Does Fridge Filter Remove Chlorine? [Benefits of Filtration Explained]

Most likely, hardly a day passes without you drinking water. A glass of water from your fridge quenches your thirst and removes toxins from your body. But, is water always tasty from your fridge? Let's find out after consulting with the experts.

Yes, fridge filters remove chlorine and other impurities to give us clean, fresh, tasty water. It follows three steps in the following order:

• Particle filtration
• Micro-filtration
• Absorption filtration

Keep reading to learn how a fridge filter removes chlorine and other impurities from the fridge water, and what it cannot remove. Also, learn the best filter to use, when and how to change it, and the benefits of filtering your water from the fridge. 

How Your Fridge Filter Removes Chlorine And Other Impurities From Your Water?

You'll find that most municipalities add chlorine to the water that you use in your home. It kills bacteria and viruses that would otherwise be harmful to your health. 

Whereas there are other ways of disinfecting water, such as using ultraviolet rays, chlorine is the most effective for water treatment on a large scale. 

Treating water with chlorine prevents infection from water-borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid.

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A fridge filter like the one shown above, is a gadget in your fridge that can remove chlorine from your water, and other contaminants.

Below is the three-part approach to filtering water from your fridge: 

Particle Filtration

The fridge filter has a fine mesh that sieves large particles like silt and sand. These particles get trapped and do not pass into your drinking water. 

Micro-Filtration

When your water passes through the first step above, it goes through activated charcoal. It is at this point where particles such as sugars and crystals get filtered out. 

Absorption Filtration

This is the last process where microscopic substances like pesticides and traces of pharmaceuticals are prevented from passing through. So, you end up with water that is fresh, clean, and tastes good. 

What Are The Benefits Of A Fridge Filter?

Contaminants in water are especially risky for the elderly and small children. Even though water gets treatment from the municipality; it can get contaminated before it reaches the tap. 

If you live in an older home, most likely, the water pipes are lead. This can lead to streaks of lead contaminating your water. 

But, when you run your water through a refrigerator water filter, you can get rid of chlorine, lead, and other contaminants that get trapped. So, you can enjoy pure drinking water. 

Other additional benefits of a fridge filter include:

Increased Water Quality 

First off, filtered water is always better than unfiltered water. Second, even though municipal water gets cleaned with chlorine, it does not mean that it is pure. 

Pure water can still have a great deal of fluoride and excess chlorine. Too much fluoride can be harmful to our bodies. For example, it can cause health problems like tooth discoloration and decay.

Pleasant Taste

Too much chlorine or minerals in your water can give water a bad taste. But, your water can taste better by passing it through the filter in your fridge. 

Reduced Cost

You are likely to spend less on filtered water compared to purchasing bottled water. We normally trust bottled water more because we consider it to be more pure. 

Some fridge filters like Samsung can filter around 500 gallons of water before they need replacing.

If you calculate the cost of replacing your filter and the amount you spend on municipal water, you'll find that it is a lot cheaper than buying bottled water. 

More Convenient

It is extremely convenient. Whenever you need water, all you have to do is pour clean, cold water into your glass from your fridge. You do not have to remember to pass by the store to buy some bottled water.

Instead, watch out for the little red or orange indicator light that tells you when you need to replace the filter in your fridge.

How Often Should You Replace Your Fridge Filter?

Manufacturers suggest you change your water filter at a minimum of every 6 months. However, various factors determine how many times you should replace it.

Some of the contributing factors include: the hardness of the water, how often you use the ice maker and water dispenser, the quality of the water, and how fast your water fills up.

The following are common signs that you need to replace your fridge filter:

Indicator Light Comes On

Most new fridges come fitted with indicator lights that alert you when you need to replace the filter.

Sometimes, the mechanism allows you to set a timer. The light goes on after the time set has passed.

Alternatively, the light links to the status of your filter. It is more practical because you will replace it only when needed.

Six Months Are Over

As seen above, fridge manufacturers typically suggest your water filter get replaced every 6 months because it is the stipulated service life of the filter.

Ordinarily, the filters have a sticker on which you can mark the day you installed it and the due date for installing a new one.

Dispenser Is Slow

If the water in your home is hard, your filter will clog faster than when you have soft water. When you dispense water longer than usual, you might need to replace it.

Ice Looks Different

If the ice looks cloudy instead of clear, or has a strange odor or taste, you might need to replace your filter.

Also, if your ice-maker like the one shown below is usually out of ice, it could be a sign your filter has a problem.

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Water Tastes Strange

This is perhaps the best sign that you need to change your water filter. When the water tastes strange, different from the norm, you need to replace your filter.

What The Fridge Filter Does Not Do

Ideally, refrigerator filters have NSF 42 certification, which mainly removes chlorine to help improve water's taste and smell. However, other contaminants may reach your water that could be of concern. 

Some of the leading contaminants that could be a threat to our health include lead and chromium-6 among others. 

To curb this problem, you will need to use a more powerful fridge filter like the NSF 53 certification. It uses a reverse-osmosis mechanism, which can remove these contaminants including fluoride.  

How To Change Your Fridge Filter

Now that you understand what your filter can and cannot do, and how often you should replace it, you need to know how to change it.

First, you will install a new filter depending on the make of your fridge and what the manufacturer recommends.

To change it is quite easy as the steps are relatively the same:

1. Using your manual, check the model number to purchase the correct filter.
2. Still using your manual, locate where the water filter is, and move the fridge away from the wall. 
3. Shut off the water supply valve to prevent water from entering your fridge.
4. According to your brand and model, either twist the filter and pull it out or push to release it.
5. Install the new filter by either pushing or twisting it into place. 
6. Turn back the water supply and turn the valve to the 'ON' position and push your fridge back to its original standing place. 

In Closing

Drinking cold, pure, delicious tasting water will delight your taste buds and quench your thirst. But when your water has too much chlorine, the taste is less than refreshing.

It is at this point, a fridge filter becomes useful. However, to remove more than just chlorine in your water, you may need a more powerful water filter to remove extra contaminants.

It is not difficult to replace your water filter. Plus, it should get changed frequently.

Can a fridge filter improve the taste of water from a well? Find out by clicking on this link: Can Fridge Filter Well Water

Find out how long refrigerator water filters last by clicking here: How Long Should Refrigerator Water Filters Last