Chlorine – Water Treatment

Do you have a refrigerator with a water and ice dispenser? If so, your refrigerator probably has a water filter that helps keep your drinking water clean and free of harmful contaminants like chlorine. Most refrigerator filters use activated carbon to remove chlorine and other impurities from your water. The best refrigerator filters remove 99+% of chlorine and can last 6 months or longer before they need to be replaced. However, not all filters are created equal. Some fridge filters only contain a small amount of activated carbon, so they don't remove all of the chlorine and may only last a few months. Make sure to purchase a filter that has been certified by NSF International to ensure you're getting the best quality product possible. Continue reading to learn more about how refrigerator water filters work and what you can do to remove chlorine and other contaminants from your drinking water. How Do Refrigerator Filters Work Activated carbon is how fridge filters remove chlorine. Most refrigerator filters use a combination of particle filtration and granular activated carbon (GAC) to treat water. The particle filter is important to remove large contaminants like dirt, rust, and sediment from your water. This protects all of the components inside your refrigerator from fouling or becoming plugged with solids. The GAC is what actually removes the chlorine taste and odor from your drinking water. As water passes through the GAC, the chlorine molecules attach to the carbon surface and are removed from the water. One gram of activated carbon can have a surface area in excess of 33,000 square feet. This incredible property makes it the perfect element for removing contaminants like chlorine from your water. Some filters also contain a final stage of filtration called a polishing filter. This is typically a very fine particle filter that removes any remaining contaminants before the water reaches your ice maker or drinking water dispenser. But be careful, not every refrigerator filter used activated carbon. Even more confusing, many manufacturers don’t tell you what is in their filters at all. Are Refrigerator Filters Good at Removing Chlorine Most refrigerator filters can remove chlorine from your water. Refrigerator water filters are very good at they're primary job - removing chlorine taste, odor and sediment from your water. However, it's important to understand that even the best filter can't remove 100% of the chlorine. Fortunately, chlorine isn't a health concern, and it only makes your water taste and small like a swimming pool. Refrigerator filters remove most chlorine Most refrigerator filters remove between 97 to 99% of chlorine from your drinking water. However, there are still trace amounts of chlorine that can remain in your water. Most refrigerator water filters and icemaker filters use activated carbon to treat water. The activated carbon in the filter is able to remove chlorine, just like other types of home water filters. However, not all filters are made equal. Some refrigerator filters only use sediment filters and can't remove chlorine from your water. Many others are not tested by independent testing agencies, so you don't know how well they really work. Chloramine is difficult to remove In addition to chlorine, about 20% of public water systems use chloramines as a disinfectant rather than chlorine. Chloramines are very difficult to remove from water, even with activated carbon. If your water department uses chloramines, you will need a filter that contains catalytic carbon. This is a special type of carbon that is able to remove chloramines from water. Refrigerator Filter Maintenance Filter maintenance is the key to effectively removing chlorine from your drinking water. Refrigerator filters work well at removing chloring from your water. However, they all have a finite life, and you have to replace them routinely to maintain good water quality. It's important to change your refrigerator filter every six months, or as often as the manufacturer recommends. This will ensure that your water tastes great and that you have the highest quality drinking water possible. You should also clean your refrigerator regularly to prevent mold and bacteria from growing inside. Follow these tips to keep your fridge clean: Replace filter regularly Most refrigerator filters need to be replaced every six months, but the time can vary depending on the filter and how much water you use. To ensure you're getting the best performance from your refrigerator filter, it's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for replacement. Many people forget to replace their filters until they notice their water tastes bad. By then, it's too late, and you'll have to replace the filter and flush your refrigerator's water line. If you have a water filter subscription, you don't have to worry about remembering to replace your filter. Most manufacturers have this service which makes it easy to know when it's time to service your unit. Importance of filter maintenance Replacing your refrigerator filter on a regular basis is important for several reasons. Your filter clogs. Over time, the sediment filter can become fouled with solids. This reduces the available pressure and flow of water in your refrigerator.The carbon is spent. Activated carbon filters have a limited capacity to remove contaminants. Eventually they become spent and can't remove any more chlorine from your water.Bacteria begin growing in the filter. If your filter isn't replaced regularly, bacteria can begin to grow and colonize in the filter media. This can cause bad odor and taste issues with your water. Why Does My Water Have Chlorine In It? Chlorine is added to public water supplies as a disinfectant to kill bacteria and other microorganisms. While chlorine is effective at keeping your water safe, it can also give it a unpleasant taste and smell. The US EPA requires public water supplies to maintain chlorine levels below 4parts per million (ppm). However, some water supplies exceed this level. In addition to chlorine, your water may also contain chloramines. Chloramines are formed when ammonia is added to chlorine and can also be used as a disinfectant. Harms of chlorine in drinking water While chlorine is a necessary part of our water supply, too much can be harmful. Chlorine can cause skin and eye irritation. It also imparts an unpleasant odor and taste to your drinking water. Chlorinated water often has disinfection byproducts such as trihalomethanes. These compounds are suspected carcinogens. How Well Do Various Brands Perform? Check the performance of your refrigerator brand's filter to remove chlorine taste and odor from your water. Do LG refrigerator filters remove chlorine Looking for a refrigerator filter that removes chlorine? Look no further than LG's Activated Carbon Filter. This filter uses activated carbon to remove chlorine from water and ice, delivering clean, delicious water without the chemical smell. Plus, it's easy to install and maintain - perfect for busy families! LG recommends replacing their refrigerator filter every 6 months. LG LT1000P Refrigerator Filter The LG refrigerator filter can treat 200 gallons of water and lasts for up to 6 months. They guarantee it will remove chlorine and remove the chemical taste and smell it causes. This filter is NSF certified and removes 99.99% of cysts, 99% of asbestos and almost all mercury, lead, and benzene. Check Amazon Do Whirlpool refrigerator filters remove chlorine Chlorine-free water and ice is a must for anyone looking to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals. Whirlpool refrigerator filters use activated carbon to remove chlorine, delivering fresh-tasting water without the chemical smell. Their filters are NSF certified. Whirlpool recommends changing their refrigerator filter every six months. Whirlpool everydrop Ice and Water Refrigerator Filter The everydrop refrigerator filter works with Whirlpool refrigerators. It can reduce the level of chlorine and taste/odor by 99%+. It is certified to reduce 99% of lead, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and waterborne parasites. It comes with NSF 401, 53 and 42 certification. Check Amazon Do GE refrigerator filters remove chlorine With GE refrigerator filters, you can enjoy cold, refreshing water and ice without any of the chlorine taste or smell. These filters use activated carbon to remove chlorine molecules from the water, so you can drink and enjoy without having to worry about any unwanted chemicals. GE suggests replacing the filter every six months or 300 gallons for optimum performance. GE Refrigerator Filter The GE refrigerator filter can treat 300 gallons of water and provides a service life of 6 months. It is certified to reduce chlorine-resistant cysts, lead, select pharmaceuticals and 50 other contaminants. It can reduce PFOA and PFOS concentrations by 99%. Check Amazon Do Maytag refrigerator filters remove chlorine Keep your water smelling and tasting great with a Maytag refrigerator filter. These filters use activated carbon to remove chlorine, delivering crisp, refreshing water without that chemical smell. Plus, they're easy to install! Maytag suggests replacing their refrigerator filter every six months. Maytag Waterdrop Plus Refrigerator Filter This Maytag refrigerator filter comes with certification from WQA, IAPMO, and NSF 401, 53, 42 and 372. It was developed to reduce the concentration of chlorine to improve the taste and smell of your drinking water. The filter is also certified to remove mercury, benzene, and lead from water. Check Amazon Do Kitchenaid refrigerator filters remove chlorine Kitchenaid refrigerator filters are a great way to get rid of the chlorine taste and smell from your water and ice. They use a special activated carbon filter to remove the chlorine, so you can enjoy good-tasting water without any chemical flavor. Their filters come with NSF certification to reduce chlorine concentrations. Kitchenaid recommends replacing their fridge filters every six months. Kitchenaid PureSpring Refrigerator Filter The PureSpring refrigerator filter is made for Kitchenaid fridges. These filters meet NSF/ANSI 42 and NSF/ANSI 372 standards. They are certified for the reduction of chlorine, lead, taste and odor. Check Amazon Do Frigidaire refrigerator filters remove chlorine The Frigidaire refrigerator water filters are a great way to get chlorine-free water and ice. The activated carbon filter removes the smell of chlorine, leaving you with fresh-tasting water. These filters are NSF certified to reduce chlorine levels. Frigidaire recommends replacing the filter every six months. Frigidaire Refrigerator Filter This Frigidaire filter is NSF 42, 53 and 401 certified to reduce the concentration of chlorine and lead. Check Amazon Do Samsung refrigerator filters remove chlorine Looking for a fridge filter that eliminates chlorine? Look no further than Samsung refrigerator filters! These carbon filters work to remove the chemical taste and smell often associated with chlorine. Plus, they help deliver clean and great-tasting water right to your ice maker and glass. Their filters come with NSF certification to reduce concentrations of chlorine. The Samsung website recommends replacing the filter every six months. Samsung HAF-CIN Refrigerator Water Filter This filter is for Samsung refrigerators. It removes more than 99% of contaminants, including chlorine and lead. Their filter uses a high-grade carbon block to improve the quality of your water. Check Amazon NSF Certification National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) is an independent, third-party organization that tests and certifies water filters. A key benefit of NSF certification is they evaluate and test the manufacturer's claims. Filters that have NSF certification 42 (NSF-42) are able to remove chlorine from water. What does NSF certification mean? Filters that have the NSF-42 rating are certified to reduce aesthetic impurities such as chlorine and taste/odor. This certification can be obtained for a variety of filter types such as under-sink, water filter pitcher, or point-of-entry treatment systems. Why is NSF certification important? When you're looking for a water filter, it's important to look for one that has the NSF-42 certification. This means the filter has been tested and certified by an independent, third-party organization to reduce chlorine levels in your drinking water. This certification is important because it ensures the manufacturer's claims are accurate and that the filter will meet your needs. FAQs Do refrigerator filters remove fluoride? Refrigerator filters do not remove fluoride from water. However, there are water filters that are specifically designed to remove fluoride. Do refrigerator filters remove lead? Lead is not typically removed by refrigerator filters. However, some filters may be certified to reduce lead levels in your drinking water. Look for NSF certification if you need a lead filter. Do refrigerator filters remove PFAS? Most refrigerator filters contain activated carbon, which is known to remove PFAS from water. However, these filters don't remove all of the PFAS compounds, so you should consider a whole-house carbon filter or a reverse osmosis filter. Read my article for more information. Final Thoughts All in all, refrigerator water filters are a great way to reduce chlorine and other contaminants from your drinking water. It’s important to maintain them regularly and to only buy filters that have NSF certification. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your family is drinking clean, healthy water straight from the fridge. Have you ever replaced your refrigerator water filter? If so, what was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below!