We have a fridge filter and an InstaHot filter. Also keep bottled water stocked in the garage fridge. Not too worried about it… if you start overthinking water and food you’ll never eat or drink anything again.
I typically used the refrigerator manufacturer filters because I could always find them discounted someplace.
Not so with our new LG, so for the first time I bought after market filters. The LG were stupid expensive and being I have worked with carbon in marine and freshwater aquariums for about 50 years I know how cheap carbon is and I know the mark up.
So with that said I do think there is some difference in filters overall. I have cut open past filters and meant to cut open our after market filter but threw it out by mistake, it will only be another month or two when I change it again and will cut it open but I already know it will be 100% fine. These filters are nothing more than a super dense fine tube of activated carbon. I could tell when I changed it out it was substantial.
Anyway, these are the after market I use, it even came with claimed NSF tests. IT is also the more expensive product from the same manufacturer. I am confident they do everything the OEM does if not even more.
Like I said, keep in mind like all filters, there is a cheaper version and more expensive. I choose the more expensive. "Plus" version because it is still cheap to me.
BTW- The fit is perfect and leak free. Not sure if you have the same model number but here here is a link
This is what they claim but doesnt matter, Im sure when I cut one open it will be the same carbon spool as any other OEM.
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Thanks for the post, I found your link interesting and once I read over it I remember, looking at those certifications, as I was examining at the time what the OEM filters claimed and I wanted if I was to get an after market, the replacement to be the same or better.In checking my current fridge filter, I see it only claims NSF 42 certification. I just ordered a different model specific unit of the filter you linked which has NSF 42, 53 & 401 certs. Big difference in filtration claims. Thanks.
Edit: From NSF site:
Lake Eerie is a far better source than the agricultural runoff that is fed to most of the country.I use filtered water for cooking and drinking, making tea and coffee. Our water comes from Lake Erie so I don't trust it. It has a lot of chlorine in it. If I fill our tub with water its noticeably blue in color.
Thinking about getting an RO system though. Those of you with RO systems what do you have or recommend?
This one is similar to mine. The filter cartridges are much easier to replace than the type used in most RO systems. I've had my system for about 25 years. I only replace the pre and post filters once a year and the RO membrane every five years. I've been buying my replacement filters from Kleenwater for at least five years.I use filtered water for cooking and drinking, making tea and coffee. Our water comes from Lake Erie so I don't trust it. It has a lot of chlorine in it. If I fill our tub with water its noticeably blue in color.
Thinking about getting an RO system though. Those of you with RO systems what do you have or recommend?
What's left behind is mostly minerals which a filter will not remove.We distil our water. It's slow and expensive but we end up with pure H2O. You should see the much that is left behind even if you use filtered water.
I just think about all the stuff thats been dumped in that lake over the years. The famous burning Cuyahoga river dumps into it. Every time Cleveland get heavy rain the waste water treatment plants get over whelmed and discharge the water into the lake. There is a lot of agricultural land around here that is in the lake erie watershed too.Lake Eerie is a far better source than the agricultural runoff that is fed to most of the country.
Yes, it's nasty looking and foul smelling muckWhat's left behind is mostly minerals which a filter will not remove.
I ran a line from our reverse osmosis system to our ice maker. Cleanest water out of the ice maker ever.Have an incorporated filter in the door of our fridge/freezer, along with an ice dispenser. Can easily taste the difference in my area between filtered and tap water although the city tells us the water quality is excellent. Judging from the calcium deposits on some of the appliance heater elements we definitely live in a high calcium area.