Fortunately, keeping your water safe and potable is fairly easy as long as you remember to change the filter occasionally according to the instructions provided by the refrigerator manufacturer.
What happens when you don't change the filter?
You may be ingesting harmful chemicals - the number one reason to keep a filter fresh is that it removes 99% of harmful chemicals and contaminants from drinking water, including lead, asbestos, mercury, cysts, pesticides and harmful bacteria. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), nearly 77 million Americans drink water systems that do not meet federal standards designed to protect their health. Some common contaminants include:
Lead - Lead tends to seep into water systems through old lead pipes, causing neurological, behavioral and health problems in children and adults. Edr2rxd1 water filter whirlpool can significantly reduce lead levels in drinking water.
Asbestos - The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that asbestos - a material mainly found in building materials and insulation - can enter our waters through a variety of channels, including industrial waste, air pollution and corrosion of pipes. Health hazards associated with asbestos include serious respiratory problems such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Mercury - High levels of mercury have been shown to damage the brain, kidneys and developing fetus of pregnant women. Generally speaking, the level of mercury in drinking water is not high enough to cause serious health problems, but W10295370a water filter can almost completely eliminate it.
Waste - Did you know that chemical waste, by-products and even radioactive contaminants can get into your drinking water? The NRDC reports that water can carry radioactive material from nuclear weapons and energy production due to leaks or improper waste storage. In addition, medical and pharmaceutical waste has been tested in drinking water.
Your refrigerator ages faster -- just as these harmful chemicals can affect our bodies, so can they affect our refrigerators. Failure to replace your refrigerator's water filter can cause scale and deposits to build up in the water and ice maker, which can seriously damage your refrigerator. This buildup tends to slow down the system, cause low flow, and negatively affect the taste of the water.
Your water doesn't taste good - let's not forget the fact that an old filter doesn't properly remove coarse flavor particles from the water, making it taste metallic, sulfuric, or all-around bad. The best way to ensure you have quality, delicious water is to choose a good water filter and make sure to change it at appropriate intervals. Having water that tastes and smells good will help make it more appealing, so you can drink the recommended daily amount!
If you're looking for a versatile replacement water filter, we recommend browsing the Everydrop water filter 1 Water Filter. Many EveryDrop water filters are compatible with leading refrigerator brands such as Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid and more.
The good news is that if you have a relatively new refrigerator, there's a good chance it will let you know exactly when it's time to replace the filter. By using built-in sensors, the refrigerator is able to detect when an update is required and alert the user with an indicator light on the front of the refrigerator. Make sure you have a spare filter in your kitchen so you'll never be short of clean, delicious water!