Most manufacturers recommend changing your refrigerator filter every six months and while some people follow these guidelines, we cannot blame you for not doing so.
Refrigerator filters go for up to $50 and it’s understandable to feel like spending this amount twice a year is a rip-off.
I mean, that’s several packs of your favorite beer or even pizza! The truth is that you need to change your refrigerator filter but probably not as often as your manufacturer says.
Check out our Discount Water Filters/refrigerator water filter replacement solutions for efficient filtration options.
What’s Inside the Water Filter in Your Refrigerator?
If you imagine that an old refrigerator water filter is filled with dirt and slime, you are in for a rude shock.
Most filters have a chemical and physical component to remove impurities from your water. The water first passes through a fine mesh which removes large impurities like insects or soil.
Next, water passes through activated carbon which removes impurities and into the filter through a chemical reaction.
Activated carbon filters come highly recommended due to their efficiency.
The charcoal surface traps large impurities in the water while the carbon absorbs remaining contaminants like VOCs, volatile organic compounds, or lead.
The chemical reaction we mentioned earlier helps to remove chlorine from your drinking water.
Generally, the water filter in your refrigerator is meant to improve the taste of your water. Filters are an excellent option for families who suspect their water contains nitrates, arsenic, or lead from their plumbing system.
Why You Need to Replace Your Water Filter
So, the light in your fridge is flashing like the Fourth of July. It’s a reminder to change the water filter.
If your drinking water still tastes fine, you may have trouble deciding if you are really going to change the filter. Here’s how we see it.
Your water filter collects all forms of dirt and contaminants while in use.
If you do not change it, it might become less effective, allowing some contaminants to leak into your water with adverse effects on your health.
Water filters from different manufacturers have varying life spans, mostly depending on the amount of water you have filtered and how long you’ve used them.
However, it is essential to note that your water filter could stay in good shape for longer if your home water is regularly tested by your municipality and has no weird taste.
If you keep your water filter for too long, the trapped contaminants might leak back into your water.
NSF Certification
With numerous water filter brands in the market, it helps to know how to check for authentic products. The CDC recommends checking that your water filter has an NSF mark.
That usually means that the filter complies with public health standards and has been analyzed and approved by NSF International.
NSF conducts impromptu and regular checks on products to ensure that they are up to standard and safe for your family.
The research company tests water treatment gadgets for the following standards:
- Odor
- Taste
- Reverse osmosis
- Cyst reduction
- Distillation
If a refrigerator water filter does not have the NSF stamp of evaluation, we recommend that you look elsewhere.
Bacteria Build-Up
Although your water filter removes a lot of impurities from your water, it is not necessarily the cleanest. In fact, researchers report that the amount of bacteria on your filter increases as you filter more water.
While this could be good or harmful bacteria, the CDC warns that your filter could cause bacteria build-up inside your plumbing system.
As such, it would be best to wear gloves and practice thorough hygiene when changing cartridges.
What Happens When You Don’t Replace Your Water Filter?
- Millions of Americans get their home water supply from systems that do not satisfy federal standards. You could be exposing yourself or your household to harmful chemicals inside the water.
- If your home has old lead pipes, traces of the metal could leak into your drinking water and make you sick.
- Your home water could contain asbestos traces from pipe erosion, atmospheric pollution, or industrial waste. Asbestos has been linked to severe respiratory problems like lung cancer.
- Although drinking water has low mercury levels, continued consumption of such water could cause kidney and brain damage.
The Environmental Protection Agency monitors all public water systems and ensures safe water for most American homes.
However, although America is considered to have one of the safest water systems globally, numerous contagions can compromise your drinking water quality.
That is why you need to change your refrigerator water filter to ensure that you consume clean and odor-free water.