To remove impurities and chlorine from your drinking water, activated carbon is added to refrigerator filters. Good refrigerator filters remove almost 99% of chlorine and will last up to 6 months when it’s time to replace them. But not all refrigerator water filters are the same.
Some most refrigerator filters have a small amount of activated carbon, so they won’t rid the water of all the chlorine and will fail after just a few months.
Refrigerator water filters are the perfect option that works.
How does a refrigerator water filter remove harmful substances? What substances does it remove?
Most refrigerator water filters get rid of three main contaminants: lead, chlorine, and volatile organic compounds (VOC). It happens that more filters remove chloramine.
Most refrigerator water filters have a micron value of around 20, which means that refrigerator filters do not filter fine dirt particles.
Before reaching your faucet, water travels through long underground pipes. As water passes through these pipes, it collects many different harmful compounds, such as:
- Lead from old pipes,
- Chlorine,
- LOS.
- Lead
For a long time, lead was considered not harmful, and even a useful element in the manufacture of paints, pottery and water pipes. Half of the solder used in plumbing until the 20th century contained lead. We all know that water is a good solvent, it collects lead from many pipes and then you find it in your drinking water.
If you live in houses that were built before the Safe Drinking Water Act was passed, then you are most likely dealing with lead pipes, as well as copper solder and other fixtures that can very easily get into your water.
When lead was declared toxic, the EPA set the highest level of lead water pollution at zero.
Lead consumption threatens reproductive problems, premature birth, and damage to the brain, hearing, heart, and kidneys.
- Сhlorine
Initially, it can be assumed that chlorine is useful. to some extent it is. Chlorine disinfects drinking water, ridding it of bacteria, viruses and parasites. This minimizes the possibility of getting diseases that are transmitted through water, such as typhoid fever or dysentery.
But chlorine greatly spoils the taste of water, which we use or which is intended for cooking. Good charcoal refrigerator filters are great for removing chlorine and leaving you with fresh, quality drinking water.
The EPA recommends that chlorine levels in public water systems not exceed 4 parts per million (ppm).
In addition to chlorine, your drinking water may contain chloramines. Chloramines are a combination of chlorine and ammonia that are used to prevent the formation of harmful disinfection products such as trihalomethane.
After part of the research on the effects of chloramines on the body, but the results of these studies have not been published. Refrigerating water filter with coal relieve water of chlorine and chloramines, separating chlorine from ammonia and converting chlorine to chloride.
How do refrigerator water filters work?
Refrigerator water filters work in several steps to filtration. Larger items come first. For example, sand that is collected by a sieve with small holes. In the second stage, water flows through activated carbon, where solid elements, such as sugar, are retained.
In the last step, activated carbon removes very small elements such as traces of pharmaceuticals and pesticides found in the water. This last step also improves the taste and smell of the water.
Refrigerator water filter manufacturers often use a combination of particulate filtration and granular activated carbon (GAC) to purify water.
Such a process is needed to filter large contaminants such as dirt.
The water is filtered through the GAC and the chlorine molecules remain on the surface of the carbon and disappear from the water. One gram of activated charcoal has a surface area of over 33,000 square feet. This property makes it an excellent element for removing chlorine from your water.
Some refrigerator filter may have another filtration stage called a polishing filter. This is a very fine water filter that filters remaining contaminants before the water enters the ice maker or drinking water dispenser.
But you must remember that not all refrigerator water filters contain activated carbon. And for some reason, many manufacturers do not tell you what is in their water filters.
Volatile organic compounds.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are some of the most harmful chemicals found in various products such as paints, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. Human exposure to volatile organic compounds can cause many health problems, such as:
- redness of the eyes,
- throat irritation,
- Liver damage,
- kidney disease,
- Nausea,
- Headaches.
As well as Volatile Organic Compounds give drinking water an unpleasant odor and a terrible taste.
Studies show that almost twenty percent of drinking water sources are contaminated with volatile organic compounds. For this, the EPA controls the treatment steps for various types of VOCs in city water. The properties of activated carbon in refrigerator filters remove certain types of volatile organic compounds and prevent them from entering your drinking water.
Which brands are best at removing chlorine?
Most refrigerator water filters remove 97 to 99% of chlorine from drinking water. But chlorine can still be in your water.
But not all filters are equally effective. It happens that the manufacturer in the filters for refrigerators uses sediment filters, and they will not rid the water of chlorine. Some filters are not tested by independent testing agencies, so it’s hard to tell how well they actually work.
Filters for LG refrigerators
If you’re looking for a refrigerator water filter that can rid your water of chlorine, then the LG activated carbon filter is perfect for you.
The filter contains activated carbon to remove chlorine from ice and drinking water, providing your family with tasty and clean water without foreign odors. Another advantage of this filter is that that it is not difficult to install and maintain, which is best for busy families!
Also, the LG refrigerator water filter passes 200 gallons of water and does not need to be replaced for almost 6 months. The manufacturer gives a guarantee that the refrigerator water filter will remove chlorine, chemical taste and smell that are in the water. This filter is NSF certified and removes 99.99% of cysts, 99% of asbestos and almost all mercury, lead and benzene.
LG recommends replacing the refrigerator filter every 6 months.
Filters for Whirlpool refrigerators
Everyone wants chlorine-free water and ice, so it is important to remove the effects of harmful chemicals on the water. Whirlpool fridge filter manufacturers use activated carbon to get rid of chlorine, so you get fresh, chemical-free water. Their filters are NSF certified.
The Everydrop refrigerator water filter works well with Whirlpool refrigerators. It can remove the chlorine indicator, as well as the taste and smell by 99.9%. It is certified to reduce lead, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and parasites in water by 99%. It is NSF 401, 53 and 42 certified.
Whirlpool recommends replacing your refrigerator water filters every six months.
Filters for GE refrigerators
This is another GE refrigerator water filter that you can enjoy with clean, refreshing water and ice without the taste or smell of chlorine. These filters also use carbon to remove chlorine from the water, so you can drink and enjoy without worrying about harmful chemicals.
The GE refrigerator filter can filter about 300 gallons of water and is guaranteed to last 6 months or more. This fridge filter is certified to reduce chlorine resistant cysts, lead, certain pharmaceuticals and a variety of other contaminants. It will reduce the concentration of PFOA and PFOS by 99%.
GE asks to change the fridge filters every six months or 300 gallons for good performance.
Filters for refrigerators Maytag
With the Maytag refrigerator filters, you will keep your water tasty and odor free. Like many other filters, these filters use activated carbon to remove chlorine, giving households clean, refreshing water free of chemical odors. And they are very easy to install!
The Maytag refrigerator filters is WQA, IAPMO and NSF 401, 53, 42 and 372 certified. Like most refrigerator filters, it is designed to reduce chlorine levels and improve the taste and odor of tap water. The filter is also certified to remove mercury, benzene and lead from water.
Maytag recommends changing the refrigerator filters every six months.
Do KitchenAid refrigerator filters remove chlorine?
If you are looking for a good way to get rid of the smell of chlorine in your tap water, or if you need to remove the bad taste of water, then you will definitely like the Kitchenaid Refrigerator Filters.
They have a special activated carbon filter to remove chlorine, so you don’t have to worry, that your water will not taste good with a chemical aftertaste. Their filters are NSF certified for chlorine reduction.
The PureSpring refrigerant filters is perfect for Kitchenaid refrigerators. These filters meet all NSF/ANSI 42 and NSF/ANSI 372 standards. They are certified to reduce chlorine, lead, taste and odor.
Kitchenaid’s tip is to change your fridge filters every six months.
Frigidaire refrigerator filters
Frigidaire refrigerator water filters are one of the best options for chlorine-free, delicious water and ice. The activated carbon filter removes the smell of chlorine, allowing you to enjoy fresh water. These filters are NSF certified for chlorine reduction.
This filter is NSF 42, 53 and 401 certified for chlorine and lead reduction.
Frigidaire recommends replacing the filter at least every six months.
Here you can read how to replace frigidaire water filter.
Filters for Samsung refrigerators
Still can’t find a refrigerator filter that removes chlorine? You found it! These are filters for Samsung refrigerators! These activated carbon filters will remove the terrible chemical taste and odor often associated with chlorine in the water.
Another benefit of this filter it is that he takes an active part in providing clean and delicious water for you directly into the ice machine and glass. These filters are NSF certified for chlorine reduction.
Samsung Refrigerator Filter filters over 99% of contaminants including chlorine and lead. Their filter uses a high quality carbon block to improve the quality of your water.
Samsung recommends replacing the filter every six months.
To change samsung water filter read here.
How to properly maintain a refrigerator filter?
Proper and timely filter maintenance is considered the key to effectively removing chlorine from tap water.
1. Change the filter regularly
Refrigerator filters are good at filtering tap water from chlorine. But it is important to remember that they all have a limited lifespan and it is very important to replace them regularly to ensure the best water quality.
It doesn’t matter what brand your filter is. It is important to change the refrigerator filter every six months, or as often as directed in the instructions. This will give you the confidence that your water will not like chlorine taste and that you will have the best quality water.
If you do not replace your filters in time, you will feel that the water has become disgusting in taste. It will be too late and you will have to change the entire filter and flush your refrigerator’s water line.
Some manufacturers have water filter notices and you don’t have to worry about changing the filter. A service is available to you that will help you easily know when it is time to service your system.
2. Regularly clean the refrigerator
It is important to clean your refrigerator regularly to prevent mold and bacteria from growing inside your device.
- Your filter may be clogged. After a while, the sediment filter may become clogged with solid particles. This reduces the required pressure and flow of water in your refrigerator.
- Carbon is escaping. If there is activated carbon in the water filter, then it has a limited ability to filter contaminants. They eventually evaporate and are no longer able to filter the chlorine out of your water.
- Bacteria are growing. If the filter is not changed in time, then bacteria begin to multiply and colonize the filter material. Therefore, you will experience an unpleasant odor and problems with the taste of water.
The importance of water filters in the refrigerator
The contaminants that sometimes remain in the water are very dangerous for young children and the elderly. Water may remain of poor quality even after it has passed through a water treatment plant. Such substances can cause great harm to health. The water filter in the refrigerator solves this problem.
Some houses have old pipes left, from which lead can end up in your glass. Lead is very harmful and can damage the development of the brain and nervous system of the fetus and child. But if you run water through a refrigerator water filter, lead and any other harmful metals are removed.
There are several other benefits of a refrigerator water filter:
- Efficiency.
Refrigerator water filters filter thousands of gallons of water before they need to be replaced.
- Cost-effective.
Buying bottled water will be more expensive than filtered tap water.
- Eco-friendly.
The environmental impact is reduced because the consumption of plastic will be less.
- Available.
When you use the water filter, you don’t have to wait for the water to be filtered. You can drink water right away.
- Cold water.
Since the water flows through the refrigerator filter, it is already cool.
Manufacturers have recently begun to increasingly install a water filter in the refrigerator on new models. As a result of research, it was found that refrigerator water filters are more effective in water purification than pitcher filters.
What is NSF Certification?
The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) is an independent third-party organization that tests and certifies water filters.
NSF 42 (NSF-42) certified refrigerator filters are capable of removing chlorine from water.
Filters rated NSF-42 are certified to reduce unwanted contaminants such as chlorine.
This certification is for various types of filters, such as a sink filter, pitcher filter, reverse osmosis filter or point-of-entry cleaning systems.
Why is NSF certification needed?
NSF-42 certification is one of the important factors when choosing a water filter. It says that the filter has been tested and certified by an independent third party to reduce chlorine levels in water.
The certificate also guarantees the accuracy of the manufacturer’s claims and the suitability of the filter for your needs.
Do refrigerator filters remove lead from water?
This question can be answered yes and no. Many refrigerator filters can filter lead from water, but not all. The type of filter plays a big role in whether the filter will effectively remove lead.
Refrigerator filters often have two types of filtration: activated carbon filters and mechanical filters.
Some manufacturers use both methods in filters.
Look for NSF certification if you need to remove lead.
Do refrigerator filters remove fluoride?
Refrigerator filters do not remove fluoride from water. But there are water filters that are specifically made to remove fluoride.
Fluorine is a chemical element that is intentionally added to some water treatment plants. This helps prevent tooth decay, but some people have concerns about how safe and effective it is. If you’re concerned about the presence of fluoride in your water, you might want to get a good filtration system.
Which filters remove chloramines?
Nearly 20% of public water treatment plants add chloramines as a disinfectant, not chlorine. Chloramines are almost impossible to remove from water, even if your filter contains activated carbon.
Find out if your water purifier system uses chloramines. If so, then purchase a filter, containing catalytic carbon. This is the only type of carbon that will help remove chloramines from the water.
Are refrigerator water filters effective?
Refrigerator water filters are effective at removing the harmful contaminants they were made for.
They are good at removing chlorine taste, odor and sediment.
But they won’t make the water softer, they won’t filter the iron. If you have well water in your home, then you need to ensure that it is safe, and you will need more than just buying a refrigerator filter to purify the water.
Well water needs to be filtered water throughout the house, including treatment for bacteria.
Can I add filtered water from the refrigerator to aquariums?
Yes, refrigerator filters filtered water for chlorine and volatile organic compounds, but they will not give you water that is suitable for fish and plants in an aquarium.
There are a number of contaminants in the water, such as nitrates, nitrites and minerals that increase the hardness of the water, which are not cleaned by refrigerator filters.
For aquariums, other water filtration, such as reverse osmosis and ion exchange, are more suitable because they provide a clean water base that can be manipulated to meet the needs of the fish.
Bottom line:
Most refrigerator filters are ideal for reducing chlorine. Remember to maintain them according to the instructions and buy filters that are NSF certified.
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