We all want to keep our families safe, safe from harm, danger, and sickness, but what do we do when the danger could be right in our home? Even worse, what do we do when the danger is in our drinking water?

Your old fridge filter could be a hazard for you and your family. If your main source of drinking water is from your fridge filter, this article is for you.

It's important to know the common water contaminants and be able to identify when to start shopping for new refrigerator water filters. We've included a list of some common water contaminants that can develop when you don't change your fridge water filter and some information on where and how to find fridge filters in America.

Common Waterborne Contaminants.

It’s bad enough to be able to see, smell, or taste a contaminant. But what if your water looks, smells, and tastes just fine — is it? Not necessarily.

Microbial and organic contaminants cannot always be detected by human senses. You might go years before realizing a problem exists. Many folks never become suspicious until people in the community start to get sick. Water near agricultural areas may contain harmful organic material from pesticide or fertilizer application. Chemicals from pesticides and fertilizers in water may increase cancer risk and reproductive problems, and can impair eye, liver, kidney, and other body functions. Similar problems can result from exposure to water near industrial plants.

Some common waterborne contaminants include:

Aluminum,Ammonia,Arsenic,Barium,Cadmium,Chloramine,Chromium,Copper,Fluoride,Bacteria & Viruses,Lead,Nitrates/Nitrites,Mercury,Perchlorate,Radium,Selenium,Silver,Uranium.

Even if you cannot see, taste or smell the contaminants, there are resources available to help you detect and treat the issues. Find a laboratory and/or a local water professional to help you perform a water analysis.

Effects of Waterborne Contaminants on Health.

The U.S. EPA has set standards for more than 80 contaminants that may occur in drinking water and pose a risk to human health. The contaminants fall into two groups according to the health effects that they cause.

Acute effects occur within hours or days of the time that a person consumes a contaminant. People can suffer acute health effects from almost any contaminant if they are exposed to extraordinarily high levels (as in the case of a spill). In drinking water, microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, are the contaminants with the greatest chance of reaching levels high enough to cause acute health effects.

Most people’s bodies can fight off these microbial contaminants the way they fight off germs, and these acute contaminants typically don’t have permanent effects. Nonetheless, when high enough levels occur, they can make people ill, and can be dangerous or deadly for a person whose immune system is already weakened.

CAN REFRIGERATOR WATER MAKE YOU SICK?

Every year, millions of people become sick from waterborne illnesses. Contaminated water can be a result of many different things, things we sometimes have no control over, but one of the things we can control is our home drinking water supply.

Several thousand households across America have refrigerators that come with filters and require a fridge filter cartridge. If your refrigerator does not come equipped with a filter, you may want to consider purchasing one that does. Having unfiltered water in your home could expose your family to unwanted contaminants.

Unfiltered water is susceptible to heavy metals and harmful compounds. If your water is unfiltered you could be consuming these harmful substances unknowingly. Consuming these inorganic compounds could make you sick or have harmful effects on your body over time.

COMMON CONTAMINANTS IN REFRIGERATOR WATER

Being aware of the common contaminants in refrigerator water will help you to understand the importance of purchasing a refrigerator water filter and changing it regularly. Changing your refrigerator water filter helps to avoid the buildup of contaminants in the filter.

When to change a Refrigerator Water Filter?

If you have a larger family that uses a lot of water, it might not last as long. Your water and/ or ice may start to taste funny or different. A lot of refrigerators will display an indicator light when it is time for a change. The half-life of the filter is 6 months. Put a sticker on the filter that indicates the change in six months. For example, if you install the water filter in March, put the “SEP” sticker on the filter. By this you will remember to replace the filter in September. This way you will not forget when you should change the filter. Some people decide to clean their filters to make them last longer, this method does work, but eventually, all filters that are used regularly should be changed. Use your own discretion when deciding when to choose your filter, but remember that a contaminated filter could be very dangerous to you and your family.

Cysts

A cyst is a one-cell organism in an early stage of development; a parasite that is known to be resistant to chlorine and other disinfectants. In comparison to bacteria and viruses, cysts are quite large (ranging from 7-10 microns in diameter), and can, therefore, be more easily removed by installing a water filter. The most common cysts found in American water supplies are Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Cysts can be spread from person to person and can cause a variety of stomach and intestinal issues which can range from mild to server. These can include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, weight loss, and dehydration.

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal and an element which has been used in paint, glassware, and metal pipes. Odourless and colourless, lead can go undetected in water supply, and can pose a serious health threat to humans if consumed. For adults, excessive exposure to lead increases their risk of developing cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, and memory problems. In children, exposure to lead can cause premature birth, seizures, hearing loss, and brain damage.

Drinking water is one of the most common possible routes to lead exposure; however, it is also quite easy to reduce your risk of contamination.

Mercury

Mercury is a naturally occurring metallic metal which poses potential health threats to humans if consumed. The toxic metal can sweep into water supplied from improperly discarded batteries, as runoff from farmland, dumped by factories, or from natural deposits. High levels of mercury can cause brain damage, kidney failure, and can severely damage a developing fetus.

What to Take Into Consideration when Choosing a Refrigerator Water Filter?

Certification: NSF certified filter

NSF’s water quality safety testing and certification standards are called industry’s highest standards. Countries like the European Union and America outside the United States use them as standards. Therefore, NSF is designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as global drinking water safety and filtration. Cooperation center. WQA (Water Quality Association) is the abbreviation of American Water Quality Association. The most authoritative water quality association in the United States is a non-profit international industry organization. it represents the water treatment industry and practitioners. It represents the interests of the majority of water industry enterprises and practitioners. Provide comprehensive support and services. it’s support promote the healthy and effective development of the global water industry.

You may notice the NSF mark on a product along with numbers. numbers such as NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 42 are refer to the standard to which the filter has been certified.

NSF Standard 42: Water Quality Drinkability Test:

how to choose a refrigerator water filter

Tests the ability of the water filter to remove contaminants that affect the taste, odor, and clarity of the drinking water. The reason of test is to meet the conditions appropriate for human drinking water.

NSF Standard 53 Water Quality Health Test:

Standard 53 is used to test whether the filter material is safe. The product structure is complete. The product information is correct. it also test the efficiency of filtering pollutants such as lead, cysts, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). This is a critical consideration in the selection of water purifiers.

WHICH REFRIGERATOR WATER FILTER TO CHOOSE?

Contaminants in water can be a major problem, but if you stay on top of it you can maintain a clean drinking supply in your home. Purchasing fridge filters online is very easy, and identifying which filter to get could be easy too. Most recommended brand-name refrigerators are paired with the matching brand filter. For example, If you have a Samsung refrigerator it’s recommended you purchase Samsung fridge Filters, and a Raindance refrigerator is paired with the Raindance water filters.

All water filters have their specialties, pros, and cons, choosing the right water filter really depends on what's best for your home and your personal preference. Some popular water filters options are the Samsung fridge filter, Everpure water filter, LG fridge filter, and AquaPure water filter. The filters are identified by name and number, for example, if you have a Westinghouse fridge you may be shopping for the Westinghouse whe7074sa, and Samsung fridge owners may be shopping for the Samsung da29 00020b.

Choosing the water filter for a fridge is a simple process if you go by the brand name, purchasing a brand name filter will also help to guarantee the quality of the filter. Choosing a fridge filter in America may seem like a daunting task, but it could stop you and your family from being exposed to contaminants and unwanted chemicals. Also consider a fluoride water filter in order to filter fluoride.

Whether you’re shopping for the LG water filter, Aqua pure water filters, or the Everpure water filter replacement cartridge, GlacialPure offers one of the largest selections of refrigerator filters and reverse osmosis water filter systems in America. Purchase your fridge filter cartridge at GlacialPure and get outstanding deals for filters like the Samsung fridge filters in America, the Westinghouse fridge filter, and many other popular brands.