Author: Tony Carrick | Updated 8:25 PM, October 11, 2021

If you purchase a product through one of our links, BobVila.com and its partners may receive a commission.

In recent years, people's concerns about the quality of our drinking water supply have become more and more common, so we are more and more aware of and thankful for the water filter that comes with the refrigerator water dispenser. Although these water filters provide our kitchen with the convenience of chilled filtered water, replacing the factory model filter when it is worn out can make us confused. Since refrigerator manufacturers have proprietary filter designs, finding a suitable replacement filter can be a challenge. When you find the right filter for your device, remember that not all filters are the same. Some filters will only reduce chlorine and improve taste, while others will also remove harmful contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and even drugs.

This guide will review the features that shoppers need to consider when choosing the best refrigerator water filter for their needs. These water filters are one of the best choices on the market and are compatible with most refrigerator brands.

Determining which water filter model is compatible with your refrigerator is just one step in the decision process of choosing a replacement filter. The contaminants removed by the product and the service life of the filter are other important factors that need to be considered.

First of all, the water filter needs to be installed in the refrigerator. Refrigerator filters are by no means universal. Due to the variety of connection types in refrigerators, most filters are only compatible with one or two refrigerator manufacturers.

There are several ways to determine which filters are compatible with the refrigerator; the easiest way is to remove the old filter and check the model. A quick look at the user manual of the refrigerator (or the manufacturer's website) should get the information you want. The last option is to check the water filter manufacturer's webpage, where you can find a list of refrigerator brands and models and filters that are suitable for them.

Those who have old-fashioned refrigerators without built-in filtration systems do not have to resort to jugs or household water filtration systems to meet their water filtration needs. The inline system that connects the water dispenser to the refrigerator is as effective as many integrated filters.

NSF International is a non-profit organization responsible for testing and certifying consumer products to ensure compliance with certain performance, safety and quality standards. One of their areas of expertise is testing products in the water industry, including refrigerator water filters. The organization uses a series of different categories to test refrigerator water filters to prove what they can do.

Although these certifications help determine the effectiveness of the filter, they are not perfect. A filter may have an NSF 53 grade, but the amount and type of heavy metals it can remove may be different from another NSF 53 grade filter. Therefore, it is important to study filters carefully before purchasing and check which contaminants they can and do not remove.

The last thing people want to do is to buy a water filter and find that it adds harmful chemicals to the filtered water. In addition to the above certifications, you can also find other NSF certifications on the label of the water filter. These certifications indicate that the filter itself does not use certain toxic materials in its structure.

Most refrigerator filters are installed in a compartment inside the refrigerator, which is quick and easy to install. They are either plugged into the socket and locked in place when the cover is closed, or twist-locked into the socket. This simple installation design allows users to easily replace the filter without having to open the refrigerator door for a long time.

Although replacing the filter is a simple process, it takes more time to prepare to use it. The final step in most filter installations is the process of passing 4 gallons or more of water through the filter before the filter is suitable for use. This is done to flush out debris in the filter that may loosen during transportation. This can be a tedious process, requiring multiple back and forth to drain the sink.

Most refrigerator water filters can last for about six months before they wear out. For a family of four, this is equivalent to 200 and 300 gallons of filtered water. Although water filters can be expensive, many manufacturers pack them into two or more at a more affordable unit price. Buying water filters in bulk is an excellent money-saving strategy to keep the water in the refrigerator fresh.

The following list narrows the scope of the water filter to include some of the best water filters from the major refrigerator brands on the market. With their multiple NSF certifications, they can filter out various pollutants. The following water filter will help improve the water quality of the refrigerator water dispenser and ice maker.

EveryDrop is one of the rare refrigerator water filters, compatible with many major refrigerator brands. Its wide compatibility and ability to remove various pollutants make it one of the best all-round options for purifying water from refrigerator drinking fountains. This filter can not only improve the taste, but also filter out chlorine; it has passed the tests of NSF 42, 53, and 401 standards, and can also remove various chemicals, including drugs, lead, pesticides, mercury, and a large number of others Pollutants.

EveryDrop is compatible with various bottom freezers and side-by-side refrigerators from Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag and Amana. It is not the cheapest filter on the market, but it is not the most expensive. Each filter can last for 200 gallons, which is about six months for a family of four. Although passing the recommended 4 gallons of water through it before use is a tedious process, installation is easy: just insert the new filter into the filter compartment and close the compartment door to lock it.

Just because refrigerators do not have a built-in water filtration system for ice machines and water dispensers, it does not mean that people have to find alternative ways to filter domestic drinking water. Culligan is installed between the water source and the refrigerator to filter the water entering the water dispenser and ice maker. Although this filter does not have the advanced NSF 401 grade of some high-end refrigerator filters, it is NSF 42 grade, which can reduce chlorine and improve taste.

The advantage of Culligan is that its cost is about half of high-end filters, but the filtration capacity is about 500 gallons, which is about twice that of ordinary filters. One potential disadvantage of this system is that it can be tricky to install for refrigerators in small spaces. Although this filter includes a wall mount kit, it must be installed within 3 feet of the refrigerator to operate properly. It is a good choice to install it in an adjacent cabinet.

This water filter removes pollutants from heavy metals to pesticides, and it is an attractive option for those who take clean drinking water seriously. Although it is more expensive than other filters on the market, you are really worth the money. This carbon-based water filter has passed NSF level 42, 53 and 401 certification, which means that it not only improves the taste of water: it also removes lead, nitrates, pesticides and mercury, making drinking water healthier.

Installing the FRIGIDAIRE filter is easy: open the upper filter holder at the back of the refrigerator, take out the old one, eject the new one, and close the lid. Rinse the filter with running water for three minutes before use; after installation, the validity period of Pure Source Ultra is about 6 months, which is 200 gallons.

The ICEPURE water filter has a filtration stage that removes heavy metals such as lead and mercury, reduces chlorine content and improves taste. It is an excellent choice for Maytag refrigerator owners. This water filter is rated NSF 53, 42 and 372 and is available in an economical two-piece package.

In addition to removing many heavy metals in drinking water, ICEPURE is also equipped with a carbon filter to improve the taste of the water. Another advantage of buying this product is that it can filter up to 300 gallons of water, and many similar products recommend replacing the filter at the 200 gallon mark.

This model replaces the water filter in most Maytag refrigerators and is easy to install. The filter is quickly connected to the refrigerator filter bracket through a quick-turn connection and quickly snapped in.

Kenmore and Samsung refrigerator owners who are unwilling to spend a lot of money to replace the old water filter can save a lot of money on this three-piece package from PURELINE. Each filter costs less than one-third of other water filters, making this package an attractive and affordable way to keep refrigerator water clean.

The PURELINE filter uses three stages, including coconut carbon filter blocks to improve the taste, while reducing chlorine and filtering out sediment and large metals. Each PURELINE filter will treat approximately 300 gallons of water before being worn. This cartridge filter can be installed in the cartridge rack of the refrigerator within a few minutes.

Shoppers looking for a high-quality filter that fits almost any brand of refrigerator should consider the EveryDrop by Whirlpool refrigerator water filter, which can provide up to 6 months of fresh and clean water.

The best refrigerator water filters provide clean-tasting water, are easy to install, and do not need to be replaced more than once or twice a year. Our recommended list provides a selection of products from the best brands on the market, which are known for their quality, longevity and compatibility. We ensure that our preferred products have undergone strong NSF testing and verification, and some of these filters have multiple certifications and ratings to provide the highest possible water quality.

In our research, we noticed that an important consideration for shoppers is the frequency of replacement, so we made sure to include filter options with a lifespan of more than 200 gallons on average-one of our choices can last up to 500 gallons-to help reduce the quantity The number of times the filter needs to be replaced per year.

If you are still confused about refrigerator water filters, please continue reading the answers to some of the most common questions about these products.

They are different. Refrigerator water filters are certified to filter out different pollutants. While some water filters may only reduce chlorine and improve taste, others will remove cysts, heavy metals, pesticides and even drugs.

Over time, the water filter will become clogged with the contaminants it removes. If you notice that it takes longer than usual to fill the glass with water, it may be time to replace the filter.

Most refrigerator water filters have a service life of about 6 months, which is equivalent to 200 to 300 gallons of water, depending on how often the filter is used.

Although water filters cannot be recycled through standard urban recycling programs, many manufacturers or recyclers have recycling programs for old filters.

Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide publishers with a way to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.

You agree that BobVila.com can process your data in the manner described in our privacy policy.

Copyright © 2021 Acton Media Inc. all rights reserved.