If it's time to change your refrigerator water filter you might be wondering whether you need to stick with OEM filters, or whether a generic fridge filter might allow you to save money. This article aims to help you pick the best and most cost-effective fridge filters for your fridge, and explains NSF certification as well as what you need to be looking for when choosing replacement filters.
What Are NSF Certified Generic Refrigerator Filters?
NSF Certified generic refrigerator water filters describes any filter which has been tested and approved by the NSF, or National Sanitation Foundation. Founded in 1944, the body is now known as NSF International and is the world's leading authority on sanitisation and water safety.
They offer services to a wide range of industries and are recognised as the leading mark of quality for manufacturers of all water filtration system - which of course, includes refrigerator water filters. NSF certified filters are guaranteed to provide drinking water that is safe for you and your family, and all products are subjected to thorough testing and lab analysis to ensure that not only is the filtration up to par, but the filter is truly compatible with the products it is advertised to work with.
Why Should You Buy NSF Certified Fridge Water Filters?
You should buy NSF certified fridge water filters for the following reasons:
- Peace of Mind - The NSF's rigorous testing processes mean you can rest assured that you and your family's water will be as safe as possible.
- Quality - NSF certification is a guarantee that your fridge filters will be fit for purpose, will last for the advertised water capacity range, and will be truly compatible with your brand and model of fridge.
- Save Money - Aftermarket or generic refrigerator water filters will often work out cheaper than the OEM filter equivalent. Discount Fridge Filters non-brand filters are cheaper than branded refrigerator water filters, NSF certified and can be ordered in bulk to drive down the price further. That means you get all the benefits of an NSF-certified refrigerator filter, for a fraction of the price in comparison to branded OEM filters.
Does Brand Of Water Filter Matter?
The brand of water filter matters to some extent as you need to choose a brand that fits your brand of fridge. Many people believe this means they need to buy OEM filters - which for the uninitiated, stands for 'original equipment manufacturer'. This means they stick with the branded filters when in many cases a generic or non-manufacturer-branded refrigerator water filter would work just as well (or better) - and be cheaper.
It's probably more accurate to say that the brand itself doesn't matter: but choosing a brand or filter which works with your fridge is obviously crucial. Most generic refrigerator water filters will list the models with which they are designed to work with, and this is your first indicator to help you narrow in on the best water filter. There are several factors you need to look for when assessing whether a fridge filter is appropriate for your fridge.
Genuine OEM Water Filters vs Generic Water Filters: A Comparison
What Is An OEM Water Filter?
An OEM water filter is the acronym used to describe the filters made by the same manufacturer who designed and built your refrigerator. It stands for 'original equipment manufacturer', and many people don't look much past these when replacing filters, for perhaps obvious reasons.
However, off-brand water filters will often work out to be cheaper, and very often have similar or preferable performance. As we stated above, the water filter will list the brands and model numbers of the fridges it works with on the packaging or listing. To properly decide how to best select your filter, and work out what's most cost effective though, you should also consider the following factors:
- Price - Non-OEM refrigerator water filters are nearly always cheaper than their OEM counterparts, as they are normally designed to fit a range of fridges which allows the makers to drive the price down. Aftermarket filters can also be ordered in bulk, which helps the consumer to drive the price down even further. Even in the rare case that the individual filters don't last quite as long as OEM filters (see Water Capacity below), this price difference can still mean these filters are still more cost-effective.
- PSI - PSI stands for Pounds (per) Square Inch, and is a measure of pressure. The PSI is the factor which determines the rate of waterflow. Your fridge will operate at a specific PSI range, and the filter will need to match this.
- Water Capacity - In order to work out if your replacement filter cartridge will genuinely save you money in the long term, you need to know how long it will last you. The water capacity of a filter is measured in gallons and tells you roughly how much water your filter can deal with before it becomes saturated and its efficiency dips. It's worth remembering this number will vary depending on the quality of water in your area. Aftermarket filters will often stack up favourably against OEM filters, but it is still worth checking before you buy to be sure.
- Certification - It is important that whatever filter you choose is certified for safety by a recognised and respected body. There are several authorities on water safety who can certify products, but the NSF is the most respected water testing and sanitisation body.
Is It OK To Use Generic Water Filter In A Samsung Refrigerator?
If you're stuck looking for replacement fridge filters from a specific brand or not sure which generic filters might be suitable for your particular model of fridge, simply visit our website and add your fridge's brand, model, or the filter part number if you know it - you might be surprised by how much you can save by dropping the brand name filters!
