Looking for clarification about which water filter will be compatible with your Whirlpool refrigerator? Don’t worry; you have landed on the right article. While different refrigerator models might use different types of water filters located at varying positions, they serve the same purpose.
The water filter you need for your Whirlpool refrigerator must be compatible with your refrigerator and fulfill your water filtration requirements. You must check your water quality and refrigerator model number to purchase the right match. You can either buy a high-priced OEM water filter or a low-priced aftermarket water filter based on your budget.
Water filters are an essential feature of refrigerators as they provide clean drinking water quickly and easily. They are installed within the fridge and connected to the home water supply. When contaminated tap water flows through the fridge water filter, it removes impurities. The clean filtered water then flows to the fridge water dispenser, from where you can use it for drinking or cooking purposes.
Now that you understand the need and importance of water filters let’s help you find the best-suited water filter for your Whirlpool refrigerator. Keep reading.
Whirlpool Refrigerator Models and Their Water Filter Locations
Whirlpool is an old and reputed company for appliances. They manufacture and design various models containing varying features. Let’s look at all the Whirlpool refrigerator models and where you can find their water filters one by one:
- Button Freezer Model: Water filter is located at the back of the fridge, in the base grille, or upper-right interior of the upper compartment.
- French 3-Door Model: The water filter is located at the back of the fridge, in the base grille, or upper-right interior of the upper compartment.
- French 4-Door Model: water filter is located at the back of the fridge or upper-right interior of the upper compartment.
- Side-By-Side Model: The water filter is located at the back of the fridge, in the base grille, or the upper-right interior of the right compartment.
- Top Freezer Model: Water filter is located at the back of the fridge, in the base grille, or upper-right interior of the lower compartment.
- Under Counter Model: The water filter is located in the base grille.
Types Of Water Filters For Whirlpool Refrigerators
Did you know that water can be filtered using different mechanisms? Different Whirlpool refrigerators also use different types of water filters for you to select from. RO (Reverse Osmosis) and Carbon-block filters are the two majorly used water filters. Let’s understand their mechanism:
- Reverse osmosis filters contain a semi-permeable membrane (SPM), also known as the RO membrane, with numerous tiny pores. The pore size is so small that only water molecules can pass through it, while impurities are left behind. As a result, it can remove harmful contaminants like dirt, heavy metals, mineral salts, chemicals, and microorganisms. So, when dirty water is pressurized to pass through the SPM, clean water is obtained on the other side while the collected impurities are washed off.
Note that the water flow rate in RO filters is slow, as the filtration process may take a couple of hours to filter a few gallons of water. The water waste ratio is 1:3, which means that for every 1 gallon of clean water produced, 3 gallons of water is wasted. Moreover, RO-filtered drinking water lacks healthy minerals essential for the body as they are also removed along with other impurities and toxins.
- Carbon filters, as the name suggests, use activated carbon medium to cleanse water. When dirty water flows through this filter, its various contaminants stick to the activated carbon surface. It helps eliminate chlorine, harmful chemicals, VOCs, and bad odors. Thus, only water and some essential minerals can cross this media and flow to the water dispenser.
Choosing The Right Water Filter For Your Whirlpool Refrigerator
Whirlpool refrigerator water filters can be of great help, but they do not last forever. So, once the lifespan of your existing water filter is over, you should purchase a new one. However, picking the right filter for your refrigerator can be confusing. Here are all the factors you much consider before selecting a water filter for your Whirlpool refrigerator:
- Supplied Water Quality
It’s necessary to know the type of water your home receives. Water supplied by the municipal corporation is less contaminated than from the private well. Moreover, municipal water has high chlorine levels, while well water has high amounts of heavy metals.
If the contamination is not easily detectable, get your water tested to know the exact types and levels of impurities. Once you know your water type, proceed to the next step.
- Refrigerator Model
Next, you must remember the model number of your Whirlpool refrigerator and its original water filter. The products in the market are usually identified by model numbers, making it easier for you to pick the right one. The model number is generally mentioned on the label of the refrigerator or in its user manual. Otherwise, you can look it up on the internet or call customer support staff.
Note that not all water filters are compatible with different refrigerator models. Only specific water filter types fit correctly into the filter compartment of the refrigerator. So, make sure you know the model number.
- Budget
While people prefer only to buy original water filters manufactured by Whirlpool, we are here to tell you that good-quality aftermarket filters also work equally well. OEM and aftermarket filters differ in price but do the same job. Aftermarket filters are much cheaper and use the same filter media or mechanism.
So, if you can afford original Whirlpool refrigerator filters for the rest of your refrigerator’s life, go for it. However, if you wish to save money, go for good-quality aftermarket water filters that are compatible with your refrigerator model.
Conclusion
We hope we covered all that you wanted to know about the water filter you need for your Whirlpool refrigerator in this article. Whirlpool refrigerators with water filters can be a great problem solver for those who do not wish to install a separate drinking water filter. Refrigerator water filters are either attached to the water dispenser to provide cold drinking water or an in-build ice maker to provide fresh ice cubes.
The lifespan of refrigerator water filters is limited as they are blocked with collected impurities over time. So, it is recommended to purchase replacement filters after every 6 months (twice a year) to make the change on time. You must check the refrigerator model number and your water quality to know the type of water filter you must buy.
