Review on Filtrete Maximum Filtration Reduces 3US MAX F01 by Brandon Rogers

Purchased to replace the main filter that comes with the kit. The website says they are all interchangeable. This is MUCH longer so you need extra space under the mount. I've had enough. The packaging says that the water does not need to be turned off. True, if you don't mind a little splash. A little, but not zero. Have a towel ready. Unscrew, throw out the old, unscrew, put in the new. Very easy. Let's start with the tasting. BUT WAIT! I have to skip ten gallons. Trust me this is important. Following the directions, the water snobs at home report that it's as good, if not better, than fridge-door water (with a Gucci filter built in) and regular bottled water from Wal-Mart. Can't tell the difference and the biggest improvement is with the chlorine. I no longer taste or smell. So what's the downside? flow rate. Definitely lower. The box says 1.5gpm as others are likely to be optimistic. Of course it entirely depends on your local water pressure, but a quick before and after test. I got a little over 1.5 gpm on the old one, just under 1.0 gpm on this one (1ft 5 inches to fill a 1 gallon ice tea pitcher). Not a show stop but definitely slower and not 1.5 gpm . No problem for a glass of water but if you fill the sink be patient. Just had to cut open the old one to see it. I recommend sticking with the 6 month interval. My old one was about a year old and the paper element inside was crumbling. Doesn't go through the sieve/sieve, but still creepy. The coal granules are very large, no danger of slipping away, but the thought of drinking decomposing paper pulp. not appetizing. Mark your calendar and stick to 6 months! Bottom line, just what we needed, works great, easy to "upgrade" from the main product. Happy filtering!