Are aftermarket refrigerator water filters as good as OEM filters?

Nowadays, it’s easy to find an inexpensive water filter for your fridge. You’ll likely find dozens of replacement water filters that claim to be just as good as the manufacturer’s OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer’s) recommended replacement filter.

The off-brand filters often cost less than the official OEM filter—for a reason. Aftermarket refrigerator water filters often don’t go through the rigorous testing and certifications that OEM filters endure. Non-OEM filters commonly aren’t made of the same materials as the original, recommended replacement filters from the manufacturer. When you buy an aftermarket fridge water filter, you may be putting your health at risk.

How are aftermarket fridge water filters different than OEM water filters?

You can’t be sure that an aftermarket water filter actually removes contaminants that might be in your water supply. Nor can you be sure that the off-brand filter:

• Is constructed to the standards of the original manufacturer.

• Free of BPA (Bisphenol A—a chemical used in plastics with possible adverse health effects).

• Will deliver water at the promised flow rate.

• Filters the promised number of gallons before you have to replace it.

According to Consumer Reports, “there are plenty of alternatives to expensive name-brand filters, but few measure up.” Aftermarket fridge water filters don’t go through the same testing the brand-name filters do. While off-brand filters can be tested for contaminant removal and structural integrity, they aren’t tested for how well they work within the refrigerator. In fact, it can be difficult to find an after-market filter that has been tested at all according to Consumer Reports.

What are the health risks of using an aftermarket fridge water filter?

Exposure to BPA is one of the top health risks when choosing an aftermarket fridge water filter over the OEM replacement filter.

BPA exposure can cause these health risks:

• Adverse effects on brain function—A 2013 study by the Duke University Medical Center determined that “BPA may suppress a gene vital to nerve cell function and to the development of the central nervous system.” The study raises the question as to whether BPA exposure could predispose humans to neurodevelopmental disorders said the lead author Wolfgang Liedtke, M.D., PhD, associate professor of medicine/neurology and neurobiology at Duke.

• Obesity—Although eating high-fat foods in excess is the leading cause of obesity, studies have shown that exposure to BPA can also help cause weight gain. A 2008 study by Iain A. Lang and others found that BPA could cause diabetes.

• Thyroid problems—A 2007 study by R. Thomas Zoeller indicates that BPA has been shown to bind to the thyroid hormone receptor and could interfere with normal thyroid functions.

• Cancer—The 2015 study by Doctor Hui Gao and others concludes that BPA exposure can lead to “changes in cell proliferation, apoptosis, or migration and thereby, contributing to cancer development and progression.”

This year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed to reconsider the safety of using BPA’s in plastics in response to a food additive petition filed in January of 2022.

Avoid the potential health risks of BPA exposure by sticking to OEM refrigerator water filters. You can also encounter health risks from aftermarket filters that don’t effectively filter their rated capacity of gallons before you need to replace them. Some off-brand filters won’t be able to filter the same number of gallons as authentic OEM replacement water filters for your refrigerator. See the health risk of using an expired water filter in our What happens if I keep using an expired water filter in my refrigerator? article.

Keep your family protected against Covid-19 by using an OEM replacement refrigerator water filter. This article details how an effective OEM replacement filter can help protect you from Covid-19: Can my refrigerator water filter help protect me from Covid-19?

How can I make sure that I get an OEM refrigerator water filter?

To make sure that you get a genuine OEM refrigerator water filter, buy the replacement filter from an authorized vendor such as Sears store or similar store that sells the manufacturer’s appliances.

When purchasing a replacement refrigerator water filter online, we recommend that you buy the filter from our Sears PartsDirect website. We sell only the OEM replacement filters unless the original filter is no longer available from the manufacturer. A few OEM fridge filters are no longer available for older refrigerators, so we substitute the best alternative part available for that filter. For example, Sears PartsDirect substitutes the ClearChoice Taste Plus Refrigerator Water Filter CLCH111-L for these OEM water filters that are no longer available from the manufacturer:

• Kenmore filter 9002

• Whirlpool filter 2204326

• Whirlpool filter 2206039

• Whirlpool filter 2213384

• Whirlpool filter 8171413

• Whirlpool filter 8171414

• Whirlpool filter 8171787

• Whirlpool filter 8171788

• Whirlpool filter EDR8D1

The ClearChoice replacement filter is the best alternative that we’ve found for the original OEM filters listed above.

Keep your family safe and healthy by using original OEM fridge filter replacements (or the best alternative if the original filter is no longer available). If you need help finding the right filter for your refrigerator, use our convenient Refrigerator Water Filter Finder or talk with our agents using the Chat option. You can also call us at 1-888-873-3829 to speak directly with a parts agent.

Use our convenient subscription plan to get free shipping and have a fresh water filter sent to your home every 6 months.