Refrigerator filters are great since they remove some of the unwanted pollutants in our drinking water. However, they carry some hidden risks that make them unsuitable for many households, including the inability to remove various contaminants and substandard filtration in some cases.
Refrigerator water filter systems are often limited and unable to catch many harmful contaminants. Moreover, the manufacturing process can also introduce impurities directly into the filters, per a report from the Livestrong Foundation.
As the filter is used over time, these contaminants will clog the filter, and the water will move through the filter less efficiently and fewer contaminants will be removed. Bacteria will also colonize the filter and may result in illness. Probably best to replace the filter so as not to worry about it.
Fridge water filters may not be effective for removing all chemicals or toxins, including chromium, cadmium, arsenic, and selenium, as well as asbestos, bacteria, and pharmaceuticals.
Although both filtered water and bottled water can provide healthier, better-tasting water, the cost-effectiveness and smaller environmental impact of filtered water beats out bottled water at every turn.
Although filters can be helpful in removing harmful chemicals from our water, they sometimes strip away beneficial minerals too. These include magnesium and calcium, as well as iron and manganese, which are eliminated to make water softer and prevent discolouration, respectively.
If your fridge has a built-in filter, the water is not pure tap water, but it's still sourced from your tap. This means that the refrigerator draws the water from the tap, but puts it through a filtration or softening system.
If you are looking for water with a high degree of cleanliness, reverse osmosis is the best option. A Brio Stage-3 reverse osmosis membrane filter set is a perfect addition to any kitchen, ensuring your water will maintain a healthy level of salts and minerals while eliminating most dangerous contaminants.
Most refrigerator filters use an activated carbon core that reduces contaminants in water via adsorption. The average micron rating of a refrigerator filter is 20, but some options offer a much lower rating. A filter with a 5 micron rating, for example, will remove some microplastics from water and not others.
Consumer Reports have shown that while some off-brand filters can perform reasonably well, brand name filters consistently outperform their generic counterparts in both filter quality and water purity.
Refrigerator water filters are one of the best, most cost-effective ways to ensure your family is drinking clean, fresh-tasting water, but they need to be changed every six months. After six months, three things can start happening: Your filter becomes easily susceptible to becoming saturated with contaminants.
The very simplest answer as to what to do with a water filter is to throw it away with the rest of the garbage. There are some manufacturers, like Samsung, who currently recommend you do just that. They maintain that the water filters are not harmful to the environment and can be safely disposed of this way.
Ignoring the need for regular refrigerator water filter changes can lead to a host of problems. From a health perspective, an old or clogged filter cannot effectively remove contaminants. This situation means you might drink and cook with unfiltered water, exposing you and your family to potential health risks.
The reverse osmosis membrane has extremely high filtration precision, with pores as small as 0.0001 micrometers. The water treated through RO is healthy, safe, and pure, and stored in a water tank for convenient access and direct consumption.
As your water pours through the dispenser, it can pick up these contaminants and bacteria. Even if your refrigerator filter is doing a sufficient job, if the water is reintroduced to particles on the dispenser, anyone drinking that water can be at risk for contamination.
EWG has named reverse osmosis as the most effective filtration system. These systems can also be installed under specific sinks or for a whole house.
The short answer is that fridge water filters do work for some simple needs — mainly those related to chlorine, like unpleasant tastes and odors. However, the list of things a refrigerator filter can't do is far longer. For example, fridge systems won't reduce contaminants like arsenic, pharmaceuticals and fluoride.
Investing in a high-quality water filtration system is a proactive step towards protecting your health and well-being. By removing carcinogens and PFAs from your tap water, you are reducing your risk of developing serious health issues and ensuring that your family has access to safe, clean water.
While drinking water from your fridge may seem like a convenient and healthy option, it is actually not the best choice. While most modern refrigerators come with a built-in water dispenser, the quality of the water is often compromised due to several factors.
Filters that mount on faucets are also small, but they can perform better because they have the benefit of water pressure. Fridge carbon filters can be bigger and, as a result, can have higher levels of contaminant reduction than filters in pitchers and on faucets.
If you do not use the water dispenser for 2-3 days, the dispensed water may have an abnormal smell or taste. This is not a system failure. It is recommended to discard the first 1-2 glasses of water. For other situations, please check below.