FridgeFilters.com Blog

MWF vs. MXRC

Do you have a GE fridge? You might even have a Kenmore fridge made by GE (more on that later). GEs are some of the oldest and most popular refrigerators in America. The filters made by GE are just as great as the fridges. They filter well and most of the time, they maintain the flow rate for the 6 month life of the filter.

Over the years, the filters have undergone many changes to improve and serve the customers better. Several years ago, GE replaced the metal canister filter MXRC with the MWF. Here are some helpful tips if you have a fridge that has an MXRC.

• You can still use your MXRC filter, but the newer MWF is a much better choice. It is made of plastic instead of metal, which lowers the price.

• To use an MWF in place of an MXRC, you need a special GE filter adapter to make the MWF work.

• The MWF has a faster flow rate and a longer life span.

 

We recommend the MWF filter (with adapter) for your fridge, even if it matches with an MXRC. The MWF is a lower priced, better filter with a longer life.

Depending on your refrigerator, the MWF with adapter may not work for you. The MWF with adapter is taller than then MXRC and depending on the height of your top shelf, the filter may not fit. If that is the case, we will gladly help you with an exchange. Contact our support team at 800-683-8353 or support@fridgefilters.com.

Food Allergies and Pesticides- Is There a Link?

By Megan Vick

You may have noticed lately that the number of people, especially children, with food allergies is increasing. With common allergens such as wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk (and milk products), fish, and shellfish, you may wonder why so many people have allergies.

On December 3, 2012, the results of a study were released which tested the hypothesis that chemicals, specifically pesticides, in our drinking water may increase food allergies. The study did not find the two were linked. However, this same study did find (to no surprise) that both environmental pollution and food allergies are increasing in the USA.

The researchers found that while pesticides in water do not directly cause food allergies, the increase in chemicals in the water is associated with more food allergies. This study surveyed over 10,000 Americans regarding their health. Researchers analyzed the participants’ urine and determined that dichlorophenol, a chemical used in pesticides, weed-killers, and as a method of chlorinating water, was at measurable levels in over 2200 participants. Of those individuals, over half reported having either a food allergy or an environmental allergy (such as pollen). This information led the researchers to believe dichlorophenols may weaken food tolerance in some people, causing a food allergy. This could also explain why some children outgrow food allergies and why some adults develop them later in life.

Researchers did say that they cannot draw any specific conclusions on the link between pesticides in drinking water and food allergies, but there is enough evidence to warrant more research and more studies. Until we know for certain, it is recommended pregnant women, children, and those with a compromised immune system drink distilled or filtered water to help reduce the risk of developing or aggravating a food allergy.

*Read the whole article by Ryan Jaslow here

4396710 and 4396841 – Which Filter Do I Need?

By Megan Vick

 

Multiple times a day, our customer service team gets phone calls regarding the PUR refrigerator water filter for Whirlpool/Kenmore. PUR makes the filter for both Whirlpool and Kenmore brands and it does have many product numbers. Both 4396710 and 4396841 will fit the same in your fridge, but the performance may differ. Here is a quick way to help determine which filter is right for you!

 

4396710

This is the “Advanced” filter for your model refrigerator. This filter is slightly slower than its “Deluxe” counterpart, but it removes more contaminants. It is also NSF tested and certified to meet or exceed NSF standards 42 and 53.

 

The 4396710 filter is great if you have heavy metals, pesticides, chlorine, and particulates in your water. We particularly recommend this filter over the Deluxe filter if you have well water, live in a more rural area, or if pesticides are used frequently in your community for landscaping.

 

PRO TIP: If your refrigerator has “Fast Fill” or “PUR Measure” on the water dispenser, do not use this filter. Your water dispenser’s performance will decrease significantly.

 

4396841

This is the “Deluxe” filter for your model fridge. This filter is also known as the “Fast Fill” filter or “PUR Measure” filter due to its higher gallon per minute output. If your water dispenser has either of the two phrases on it, make certain you use this filter instead of the “Advanced” because your water dispenser’s performance will suffer.

 

The 4396841 filter is excellent if you have lead, mercury, chlorine, or particulates in your water. It is also NSF tested and certified to meet or exceed NSF standards 42 and 53. We recommend this filter to customers who have municipal water and want a little extra filtering of their drinking water.

 

If you have any questions about which filter to use, don’t hesitate to contact our customer service team by phone 800-683-8353 or by email at support@fridgefilters.com. We are more than happy to assist you!

Happy Filtering!

 

Friendly Fracking? Companies Embrace Solar Energy

By Megan Vick

In an odd twist of fate, many fracking companies are looking to the clean energy sector to provide solar energy options for hydraulic fracturing. Halliburton Co (yes, the same people responsible for the BP oil spill in 2010) has a machine which relies on solar generated electricity in combination with Earth’s gravity to shoot sand into underground rock. This rock contains the ever-precious natural gas or oil. This little machine is called the SandCastle.

 

Fracking has generated tons of controversy because of the threat to the environment. Specifically, fracking has come under fire for using “proprietary chemicals” used to release the natural gas. These chemicals do not have to be released to the public; therefore many people do not know when the groundwater supply is contaminated. This also causes problems because common household filters don’t remove such potent contaminants from the water.

 

Halliburton, along with other companies, is working to build its fracking clean-up business to continue its “environment-friendly” spin. Now, Halliburton is promoting a product called CleanStim. CleanStim is a fracking fluid that is made “almost entirely of enzymes from fruit and vegetable compounds.” But, like most things involving fracking, we do not know what CleanStim actually contains since the ingredients are proprietary.  As a symbol of faith, the CEO of Halliburton drank CleanStim from a jar at an October conference to prove there is nothing harmful in the fracking fluid.

 

What do you think about friendly fracking? Share your thoughts in the comments!

 

*See the full article by David Wethe at Bloomberg Businessweek

Wildlife Woes

By Megan Vick

With constant development all over our country, there has been an increase in contact between humans and wild animals (mostly bobcats and some coyotes). Now, it seems bobcats are moving into highly populated areas like Denver, Colorado and Los Angeles, California. Or, perhaps, humans are moving into their territory. This new type of “co-habitation” can have harmful effects on our health.

 

It seems the bobcat is the newest species to get up close and personal with humans. Some people report a mother bobcat raising kittens in their backyard, while others see them in the tree tops hunting. Firstly, it is very important that you DO NOT feed or attempt to pet bobcats! While they may seem extra fluffy and extra adorable, bobcats are still extremely wild animals and can easily hurt you.

 

You should also note that having wild animals living in close proximity to your home can create some issues for your water supply. Animals, cats especially, may have disease-causing parasites in their digestive tracts. When bobcats, you know, do their business, those parasites are deposited on the ground where they can make their way into the water supply.

 

Studies from the National Science Foundation's Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) program show that humans and wild animals come in contact with each other more and more frequently each year. Sam Scheiner from the EEID said, "This study demonstrates that we and our wild animal neighbors are closely interconnected in ways that affect the health of us all."

 

Parasites and microbial cysts like Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia duodenalis, and Cryptosporidium can cause upset stomachs and diarrhea. Luckily, these little nasties can easily be removed with a filter of .5 microns or smaller. Most refrigerator water filters meet this description. If you have any questions about the micron rating of your filter, contact our customer service team at 800-683-8353 or support@fridgefilters.com.

 

Are You Prepared for a Storm?

By Megan Vick

By now, most of the East Coast is battening down the hatches for the slow, sprawling storm, Sandy. While many people know to have plenty of batteries, food, and water, there are a few more things to know.

 

1. If you’re hunkering down for a storm, make sure you know your nearest shelter. Your town or county should have this information available on its website. You can also check out the Red Cross for shelters in your area.

2. Keep your gas tank at least half-full and be sure to have cash on hand. If the power goes out, gas pumps and ATMs won’t work.

3. Keep your pets and livestock safe! Animals are like family so it’s important to keep them protected too. The US Humane Society has constantly updated information on how to prepare for emergencies with your pet, and what to do should you find yourself in one.

4. If you’ve got a generator, you already know how handy they can be when the power goes out. Remember, when generators run, they emit carbon monoxide gas. Don’t keep your generator in your home or in your garage. Be sure it’s at least 20 feet away from your home’s doors and windows. Also, be sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors (with a battery backup) near sleeping areas in your home.

5. If you lose power, watch your refrigerator and freezer. Perishables in the fridge should be thrown out after 4 hours without power. Food in the freezer can stay there for up to 48 hours, as long as the freezer door remains closed. A good motto: “When in doubt, throw it out.”

6. Any time there is a major storm, be prepared for boil water advisories. With flooding and storm surge, the potential for a water main break increases. It’s important to have safe drinking water available in air tight containers if the power goes out (and you’re on a well) and/or if there is a boil water advisory issued.  Your Brita just won’t get the nasties out in the event of a water quality advisory.

Should you be faced with a water quality advisory, be sure to either boil your water or drink from the reserves you already have. Once the advisory is lifted, be sure to:

• Toss all ice cubes, disinfect the tray and containers
• Drain and refill the hot water heaters set below 120 degrees
• Run cold water faucets for one to two minutes before using the water
• Replace ALL water filters (faucet, fridge, under sink, shower) that were installed when the advisory was issued

 

We want everyone to be safe before, during, and after storms! Take care of yourself, loved ones, and animals.

 

What a Wonderful, Watery World

This article is adapted from the original.

By Megan Vick

 

Similar to Howard Wolowitz from TV’s The Big Bang Theory, former NASA employee and environmental
engineer, John Feighery, designed the bathroom for the International Space Station. Feighery and his team needed to focus on efficiency, waste management, and air and water quality to have a successful system aboard the ISS.

 

In 2003, Feighery changed his focus to helping the global water crisis. When he spoke to AlertNet, he said, “I’d been working on supplying clean water to three or four people in space, and meanwhile there are a billion here on Earth that don’t have it.” This profound change in thought led him to work in Bangladesh with a group from the US Health and Human Services Department testing well water. While he was there, he lugged around heavy equipment and had to take notes and chart locations by hand. Because of his other physically taxing duties, Feighery decided this process could be, and should be, easier.

 

Feighery developed mWater. mWater is an Android app which records vital information about any given water source. This amazing app allows a user to input the results of water quality tests and map them. Users can also notate the appearance of the water, scent, flow, and other defining features. Photographs can even be uploaded to give more information.

 

 

mWater is an accessible and functional tool to help people affected by the growing global water crisis. Feighery will be working with UN Habitat and Rwanda’s ministry of health in the future to teach employees to use the app. These employees will be able to continue to monitor water sources and possibly even prevent an outbreak of waterborne illness from reaching the human population.

 

The app is available for Android devices at the Google Play Store.

 

 

We're Cooking with Water!

By Megan Vick

Just like brewing your morning coffee with filtered water makes a difference in its taste, cooking with filtered water improves the taste of your meals!

 

Any foodie will be able to give you an in depth analysis of the textures, colors, flavors, palatability, and even gastronomical variety of a given dish, but at the heart of any meal lies the water in which everything is cooked. Filters provide a simple and economical solution to remove many common contaminants from your water. A faucet filter will provide your whole family with ready-to-use filtered water for cooking.

 

Did you know many heavy metals and VOCs in water increase in concentration when boiled? There is a strong likelihood that unfiltered water may have some icky stuff in it which could leach into your food while it’s simmering on the stove. Elements like chlorine and sulfur may be present in the water and can cause both an unpleasant smell and taste in foods--especially baked goods like bread and dough.  Cooking with filtered water sunstantially reduces your chances of incorporating those chemicals into those delicious dinner rolls.

 

So, while you’re boiling your noodles, you’ve got to wash the vegetables for your meal. Are you using filtered water? What if the water you use to wash those veggies is adding pollutants instead of removing them? Currently, there is a big movement to buy organic produce so there is no pesticide residue in or on the fruits and vegetables. Washing your produce with your filtered water will continue to preserve your precious produce for your meal.

 

Whether you boiled your pasta or steamed your veggies, it’s almost a guarantee that water played a role in your meal somehow. Using filtered water will greatly improve the flavor of your food because your food isn’t subjected to some of the potential chemicals in your water.

 

Air Filters 101

By Megan Vick

Even though the name says Fridge Filters, we love all types of filters! We get so many questions on a day-to-day basis about air filters, especially this time of year; we just couldn’t help compiling another great FAQ list for you!

 

1. Why Do I Need an Air Filter?

You need an air filter to help keep icky stuff out of your indoor air. Numerous studies have shown many homes to have air quality that is up to 5 times worse than outdoor air quality. The air circulating throughout your home has pollutants from outside, like smog, pollen, smoke, and car pollution. But your home air also has pollutants from inside, like pet dander, smoke, dead skin cells, bacteria, and viruses. Air filters will help remove these little things to make your breathing a bit easier.

 

2. Do I Need to Change My Air Filter?

You most certainly do! Most filter manufacturers have a recommended replacement time on their filters.  Typically, filters need to be changed every month or every 3 months. By changing your air filter, you’re helping the air in your home to stay fresh and helping your air handler work efficiently, which saves you money.

 

3. How Can I Tell Which Size Filter I Need?

It’s quite easy! Most filters will have the size written on the edge of the filter. If you’re buying/building a home, your realtor/contractor will tell you what size you need. If you still can’t find out, you can measure your current filter to get an approximate size. Most filters come in standard sizes and are one inch thick.

 

4. How Can I Find Out Which Type of Filter I Need?

Filters come in many brands, many sizes, and many ratings. The best way to determine which type of filter is right for you is to look at your allergies and any possible air pollutants. There is a good rule of thumb to remember. When buying air filters, the higher the MERV rating, the more contaminants it will remove from your air. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to call 800-683-8353 or send us an email!

 

5. What Is A MERV Rating?

MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value and it was created to rate the effectiveness of air filters. The MERV system goes from 1 to 16, with 16 removing the most from the air.

 

6. What is a MPR rating?

MPR stands for Microparticle Performance Rating. This rating is through Filtrete.  While it will not help you compare Filtrete filters to other brands, it will help you determine which Filtrete filter to purchase. It is intuitive in the way that the higher the MPR, the more micro-particles it will help remove. With a high MPR rated filter, you will see there is much more filter media packed into the same amount of space.

 

7. What Kind of Filter Media Do I Need?

There are 3 main types of filters for HVAC units: Fiberglass, Polyester and pleated, and HEPA filters. The most common are fiberglass and polyester/pleated because they are the most disposable of the filters. HEPA filters are great for those with severe allergies or respiratory issues; however they are more expensive and may restrict air flow in an HVAC unit. Be sure to check with an efficiency expert before using a HEPA filter in your home.

 

Molecule Cafe & the Art of Water

By Megan Vick

 

Not too long ago, in a galaxy far, far, away… Wait, wrong story. 

 

Not too long ago, we heard about a café in New York’s East Village selling tap water for $2.50 per bottle.  When it comes to water quality, there seem to be two schools of thought.  The first school of thought is that water should be municipally treated with certain processes and chemicals to remove bad things and add good things.  The second school of thought is that water should be 100% pure and have no minerals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or anything else in there other than H2O.  There is also a good mix of people who fall in the middle of these two schools of thought.  The folks at Molecule want water better than what the city is offering, and now they are offering it to you.

 

Molecule has a $25,000 reverse osmosis system with seven stages of purification and treatment.  According to The Wall Street Journal, their specialized filtration system delivers UV ray treatment and ozone treatments in addition to the osmosis.  No wonder they have to charge so much for tap water.

 

It’s well known that New York City has some of the finest tap water in the world, so how is Molecule Café improving upon that? In addition to “fluffy” and “smooth” water (have you ever had rough water?), Molecule will help you create your own concoction of electrolytes, pH infusions, vitamin “shots,” and herb, fruit, and vegetable “blasts” to add to your water.  Some of these medleys have unique names like “Immunity,” “Skin, hair, and nails,” and “Energy.”  The co-owners even have some ideas of expanding their unique niche into sports drinks and possibly even a cocktail-type bar for H2O lovers.  They also will deliver water using BPA free jugs to homes and businesses in the area using a tricycle for adults.

 

This might seem like a crazy, far-fetched, never-going-to-work idea, but if you’ve ever been to NYC’s East Village, you’ll know this might just be the one place it could work.  Next time you’re in the East Village, stop by and check it out. In the meantime, don't forget to change your fridge filter so you can continue to enjoy your water for pennies per gallon.