Six Month House Checkup: Did You Change Your Refrigerator Water Filter?

Article Written By: Ty Woods

If you have been considering a water filter for your refrigerator's water dispenser, you may be wondering if the cost is worth it. Isn't tap water, at least in the US and other developed countries, safe to drink? Yes; the water in the US is the safest in the world, and for the most part, we are lucky enough to get clean water when we turn on our taps. But it is also true that there are contaminants that make it into our water sources. They are smart buys for any home. Is your water source safe and clean?

When you go the water dispenser on your refrigerator, you want a glass of clean, cool water, not a glass of sediment, chlorite, bromate, copper, arsenic, or mercury. Some of these elements are natural byproducts of processes like erosion; others are introduced to the water during treatment. While water protection laws are in place, many communities do not conduct testing or report the results.

Further, a study found that 41 million people were serviced by sources containing trace amounts of pharmaceuticals; Chromium-6, a suspected carcinogen, has been detected in at least 35 cities. So while our country enjoys the cleanest water on the planet, we do not enjoy pure, uncontaminated water.

Adding a water filter to your refrigerator is an excellent way to treat your water, improving its quality, and even its taste and smell. They are much more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than buying bottled water, and what many people may not realize about bottled water is that it is not inherently safer. In Washington state, 6 water sources were found to contain levels of arsenic that exceeded legal limits. Incredibly, 5 of these sources were those of bottled water companies. A filter allows you not only to save money, but to ensure a greater level of safety for yourself and your family.

What type of filter do you need for your home? You don't want that removes only chlorine. This does help give your water a fresher taste, but it doesn't remove the carcinogens, chemicals, and bacteria as effectively as a more advanced filter. Look for one that has multiple stages of treatment; while no filter can remove 100 percent of contaminants, the best remove or reduce them to safe levels.

The best filters address your specific concerns. Some western states, for instance, have higher levels of arsenic; old homes with lead plumbing can have lead in the water, or private well water can have a host of contaminants from the ground and pollutants. Having a water analysis can help you determine what the best filter will be.

Over time, sediment can build up and the filter loses its ability to clean your water. Contaminants, bacteria, and odors can overwhelm the filter and cause these elements to enter your water. This is why changing it regularly is so important.

How often should you change your filter? That depends on the amount you use it, the quality of the filter, and the amount of contaminants that it has to filter. Generally, you will want to change it every six months if you have public water. If you have a private well, you will want to change it more frequently because this water typically contains more contaminants.

We shouldn't have to wonder what is coming out of our water dispensers. We should know that when we are filling our glasses, our refrigerator water filter is working to improve the quality of our water. Don't rely on the possibility or probability that you have safe water; be proactive in making it as clean as possible.

About the Author

Learn more about refrigerator water filters and maytag water filter cartridge at Water Filters Fast.

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