Rant: Water Filter for refrigerator prices

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blupupher

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Aug 27, 2004
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So like many I am sure I have a refrigerator with a built in water dispenser and/or ice maker that require a built in filter.
My refrigerator (Whirlpool 2555A) uses part # 4396710 (now appears to be a new model # EDR3RXD1).
About 3 years ago, I bought two 2-packs (4 filters) of Whirlpool 4396710 filters for $96, so about $24 each. I thought it was costly then, but I am now finding the same deal on Amazon is $138 for just 2 filters!
After a lot of searching around, cheapest I can find for an actual Whirlpool or Pur brand EDR3RXD1 filter (not a compatible brand, I have never had good experience with them) is $30 on e-bay (which I ordered and hope to get an actual name brand and not a knockoff). Nothing on Amazon is near this price, most are around $40 each for the name brand.

Why have these things gotten so expensive? Is it all the knockoffs out there? I can understand the older part # being more since it has been replaced with a new part number, but still, seems to cost a lot for what it is.
I used to have a behind the frige filter, and it was like $10-15 and lasted longer since it was a bigger filter. While a pain in the rear to change, it is cheaper and lasted longer.
 
Originally Posted By: blupupher

I used to have a behind the frige filter, and it was like $10-15 and lasted longer since it was a bigger filter. While a pain in the rear to change, it is cheaper and lasted longer.


Of course, the mfrs want you to spend more money on their replacement parts, and if it requires a serviceman to replace or repair such items, so much the better for their dealers and service outfits.
 
My idea? Use a good filter behind the fridge and it should make the expensive one if the fridge last a lot longer.
 
My 3 year old GE refrigerator tells me about every 12 months it's time to replace the filter. I put the supplied blank in mine when the first reminder popped up, and haven't had a filter in it since the original. You can get an inline filter for the supply line much cheaper, but I haven't even bothered with it.
 
We just replaced our filter after 5 years. The water tastes much better. However, I order the correct filter and they sent me the incorrect one. It is now stuck in my fridge permanently. Oops.
 
I just started using the compatible brand filters, haven't had any trouble on my whirlpool fridge. You do need to run a gallon or so through them though to flush the filter media out.
 
As if the brand really matters. My grandma needed a filter for her fridge 2 months ago and I ordered the cheapest one on Amazon, the water has never tasted better. And I'm over there everyday drinking a lot of water from it.

2 pack for $36 LINK

1 pack $17.41 LINK

1 pack name brand $19.89 LINK
 
Skip the plug in model water filter and get a external one. I just buy a over sized external filter and put in inline with the hose coming out the wall. It last longer and is MUCH more cheaper.
 
I run 2 external filters for the cold water supply to the kitchen, sediment and then carbon filter.

The fridge gets a compatible water filter - OEM is way too much. Like $60 per and they are good for 6 months.
 
Just bought a house new to me. A few days after taking possession the "replace filter" light on the refrigerator came on. When I found out the price of a filter ($60+) I decided to go the unfiltered water route. The previous owner hadn't retained the "no filter in use plug" so I bought one (for about half the price of a new filter). And of course it works fine.

What's the deal with a water filter anyway. I used to drink unfiltered water from the tap; now I drink unfiltered water from the fridge.
 
I have pretty good well water to begin with then it goes througha sediment filter and a GAC filter. I think the frig filter is supposed to be changed every 3 months. I make it go one year and it gets a compatible non-OEM filter.
 
After reading reviews, I decided to just buy the OE filter. $35 every 6 months I can handle, I use that water in my coffee and refillable bottles. I don't buy bottled water.
 
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
My idea? Use a good filter behind the fridge and it should make the expensive one if the fridge last a lot longer.
+1

Where I live, the water comes from a warm lake and tastes like it somedays. Thus I use a charcoal rather than sediment filter, for the ice maker.
 
Originally Posted By: dishdude
After reading reviews, I decided to just buy the OE filter. $35 every 6 months I can handle, I use that water in my coffee and refillable bottles. I don't buy bottled water.

Exactly. I tried a "compatible" filter once, leaked everywhere, sent it back and they send me another one for no charge, and it leaked too.
So many similar reviews and others saying they taste bad etc.

I was just suprised to see the price on these have gone up. I figured these would at least have stayed the same price if not gone down. I was not expecting them to have gone up.


As for why, The water here tastes funny, and I don't drink enough water as it is. At least with the filtered water I drink more water and am not buying bottled water. As for the behind the fridge filter, I have had 2 of them get leaks in the feed line, so I don't want to go that route again, even if it is cheaper. Plus every 8-9 months I have to do the built in one, so it is not that often I do it.
My rant was on the price of the filters going up, not why we use them.
 
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