1.25 gallons per minute. This is sufficient for a kitchen sink, but not for an entire house.

Yes.

As you may already know, a water softener is a highly specialized piece of equipment that is used to make “hard” water “soft.” Through a process called ion exchange (where resin beads attract and then hold onto positively charged water hardness ions, exchanging them for the negatively charged ions of sodium or potassium), a water softener takes out the offending hardness minerals and replaces them with trouble-free ions of sodium or potassium. The resulting soft water leads to a noticeable improvement in a variety of everyday activities that occur throughout the whole house – from cooking to cleaning dishes to doing laundry.

By design, these remaining healthy minerals are able to pass through our filters. So, we utilize an activated carbon filter. By itself, carbon is a highly absorbent material that can absorb thousands of different chemicals. Activated carbon is carbon with a slightly positive charge to it, which makes it even more absorbent to chemicals and contaminants. As your water passes over the charged carbon surface, the negative ions of the contaminants are attracted to the surface of the carbon granules. Activated carbon effectively removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, herbicides, chlorine, benzene, radon, cancer-causing chlorine byproducts such as THMs, and hundreds of other chemicals in tap water. Finally, here's the magic...activated carbon filters are NOT particularly effective at removing dissolved inorganic minerals/salts.

Combining the benefits of a softener and a drinking water system are, for many, the best solution to healthy water for your home and your body.

Top to bottom, the bracket plus the filter cartridge is 20 inches altogether. So, you'll need approximately 24 inches, but can actually install it horizontal if necessary. Industrial strength velcro can be used to mount the filter if you're unable to use the screws.

Yes, we cut no corners in having the Epic Smart Shield tested and certified. It has been independently tested and triple-certified against 3 different NSF/ANSI Standards which are NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for Aesthetic Impurities, NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for Health Effects and NSF/ANSI Standard 401 for Emerging Contaminants. This assures users that our filters remove everything we say they remove. Please visit this page for more details: Testing & Certifications

See our NSF/ANSI 42 certification here. (Expires 2024)

See our NSF/ANSI 53 certification here. (Expires 2024)

See our NSF/ANSI 401 certification here. (Expires 2024)

There are several things that may be causing low flow on your Epic Smart Shield.  Here is a quick DIY trouble shooting guide before you contact our customer service.

1. Turn off cold water valve, remove Epic Smart Shield filter from white manifold. Dry off end of Smart Shield filter and the inside of the manifold.  Reconnect the Epic Smart Shield to the manifold, make sure you twist the filter all the way to the right until it seats properly.  Turn back on water, see if the pressure or leak is corrected. Reason for leak or low pressure - filter not turned all the way to the right.  A small gap will cause decreased water pressure or leak.

2.  Turn off cold water valve, remove white and blue tubing from the white cold water adapter push fit connections. Remove white cold water adapter from cold water valve.  Inspect the 4 port openings of the cold water adapter.  Sometimes debris can be lodged inside one of the openings. The bottom connection of the cold water adapter is the most important to inspect, sometimes the white silicon seal becomes turned sideways which makes the flow very slow. Also, the silicon seal can collapse from over tightening the cold water adapter on top of the cold water valve. Make sure the silicon seal is seated properly and the hole is visible and unobstructed. Also, take care not to over tighten the cold water adapter. (See image at bottom of silicon seal that is turned sideways causing reduced flow)

3. Leak around the blue or white tubing. Disconnect the tubing and reconnect, this time use more force to push the blue and white tubing into the push fit connections. The problem is that the tubing was not pushed in all the way, try pushing past the first resistance point.

Want a different color faucet?
Here is a list of faucets that will work with our system. We do not sell these or carry them, you will have to buy your color choice separately. Other faucets may work, make sure they have 1/4 tubing. You will need a few additional parts that come with our dedicated faucet Smart Shield or the kit.  So you cannot just buy the Smart Shield by itself and a faucet, there are a few extra things you will need. Call or email with questions, we love talking to customers.

Tomlinson 600 CBR Series Contemporary RO Faucet
Colors/Finishes: 
●  Polished chrome (#1020587) 
●  Satin nickel (#1020889) 
●  White (#1020893) 
●  Biscuit (#1020897) 
●  Polished brass (#1020895) 
●  Antique bronze (#1020891) 
●  Black (#1020894) 
●  Bright nickel (#1020892) 
●  Brushed Stainless (#1020896) 
●  Venetian Bronze (#1024294)

So this is a tricky one. The best way to store your filter is to leave it hooked up. Why? Because mold needs oxygen, heat & moisture to flourish and if your smart shield is hooked up, it is full of water, no air is present and the smart shield carbon has an anti-microbial agent that suppresses the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. So this is not the ideal environment for mold to grow in. But if you are worried about shutting off the water due to freezing conditions in your house or cabin, then follow these steps. 1. Shut off the water. 2. Remove the Epic Smart Shield filter from manifold. 3. Turn the filter upside down in a dish rack or on a towel and let dry out for two days (not in direct sunlight or near heat). 4. Wrap the end of the smart shield with the inlet and outlet holes with saran wrap to limit oxygen inside the filter. 5. Store in a dry cool place away from the sun or heat.

Our Universal In-Line Fridge Filter connects to the water line behind your fridge. So as long as you can pull your fridge out and get access to your water line, you can install our fridge filter! It's not one of those filters that sits in your fridge and needs to have a specific fit. It also removes much more than those filters in your fridge currently do and due to the hollow fiber inside it, it also removes bacteria, viruses, and cysts so it's good for well water too!

The Epic Pure Pitcher Filter, Epic Urban Bottle filter, & Epic Outdoor Adventure Bottle filter have all been tested by a third party and exceeds NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, 401, & P231. That being said, it hasn't been certified by the company NSF.

If you're looking for a filter that has been certified, you'll want to take a look at our new Epic Smart Shield. This filter has been certified by IAPMO against NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, 401.

To see all of our certificates and testing results visit our "Testing & Certifications" page.

NSF/ANSI 42

Filters are certified to reduce aesthetic impurities such as chlorine and taste/odor. These can be point-of-use (under the sink, water pitcher, etc.) or point-of-entry (whole house) treatment systems.

NSF/ANSI 53

Filters are certified to reduce a contaminant with a health effect. Health effects are set in this standard as regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Health Canada. Both standards 42 and 53 cover adsorption/filtration which is a process that occurs when liquid, gas or dissolved/suspended matter adheres to the surface of, or in the pores of, an adsorbent media. Carbon filters are an example of this type of product.

NSF/ANSI 401

Treatment systems for emerging contaminants include both point-of-use and point-of-entry systems that have been verified to reduce one or more of 15 emerging contaminants from drinking water. These emerging contaminants can be pharmaceuticals or chemicals not yet regulated by the EPA or Health Canada.

Our certifications are with the testing agency IAPMO. To see our NSF/ANSI certificates go to this link: http://pld.iapmo.org/default.aspx. Then, click "Listee Name", type in "Epic Water Filters", and click "Search".

To see all of our certificates and testing results visit our "Testing & Certifications" page.

Our filters remove 99.9% of Chloramine.

Here's some info: The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was enacted in 1974 to ensure safe drinking water. As a result of this law, the Environmental Protection Agency set drinking water quality standards for all public water systems across the country. These regulations require that all municipal water supplies be treated to limit bacterial growth and other hazardous contaminants. Water treatment companies can choose different disinfectant methods and for a long time chlorine was the disinfectant of choice; however, many municipal water treatment plants have switched to chloramines.

To see all of our certificates and testing results visit our "Testing & Certifications" page. You can also find testing info for each product on its product page.

All of our filters remove herbicides, pesticides, and trace pharmaceuticals.

In regards to cysts and bacteria at the moment only our Outdoor Filter will remove them up to 99.9999%.

To see all of our certificates and testing results visit our "Testing & Certifications" page.

Yes, our filters have been tested for the removal of Chromium 6.

• Pure Pitcher Filter 99.2% Removal
• Nano Pitcher Filter 96.6% Removal
• Outdoor Bottle Filter 96.6% Removal
• Urban Bottle Filter 85.4% Removal

The filter is designed to get maximum performance over the life of the filter, but its effectiveness can vary on the amount of contaminants in the water.

After about 150-200 gallons, its effectiveness will be greatly reduced for tough contaminants like lead and fluoride.

To learn more about PFOA and PFOS, visit the EPA's detailed PFAS informational site.

Also, all of our filters for water pitchers, under the sink, and bottles have been tested to remove or reduce PFCs (PFOA & PFOS). You can see all of our PFCs testing on our Certifications page.

"Tested to NSF/ANSI Standards" means that our filter has been tested to the standards for contaminant reduction established by the NSF/ANSI organizations. When we submit our filter for testing, we specify that our filters are tested to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 401, & P231 which are strict filtration protocols that are recognizable to our customers.

The filter has been tested in multiple independent laboratories and we publish our most recent test data on our website for everyone to see.

Yes, our filters have been tested for the removal of PFOA / PFOS and they remove >99.8% of these contaminants.

The Clean Water Club is a personalized fee-free filter subscription. Replacement filters are auto-shipped on your schedule. All filters are discounted 20% and come with free shipping.

When you purchase a replacement filter on our website, there will be a selection button that states:

• Join Clean Water Club & Save 20%

When you choose this option, you will save 20% off your filters, get free shipping, and even get to pick the frequency at which you'd like to receive your new filter (number of months).

Change, cancel or update your account at anytime, and there is no fee to sign up.

Learn more about the Clean Water Club.

1. Click on "My Account" in the upper right-hand corner of any page. Or visit the account login page.

2. Log in with your Email and Password (or create an account by clicking "sign up")

3. Click on MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION on the right side

4. Click on VIEW DETAILS in the center of the page.

5. From there, you will get a few options to make updates, including an option to change your address.

That's it!

1. Click on "My Account" in the upper right-hand corner of any page. Or visit the account login page.

2. Log in with your Email and Password (or create an account by clicking "sign up").

3. Click on MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION on the right side.

4. Click CHANGE FREQUENCY right next to Order Frequency.

5. Update all the necessary details and click UPDATE.

1. Click on My Account in the upper right hand corner next to the Cart and Search icons.

2. Log in with your name and password.

3. Hit MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION on the right.

4. Hit VIEW DETAILS in the center of the page.

5. Hit the PAYMENT option and update your payment info.

That's all!

1. Click on My Account in the upper right hand corner next to the Cart and Search icons.

2. Log in with your name and password.

3. Hit MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION on the right.

4. Hit VIEW DETAILS in the center of the page.

5. Hit the CANCEL option and there you can cancel your subscription.

We're sad to see you go, but you can sign up again any time!

Yes, definitely!

1. Click on My Account in the upper right hand corner next to the Cart and Search icons.

2. Log in with your name and password.

3. Hit MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION on the right.

4. Hit VIEW DETAILS in the center of the page.

5. Hit the MANAGE UPCOMING ORDERS option and there you can skip future orders.

If you're finding you the frequency is too fast, you can also spread out the orders.

1. Go to your account.

2. Log in or hit your name.

3. Hit MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION on the right.

4. Where the image of your product is, hit CHANGE FREQUENCY.

That's all!

Sure thing! Just send us an email to support@epicwaterfilters.com and we will swap out those filters for you!

When you sign up for the Clean Water Club, you will receive an email from us with a link to ACTIVATE your account and create a password. If you haven't activated your account, you won't be able to sign in yet. You can go through your email abyss and look for the email from us to active your account, or you can email us at support@epicwaterfilters.com and we will resend you that link.

If you've already activated your account and still can't log in, you can email us at support@epicwaterfilters.com and we will send you a password reset link to get you back in to the goods.

Thanks!

On weekdays, we are usually able to ship out orders within 24-48 hours. And then it takes about 2-3 days to get to you. Sometimes, we use Amazon to fulfill items we do not have in house. Once we push an order to Amazon and it's been packed, it can take a few days before it ships out depending on where you are located. As soon as your package ships, we will email you some tracking information to the email on file!

We like to take off on the weekends, so any orders placed after 4pm MST on Friday will likely be packed and shipped on the following Monday.

If you just placed your order and it hasn't shipped yet, we can usually make order changes. For swapping out products, most of the the time we have to cancel the order as we can't make changes like that once the order has been placed. We can always add onto the order or update your shipping address if you notice something is off.

Once the order has shipped, there isn't anything we can do to edit it. So it's always best to make changes as soon as you can!