Refrigerator H2O Filter Cartridges

[rp2813]

I'm overdue to replace the filter cartridge on my 2009 KA fridge.   I tend to wait at least a year between filter changes, and I think the current filter has been in place for closer to two years.  Over the years, the standard Whirlpool replacements have done a great job of getting rid of the chlorine taste and odor as well as retaining other undesirable elements, and for a lot longer than the recommended period of six months.

 

I've checked prices and have found a couple of sources, "Mountain Flow" and "Filter Source" that offer two replacement filters for less than the price of one "Every Drop" brand.

 

Has anyone had experience with either of these brands?  I don't need to buy two at once, but this seems to make sense, unless these filters are somehow inferior.

 

 

https://morefilter.com/products/online-whirlpool-4396841-edr3rxd1-water-filter-filter3-2pcs?variant=32063838945385&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoaz3BRDnARIsAF1RfLc_S5

 

[combo52]

Refrigerator water Filters

In light use can easily go around three years, We see a lot of problems that often result in expensive service calls with non-genuine filters. Leaks, poor flow, ruined filter-block valves and funny pulsing noises.

 

Your best bet by far is to ditch the expensive undersized water filters from the appliance manufacturer and install a much larger filter under the sink, in the basement etc. 

 

The much better replacement cartridges are twice to three times the capacity and size and 1/2 the cost and you are not throwing big hunks of plastic away [ along with $50 ] every time you change one.

 

John L.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks John.  This fridge has had WP-approved filters its whole life so I'll stick with that, although the pre-Every Drop cartridges for WP (I can't remember the brand) did have problems with pulsing noises.  The Every Drop currently in use has been a welcome silent change for the better. 

 

I do wish the cartridges were recyclable.   Between plastic and Teflon, we're killing the planet and ourselves.

 

I remember reading about my KA fridge model and seeing complaints about problems after replacing the cartridge.  Thanks again for the advice on the probable cause.

 

[mattl]

Look for a filter rated as follows:

NSF 401 & 53 & 42 & 372 Certified

<ul>
<li>NSF 42 certified to reduce Chlorine, Taste and Odor</li>
<li>NSF 53 certified to remove Lead, Cyst, Mercury, Benzene and Endrin</li>
<li>NSF 401 certified to remove Phenytoin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Estrone, Bisphenol A and Nonyl phenol</li>
</ul>
This is the one I use:

 

 

 

Waterdrop Replacement for Whirlpool® 4396508 Refrigerator Water Filter by NSF 42& 372

NSF 42 certified to reduce Chlorine, Taste and Odor Works exactly like the original filter without water leaks Provides 6 months or 300 gallons of refreshing water

www.water-filter.com

 

[askolover]

I've ordered generic ones from ebay with no issues.  Currently have the every drop name brand in there as found a deal on ebay cheap.  I have a filter under the sink and the fridge is tied in with that from the previous fridge that didn't have a filter.  So I can go well over a year without a change (it just polishes the water a bit more and makes it taste SOOO much better being filtered twice!)

 

[sudsmaster]

Matt,

 

Those are good prices, but the filter for my KA fridge in NSF 53 cert is consistently listed as "Out of Stock" with no hint of when it will be back in stock.

 

I'm interested in that cert because of the lead removal rating.

 

Been using Clear Choice filters, which are inexpensive enough. But the last one kind of rattled before I installed it and the taste is not what I would expect. I figure the carbon filter broke in two and is not filtering as good as it should. I have a spare and will probably be installing that one sooner than later. And the Clear Choice filters have no NSF cert whatsoever. Go figure.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Like John said, when I was servicing Miele we had brackets for the filters that would break if too much pressure was put on them, which is what some aftermarket filters did. But, I can't blame people for buying them when Miele charges $73 a pop for a 6-month filter!

Chuck

 

[mattl]

Amazon has a pretty good selection if you search with those ratings.  I want the cleanest water, my county does a pretty good job with water from Lake Huron but worry about some drugs slipping in so want a 401 cert. I know the odds are low but why take the chance when a filter will remove more of the trace contaminates.

 

[sudsmaster]

I found some of the NSF 53 filters on eBay today, and ordered three packs of 2 (six filters). That should last a while. The brand is Waterdrop Advanced. Hopefully what arrives will be what I think I ordered, LOL.

 

NSF 53 is needed to filter out lead. I saw a documentary on Flynt, Michigan last week and since then have been determined to make sure the fridge filter takes care of it.

 

AFAIK, a regular activated charcoal filter should filter out lead too, but the NSF rating may be a better indication.

 

Why I'm concerned: this is an older house with steel piping to where the fridge is. Galvanized steel can contain lead (it's a contaminant of the zinc). Probably not a big deal, but... About half the house was re-piped back in the 70's with copper, mainly to the kitchen sink, laundry closet near the kitchen, and master bedroom/bath addition. And given the time frame, the solder used for that probably contains lead, too. AFAIK there's no lead pipe here, though. And normally scale builds up inside the pipes which limits the leaching of lead, unless there's a water chemistry change that removes the scale and releases the lead.  Whew.

 

Of course at my age, this is not such a big concern... probably already have some lead poisoning, and I'm still coherent @#$@#$&&. But for peace of mind, and any kids that may visit, less lead is always better.

 

 

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Whirlpool Filter

We have always use the Whirlpool branded filters, and now use the Waterdrop filters. We always say that our water is the best tasting in comparison to any other Refrigerators, bottled water, etc. We typically use ours for a year as well. No issues with flow, but it probably does not filter as well.
I actually have a classmate that has a well, and was drinking water from his Refrigerator all day long. They were having health issues and discovered that they had insane amounts of Arsenic in their water. The water filter unfortunately was not enough. They were drinking liquid poison for years.

 

[sudsmaster]

Arsenic in well water

Yikes!

 

This may be why it's important to get well water tested.

 

I've got a well here, but use city water for drinking/bathing/etc.

 

I use the well water for watering the landscape and garden.

 

Once I used it to top off the koi pond and lost a lot of fish.

 

Found out later a neighboring property - about six feet lower than mine - had a major sanitary sewer leak. They got that fixed and the well water smelled a lot better after that. But I still will never use the well water for anything other than watering the lawn and plants. I only use city water to top off the fish pond.