Just last year, U. Customs and Border Protection seized more than , counterfeit water filters entering the country. According to a recent industry-sponsored study , counterfeit filters can do more harm than good—contaminating the water that passes through them.
Consumer Reports set out to investigate whether consumers can get aftermarket filters that offer the same level of quality and protection at a lower price. We scoured Amazon for aftermarket filters and had significant trouble finding brands that are certified to international quality and safety standards. The only aftermarket brand we could find with proper, verifiable certifications for its filters is Culligan , which sells its filters for about 20 percent less than those from refrigerator manufacturers.
We were able to find two of three key certifications held by Culligan filters, one for the reduction of chlorine and odors , as well as one for lead and volatile organic compounds. We could not find certifications for the reduction of parasites or trace pharmaceuticals.
Still, these are the only filters we know of that come close to matching the high standards that most refrigerator-branded filters meet. If your only task were to look for those certifications on a water filter you were considering, this would be a cinch. There are three large testing organizations that certify filters to these standards and allow their manufacturers to label their filters and packaging with certification badges.
Purveyors of questionable aftermarket filters can slap a badge on their product by meeting a few basic requirements while skipping the ones you might really care about. And counterfeit filters will feature very realistic fake badges. Keep in mind these databases can be difficult to use. Of course, none of this would be necessary if manufacturer-made filters were less expensive. Consumer Reports reached out to four refrigerator manufacturers to ask about water filter pricing and did not get responses.
We asked AHAM, which commissioned the study mentioned above, why these filters cost as much as they do. We did the math and compared pitcher and faucet filter costs from Brita and Pur to the costs of refrigerator filters from Samsung, LG, GE, and Whirlpool. It ends up being a toss-up. Some fridge filters cost roughly the same per gallon a Brita faucet filter costs 19 cents per gallon compared with 17 cents per gallon for a GE or Samsung filter , some fridge filters cost less a Sub-Zero filter costs 7 cents per gallon , and some cost more some Whirlpool and LG filters cost 25 cents per gallon.
At the end of the day, the refrigerator filter you need really depends on the water coming into your home. That's why AHAM encourages consumers to buy filters from refrigerator manufacturers and their retail partners.
For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Your refrigerator's water and ice dispenser is more than a quick way to get a cool drink of water. When the right water filter is in place, your fridge will also be a source of clean, pure water that will keep you and your family healthy and hydrated.
Find out why it's important to replace the filter on time, what the filter does, how to replace it and more. Regular replacement of the filter is critical to maintaining their effectiveness and reducing bacterial contamination.
An overused or out-of-date filter can become dangerous because the filter will no longer trap contaminants, allowing them to leach back into your water. For the safety of you and your loved ones, it's important not to put off replacement too long. More than just making your water look and taste good, fridge filters can remove a variety of contaminants that can cause illness.
Some can filter out as many as 66 different contaminants including pharmaceuticals, waterborne parasites, lead and mercury, pesticides, asbestos and industrial chemicals. Drinking water filtered by your refrigerator will help you and your loved ones stay healthy and hydrated. All refrigerators that come with a water dispenser include a filtration system that removes impurities so that you have clean, great tasting water.
Old refrigerator filters can develop a build up of the captured contaminants, which can cause your water quality to drop and result in an unpleasant smell or taste. Over time, filters can also become a breeding ground for bacteria that can actually contaminate your drinking water instead of cleaning it.
Replacing your fridge filter ensures clean, safe drinking water. Most manufacturers recommend replacing the filter every six months, depending on water quality and use. If there's a lot of sediment in your system, it may need to be replaced more frequently.
If you have a large family that drinks a lot of water, it'll need to be replaced more often than a single person's filter.
There are four reliable ways of knowing when it's time to replace your refrigerator water filter:. Most filters can be found at big box stores, you don't have to order them directly from the manufacturer. Because remembering to buy a replacement filter every six months can feel like a hassle and is easy to forget, ordering online can be more convenient.
And you can make your life easier and cross order filter off your to-do list by signing up for a filter subscription that will auto-ship your order every 6, 12 or 18 months. Bonus: Save 10 percent on subscription orders. With dozens and dozens of filter sizes and styles available, finding the right filter can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Don't worry, all the information you need is right there in your fridge no user manual needed. Using the Fridge Filter Finder tool, follow the four step-by-step instructions to identify the right replacement filter. It will ask you easy questions about your fridge's brand and style.
In just a few clicks you'll have a selection of right-size filters to choose from. Generally, the only significant difference between a brand name filter and a Tier1 filter is the packaging and label.
With only a few exceptions, they perform the same and produce the very same results. The highest quality aftermarket filters, and Tier1 filters are a perfect replacement for filters made by big-name brands like Whirlpool, Kenmore and Maytag. Like cars, computers and cell phones, water filtration systems are continually being updated and improved. One of the most common enhancements is the filter's ability to remove contaminants. WhirlPool recently released a completely new line of filters that now remove 66 different contaminants, a significant increase over their previous line.
While the name and some features of a filter may change, the shape and fit of it does not. So when you search for your filter number and it's listed as discontinued, there's always a perfect-fitting replacement option with a different name or number.
Even though there are seven standard fridge styles and dozens of different fridge filters, every replacement filter can be installed without tools or the help of a plumber. While the process varies between fridge styles and filter placement, in less than simple 10 steps, you can replace the filter yourself. Each replacement filter comes with easy step-by-step instructions, or you can review the steps online by fridge brand:.
A change in the flavor of your filtered water is a sign that the water filter needs to be replaced. As the filter is used, the particles filtered out are collected and eventually build up to the point that the filter can't do its job anymore. After you replace the filter the water should taste good again. If there is stuff floating in your water, it's time to replace your fridge filter.
Your filter has become too old to trap contaminates so they are passing through the system and ending up in your glass. A new filter should fix the issue. Filters are usually labeled with their name and part number, but you can also use our Fridge Filter Finder tool to order the right filter for your fridge. Also, your refrigerator model number should be printed on a label that's place in your fridge.
It should be inside on an upper wall, on the fridge's face frame, behind a crisper drawer or behind the lower kick plate. It depends on the brand and model of your fridge. The majority of refrigerators do not need the water to be turned off, but a few brands, like Samsung do. The installation instructions will tell you if it's need.
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