How to Choose the Right Water Filter for My Refrigerator?

Where Is the Water Filter for My Refrigerator?

Filter locations depend on the model and brand of the refrigerator. The most common parts to locate a refrigerator water filter include the upper-right corner of the fridge's inside, at the back, or the bottom of the grille. Older fridge models used water filters in the back of the fridge connected to the water supply line. Here is an explanation of the different locations of different types of fridge filters:

You’ll find them at the left-lower or top-right portion of the grille of the fridge.

You’ll find them in the grille's lower-left, top-left, or top-right portion. 

You’ll find them in the bottom center, top-right, or top-left grille portion. 

You’ll find them in the left-lower or top-right grille portion.

You’ll find them in the left-lower grille portion of the refrigerator.

Which Filter Fits My Fridge?

Follow these steps to assess which filter will fit in with the refrigerator at your home:

1. Detach the water filter from your fridge’s grille. The filtration process will be stopped automatically. 
2. Note down the part number printed on the filter. 
3. Head over to our website, click on the “Find Your Filter” tab, and type in the brand model name to find the water filter that’s of the right fit.

How To Remove Water Filter From Whirlpool Refrigerator?

If you have water filters from whirlpool refrigerators, follow these steps to safely remove old filters from the fridge to replace new ones:

1. Find your water filter in the base grille or the fridge's upper right-hand corner.
2. Lift the filter door and pull the filter out to discard it.
3. Remove the protective coverings on the O-rings of your new water filter. Ensure that the O-rings are in their original place after the covering is removed.
4. Insert the filter smoothly. Slide it through the grille of the fridge, ensuring that the arrow is pointing upwards. If it’s not sliding smoothly, carefully rotate it until the notches are aligned with the grooves.
5. Push the filter door once to ensure your new filter is properly placed.
6. Once the whole process is done, run a minimum of 4 gallons of water through the main supply line to make it fit for use.

Are Refrigerator Water Filters Necessary？

It’s true that most municipal water supply in the United States supplies clean water, but it doesn’t always mean pure. Excessive chlorination in tap water can make water taste and smell weird, and even then, it can have plenty of chemicals and harmful contaminants. 

Also, pipeline transportation of excessively chlorinated tap water further pollutes tap water which ultimately reaches your home. 

Refrigerator water filters efficiently remove pesticides and other impurities from the home water supply to deliver pure and safe water for your household. 

What Harmful Substances Can the Refrigerator Water Filter Remove?

Refrigerator water filters use the carbon filtration method to remove chlorine, other foul-smelling chemicals, and contaminants from the water supply dispensed from the fridge.

Here is the list of contaminants that refrigerator filters can easily remove:

• Herbicides
• Lithium (Li+)
• PFA
• Chloride (Cl-)
• Nitrate (N032-)
• Microplastics
• Chlorine byproducts
• Phosphate (P043-)
• Pharmaceuticals 

Along with that, the activated charcoal in fridge filters can help eliminate the following drugs and toxins:

• Sedatives
• Dapsone
• Calcium channel blockers
• Malaria medications
• Methylxanthines (mild stimulants)
• NSAIDs, and other OTC anti-inflammatories 
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

What are NSF ratings?

NSF ratings are well-recognized safety and purity standards issued by National Sanitation Foundation for water, food, and other consumer products. 

Different NSF certification standards and filtered substances

Here are different NSF certifications relevant to refrigerator water filters:

Why Should You Change Your Fridge Water Filter?

Here’s why you should replace your fridge water filter regularly:

• Refrigerator water filters get clogged with dirt and debris after 3-6 months of usage.
• They suffer wear and tear after 3 months of use.
• Filters with an activated carbon block medium and a pore size of 0.5 μm can only be used for 3-6 months before they need to be replaced.
• It reaches its maximum filtration limit after 3-6 months of intensive use.
• Not replacing the fridge filter helps bacteria grow in and around the filter. Hence, you need to change the filter before it fills up with contaminants.

Remember that the longer you delay replacement, the longer you will drink unhealthy water.

How To Find The Right Water Filter For My Refrigerator?

Choosing the right fridge filter is important to ensure the health and well-being of your family. Your choice must be based on crucial parameters like:

Does The Filter have NSF certification?

It's crucial that your refrigerator filter comes with an NSF certification. The type of certification will vary as per the contaminants being filtered.

For example, NSF 372 covers filters removing lead. However, if the filter is not certified by NSF, it's not a safe choice.

Filter Performance & Quality of Media 

The performance and quality of the filter will depend on the filtration medium. We recommend choosing filters with coconut shell activated carbon or PP shell medium.

Coconut Shell Activated Carbon

Refrigerator filters often use coconut shell-activated carbon media that facilitate adsorption, pore filtration, and chemical reactions to eliminate water contaminants. This media is recommended as it is renewable and eco-friendly. It is, in fact, one of the primary sources of activated carbon.

However, you must beware of brands using polypropylene materials mixed with calcium carbonate to cut costs. Instead, they use plasticizers to blend polypropylene and calcium carbonate, causing a reduction in the material strength of the media.

Many filters do not have pure polypropylene materials in them. Moreover, we should avoid plasticizers due to health concerns. 

Original Equipment Manufacturer Vs. Replacement Filters 

Before you go out there to choose the right refrigerator filter, you must understand the difference between OEM and replacement filters.

What is an Original Equipment Manufacturer Filter (OEM)?

In simple terms, an OEM filter has been manufactured by the company that built your refrigerator. OEM filters are built with high-quality materials and consist of original parts

What is a Replacement Filter?

Replacement filters or aftermarket filters are not manufactured by the refrigerator company. Instead, these filters are built by other-party manufacturers. The quality of these filters can vary depending on the manufacturer, but you can often expect higher quality than the original product.

What Is the Cost Difference Between OEM and Replacement Filters?

An OEM filter has the assurance of higher quality and original parts. However, they may cost up to $50 more than a similar replacement filter. On the other hand, replacement filters are budget-friendly and usually safe to use if the manufacturer is certified.

What Is the Quality Difference Between OEM and Replacement Filters?

OEM filters are generally regarded as of higher quality. However, replacement filters can often provide the same or even higher quality, depending on the manufacturer. You should look out for manufacturers like Glacier Fresh with NFS 53 and 42 certifications. These certifications ensure safe usage and similar quality as OEM filters.

How To Choose The Best Water Filter: A Checklist

Buying the best water filter for your family can be difficult. Firstly, it impacts your health. Secondly, you need to be aware of the contaminants in your water that you wanna remove. So let's look at some parameters you should look out for.

Is The Product Patented?

A patented product means the company has exclusive rights to the product, which promises genuine quality water filter products.

Is the Filter Material Environmental Friendly?

It is essential to choose water filters that have environmentally friendly materials used in them. These filters are more sustainable, last longer, reduce wastage of material, and prevent pollution.

Is my Water Filter BPA free?

BPA or Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical that can cause serious health issues. Therefore, checking that your water filter uses BPA-free materials is crucial.

Does the Filter Contain High-Quality Manufacturing Material?

You must ensure that your water filter is made up of high-quality materials. Whether an OEM or replacement filter, the manufacturer should be NSF certified, such as Glacier Fresh. It means that the required quality standards are met during the manufacturing of your filter.

Summary

Since you have reached the end of this article, I hope you have understood how to choose the right water filter for your refrigerator. In addition, you must have understood when and how to replace one and what factors to look for before buying one.

It’s better to buy your best refrigerator filter in bulk from Glacier Fresh to get a better filter lifespan at a wholesale discount.