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Frequently Asked Questions

This is a page where we’ll answer some of the most common questions we receive. If your question is not listed here, feel free to contact us!

What is meant by "Particulates?"

The term “Particulates” refers to particles of rust, dirt, sand, and sediment found in drinking water. Water that contains Particulates is typically cloudy, and as you might expect, tastes and smells “dirty”. By themselves, Particulates are not known to cause any adverse health effects, but they can sometimes carry other harmful organic, inorganic, and microbiological contaminants through the drinking water system.

The "Particulate Class" refers to the filter’s ability to remove particulates of a certain particle size

For example, if a filter is rated to remove “95.1% of Particulates (Class II)”, this means that it will remove 95.1% of all particles that are between 1 and 5 microns in size.

What are some common contaminants found in Drinking Water?

Asbestos

• Asbestos is a very durable, heat resistant Mineral Fiber found in a variety of building materials like insulation, floor & ceiling tiles, roofing, exterior siding, and fireproof boards. It can also be found in some appliances including toasters, broilers, slow cookers, waffle irons, dishwashers, and refrigerators.

• Long-term exposure to Asbestos can cause chest & abdominal cancers and lung diseases.

Atrazine

• Atrazine is a herbicide used to control broadleaf and grassy weeds. Like other herbicides, Atrazine enters surface-water as a result of runoff, and enters underground-water by leaching – that’s when water from rain, irrigation, or other sources flows through the soil, dissolves the chemicals in it, and carries them down into the groundwater that supplies wells and springs.

• Short-term exposure to Atrazine can cause:Congestion of the heart, lungs, and kidneys, Low blood pressure, muscle spasms, weight loss, damage to the adrenal glands

• Long-term exposure to Atrazine can cause weight loss, cardiovascular damage, retinal & muscle degeneration, and cancer.

Benzene

• Benzene is a chemical compound used in the manufacture of plastics, rubber, resins, and synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester. It is also used as a solvent in the printing, paint, and dry cleaning industries.

• Short-term exposure to Benzene can cause temporary nervous system disorders, immune system depression, and Anemia. Long-term exposure can cause chromosome aberrations and cancer.

Chlorine

• Chlorine is a chemical element – you may remember it from high school chemistry as atomic number 17 from the periodic table. Chlorine has been used by water treatment plants in the U.S. since the early 1900’s because it is a very powerful disinfectant. It kills deadly germs and microorganisms that might otherwise cause life-threatening waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.

• So, Chlorine is a good thing… as long as you don’t mind the bad taste and odor that comes along with it – remember the last time you swam at the neighborhood pool? The good news is that your refrigerator filter will remove the Chlorine just before you drink the water. It’s the best of both worlds really… your drinking water is safe AND tasty!

Cyst

• A cyst is the survivable form that parasites take on when they leave the host (you, me, your dog, etc…). The parasite goes dormant and grows a thick covering like an egg which allows it to survive in water or soil for long periods of time. The covering even allows it to survive the chlorine-based disinfectants typically used by the water treatment industry. The most common types of cyst that cause disease in humans are Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

• These intestinal parasite cysts "hatch" when ingested by humans and cause intestinal disease. The diseases are not life threatening if treated, but can be dangerous to people with weakened immune systems.

• Symptoms Include: Diarrhea, Abdominal cramping, Nausea, Vomiting, Fever, Headache, Loss of appetite

Dichlorobenzene

• Dichlorobenzene is a colorless organic compound with a pleasant, aromatic odor. Dichlorobenzene is used in the manufacture of agricultural chemicals & herbicides, and as a solvent for things like wax, gum, resin, wood preservatives, and paints. It’s also found in some insecticides, dyes, coolants, deodorizers, and degreasers.

• Long-term exposure to Dichlorobenzene can cause nervous system damage, as well as damage to the liver, kidneys, and blood cells.

Fluoride

• Fluoride is the common name for a group of chemical compounds containing the element Fluorine. In the US, Fluoride is added to things like toothpaste, mouth-rinse, and drinking water because studies show that it helps strengthen tooth enamel.

• Fluoride is only removed by reverse-osmosis filters.

Lead

• Lead, symbol Pb (for the Latin word Plumbum) from the periodic table, is extremely toxic to humans. Unfortunately, the toxicity of Lead wasn’t truly understood until it had been used for many, many years in things like paint, solder, water pipes, brass plumbing fixtures, gasoline, and pottery. In fact, 75% of the houses built before 1978 contained lead based paint, and before 1987 the solder used for plumbing typically contained 50% lead. Contact with water slowly corrodes the inside walls of the pipes & fittings, as well as the solder used to connect them. As this happens, the dissolved metals flow through the pipes and out through the faucet.

• The health effects of lead exposure are most severe for infants and children. For them, exposure to high levels of lead in drinking water can result in delays in physical and mental development, learning disorders, behavioral problems, and reduced attention span. Lead can also cause abnormal fetal development in pregnant women. For adults, exposure can cause damage to the kidneys, central nervous system, and brain, as well as high blood pressure.

Mercury

• Mercury is a shiny, silver-gray, liquid metal named after the closest planet to the Sun. Symbol Hg (for the Latin word hydrargyrum which means "liquid silver"), Mercury is used in things like thermometers, barometers, fluorescent lamps, and batteries. Mercury has also been used since the early 1800’s in dental fillings, commonly known as Amalgam – an alloy containing Mercury, Silver, Tin, and Copper.

• Exposure to Mercury can cause neurological & kidney damage.

Toxaphene

• Toxaphene is an insecticide used on cotton, vegetables, livestock, and poultry. In the past, it was also used to kill unwanted fish in some lakes. Like other insecticides, Toxaphene enters surface-water as a result of runoff, and enters underground-water by leaching – that’s when water from rain, irrigation, or other sources flows through the soil, dissolves the chemicals in it, and carries them down into the groundwater that supplies wells and springs.

• Short-term exposure to Toxaphene can cause restlessness, hyperexcitability, tremors, spasms, and convulsions. Long-term exposure can cause degeneration of the liver and kidneys, damage to the central nervous system, suppression of the immune system, and cancer.

Turbidity

• Turbidity is a measure of how clear the water is. Water with a lot of suspended solids, appears murky, and has a high level of Turbidity. Suspended solids can be anything from microscopic floating plants like Phytoplankton, to clays and silts, or even sediment that’s been stirred back into the water by dredging, floods, or bottom-feeding fish like carp. These suspended solids can sometimes carry toxic organic contaminants, pesticides, and heavy metals like cadmium, mercury, and lead.

2,4-D

• 2,4-D is a herbicide used to control broad-leaf weeds in crops like wheat and corn, and on pasture and rangelands. It’s also used to control woody plants along roadsides, railways, and powerlines. Like other herbicides, 2,4-D enters surface-water as a result of runoff, and enters underground-water by leaching – that’s when water from rain, irrigation, or other sources flows through the soil, dissolves the chemicals in it, and carries them down into the groundwater that supplies wells and springs.

• Short-term exposure to 2,4-D can cause damage to the nervous system, while long-term exposure can cause damage to the liver and kidneys.

What is your Return Policy?

You may return an item(s) within 60 days of purchase. If you wish to return an item purchased please contact us via phone, 1-800-561-6838 to receive an RAN, Return Authorization Number, and instructions on how to return the item(s). The customer is responsible for the cost of shipment to return the items to Fridge Filterz. We recommend that you use a shipment method that provides tracking information.