Featuring signature Triple Filtration Technology, water filters by Whirlpool brand reduce up to 73 contaminants1, depending on your refrigerator type. This includes removing up to 99.9% of lead from both your water and ice.
Are refrigerator water filters effective? As long as quality refrigerator water filters are maintained and replaced, they are effective at reducing contaminants in your tap water. What a filter is able to remove depends on the make and model, along with other factors such as the initial water quality.
The fundamental answer is this: They don't do much. They are usually just carbon filters that remove a few contaminants that affect the taste and smell of their water. They will usually remove: Chlorine.
With the filter removed, the water system will continue to operate, bypassing the filter, and the clogged filter will not cause slow water dispensing or low ice production. However, you will need to install a new filter to have filtered water. REMINDER: Make sure you flush the system after replacing your water filter.
Timely fridge water filter replacement is essential for ensuring high-quality drinking water and the proper functioning of your refrigerator. Skipping this simple but necessary task can lead to issues such as strange smells, bad-tasting water, and potential damage to your fridge's internal components.
Because they're susceptible to the build up of dirt and debris, old fridge water filters may not be able to prevent contaminants from tainting drinking water as well. To ensure drinkable, fresh tasting water for your family, be sure to change your fridge's water filter every six months.
The short answer is not necessarily.
An ice machine will operate without a filter, but will quickly start having problems will scale buildup, especially in a city where the water is considered “hard”.
Most refrigerators will have an indicator light to tell you when it's time to replace the water filter. The water filter should be changed when the filter status light/indicator (if applicable) located on the temperature control panel alerts you that the filter needs to be changed.
As time passes, minerals and particles accumulate and eventually plug up the water filter. Without proper cleaning, a dirty water filter can clog up with so much debris that water can't get through it. When this happens, your machine can freeze up completely, meaning your ice machine won't be able to produce ice.
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.
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.
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.
Overall, a refrigerator filter has an average rating of 20 microns, which is considerably higher than more cutting-edge filtration options. The true effectiveness of a fridge filter relies on the water being in contact with the carbon for extended periods of time.
If your water supply is softened, we recommend replacing the Pre/Post Filters every 6 months. If it's not softened, you may need to replace your filters sooner.
With the filter removed, the water system will continue to operate, bypassing the filter, and the clogged filter will not cause slow water dispensing or low ice production. However, in order to have filtered water, you will need to install a new filter.
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.
An unchanged water filter can produce water with a foul odour or a strange taste. A dirty or clogged water filter can also affect the mechanical actions within your refrigerator, such as the Ice dispenser. A refrigerator with a water dispensing function is a significant investment and really should be treated as such.
Yes, refrigerator water filters are essential for every household to dispense clean water.
While the refrigerator life expectancy Whirlpool suggests is around 12 years, you can keep your appliance running by caring for it. Make sure you choose a refrigerator that is ideal for your home size. This way, you won't overfill the refrigerator and cause it to work harder. Also, never store a refrigerator outdoors.
In other cases, it can cause your icemaker to completely stop working if it becomes clogged. As such, you will want to change the filter at least every six months or so. While you can use this as a rule of thumb, you will want to do it either less or more often, depending on what the water's like in your area.
Many refrigerators have built-in water filtration that filters sediment and contaminants from the water going to the dispenser and/or the icemaker. If you do not need or want to use the water filter, a bypass plug must be used in place of the filter.
You should typically replace your refrigerator's water filter about twice per year. Ignoring this maintenance step can cause problems with your water dispenser as well as your ice maker. If you cannot get ice or water from your fridge, then the filter should be your first suspect.