When you think about it, if your refrigerator had a water dispenser, it would cut down on a lot of plastic bottles that get thrown into landfills every year. To make the best of the portable water filter market, you’ll want to choose a filter that easy to transport (and will fit your personal mug) while also being as compact as possible.
Below, you’ll find my top refrigerators water filters of 2019 review along with a quick buying guide.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Culligan IC 4 EZ-Change Inline Icemaker and Refrigerator Filtration System | Best Overall |  |
| Best GE MWF Refrigerator Water Filter Smartwater Compatible Cartridge | Budget Pick |  |
| EveryDrop by Whirlpool Refrigerator Water Filter 1 | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Culligan IC 4 EZ-Change Inline Icemaker and Refrigerator Filtration System
Pros:
- Clear instructions make installation super simple
- Helps
Cons:
- A little bulky for the fridge
- Pricey
We’ve reviewed may water filters from Cuisinart to Brita, and quite frankly, the best filter may just be the Culligan IC-EZ. This water filter can handle up to 250 gallons of water, and the great thing is, the kit itself comes with two cartridges. Chances are, you won’t have to replace the cartridges for at least one year. It doesn’t get any better than that, friends.
This is about as opposite as you can get from the kettle for boiling water method. However, when it comes to getting your water not just clean, but actually healthier, you need a quality filter. The benefits of filtered water go beyond the clean, great-tasting water. It can also help protect you from lead contaminants, which are harmful to your skin, kidneys, and liver.
Installing this filter is simple, and there’s no need to remove the freezer doors. A nifty pop-up design allows for quick refill and replacement. An impressive, high-filtration rate of 2 microns removes more contaminants/particles.
2. LG LT700P
Pros:
- Long-lasting
- Certified to reduce chlorine and other contaminants deemed harmful
- Fair price
- Perfect for larger families
- Excellent customer service
- BPA-free plastic casing
Cons:
- Higher-than-average water pressure required
- Plastic casing is not suitable for households with young children
This purchase is an absolute no-brainer if you have a larger family. The LG LT700P-6 is an NSF42 certified refrigerator water filter with a 200 gallon capacity and NSF53 certified tap water filter. It is known to reduce chlorine, lead, mercury, and other contaminants from your water source.
The unit boasts an impressive lifespan of six months and can easily be installed without the requirement of professional help. The casing is BPA-free and the filter has a standard size of 10.6 x 2.65 x 4.9 inches.
Reviewers appear to be pleased with the ease of installation and the product quality that it provides for the price. However, there are some reviews of slightly elevated water pressure (it was not specified what is “elevated” exactly and at what pressure point it gets too high) and some people stated that there may be a strong chemical smell for a few weeks after installing the water filter.
3. Best GE MWF Refrigerator Water Filter Smartwater Compatible Cartridge
Pros:
- Certified to remove 99% of a wide-range of impurities
- Has a Smartwater compatible design
- Quick and easy installation
- Comes with a quality water filter cartridge
- Removes any chlorine odor and taste
- Cartridge need not be changed before the 6 months limit
- Compatible with all standard refrigerators and uses a universal connection system
- Compatible with all standard refrigerators
Cons:
- Doesn’t scale down fluoride, lead, or mercury
- Cartridge doesn’t last as long as advertised
- Not as easy to remove as advertised
You might be wondering why this model out of all the models we tested made it to our Best of Review list. There are a few reasons why it made it. For starters, the way the filter operates is really amazing. It removes 99% of chlorine as well as other bad stuff. This is really important because it reduces the chances of you developing kidney issues or even some kind of cancer in the future. Plus, it removes bacteria, viruses, and parasites. In that way, you can say that you’re drinking clean and pure water.
4. ICEPURE UKF8001 Replacement Whirlpool Filter 4
Pros:
- Compatible with a variety of refrigerator brands
- Easy to install
Water Filter GE,FINERFILTER Refrigerator Water Filter, PUR,EF-6,SGF260, SRWF800 CH,WGR320,WGR10910AB.
If you’re looking for the best refrigerator water filters that can get the job done well and are compatible with a variety of models, then this set of two filters from ICEPURE UKF8001 would be an ideal choice for you.
What’s neat about this particular set is that it has a 360-degree rotating neck that makes installation really easy. The filters have a 5/8-inch connection, so you can simply use the inlet and outlet that your fridge already has. Installation usually doesn’t take longer than 10-15 minutes, and it requires no special tools.
5. General Electric MWF Refrigerator Water Filter
Pros:
- By far the most popular fridge water filter
- Amazing quality of water
- The best value for money
This is the top rated water filter for refrigerators because it produces great tasting water from your refrigerator. Generating two gallons of water each day, this filter fits well into any standard refrigerator.
A unique design allows cold water to pass through while catching sediment, such as dust and rust the filters out. It can do this because of the unique combination of activated carbon and ion exchange resin. It’s preferable to have this type of filter in your refrigerator because it catches sediment 30% more efficiently than sediment filters.
In terms of filtration, it’s great because it catches smaller dirt particles than other filters. At 0.2 microns, it’s good at catching bacteria as well. Interestingly, the GE MWF refrigerator filter has no moving parts for longer lasting filter cartridges.
6. Samsung Da29-00020b-1P Refrigerator Water Filter 1 Pack
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Easy to install
- Prevents strain on appliances
- Great flow rate
The Samsung Da29-00020b-1P Refrigerator Water Filter is a great low-cost option for those looking for a filter for their refrigerator.
While some other filters can be a bit more expensive, this one isn’t. It’s also pretty easy to install and requires no tools to complete.
It reduces the load on your refrigerator by providing ice-cold water direct from the dispenser. There’s no need to turn on the refrigerator and no need to open it to get ice-cold water.
7. EveryDrop by Whirlpool Refrigerator Water Filter 1
Pros:
- Very economical
- Easy to install
- Toxic chemical free
- Ready to use
- Highly rated, most popular, and most purchased
- Less expensive in the long run
Note: You can also get the EveryDrop replacement filters, PRF1, PRF8, PRF-RG6, PRF-RG6-L, PRF-R and the PRF-R-L to replace your current water filter cartridges.
8. Frigidaire ULTRAWF PureSource Ultra Water Filter
Pros:
- Good technical specifications – as advertised
- Easy to use and quick to install
- Good customer service
There are plenty of good reasons why our top choice is this PureSource Ultra water filter from Frigidaire. It does cost more than other filters on the market, but its value and efficiency make it all worth it. First off, it’s one of the only filters that comes with a multi-stage process that includes the use of a carbon block and ion exchange resin.
The pure carbon block removes most of the contaminants, while the resin removes most of the heavy metals and chemicals. The filter replacement lasts about 6 months or 160 gallons, whichever comes first.
One of the features that caught our attention is its fast flow rate and its low pressure drop. That means you won’t have to wait too long to get a glass of drinkable water, and this filter won’t put too much stress on the water supply.
9. GE RPWFE Refrigerator Water Filter
Pros:
- Reduces bad taste and odor from tap water
- High Flow Rate
- Money Saver
- Easy to install
GE RPWFE refrigerator water filter is the best choice to use if you are on a tight budget. This water filter has been designed with your budget in mind. Although it’s a little cheaper than the hundreds of other water filters out there, it offers a durable performance and a high flow rate.
This system uses activated carbon block that does a good job of removing contaminants like asbestos, chlorine, dirt, and sediment. With this filter installed in your fridge, you can use the water in your tap for preparing your morning coffee, tea, and other beverages. This refrigerator water filter also has a neutral taste that won’t affect the taste of your beverages.
Last but not the least, GE RPWFE uses a universal design. This means that you can use it with just about any brand and model without any difficulty.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who makes the best refrigerator water filters?
Carbon filters are the best filter for removing contaminants from your water, often including contaminants you can't even see. While some still use the older charcoal filter to trap contaminants, the only way to reliably clean your water is with a carbon filter. While some people like to make their own pitchers with charcoal, this filter is far better than that.
Many people will claim that the filter is the best but fail to name the brand or manufacturer of the filter they are recommending. This is because many brands produce carbon-based filters.
Filters containing activated charcoal or charcoal that has been burned are the only type of filters that are truly useful for filtering your water. Anything else will not filter out all contaminants, so it may still leave your water tasting weird or not refreshing. The brand that makes these is usually not important but the company that makes the filter is.
Are refrigerator water filters any good?
Many people won’t admit it, but dirty water still comes out of their faucet. As water travels over rocks in underground pipes, it can pick up various impurities that your refrigerator water filter can remove.
The good news is that if you have a refrigerator water filter, you can have clean water on demand. As opposed to purchasing bottled water, installing a refrigerator water filter will save you hundreds of dollars and reduce your carbon footprint.
What is the best tasting water filter?
For a water filter to be best tasting, it should get rid of the taste of the water straight from your faucet by eliminating the chlorine and chloramines at the source. Additionally, if the filter is going to be installed under the sink, it should also remove any metallic or plastic taste and odor from the water.
That being said, one of the more important components of a great tasting water filter is its own flavor; and if you filter your water, it is going to taste funny at first, no matter what. Over time, your body will start to be used to the flavor of the water and you won't even think about it anymore. However, if your water tastes very bad or has a weird musty flavor, then you will have a harder time drinking enough water every day.
How long do refrigerator water filters really last?
In order to determine the lifespan of your water filter, you first need to know how often you expect to change the filter. This question varies greatly but is directly related to the level of contaminants in your local water supply. If you have unfiltered tap water in Flint, Michigan then you want to change the filter a lot more often compared to someone in Los Angeles.
There are some general rules of thumb though:
- Filtered water lasts longest in stainless steel bottles, where most people are drinking at least 16 ounces a day
- Filtered water lasts from 3 months to a year depending on the contaminants in your water supply and how much water you usually drink
- Filtered water lasts for about a month when used in built-in refrigerator filters or in a refrigerator that has an included water cooler
Conclusion
Removing impurities from your drinking water is an important decision that needs to be made well before you actually need to buy a filter. You have to consider many factors before you buy one, including ease of installation, ease of replacement costs, and the durability of the filter. That’s why we’ve decided to share our personal experience with you to help you make the best possible option when choosing that next water filter.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Culligan IC 4 EZ-Change Inline Icemaker and Refrigerator Filtration System | Best Overall | |
| Best GE MWF Refrigerator Water Filter Smartwater Compatible Cartridge | Budget Pick | |
| EveryDrop by Whirlpool Refrigerator Water Filter 1 | Upgrade Pick | |