Pure Aqua Columbus
Refrigerator filter vs. reverse osmosis

Your Refrigerator Filter Is a Good Start. It's Not Enough.

Refrigerator filters do some things well. But they're not designed to remove chloramine, PFAS, nitrates, or heavy metals — the contaminants most Columbus homeowners are actually concerned about.

~40%
Of contaminants removed by typical fridge filter
99%
Removed by reverse osmosis
6 mo.
Typical fridge filter replacement interval (often skipped)
See our alkaline RO system

What refrigerator filters actually do

Refrigerator filters use activated carbon to reduce chlorine taste and odor, some sediment, and a limited range of contaminants. For many households, they're a meaningful improvement over unfiltered tap water.

The problem is what they're not designed to remove. NSF 42 certification (which most fridge filters carry) only covers taste and odor — not health-related contaminants. NSF 53 covers some health contaminants, but very few fridge filters carry it. NSF 58 (the RO standard) covers the full range.

Columbus water is treated with chloramine — not free chlorine. Chloramine is significantly harder to remove than free chlorine and requires more carbon contact time than a refrigerator filter provides. Most fridge filters reduce chloramine partially at best.

Refrigerator filter vs. reverse osmosis — what each removes

ContaminantFridge filterReverse osmosis
Chlorine taste & odor
Chloramine (Columbus uses this)
Requires long contact time fridge filters don't provide
Partial
Lead
Only NSF 53-certified filters; most fridge filters are NSF 42 only
Some
PFAS / PFOA / PFOS
Not removed by standard carbon filters
Nitrates
Carbon filtration does not remove nitrates
Arsenic
Total dissolved solids
TDS passes through carbon filters unchanged
Microplastics
Depends on pore size of specific filter
Partial
Sediment

Signs your fridge filter isn't doing enough

You still notice a chlorine or chemical taste
If you can taste chloramine after filtering, your filter isn't removing it effectively. This is common with Columbus water because chloramine requires more carbon contact time than fridge filters provide.
You still buy bottled water even with a fridge filter
If you don't trust your filtered water enough to stop buying bottles, that's a clear sign the filter isn't meeting your needs.
You're concerned about PFAS or lead
Standard refrigerator filters (NSF 42) are not certified to remove PFAS or lead. If these are concerns, you need NSF 58 (RO) filtration.
You have a new baby or are pregnant
Nitrates — which fridge filters don't remove — are a concern for infants. RO is the appropriate solution for households with infants.
Your filter is overdue for replacement
Most fridge filters should be replaced every 6 months. Many households go 12–18 months. An overdue filter can actually release contaminants back into your water.
You want filtered water at every kitchen tap, not just the dispenser
A fridge filter only covers the dispenser and ice maker. An under-sink RO system provides filtered water at a dedicated faucet — and can be connected to the fridge line too.

When a refrigerator filter is probably enough

If your only concern is taste and odor, you're not worried about PFAS or nitrates, you don't have infants in the household, and you consistently replace the filter on schedule — a refrigerator filter may be sufficient. We'll tell you honestly after testing your water.

Frequently asked questions

Find out what your fridge filter is missing.

A free in-home water test measures your TDS, chloramine, pH, and hardness — and shows you exactly what your current filter is and isn't removing.

Schedule a free water test Call (614) 476-8711
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