If you have a modern refrigerator, then it is very likely that your fridge has a designated slot for a water filter. Many people choose not to use this filter port, simply bypassing the filter and using the fridge’s water and icemaker simply with the incoming tap water. In many areas of the United States, the municipal water quality is good enough that this is a viable option, but nearly everyone, no matter how initially good their incoming city water is, can benefit from making use of this small filtration opportunity. In this article, we will cover some of the basic features of refrigerator water filters, and how they can improve the quality of your water and ice at home.
Why Use a Refrigerator Water Filter?
For those of us living on municipally treated water in the United States, or another developed country with adequate water filtration infrastructure, daily fears of microbial contamination, lead poisoning, or another dire water threat are usually distant fears. However, even in countries like the US, that typically lead the world in water filtration and general water quality, contaminants can still break through, systems can fail, and situations can arise in which having some extra filtration power at home will serve you well. Even when all of the systems in your area are working well, installing a refrigerator water filter to keep your water clean is a great way to improve the taste and odor of incoming water. Municipally treated tap water is almost always disinfected with a strong chemical agent, such as chlorine and/or chloramines. These highly acidic and dangerous chemicals are greatly diluted in the outgoing water supply, and their presence along the distribution lines keeps bacteria, viruses, cysts, and protozoa from flourishing, and getting us sick.
However, these disinfectants themselves pose a mild health risk, and can aggravate the eyes, skin, nose, or throat of people especially sensitive to such chemical agents. Furthermore, they make water taste and smell mildly offensive, and are best removed. The best way to remove chemicals like chlorine, as well as a whole host of other potential chemical contaminants such as VOCs, and various disinfectant by-products, such as trihalomethanes, is with activated carbon, which just happens to be the main ingredient in essentially ever refrigerator filter on the market.
Types of Refrigerator Water Filters
As mentioned above, nearly all refrigerator filters contain one key ingredient: activated carbon. In constant use throughout human history since the time of the ancient Sumerians and Egyptians, activated carbon is simply charcoal formed from burning wood, bamboo, bituminous coal, coconut shells, or other carbonaceous (high carbon-content) materials. Carbon is the sixth element in the periodic table of elements, and forms the basic building block of all living things on this planet. This makes carbon an ideal basis for a filtration media. As it shares chemical properties and characteristics with all other organic compounds on the planet, activated carbon is able to act like a sort of magnet, pulling dissolved chemicals out of solution, and adhering them to the surface of its own carbon matrix, thus very effectively filtering the water of dissolved impurities.
Beyond this basic feature, different refrigerator filters will have various distinguishing features. The most salient of such features are simply the brand distinguishers, and the physical shape and characteristics of the filter, which will dictate whether or not it will fit in your fridge. Fridge filters are typically proprietary in nature, meaning that you will either need to buy a filter made by the OEM manufacturer of your appliance, or find a suitable third-party replacement, of which there are quite a few options. Filters are distinguished in a variety of ways, most notably by their mode of installation.
Inline Filters
An inline filter is simply any cylindrical cartridge filter that you plug in along an existing line, hence an “in-line” filter. Older refrigerators may still feature a general open slot for an inline filter, though most newer fridges will have specialized proprietary filters designed to go into a specialized cartridge slot. If you have an older fridge without a built-in filter slot, it is possible to run the water going into your fridge through an external inline filter, though you may need to be creative with where and how you install it. Inline filters can be added just about anywhere along an existing plumbing system–just seek out professional advice before you start cutting tubes and doing custom installs.
Push-in Filters
Most contemporary OEM refrigerator filters are designed with ease-of-installation in mind, and many are simple “push-in” filters. These are typically ejected with the press of a button, or simply manually pulled out, then replaced. When installing, ensure that any O-rings or other sealing features are present and visible, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for a seamless install.
Twist-in Filters
In addition to push-in filters, twist-in cylinder cartridges are also popular. Depending on the make and model, the installation instructions may differ slightly, and some manufacturers may request that you lubricate any O-rings with Molykote 111, or a similar, silicone-based lubricant grease to ensure a good seal with the O-ring.
Grille Filters
In addition to a designated water filter cartridge slot, many modern refrigerators have built-in air filters as well. These are typically mounted behind the air intake grille on the back or side of your refrigerator. While an air filter may initially seem like overkill, in fact it makes perfect sense. The better the air quality inside your fridge, the better-kept your food will stay. You don’t want to be piping bad air, VOCs, smog, or any other pollutants in the air around you into the closed space of your refrigerator. Keep your food, as well as your water fresh and clean, and invest a few dollars in a fridge air filter.
Key Features to Consider
The single biggest and most important consideration when choosing a fridge filter is simply making sure that you choose the correct type for your make and model of fridge. The filter won’t do you any good if it doesn’t fit the cartridge slot, so check those part numbers, and make sure you are getting either the OEM original part, or a reputable third-party replacement.
Filtration Capabilities
If you have various options to choose from, then there are a few considerations that may sway you one way or the other. Check the filtration media in use within the various options. Is there any difference? Some fridge filters may contain additions beyond the activated carbon, such as polypropylene sediment mesh pads, or even a short section of ultrafiltration or catalytic carbon. Look at the options, and compare them with what is in your water. If you have a known chloramine problem, for instance, then it would be wise to try and find a filter with catalytic carbon, because of the superiority of catalytic carbon for the removal of that disinfectant.
Certification
Many manufacturers obtain certifications for their filters, usually through NSF International, the testing body that oversees sanitation requirements for commercial products for the world, or through IAPMO, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. Both NSF and IAPMO follow NSF guidelines when giving various certifications, so both are well-respected seals of approval. Different NSF certifications mean different things–one of the most common certifications for a refrigerator filter to have, for instance, is NSF 42, which designates a filter as reducing offensive taste and/or odor in water, improving water’s aesthetic qualities.
Filter Longevity
Inasmuch as fridge filters are relatively small, they require fairly frequent replacement, anywhere from 3 months to a year, depending on water quality and filter type. If you have a range of options to choose from, balancing price with expected longevity is one of the most sensible approaches. Since the interior of the various options will only differ slightly, it is often most sensible just to go with the longest-lasting option.
Ease of Installation
There isn’t much you can do to change this factor once you have bought a refrigerator–you will pretty much be stuck with the filtration option that comes standard with your model. However, when choosing a refrigerator, this can be an important point of consideration, especially if you are stickler for clean water. How difficult is it to access the filter, and change it? It is a job that will need to be done every so often, so try and choose a model that doesn’t require an arduous replacement every few months.
How to Choose the Right Refrigerator Water Filter
The right refrigerator water filter for you should do a few things: 1) it should fit your refrigerator, 2) it should address the problems in your water, and 3) it should fit your needs and budget.
Assess Your Water Quality
One of the first things to do when considering any water filter is the existing state of your water. Check the most recent federally mandated government water quality report for your city or area, and if you feel additional, pinpoint testing is needed, mail a sample of your water away to a laboratory for full testing. The more you know about what is in your water, the better equipped you will be to address it.
Check Your Refrigerator Model
This is the most important step, and one that many people get wrong. Carefully check not only the manufacturer of your refrigerator, but the model number as well. Not all “Whirlpool” filters will fit all “Whirlpool” refrigerators, for instance. There are dozens or hundreds of specific, proprietary refrigerator filters, some differing by very slight margins that may not be visually obvious. Don’t trust a visual approximation–make sure that you have chosen the right product based on the make and model of your fridge.
Consider Your Family’s Needs
When thinking about water filtration, consider how much water your household drinks, and whether a fridge filter is enough on its own. If your water is highly, or even moderately problematic, then a lone fridge filter might not be enough to get the job done. You may consider coupling a refrigerator filter with a whole-house system such as a water softener, or you may decide that some additional filtration under the sink is called for, if there isn’t sufficient space in the small fridge filter to address the contaminants in your water.
Budget Considerations
At the end of the day, most decisions that involve making a purchase come down to the bottom line: money. Filtration can get pricey quickly, so try and find a filter that you know you can sustainably afford, and will be able to purchase repeatedly, throughout the life of your appliance.
How to Maintain Your Refrigerator Water Filter
Refrigerator water filters typically do not need any maintenance–simply replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions, or when and if you notice any pressure change in your fridge’s water dispenser, or a change in the taste or appearance of your water.
FAQs
What contaminants do refrigerator water filters remove?
Depending on the particulars of their inner materials, fridge filters will remove chlorine, some chloramines, VOCs, disinfectant by-products, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and other dissolved chemical substances in water. If they are equipped with sediment pads, they will also reduce physical particulate matter in your water.
How do I know which filter fits my refrigerator?
Carefully check the make and model of your refrigerator, and find the OEM model that fits it. You can then cross-reference this model with third-party alternatives.
Can I use a generic filter instead of a brand-name one?
Yes, there are a wide variety of aftermarket replacement options for OEM refrigerator filters; these are often far less expensive, and can work just as well as their official counterparts.
What happens if I don’t replace my refrigerator water filter?
Your filter can start to build up pressure, and the flow of water through your fridge can slow if you don’t replace the filter regularly. Contaminants can also start ending up in your water in even greater concentrations than would be present without a filter, if you run it for too long.
How do I dispose of old refrigerator filters?
Unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer, old refrigerator filters can simply be thrown in the trash. Some municipalities may have a recycling program for this type of item as well.
