Best Refrigerator Water Filters Reviewed

Refrigerator Water Filters Compared

Buying a Fridge Water Filter for your home

Before we take a look at the best fridge water filters, you need to know what to look for. With that in mind, here are some of the most important factors to consider when you’re shopping around.

Contaminants Removed

There are lots of different contaminants that can be present in tap water, including chlorine, microbial cysts, and various heavy metals and chemicals. Not every fridge water filter will filter out every type of contaminant, so it's important to check the product specification of the water filter to make sure it filters out the contaminants you're most concerned about before you buy it.

Filtration Capacity

The filtration capacity of a water filter tells you how much water it can clean before you need to change the filter. It's usually measured in gallons, and capacity can vary substantially across different models. The capacity of most products will fall somewhere between 100-500 gallons. Generally, the higher the filtration capacity, the better.

Filter Compatibility with Fridge

Filter Life

All refrigerator filters have a lifespan. Most will need changing at least once a year and ideally once every 6 months, but it really depends on the product. Most manufacturers will specify the length of time or number of gallons before the filter will need replacing - keep an eye out for this.

Filter Micron Rating

Micron is short for one micrometer, or one-millionth of a meter. We use microns to measure the size of microscopic particles in water. For example, bacteria are roughly 4 microns, and lead is 2 microns. The filter micron rating will determine the size particles it can filter, so it's an important factor to consider when you're shopping. 

Think about your water source and what contaminants you really want to be filtered out and make sure you choose a filter with a suitable filter micron rating for your needs.

Ease of Installation

Another important factor to consider is how easy the filter is to install. Some filters are designed with features like quick connect fittings to make installation easier. If you’re not very handy with DIY, choose a filter that’s easy to install.

Certifications

1. Best GE MWF

First up, we have the Best GE MWF, the most popular refrigerator water filter we’ve come across. This product has nearly 5,000 ratings on Amazon and an average of 4.5/5 stores - and those numbers speak for themselves.

The best thing about this product is clearly the price. It’s not an original GE product, it’s made by a different company, and that’s why it offers such great value for money. You can get it for less than half the price of the official GE MWF filter.

It does a great job of filtering out the ‘aesthetic’ properties of water, like chlorine taste and odor. Unfortunately, it isn’t NSF-53 certified, which means it doesn’t filter out any microbes or bacteria. As such, if health is your primary concern, this probably isn’t the best choice of filter for you. You might be better off going directly to GE instead.

That being said, if you’re confident your water supply is already safe to drink and you’re just in it for the taste, you might as well save some money and go for this filter. It has a 6-month lifespan, which is pretty standard, and, according to the Amazon listing, a lifetime money-back manufacturer guarantee.

2. Culligan IC-EZ-4

Next up, we have the Culligan IC-EZ-4, the best generic inline water filter for any refrigerator. You don’t have to worry about compatibility with your fridge brand if you go for this filter as it hooks up directly to your water supply line.

Usually, inline filters are more difficult to install, but this product makes it easy thanks to the ‘EZ change’ replacement filter cartridge and quick connect fittings.

There are three different EZ filters to choose from: basic, advanced, and premium. The certification and micron rating differs depending on which one you go for. The more expensive the model, the more contaminants the filter will remove. Basic filters are cheap but can only remove aesthetic chlorine taste and odor, whereas premium filters cost more but remove things like lead, cysts, VOCs, and mercury.

I’d recommend investing in a premium filter if you’re worried about how safe your water supply is to drink.

3. ICEPURE UKF8001

The ICEPURE UKF8001 is another top-rated aftermarket water filter that’s ideal for anyone whose primary concern is taste and odor. It’s certified to NSF-42 standards, which means it’ll do a great job of neutralizing bad taste, but it won’t necessarily get rid of the harmful bacteria, microbes, and other potentially health-detrimental contaminants in your water supply

It’s also tested and certified by WQA and IAPMP to NSF 372 standards and contains less than 0.25% lead content, which should provide some peace of mind that it’s safe to use.

The capacity is 300 gallons, which should last you around 6 months. The best thing about this product for me, though, is how tasty it makes your water. It uses a high-grade natural coconut carbon block filter to deliver cleaner, more delicious water straight to your dispenser.

4. LG LT700P

Moving onto the LG LT700P, probably the best water filter for LG refrigerators. If you have an LG refrigerator at home and you’re looking for a replacement water filter, this is the way to go. Just make sure you enter your refrigerator model number on the Amazon page first to double-check that it’s compatible.

This water filter is an OEM product directly from the LG brand, so you know it’s going to be high quality and do what it’s supposed to - and what it’s supposed to do is get rid of all the nasty stuff from your drinking water. That includes harmful contaminants like lead, mercury, and benzene, as well as the stuff that makes your water taste bad.

It costs a little more than aftermarket brand alternatives, but I guess you get what you pay for!

5. Samsung Da29-00020b-1P

If you’re looking for the best water filter for Samsung refrigerators, look no further than the Samsung Da29-00020b-1P. This filter is suitable for many different models of Samsung refrigerator, but, as always, make sure you check your specific model against the specification sheet first.

Thanks to the high-grade carbon block Samsung have used, this filter can remove over 99% of potentially harmful contaminants and is certified to NSF-42 and NSF-53 standards.

It can reduce chlorine taste and odor, various heavy metals and chemicals, and microbial cysts. It’s also part of Samsung genuine parts, so you can rest assured that it’s made by a reputable brand.

6. Kenmore LG

Moving on from Samsung to Kenmore, our top pick for the best water filter for Kenmore refrigerators has to be the Kenmore LG.

This is another excellent OEM filter that utilizes a carbon block made of pure coconut shells to absorb all the nasty stuff you don’t want and deliver great-tasting water through your dispenser. It’s BPA and lead-free as it uses only food-grade materials.

Like all genuine Kenmore products, it’s rigorously tested to ensure that it does a great job of reducing contaminants while retaining beneficial minerals and fluoride and meets both NSF/ANSI standards 42 and 53. 

It has a 0.52-micron rating, which is small enough to trap the teeny-tiny microbes and particulates that you don’t want in your drinking water.

7. General Electric MWF

For all of you homeowners with GE refrigerators, allow me to present the General Electric MWF - the best water filter for GE refrigerators.

Like most of the OEM products we’ve talked about so far, this is certified to both NSF-42 and NSF-53 standards, which means it removes both aesthetic and health-related contaminants.

However, this product takes it one step further. On top of the regular contaminants covered by the NSF certification, GE also claims that this filter can reduce specific pharmaceutical contaminants, like Ibuprofen and Atenolol. An independent laboratory has verified these claims.

Of course, pharmaceutical traces won’t be present in every water source, but it’s good to know just in case, right?

Another great thing about the MWF is the twist and lock design that makes installation and filter replacement a cinch. It's guaranteed to fit compatible select GE side-by-side and bottom-freezer refrigerators. A 30-day warranty also covers you for any manufacturer defects.

8. Frigidaire FBA_ULTRAWF

The FBA_ULTRAWF is the best water filter for frigidaire refrigerators. If you have a fridge from this brand, this is your go-to replacement filter.

Frigidaire points out that OEM products like this are the best way to go for Frigidaire filters as imitation aftermarket filters aren't guaranteed to deliver the quality filtration that you need. OEM products are a little pricier, but they're more likely to last the whole product life and save you money in the long run.

Again, this product is certified to NSF/ANSI standards 42 and 53, so it removes all the critical health-related stuff like certain VOCs and heavy metals, as well as chlorine. The capacity is 200 gallons, which is around 3200 8-ounce glasses of water. That’s a lot of water.

9. EveryDrop

The number one best water filter for Whirlpool refrigerators has to be EveryDrop. It can be used in any side-by-side, top freezer and bottom freezer refrigerators that accept Filter 1.

This is also actually the first and only product on the list to have NSF-401 certification, as well as NSF-42 and NSF-53.

NSF-401 is only given to filters for "emerging contaminants for drinking water," like pharmaceuticals and chemicals that aren't regulated by the EPA. This gives you even more peace of mind knowing that the water that comes out of your fridge dispenser is going to be as safe and healthy as possible.

The EveryDrop filter is also approved by brands including Maytag, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Amana.

10. GE RPWFE

And last but not least, we have the GE RPWFE, the best water filter for french door refrigerators. In terms of filtration quality, the RPWFE has a lot in common with the last GE filter we talked about, the MWF. For example, both filters are NWF-42 and 53 certified and have a respectable 300-gallon capacity.

The main difference between them is that this one is compatible with GE french-door refrigerators rather than side-by-side and bottom-freezer refrigerators. If you have a french-door GE refrigerator, and you want an OEM product, this is the filter for you.

Once you've bought it, it only takes a few minutes to replace it. You don't need any tools; you can just pop the cartridge straight in and enjoy your safe, tasty, chloramine-free water straight away.

Types of Fridge Water Filters

We can categorize the different kinds of fridge water filters based on how and where they attach to your refrigerator water dispenser. Three of the most popular types are push-in, twist-in, and inline water filters.

Installing Fridge Water Filters

Installing fridge water filters is usually pretty straightforward, but the installation process will be different for different refrigerator brands. You can consult the table below to find a video with installation instructions for some of the most popular brands.

French Door Refrigerators

Here’s a brief 10-step guide on how to install and replace water filters for french door refrigerators:

All About Water Contaminants

Although we all like to think the water that comes from our taps is safe and healthy to drink, and this may well be true. However, the truth is that our tap water often contains at least a small amount of contaminants.

These contaminants can enter the water during different stages of the treatment, filtration, and supply process. Some of them can be harmful to human health when consumed at high levels, and others may be harmless. Here are the major contaminants that fridge water filters can eliminate.

Lead

Chlorine

Chlorine is used in water treatment to eliminate harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites. However, that comes at a cost - it doesn’t taste good. Not only that, but it’s also potentially harmful when consumed in large amounts. Fortunately, refrigerator water filters can remove it from your water supply.

VOCs

VOCs are volatile organic compounds, a group of chemicals that can dissolve in water and vaporize in the air. The EPA estimates that VOCs are in as much as 20% of the US’ water supply. The reason they’re so prevalent is that they’re used often in daily life and can enter drinking water supplies from lots of different sources, like oil spills.

There are many different VOC compounds, each of which has different potential human health effects. VOC water filters can filter out VOCs using activated carbon.

Chloramine

People also Ask (FAQs)

Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about refrigerator water filters.

Where do I find my refrigerator water filter? Where is it located in my refrigerator?

It depends on your model of fridge, but most refrigerator filters are located either in the grille at the bottom of the refrigerator, or in the top right corner.

How do refrigerator water filters work?

Water flows through the refrigerator water filter before it reaches the dispenser. As it does so, it has to travel through several different filter mediums that allow the water to pass through but remove specific contaminants.

Various different kinds of filter mediums are used in refrigerator water filters, but some of the most common are large mechanical filters, fine mechanical filters, and activated carbon filters.

Large mechanical filters are made out of porous materials like sand or fiber and remove large contaminants like debris and rust. Fine mechanical filters have even tinier gaps to filter out much smaller contaminants, like bacteria and organic compounds, and activated carbon filters have lots of parasites to trap most of the remaining undesirable elements, including chlorine.

Why do you need to replace fridge water filters?

Every time you use your refrigerator water filter, contaminants become trapped in the filter. Over time, this ‘clogs up’ the filter, making it less effective and resulting in a poorly working system.

At some point, you’ll need to replace your fridge water filter. If you don't, the filter may not do its job correctly, and contaminants may begin to get through. The flow rate of the water may also slow down as the water struggles to get through the clogged filter.

When and how often do I need to replace my fridge filter?

Most filters will need to be changed roughly once every 6 months, and certainly no later than once a year. However, it really depends on the model of filter you’re using, so you should always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. When you replace the filter with a new one, flush out your water dispenser by draining 1-2 pint glasses from it.

What is the difference between using OEM or aftermarket fridge filters?

OEM filters are filters that come from the same brand as your refrigerator, whereas aftermarket filters aren't. Aftermarket fridge filters tend to be cheaper as you don't end up paying for the brand name, and most of the time, there's little difference between them in terms of performance and filtration capabilities.

It's essential to use your own judgment as some aftermarket fridge filters can cut corners and be poor quality.

What is remineralization?

Remineralization is the process of adding back some of the beneficial minerals that might be absent from your filtered water, like calcium and magnesium. This can be achieved by using remineralizing water filters.

How do I determine my refrigerator model number?

You should be able to find your refrigerator model number on a label somewhere inside your fridge. It may be on the inner walls or at the bottom behind the salad compartment.

Conclusion