Are Fridge Water Filters Worth It?

Short answer: A refrigerator water filter is worth it if it is certified for the contaminants you actually want to reduce and you replace it on schedule. The two main standards are NSF/ANSI 42, which covers non-health issues such as chlorine taste and odor, and NSF/ANSI 53, which covers health-related contaminants such as lead.^{Source [1]} For lead, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says to look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for reduction to 5 parts per billion or less.^{Source [3]} A filter certified only to NSF/ANSI 42 carries aesthetic claims, not health-related ones such as lead.^{Source [1]}

The answer starts with two documents: your water quality report and the filter's certification listing. This guide covers what fridge filters are certified to do, how to check yours, how replacement and counterfeits affect performance, and how a fridge filter compares with a pitcher.

What a fridge filter is certified to reduce

There is no single "fridge filter" level of performance. The contaminants a filter reduces vary from product to product, according to NSF, which certifies water treatment products.^{Source [2]} What matters is which standards the specific filter is certified to and which claims it carries under them.

Source: NSF.^{Source [1]}

Each standard also tests material safety and structural integrity, and the specific contaminant claims vary by product.^{Source [1]} A filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for one contaminant is not certified for the other claims in the standard.

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the appliance industry's trade group, adds one detail specific to refrigerators: NSF/ANSI 42 certification also confirms that a replacement filter fits the refrigerator as intended.^{Source [5]}

For PFAS, NSF says filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFAS designation help to filter them out.^{Source [2]} For microplastics, NSF points to NSF/ANSI 401.^{Source [2]}

Start with your water report

NSF advises starting by finding out what contaminants are in your water, using your local water quality report, and then choosing a filter from there.^{Source [2]} That report is the Consumer Confidence Report, which EPA requires community water systems to deliver to customers by July 1 each year.^{Source [4]} You can find yours through EPA's CCR site.^{Source [8]} Our guide to reading your water quality report walks through what each section means.

If your main complaint is chlorine taste or odor, those are NSF/ANSI 42 claims.^{Source [1]} If you are concerned about lead, read the next section as well: EPA notes that homes may have internal plumbing materials containing lead.^{Source [4]}

Lead: the case where certification matters most

EPA says lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, and that the most common sources are lead pipes, faucets and fixtures, and that homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes.^{Source [4]} Because you cannot see, taste or smell lead dissolved in water, EPA says testing is the only sure way to know whether your water has harmful amounts.^{Source [4]} Testing costs between $20 and $100, according to EPA.^{Source [4]} See our guides on testing for lead in water and choosing a water test.

EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person's total lead exposure, and 40% to 60% for infants who drink mostly mixed formula.^{Source [4]}

If you use a filter for lead, EPA's advice is specific:^{Source [4]}

• Use a filter certified to remove lead.
• Read the directions for installing and using the cartridge, and replace it on time. A cartridge used after it has expired can be less effective at removing lead.
• Do not run hot water through the filter.
• Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula. Boiling water does not remove lead.

EPA's consumer tool, which covers filters inserted into refrigerators for water and ice dispensers, says to look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction to 5 parts per billion or less.^{Source [3]} It also recommends looking for NSF/ANSI 42 certification for particulate reduction (Class I).^{Source [3]}

How to check a fridge filter's certification

EPA lists several accredited certification bodies for these filters, including NSF, the Water Quality Association (WQA), IAPMO R&T, UL Solutions and CSA Group, each with its own mark.^{Source [3]}

1. Find the mark. EPA says certification marks appear on the filter packaging, on the filter itself, or on the smallest container it comes in.^{Source [3]}
2. Read the claim. Certified products should carry the mark and a statement that they were tested against NSF/ANSI 53, along with a claim of lead reduction.^{Source [3]} Some companies simply state "NSF/ANSI 53" or "NSF/ANSI 42" next to the mark.^{Source [3]}
3. Check the performance data sheet. Claims not printed on the package are typically on the performance data sheet inside the packaging, in the certifier's online listing, or on the manufacturer's website.^{Source [3]}
4. Confirm it in the listing. NSF advises checking the certification body's website to make sure the product is currently certified.^{Source [2]} NSF's own directory can be searched by manufacturer, brand or model and by standard.^{Source [7]}

EPA's tool applies the same checks to pitcher filters.^{Source [3]} Our water filter pitcher guide covers reading those labels in more detail.

Replacement timing

NSF says replacement filters should be switched out according to the manufacturer's instructions.^{Source [2]} EPA notes an expired cartridge can be less effective at removing lead.^{Source [4]}

The counterfeit problem

Replacement filters carry a specific risk. AHAM, which runs the Filter It Out campaign against counterfeit and deceptively labeled filters, says these products are sold online every day and that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seized large shipments of them at U.S. ports.^{Source [6]} Because AHAM represents appliance manufacturers, keep in mind that it has a commercial interest in genuine filters.

According to AHAM, counterfeit and deceptively labeled filters:^{Source [5]Source [6]}

• May not remove contaminants such as lead, asbestos, pesticides and insecticides.
• May not contain the same technologies as genuine products or be tested to industry standards.
• May not fit the refrigerator properly, and may crack, leak or burst after installation, which can cause water damage.

AHAM says counterfeits can be nearly impossible to tell apart from genuine filters, sometimes differing only in weight.^{Source [6]} It says filters are not interchangeable, and that replacements are unique to each refrigerator manufacturer.^{Source [5]} Its advice is to buy replacements only from trusted manufacturers.^{Source [6]}

NSF advises checking the certification body's website to confirm a product is currently certified, and its directory can be searched by brand and model.^{Source [2]Source [7]}

So, is it worth it?

A fridge filter is worth it when all of these are true:

• It matches your water. You know from your water report or a test what you want to reduce.^{Source [2]Source [4]}
• It is certified for that claim. For lead, that means NSF/ANSI 53 lead reduction to 5 ppb or less.^{Source [3]}
• The replacement is genuine or independently certified, and you can find it in the certifier's listing.^{Source [2]Source [6]}
• You replace it on schedule.^{Source [2]Source [4]}

If your filter is certified only to NSF/ANSI 42, it is a taste-and-odor filter. That is useful if chlorine taste is the problem, but it is not certified to reduce health-related contaminants such as lead.^{Source [1]}

Frequently asked questions

Do refrigerator water filters remove lead?

Only if the filter is certified for lead reduction. EPA's consumer tool says to look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction to 5 parts per billion or less. A filter certified only to NSF/ANSI 42 is not certified for lead, because that standard covers taste, odor and other non-health issues.

Is fridge filter water safer than tap water?

It depends on what is in your water and what the filter is certified to reduce. A filter certified only to NSF/ANSI 42 addresses aesthetic issues such as chlorine taste, not health-related contaminants like lead.

How often should I change my refrigerator water filter?

Follow the manufacturer's replacement instructions. EPA notes that using a lead-reducing cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead.

Are generic refrigerator water filters safe?

A replacement should carry its own certification from an accredited body such as NSF, WQA or IAPMO R&T, which you can check in the certifier's listing. Counterfeit filters can look identical to real ones and may not filter contaminants or fit properly.

Do refrigerator filters remove PFAS?

Only filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFAS designation are certified to help reduce PFAS, according to NSF. Check the listing for that specific claim.