Best Refrigerator Water Filters in 2021: Buying Guide and Reviews

If you have a refrigerator with a built-in ice maker and water dispenser, you will know about the importance and high cost of water filtration. Refrigerator filters generally only need to be changed every 6 months, or after 200 to 300 gallons of water, but the price and quality of these filters varies a lot. Having said that, you need to make sure that you are getting the best refrigerator water filter, meaning one that will actually improve the quality of your water and at a reasonable cost.


A Guide to Quality and Certified Refrigerator Water Filters

The first step is to check for official NSF product certifications that pertain to water filtration standards. Companies voluntarily submit product samples for NSF testing and verification. NSF 42, NSF 53 and NSF 401 are dealt with together as the core standard:

SF 42: This applies mostly to aesthetic effects such as “taste and color of your filtered water. It covers chlorine, taste and odor, chloramine, particulate, iron, manganese, zinc and total dissolved solids (TDS).”

NSF 53: “This standard offers over 50 contaminant reduction claims.” Some of the most popular include: lead, cryptosporidium parasites,volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), and chromium.

NSF 401: “This standard offers up to 15 specific contaminant reduction claims”, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbicides, pesticides and chemical compounds.

As you can see, NSF 42 is the most basic certification for clean looking and good tasting water. Depending on your local water quality, this might be sufficient. For most urban or industrial centers, NSF 53 is recommended and additional NSF 401 is the safest option.