Water Filtration

A lot of homemakers no longer use pitchers to dispense water. Several refrigerators already come packaged with built-in water dispensers for convenient water dispensing in the home. But just as there are pitcher filters that filter out the water dispensed by pitchers, there are also refrigerator filters that can be attached to your fridge to make sure you still get pure and clean drinking water.

Here are the top three brands and offers in the refrigerator filter market.

Maytag: Puriclean II for Pure Drinking Water

With 4.8 stars on Amazon, Maytag’s UKF8001 Puriclean II refrigerator water filter is a top-of-the-line fridge water filter from Maytag, a leading manufacturer of drinking filters. The Puriclean II line is an NSF-certified filter that can effectively reduce harmful contaminants in water and keep it from from unwanted taste and odor.

The Puriclean II effectively removes cysts, particulates, lead, mercury, and asbestos. The fridge filter also reduces the taste and smell of chlorine. However, it retains beneficial fluoride in the water to make sure you still harvest the benefits of pure and clean drinking water that your refrigerator dispenses.

The Maytag Puriclean II can be used with most Maytag and Jenn-Air refrigerators with special filter access inside. It fits into side by side, cabinet depth and French door refrigerator types. The filter needs to be replaced every 12 months to ensure maximum protection against most contaminants that threaten your drinking water dispensed from the refrigerator.

Whirlpool: KitchenAid Side-by-Side Quarter Turn Refrigerator Filter

Whirlpool is a trusted name among homeowners. Aside from the kitchen and cooking appliances it has become known for, Whirlpool also offers KitchenAid water filters that can work with Whirlpool and KitchenAid side-by-side refrigerators that come with built in water dispenser. The KitchenAid Quarter Turn Water Filter 4396508P is rated with 4.6 stars for effectiveness and reliability.

The KitchenAid waterfilter can remove the taste and odor of chlorine in water, and can also remove most contaminants such as mercury, lead, and particulates. The filter is easy to install and replace with its quarter turn feature. And without any drop in filtration quality, the water filter is able to retain beneficial fluoride found in water.

This model comes in a pack of two so you get more value for what you pay. The filter needs to be replaced every six months, which means the pack of two filters is enough to last you for an entire year. This is an extremely popular refrigerator water filter choice.

Crystal Quest Refrigerator Ice & Water Filters

Another leading band of refrigerator filter is Crystal Quest, which offers several different filtration systems in the market at a price that beats the others hands down. These extremely affordable refrigerator water filters can purify the drinking water dispensed by your refrigerator as well as the water used in making ice. They also effectively filter out contaminants including lead, cysts, and benzene, among many others, without removing beneficial fluoride as well as reduce the taste and odor of chlorine.

The Crystal Quest Refrigerator Ice and Water Filters only need to be replaced every six months to maintain their high level of water filtration quality.

To find out more about Crystal Quest refrigerator filters, simply run a search on Google or Yahoo and see for yourself.

Excerpted from an Ezine article

A water filter cartridge is the most important part in a water purifier. While many people mistakenly take it as just another part in the purifier, the reality is that it is what really does all the purification and filtration the filter is responsible for.

A water filter cartridge is of different types. There are some which are designed to remove sediments from water, there are some for maintaining pH balance in water, and some for softening and hardening the water as well.

In essence, since a water filter cartridge is designed to do a specific task, it is not advised to replace one type of cartridge in another type of purifier. You have to ensure buying the replacement cartridges from the same manufacturer from whom you have selected your water purifier. This guarantees the correct and desired functioning of the purifier.

Ideally before selecting a purifier, it is imperative to check the cost and availability of the replacement cartridge that comes with it. Usually you need to replace the cartridge every 6 months. So you need to make sure the cartridge is readily available and that too at an economical price.

The cost of the cartridge is counted in the recurring cost for maintaining the purifier. So while buying one, you should check both - the one time cost of the purifier as well as the recurring cost that you will have to bear for replacing the cartridges.

There are a few purifiers which come at a low cost but their maintenance cost is high due to their heavily priced replacement cartridges. Steer clear from such systems. There are better ones already available in the market today.

One of them is the effective and efficient multi stage water purifier. These purifiers are based on the advanced filtration techniques - sub micron filtration, carbon filtration and ion exchange. Not only does this make them capable of removing all types of contaminants, it also provides the power to remove them with 99+% efficiency.

These purifiers come with easy to replace cartridges which too are reasonably priced. If you use these systems, it will cost you something less than 10 cents per gallon of fresh and clean water.

Replacing your water filter cartridge periodically is the only way to ensure the quality of the water produced by your trusted purification system. Do yourself a favor by not ignoring the replacement water filters in your purification units which will keep them up and running effectively month after month.

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Why Use Water Filter for Refrigerators?

There are various diseases which can be fatal to people with weakened immune systems, such as the very young or the very old. Filtration will remove harmful chemicals that may cause diseases.

One of the reasons that they are popular is because of their convenience. If you use a pitcher filter instead, you have to remember to fill it and you have to wait for it to work. It is better to use the refrigerator faucet rather than the sink faucet because it works instantly.

Installation and Usage

A refrigerator water filter will have a first strainer, a second strainer and a cartridge which can be replaced when necessary. Some types use charcoal systems because they are guaranteed to remove ninety five percent of contaminants. It is important to replace your filter according to the instruction manual but usually six months is the maximum time to replace, even if you do not drink much water, because it will wear out and the bacteria removed can leak into the water.

Most models are quite straightforward to install. They are similar to faucet types in that the water will pass through the pipe to supply the dispenser. Chemicals and metals will be removed in the process.

Many new refrigerators have one already installed but you can install a purifier into most existing refrigerator models too. A lot of people claim to enjoy the taste of their cold drinks more when the ice is made from these refrigerators.

If you want to purify only your drinking water rather than using it for your household, refrigerator water filters might be the best type of home water filter systems to choose. You have instant access to it whenever you want, maintenance is minimal and is usually just a matter of changing the cartridge twice a year.

An Ezine article

When you go to buy a new refrigerator, it’s very likely that you will find at least one that has a water filter built into it. In today’s world, the reality of harmful chemicals in our water is evidenced by expensive bottled water just about anywhere you go. As the need for fresh healthy water on the go has increased, so have the ways that filtered water can be made more convenient.

There are many refrigerator water filters on the market today, but the difference in quality has changed drastically in the last few years. For the most part, they all use GAC (Granular Activated Carbon). Yet, not all fridge filters are the same. For instance, the AQ-7000 by Aquasana has earned the right to be called the most effective in-line water filter on the market because of the quality of the filter media and combination of the most effective technologies.

A High-Quality Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filter Is a Must
A GAC carbon filter has the ability to absorb many harmful chemicals and is recognized by the EPA as the best available technology for organic chemical removal. Activated carbon is exposed to high temperatures causing micro pores to form. This newly created surface can effectively filter out a wide variety of contaminants, such as chlorine, pesticides, trihalomethanes (THMs) and other chemicals linked to cancer. GAC also removes bad tastes and odors.

The are 3 distinct technologies to look for in a refrigerator water filter. They are mechanical filtration (filtration down to 0.5 microns), adsorption (contaminants bond chemically to the surface of the GAC filter medium) and ion exchange (replaces harmful lead ions with healthful potassium ions).

1. Sub-micron Filtration
A high-quality in-line refrigerator filter should contain a highly porous surface. One of the more expensive and highest performing materials is a coconut shell carbon block. The filter should have the capacity for 0.5 or less sub-micron filtration. This allows for the effective removal of chlorine resistant microscopic organisms like cryptosporidium and giardia. Low cost carbon is less effective and needs to be replaced more often. Look for a filter that will last at least 6 months.

2. Adsorption
While sub-micron filtration works by physically blocking contaminants, adsorption is a process where the carbon filter actually attracts a variety of dissolved contaminants and they are held or adsorbed on the surface of the carbon particles. Unlike pitcher water filters like Brita, a fridge water filter has a lot more carbon to go around. The large surface area means that the water contact time is longer. The result is that greater adsorption of various chemicals can take place. Filter systems like the AQ7000 use a highly compressed carbon media to filter out chlorine, lead, VOCs (Volatile Organic Chemicals), THMs, cysts, turbidity (sediment level) and most other tap water contaminants.

3. Ion Exchange
The final filtration technology is ion exchange. During this stage, lead is filtered out by a complex ion exchange process where lead ions are replaced with potassium ions. This process is extremely effective for lead and heavy metal reduction. It also enhances your waters natural mineral balance. Potassium is one of the minerals that give your water its natural spring water taste, as well as a neutral pH. A coconut shell carbon block can be impregnated with potassium charged microporous zeolite to achieve this effect.

Most refrigerator filters come in a standard size and can provide water for refrigerators, ice makers and coolers. You get healthy water for drinking, pets, cooking, ice and beverages - and you get it quickly. They are also great for RVs, water fountains, and can even work under the sink. For most refrigerator filters, no tools are needed.

When checking out refrigerator water filters, make sure it has the 3 technologies listed above. Now that you have taken the time to learn what goes into making the most effective in-line fridge water filter on the market, you should find out 3 more things. Learn about the water filter company’s guarantee, successful track record and recognition (awards) by industry experts. In a world with literally thousands of chemicals making their way into your water supply, you need to insist on the most advanced breakthroughs in water filtration. If you don’t, you are leaving your families health to chance.

An Ezine article

Maytag water filters, like so many others, are somewhat behind the times. Hopefully, they’ll catch up eventually. In the meantime, let’s look at what they currently offer and how we can get better protection. If it’s time to replace your filter, it may be time to take a different approach.

Maytag offers Puri-Clean I and II. System I is advertised as removing chlorine, lead, cysts and sediment. First of all, no system completely “removes” these things. They may “reduce” them by 99% or better, but the brochures that accompany the Puri-clean systems do not indicate the percent of reduction.

System II reduces chlorine, lead, asbestos, cysts, lindane, Atrazine and sediment. That’s a little better, but the filter is not compatible with older refrigerator models. So, you either buy a new refrigerator or you stop using your dispenser and buy a filtration unit for your kitchen faucet, instead.

Even if you bought their latest model, there are some chemicals that Maytag water filters do not remove. One group is present whenever chlorine is used for disinfection. They are called trihalomethanes or THMs.

There have been numerous scientific studies concerning the risk of THM exposure, because they are known carcinogens. At one time, it was believed that the amount that was present in publicly treated supplies was “safe”. Even though, many scientists warned that there was no way to actually determine a safe level of consumption for any chemical, since they combine with other chemicals, which increases their toxicity.

But, regulating agencies needed some sort of guideline, so maximum contamination levels (MCLs) were established. Using those MCLs, researchers evaluated the cancer-risk from consumption, inhalation during a shower and dermal absorption. They also tested individuals in their homes, after drinking and showering in unfiltered water. It was found that the blood levels were higher after a 15 minute shower than they were after drinking a liter.

Since there are no Maytag water filters that reduce THMs, they cannot help reduce your cancer risk. The latest research indicates that the amounts we are normally exposed to increase our lifetime risk of bladder cancer by two-fold. To reduce the risk, you need a faucet filter with special resins that traps the chemicals. To further reduce your risk, you can install one in the shower, as well.

You might be wondering if all refrigerator systems are like the Maytag water filters. From the research that I have done, it looks like many of them are, with a few exceptions like Crystal Quest and Living waters, for instance. The studies concerning THMs continue to come in. The most commonly quoted report was only published in 2008. That means that it will probably be several years before Maytag water filters catch up. Until then, buy a high quality and effective refrigerator water filter. That’s the best choice you can make.

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Tap water can contain quite a few impurities. Chlorine, pesticides, copper, and even lead have been known to be in tap water. Over time, we have to be concerned about what ingesting these substances can do to our health. There is also the chance that harmful bacteria can make its way into your water. Though not normally dangerous, this can lead to an upset stomach.

If you are in the market for a new refrigerator, then you should look at models that have a built in water filter. A refrigerator water filter will work to remove these impurities while providing you with fresh, clean, odor free water day after day, year after year.

How Do Water Filters Work

Water filters have come a long way. These days a filter will have two distinct methods of cleaning the water. They use a physical and a chemical filter. Your physical filter will typically be made out of carbon in the form of a fine mesh. This will work to trap particles that are in the water, filtering them from entering your cup.

People sometimes express concern over the chemical portion of the filter. Why use chemicals when we are trying to get rid of them? Well, the chemicals in the filter are chosen to specifically remove a certain contaminant from your water. They are not harmful.

How Long Do These Filters Last

While the quality tends to be brand dependent, you can expect the filters to have a life of 3 to 9 months. Again, this depends on the make, model, and your family’s usage. Most refrigerators will have a status light that will turn to red when it is time to change out the filter. You can also tell when it is time to change when the water flow has decreased significantly. About this time you may notice a more discernible smell coming from your water and the taste will change.

You want to choose a quality filter as these will allow the important minerals in our water to remain. Fluoride and calcium are beneficial to us. A good refrigerator water filter will ensure they remain.

Before you buy another Frigidaire™ refrigerator water filter, you should know the truth about them. Because the fact is, they probably are not protecting you and your family’s health and well-being as much as you think that are.

Frigidaire refrigerator water filter systems come virtually standard with every new fridge on the market today. Because most people are somewhat aware of the seriousness of drinking water contamination, and since they own a filter that’s built in to their refrigerator, they’re probably going to use it right?

Now let me ask you something…

Since manufacturers of Frigidaire™ refrigerator water filter cartridges KNOW that people with their built-in systems are going to use them and need more filters, do you think that they’re motivated to design top-of-the-line replacement filters that remove all the known contaminants in drinking water?

Of course not!

Now when you go to buy a new Frigidaire™ refrigerator water filter, you’ll see a list of all the contaminants that these filters remove. When reading it, it’ll SEEM like it’s a quality filter. And even though using ANY water filter is better than using no filter at all, it’s important to know if it’s going to effectively protect your health.

What sticks out at me about Frigidaire™ refrigerator water filter cartridges is the fact that they do not remove all volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and chlorinated byproducts (THMs). VOCs is the term used to describe the THOUSANDS of synthetic chemicals found in public tap water supplies, and THMs are created when chlorine reacts with these synthetic chemicals to form new chemical compounds. Both of these types of contaminants are cancerous, and both are most likely still in your drinking water when using these kind of filters.

Is the health and well-being of your family worth $45.00? If so, then I recommend getting one of the inline refrigerator water filters on the market today.

An Ezine article

We’ve all heard the expression “cleanliness is close to godliness”, and I for one, prefer to practice cleanliness the most when it comes to drinking water.

There are certain things that we don’t know about our drinking water also known as tap water. For the most part, it is more often than not healthy for anyone to consume your tap water. At least, it’s thought safe to consume by the SWDA (Safe Water Drinking Act) and EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) standards anyway.

Yet, there are three essential factors out there that impact the cleanliness of our drinking water. These three elements include the water provision infrastructure, industrial chemical waste, and the increasing population that needs more water each day.

The things you have to know about these is that the circulating water supply base is very old and believed by many to be out dated. It was purchased, installed and paid in full by our great grand parents (1920-1950).

After that, we have to worry about millions of chemical waste finding its way into our drinking water each day. Lastly, our population is growing. This means there is more water being used. Both of these two things are out growing our current power to treat and cleanse the water.

So what do we do? The simplest and safest way is to make sure you and your family are getting good clean drinking water. The best way to do this is to purchase a refrigerator water filter.

When it comes to acquiring the best drinking and cooking water for your house you must make sure you have a filter installed at the point of use. This means you need to have a good quality facet or refrigerator water filter in your home.

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Water is the single most important element for human existence, yet many people do not know much about water. Water comprises 60% of a human’s body weight, counts for 80% of our blood, and comprises over 65% of our brain and muscles. Knowing this, one can see why choosing the best water to drink is of the impost importance. The two main types of water commonly chosen for their healthy properties are bottled water and water that has been filtered via a refrigerator water filter. Knowing the difference between these to types of water will surely help anyone make an educated choice as to what type of water they want to drink.

One of the first differences between refrigerator water filter systems and bottled water is the cost. There is no doubt that refrigerator water filter systems are cheaper than buying bottled water. They are even cheaper than buying cheap store brand water in bulk. Bottled water has to be so expensive because of packaging, shipping and marketing. Refrigerator water filter systems do not have to deal with massive marketing campaigns or packaging, and so they can charge the consumer less.

More important than the cost of one’s water choice is the health factors involved. Many people believe that bottled water is the only healthy water, but this is not true. In fact, some studies have shown that bottled water is less healthy than a refrigerator water filter system. Bottled water suffers because there are often chemicals from the plastic in which the water is stored that become mixed in with the water. Sadly, some companies fill their bottled water with mere tap water. There are no federal regulations concerning the quality of bottled water, so many major companies go unchecked. Refrigerator water filter systems tell the user exactly what has been filtered out of the water, so the user knows the kinds of chemicals he or she is avoiding. The healthiest people are, more often than not, also the best informed. Knowing exactly what is in your water will help you to live healthier.

It is essential to be conscious of the environment in which we live. Bottled water can be recycled, but how much of the plastic is re-used? Additionally, many avid water bottle drinkers do not recycle. The plastics used in water bottles may never fully decompose because of the nature of their chemical bonds. Refrigerator water filter systems are non-obtrusive to the environment. There is no plastic to throw out, and no harmful fumes.

Bottled water versus refrigerator water filters is a heated debate. For consumers who are health conscious, cost savvy, and environmentally sound, the choice is obvious. Refrigerator water filter systems are cheaper, healthier, and better for the environment. Some may think that bottled water is a great new trend, but personal health is more important than any trend. For the best personal health, it is advisable to choose a refrigerator water filter system.

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In this day and age it seems that most of the new refrigerators in the stores now come complete with refrigerator water filter units already installed and ready to go. These filtering systems that are in the new refrigerators are a great boom to the health of your family, as they provide clean and clear drinking right from the front of the appliance.

Most of these refrigerator water filter systems do the job of removing possibly harmful substances in the liquid and provide an additional level of protection for your family. For many families, it is important to have good, clean fluid that is easily accessible so that it can be used for drinking and cooking, rather than tap liquid.

Many times, if the liquid filtering solution that is in your home is not easy and convenient to use, it will simply not be used.

This is one of the primary benefits for having a refrigerator water filter system in your home; they are easy and very convenient for all members of the family to use. This is not the case with some of the other common types of filters found in many homes.

For instance, if you have one of the fluid pitchers that has a filter in it, such as the popular Brita water filter, the pitcher must be refilled constantly. Often this is a task that is readily dismissed or forgotten by the members of the family, especially the children.

The Brita-type water pitchers also must be filled and allowed time for the liquid to pass through the filter. Some families have more that one such filter to address these problems, but even that does not help if people forget to keep the pitchers filled.

However, with a refrigerator water filter in your home, you can be assured that your children will always be drinking purified and clean fluid. This is because the only thing they need to remember to do is to get their water from the dispenser in the door of the refrigerator instead of from the tap.

With more and more concerns about the dangerous elements found in drinking water, this provides a lot of peace of mind to parents worried about the health of their whole family.

A refrigerator filter system is able to provide good quality drinking water and ice by using simple built-in filters. These filters are normally small activated carbon or charcoal filters that are able to remove the majority of the solids and chemicals that are found in average tap water. This filtering is done and the water is purified before it is sent on to the in-door dispenser or to the ice-maker.

By having the refrigerator water filter built-in and part of the refrigerator itself, as opposed to having a filter on the supply line, it is generally more convenient. Most refrigerators with liquid filters have been designed for quick and easy access to the filters.

This is so that the filter can be changed regularly to be sure that the quality of the fluid is being maintained. Depending on how much your family drinks, the filter in your refrigerator will need to be changed regularly.

You should also check on the quality of the water that is flowing into your refrigerator water filter because this will also have an impact on the ultimate quality of the water that ends up coming out of the refrigerator door. You can have the quality of the source liquid tested, either by having a professional come to test it or with any number of do-it-yourself water test kits that are widely available.

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