Refrigerator water filters are a super convenient way to get clean drinking water straight from your fridge, but what exactly are they removing from your water? Well, they’re designed to target some of the most common contaminants in tap water to improve both taste and safety. However, it’s important to know that fridge filters have their limitations and might not be as thorough as other filtration systems like reverse osmosis.
Here’s a breakdown of what most refrigerator water filters can remove and what they might miss.
What Refrigerator Water Filters Remove
1. Chlorine
Chlorine is commonly used in municipal water treatment plants to disinfect water, but it often leaves an unpleasant taste and smell. Refrigerator filters usually include activated carbon, which is excellent at removing chlorine.
- Impact on Water: Chlorine can cause a chemical taste and odor in tap water.
- Effectiveness: Most refrigerator filters effectively reduce chlorine levels, making water taste and smell better.
2. Lead
Older homes or municipal systems with aging pipes may contain lead, which can leach into the water. Lead is a serious contaminant, especially harmful to children and pregnant women.
- Impact on Water: Lead can cause serious health issues, including developmental problems in children.
- Effectiveness: Many refrigerator filters, especially those certified by NSF 53, can reduce lead to safe levels.
3. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs, such as pesticides, herbicides, and industrial chemicals, can make their way into drinking water through pollution. Refrigerator filters with carbon blocks can trap some VOCs.
- Impact on Water: VOCs can contribute to a variety of health risks, including cancer and liver problems.
- Effectiveness: Fridge filters can reduce some VOCs, but their effectiveness may vary depending on the specific filter.
4. Heavy Metals
In addition to lead, other heavy metals like mercury, copper, and cadmium can be found in tap water. These metals are harmful in high concentrations and are usually reduced by activated carbon filters.
- Impact on Water: Long-term exposure to heavy metals can damage organs, including the brain and kidneys.
- Effectiveness: Refrigerator filters can help reduce these heavy metals, though more advanced filtration systems are typically better at eliminating them completely.
5. Cysts and Microorganisms
Some refrigerator filters, especially those with NSF 53 certification, are capable of removing cysts, like Giardia and Cryptosporidium. These are common parasites that can cause gastrointestinal issues.
- Impact on Water: Cysts are resistant to chlorine and can survive in treated water, causing illness.
- Effectiveness: Certain fridge filters effectively reduce cysts, but bacteria and viruses are usually beyond their scope.
6. Sediment and Particulates
Sediment like dirt, rust, and sand can get into your water supply through old or damaged pipes. Fridge filters usually include a mechanical filtration component that helps trap these particles.
- Impact on Water: Sediment can make water look cloudy and affect taste.
- Effectiveness: Most refrigerator filters easily handle sediment, making the water clearer and more pleasant to drink.
What Refrigerator Water Filters Don’t Remove
1. Fluoride
Most refrigerator water filters do not remove fluoride, which is added to many municipal water supplies to promote dental health. If fluoride removal is important to you, you’ll need a specialized filter, such as a reverse osmosis system.
2. Viruses and Bacteria
While some fridge filters can handle cysts, they typically don’t remove smaller microorganisms like viruses and bacteria. For microbiological protection, more advanced filtration methods (like UV filters or reverse osmosis) are required.
3. Pharmaceuticals
Many refrigerator filters aren’t specifically designed to remove pharmaceutical residues that may be present in water, such as traces of medications. This would require a more comprehensive filtration system.
4. PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)
PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are resistant to typical water treatment processes and require advanced filtration systems, such as reverse osmosis, to be effectively removed. Most standard refrigerator filters do not remove PFAS.
Certifications to Look For
When choosing a refrigerator water filter, look for the following certifications to understand what contaminants it removes:
- NSF 42: Focuses on improving water taste and odor by removing chlorine and particulate matter.
- NSF 53: Indicates the filter reduces health-related contaminants like lead, VOCs, and cysts.
- NSF 401: Covers emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals and some chemicals (less common in fridge filters).
Quick Summary: What Refrigerator Filters Handle
| Contaminant | Common in Tap Water? | Does a Fridge Filter Remove It? |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | Yes | Yes |
| Lead | Yes | Yes (NSF 53 certified filters) |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) | Sometimes | Some VOCs, depending on filter |
| Heavy Metals (Mercury, Copper) | Yes | Yes, but advanced systems do better |
| Cysts (Giardia, Cryptosporidium) | Yes | Yes (NSF 53 filters) |
| Sediment (Dirt, Rust) | Yes | Yes |
| Fluoride | Yes | No |
| Viruses and Bacteria | Rare | No |
| Pharmaceuticals | Sometimes | No |
| PFAS (Forever Chemicals) | Sometimes | No |
Final Thoughts
Refrigerator water filters do a good job handling the basics like chlorine, lead, cysts, and sediment, but they’re limited when it comes to more difficult contaminants like fluoride, bacteria, and PFAS. If you want to get rid of every last contaminant, a more comprehensive system like reverse osmosis or a whole-house filtration system might be necessary.
That said, for everyday use, a fridge filter is a great way to improve the taste and safety of your drinking water without much hassle. Just make sure you’re replacing the filter on time—usually every 6 months—for the best results!