Answers a question that I have always had. Thank you for sharing this!

Thanks for sharing! I’ve always wondered how important the filters and scheduled filter changes were in these water dispensers and also in shower heads.

I agree that it's mostly based off of where you get your water source. Most of these refrigerator water line filters just are made of activated carbon and potentially some other filters. It's primary job is to remove the chlorine and the sulfur odor, and not much more.

Nice video

Try testing with a TDS (total dissolved solids) meter.

Honestly, considering the price of them (I have an LG with a water filter too), a whole home filter would be a far better investment. Combine it with a water softener and really, it would be far better money spent compared to those foolish cartridges. I have to make some plumbing changes to get a bigger, high flow filter into my main line (I have a less than ideal one now) but once that is done, I am done with these silly things. That is for sure.

Cut open the old filter and look at what has built up inside. Based on the water flow reduction you reported, I predict you'll find a lot of "gunk" in there. Is that gunk actually harmful? Probably not. But do you really want to drink it?

I replaced my refrigirator filter with that one. The water tasted terrible. Iodine taste after standing for a while.. I checked a number of times to make sure the filerter was inserted properly. Had to buy the original. Everydrop by whirlpool. Now the water tastes great.

One reason to replace them when the indicator turns on is bacterial buildup. Using an old filter for a long time can be harmful because of that. The water flows through everything but kinda just sits in the filter indefinitely which is what causes the bacterial growth.

Activated carbon is mainly used for PFAS/PFOA removal and Organic compound removal(taste and odor). It's not gonna remove heavy metals/nitrites/ect.

try testing tap water from the sink and water hose

No matter what it’s better the. Tap !

I can tell a difference in taste. The filtered water is much better.

Notice an immediate improvement in the taste of water when I replace the filter

It seems like you had a good source of tap water to begin with so you wouldn’t even need a filter anyways.

Carbonate/alkalinity aren’t contaminants.

I guarantee you it varies significantly by municipality because you WILL need a filter for the Augusta areas or else youd be drinkjng moldy sh*t water 100%

Instead of taking the new filter off to get unfiltered water why didn’t you just get it from the faucet?

at least you should’ve used glass cup for the tests

You should have tested the third non filtered water straight from your spigot not from the fridge, that fridge has a huge reservoir, I suspect that the "unfiltered" water you tested last was still coming from the filtered reservoir

Just a reminder that the water coming into your house is already safe for human consumption. The filter on a refrigerator is just to get that remaining stuff out that isn't harmful to humans but can make the water sometimes taste better depending on the water in your area. My water taste the same out of the tap and fridge. I kind it all of a marketing ploy to spend more money on something you don't really need in the first place. I replace my filter yearly and reset it at 6 months, the water pressure does improve but meh.