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 brita water tastes weird 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 cryptosporidi