Last Updated on September 1, 2020
Looking for a refrigerator water filter? Sounds fun, doesn’t it? No, seriously, we know a water filter isn’t exactly the most exciting thing to buy, that’s why we’ve put together everything you need to know about choosing the best refrigerator water filter and we’ve also included our favorite models.
Check out the quick list below for customer reviews and prices for my best refrigerator water filter picks or read on for the full review:
While tap water in most developed countries is considered safe to drink, imagine how long water has to travel through pipes before it actually reaches your home.
Having a refrigerator water filter means you’ll never have to worry about whether your drinking water is pure or not.
Higher-Quality Water
Water filters do a great job purifying water by removing chlorine, heavy metals, chemicals, and microbial cysts found in tap water, thus offering you water that is much safer to drink.
Better taste
Minerals and chlorine in tap water tend to carry an odd taste if they are present in large quantities. Once water is filtered, its taste becomes a lot more pleasant.
Cost-Saving
Drinking filtered water will most certainly have a positive impact on your budget too! Just imagine the amount of money you’ll save by purchasing a water filter instead of bottled water.
Eco-Friendly
Drinking filtered water means cutting down on water bottles. Even if you recycle plastic water bottles, consider the energy that is wasted in producing them!
Convenience
Using a water filter means you’ll have a constant supply of purified, fresh, and chilled water at all times.
Selecting the Best Refrigerator Water Filter
With so many options to choose from, it might feel daunting to go through all of them to choose the best refrigerator water filter.
Use the following factors as a buying guide for an easy, hassle-free purchase.
Capability
Impurities in tap water vary from one area to another, and not all filters can remove the same pollutants. That’s why understanding the type of contaminants present in your water will help you choose a filter that can effectively get rid of them.
Compatibility
The water filter you buy has to be compatible with your refrigerator, or else it won’t fit or at the very least, won’t work properly. If you’re unsure which filters are compatible with your fridge, contact the manufacturer’s customer support and they will help you find out.
Filtration Capacity
This specifies the number of water gallons that a filter can purify before it requires replacement.
Most manufacturers will mention a specific lifespan for the filter, but that isn’t an accurate estimate because it really depends on how much water is being purified by the filter.
A bigger family will consume more water, and thus will need to replace their water filter more frequently than a smaller family. Remember that you’ll be replacing the water filter often, so make sure you pick one that is easy for you to install.
Certification
For best water purification, you’ll want to look for filters that are NSF certified.
Cost
Refrigerator water filters may vary in price depending on whether they are made by the original manufacturer or if they are replacement brands.
If you’re on a tight budget, you can always go for the replacement filter for almost half the price of the OEM. Just make sure you check for quality and NSF certifications because as much as we love saving money, it’s essential to ensure you buy a filter that can actually get the job done flawlessly.
How Refrigerator Filters Work
The water filtration process is quite simple. Water is forced through activated carbon inside the filter, which traps pollutants and particles. The end result: clean and healthy drinking water.
Replacing Your Filter
Over time the pores of the carbon layer become clogged and water that moves through the filter is less efficiently purified and fewer contaminants will be removed.
Remember that it’s crucial to replace your water filter as frequently as recommended by the manufacturer to ensure that your water is being effectively purified and is safe to drink.
Best Refrigerator Water Filters
Whirlpool EveryDrop Water Filter
The EveryDrop Refrigerator water filter 1 is a high-quality filter by Whirlpool that gives you crystal clear water every time.
According to the filter data sheet provided by the manufacturer, this filter reduces 28 contaminants including lead, mercury, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and chlorine. It also effectively reduces up to 97% of chlorine taste and odor.
That makes it a great option if you’re looking for a filter that removes a huge number of contaminants.
The Everydrop water filter works with side-by-side, top-freezer and bottom-freezer refrigerators. It’s compatible with many manufacturers including Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, KitchenAid, and JennAir.
Replacing this filter is a breeze, and it is recommended to change it every 6 months for best results.
Specifications
● Capacity: 200 gallons
● Weight: 7.2 ounces
● Size: 2.5 x 2.5 x 8.7 inches
Pros
● Reduces a vast number of contaminants
● Compatible with many fridge manufacturers
● Easy to replace
● NSF certified
Cons
● Pricey
Frigidaire PureSource Ultra Ice and Water Filter
The Frigidaire PureSource water filter is perfect if you own a Frigidaire refrigerator. It’s capable of purifying the water by reducing lead, mercury, herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals.
It works with french-door and side-by-side refrigerators. When it comes to installation, the PureSource water filter may be a little tricky to install, but if you follow the instruction manual, you should be able to replace the filter yourself.
The manufacturer recommends changing the filter every 6 months at least, or more frequently if you consume more than 200 gallons of water in that period.
General Electric MWF Refrigerator Water Filter
If you’re looking for a water filter for your GE refrigerator, this is a guaranteed fit! The GE filter is compatible with GE side-by-side and bottom-freezer fridges.
This filter removes cysts that are resistant to chlorine, 99% of lead, along with 15 other contaminants. The manufacturer also claims that this model filters pharmaceuticals. However, this was tested by an independent lab and not by NSF.
Water tastes noticeably better after being purified using this filter. This GE filter is user-friendly and easy to replace. You should do so every 6 months or after filtering 300 gallons of water.
Specifications
● Capacity: 300 gallons
● Size: 11 x 2 x 2.4 inches
● Weight: 16 ounces
Pros
● Great for GE refrigerators
● NSF certified
Cons
● Not compatible with other fridges other than GE
Samsung Refrigerator Water Filter
Do you own a Samsung refrigerator? Then no doubt about it, the Samsung water filter is the best option for you.
Once you start using this filter, you’ll notice a huge difference in the taste and odor of the water.
This filter is great because it gets rid of many pollutants in the water, without touching the fluoride (extra sparkly smile here!). It works with french-door and side-by-side fridges and is compatible with many Samsung refrigerator models.
The Samsung water filter should be replaced every 6 months or every 300 gallons of filtered water, whichever comes first.
Specifications
● Capacity: 300 gallons
● Size: 2.13 x 2.13 x 8.86 inches
● Weight: 8.96 ounces
Pros
● NSF certified
● Perfect match for Samsung refrigerators
● Keeps fluoride in the water
Cons
● Only compatible with Samsung refrigerators
Amazon Basics Replacement GE MWF Refrigerator Water Filter
If you’re looking for a more affordable yet comparable refrigerator water filter to replace the OEM brand, then you should definitely consider the GE MWF water filter by AmazonBasics.
This filter fits with GE refrigerators and is just as good as the original brand. As a replacement filter, it’s very impressive. Using this filter will definitely give you satisfying results, and the water tastes great.
As with most filters, it should be replaced every 6 months. The process of replacing this filter is smooth and simple, so no worries here.
Specifications
● Capacity: 300 gallons
● Size:10 x 3.4 x 5.1 inches
● Weight (3-pack): 39.4 ounces
Pros
● OEM comparable quality at a great price
● NSF certified
Cons
● Only fits GE refrigerators
For more water guides and tips check out these articles:
After reviewing and comparing our favorite refrigerator water filters, we found that the EveryDrop by Whirlpool Refrigerator Water Filter 1 deserves to be at the top of our list.
If you’re looking for a high-quality filter that is easy to install, this little gem is the one!
This awesome filter gets rid of lead, mercury, pesticides, and chlorine (and other long complicated named stuff!)
Unlike the Frigidaire and Samsung water filters, the Everydrop filter is compatible with so many refrigerator models. It’s NSF certified, thus guaranteeing you clear, pure, and safe water every time.
Fred is the Ready Zeal owner and editor. He has been passionately pursuing all things emergency preparation since working alongside his grandfather as a boy growing up in the Midwest. When not working on the family homestead he can be found brewing coffee and reading a good book or backpacking in the wilderness. Contact Fred at fred@readyzeal.com