First off, this filter is great. It does exactly what it's supposed to and does it well for quite a while. A couple of questions always come up around these things and I will try to answer them to the best of my knowledge as an engineer, and what I do for my family to keep them safe, but always do your own research because it's your water!
Pro-Tips Q&A:
Q. When my light turns on in the refrigerator that says "Change Filter", is the filter really worn out vs they just want me to buy a new one like a subscription service?
A. The answer to this is a frustrating "It depends". Some refrigerators just turn on the light every X amount of hours of run time, usually around 4380 (six months). Others measure how many gallons of water you have used and then turn on the light (usually around 200-250 gallons) but I have never seen one that measures ONLY gallons. Some really new ones measure flow rate as a third indicator and when the flow changes by a certain percent it might trigger a filter change light because the computer assume that the filter is not doing its job any longer.
There may be a rating printed right on the filter to check how many gallons it's good for. Most newish models fridges in the last 10-15 years watch both hours and gallons and turn on the light whatever is happens first, 6 months or 200 gallons. The newest watch flow, gallons and time and will act accordingly. I have one newer fridge that will turn on the light within a month if you use a cheap knock off. I don't use this fridge for water or ice so it doesn't matter, but the flow of the knock-offs is effected such that the fridge believes that it isn't getting filtered properly and with these cheap knock-offs it's probably right so I went back to OEM even on that fridge and I just change it once per year and I'm done with it. Safety first even if I don't plan to use it!
Q. So if I am not using 200 gallons, do I need to replace it every six months?
A. The answer is again, it depends. Here is where it gets tricky. How bad is the water coming in, and how much sediment and other things are you filtering out? In other words, how hard are you working the filter? The carbon in the filter only has so much capacity to absorb stuff. At some point it becomes less effective and the water just passes through without being filtered because the carbon is saturated and can't handle any more.
The way I figured out what was right for me was I checked my water with those water check strips you can get here on Amazon, and I figured out exactly how bad the water was and what was in it. Then I figured out how that compared to the average water across the U.S. domestic market (EPA numbers) and I figured out my water was somewhat cleaner than then average but also on the hard side. This gives you your base to know around how much the filter will likely absorb. If you figure the manufacturer assumes 200 gallons of average water, and you can adjust if yours is above or below average. I figured in my case these OEM filters were in fact good for around 268 gallons without an issue, assuming they were in fact honest and 200 gallons was the right starting point (slight leap of faith there). That was a 30%+ increase beyond the recommended number. Using up my box of test strips basically proved it out although I figure around 250 gallons or so it would start to show less effective.
For the refrigerator that this particular filter is going into, it's not seeing 200+ gallons in a year. Remember: Include ice creation in your water calculation. Therefore for me, and this refrigerator (vs my others) I could get away with replacing the filter only once per year.
Q. Why not go over a year and wait until 200+ gallons????
A. Well that is because it is possible that bacteria can grow in the carbon and get transferred to the water. This is unlikely, but possible and as the bacteria take up space itself (very little) you can make the filter less effective AND less safe, so I change it at LEAST once a year just to be safe. The carbon in a solid state like in these filters does not break down when exposed to water so I don't have to calculator that.
Q. Why not use a cheaper knock-off filter at half the price and replace it twice as often, or at a 1/4 the price and replace it twice as often saving lots of money? Well, for me, I don't trust what these knock-off filters claim. Some of the claims are so outrageous I am surprised they don't claim it cures cancer. You find these on the Chinese knock-offs in particular. Avoid these at all costs. Some of the more reputable filter replacements are probably ok, but they might skimp on carbon, or have wider channels so there is less carbon, use a different density carbon etc. that may make them cheaper but less effective. The only way to tell for sure is to take water measurements and then cut the filter open to see for yourself across samples taken over a 6 month period. That is a heck of a lot of work when I know that I am replacing them at the right interval, plus I know for sure the OEM manufacturer doesn't want to get sued or take a reputational risk so their specs are likely correct. I want to keep my family safe, so I just go with the OEM version and make my calculations.
Remember, you are DRINKING this. Either in frozen Ice form or liquid form. Your family, your children, your guests, friends, relatives drink this. Spend a little extra money to get a filter you know works and will be safe for your family.
I hope you found this helpful.
| Material | Plastic |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 2.5"D x 2.5"W x 8.69"H |
| Item Weight | 0.45 Pounds |
| External Testing Certification | NSF |
| Product Benefits | Reduces Sediment |
| Brand | EveryDrop |
| Brand Name | EveryDrop |
| Model Info | EDR1RXD1 |
| Item Weight | 7.2 ounces |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
| Item model number | EDR1RXD1 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Capacity | 0.75 Gallons |
| Star Classification | ambient: room temperature |
| Part Number | 10383251 |
| Color | Purple |
| Certification | NSF Certification |
| Material Type | Plastic |
| Included Components | 1 Water Filter |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
