Understanding & Spotting Counterfeit Refrigerator Water Filters
When it’s time to replace the refrigerator's water filter, it’s important to buy a replacement filter that is designed to work specifically with the fridge. But do users know off-brand and generic filters aren’t the only potential risk in buying a new water filter? Counterfeit water filters have made their way into online and physical marketplaces all over the country and sometimes they’re so hard to distinguish from the real thing that even experts can’t tell the difference.
Unfortunately, it’s often almost impossible to spot most counterfeits with the naked eye. But there are a few things to examine when checking whether a water filter is the real thing:
- Weight
Counterfeit water filters often weigh less than genuine water filters because they don’t contain the same amount of important filtering materials inside, like the carbon used in Frigidaire Genuine filters. Some counterfeits have been found to have nothing but newspaper inside.
- Certification Symbol
Genuine water filters are NSF certified and have the symbol stamped on the product. Counterfeits may have a fake symbol or they may be missing a certification mark altogether.
- Packaging
While many counterfeit water filters are packaged nearly identically to the real thing, many come in glossy or nicer looking packaging designed to trick customers into trusting what’s inside.
- Cost
Most people that end up with counterfeit water filters bought them because they were a fraction of the cost of a genuine filter. Genuine filters are tested and designed to meet NSF standards and manufacturer standards, so if customers come across water filters that are significantly cheaper than the brand-name alternative, there’s probably a cynical reason behind it.
