Daikin · Refrigerator Filters
Refrigerator Water Filter Da29-00020b
Lower concern refrigerator filter with no disclosed PFAS risk.
Daikin DA29-00020B uses activated carbon filtration, a material inherently lower in PFAS risk. Brand provides no PFAS disclosures; filter housing material unspecified. Standard carbon filters generally do not require PFAS coatings.
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Activated carbon filter media with plastic housing
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The DA29-00020B uses activated carbon media, a porous form of carbon that traps chlorine, odors, and some organic contaminants through adsorption rather than mechanical blocking. The housing is plastic, typically polycarbonate or polyethylene; because water stays cold and contact is brief, leaching of BPA or phthalates from the housing is minimal under normal refrigerator conditions. Activated carbon itself does not release harmful compounds into water, though it can shed fine particles if not pre-flushed.
The brand's record and disclosure
Daikin is a major Japanese HVAC and appliance manufacturer with no widely documented water-filter-specific safety recalls or contamination incidents for this model in public databases. The brand does not prominently disclose PFAS testing or PFAS-free certification for this filter; silence on the topic is common across refrigerator filter makers, reflecting the category norm rather than a red flag. No formalized third-party certifications (NSF, WQA) are on record for this specific OEM filter, though aftermarket equivalents sometimes carry them.
How it compares in its category
Refrigerator water filters are among the lowest-risk water treatment products because contact time is short, water temperature is cold, and the filter is not heated or pressurized. This OEM filter is typical for the category: activated carbon in a plastic housing, no mechanical seals that degrade, and no electronic components. Generic and aftermarket equivalents perform identically from a safety standpoint; the main difference is price and availability.
If you buy it
Flush the new filter with 2-3 gallons of water before use to remove activated carbon dust and activate the media. Replace every 6 months or 300 gallons, whichever comes first, to prevent bacterial biofilm buildup in a saturated cartridge. Do not use hot water with this filter; refrigerator filters are designed for cold water only. Store the replacement filter in a cool, dry place and discard unopened filters after 2 years, as the activated carbon can degrade.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Bacterial growth in saturated or expired cartridge
Activated carbon can harbor bacteria if the filter is not replaced on schedule or is used beyond capacity. Cold refrigerator conditions slow growth compared to ambient-temperature filters, but biofilm formation is still a risk if maintenance is neglected.
Activated carbon dust shedding
New or poorly pre-flushed filters can release fine black carbon particles into dispensed water. This is a cosmetic and minor ingestion concern rather than a chemical hazard, easily mitigated by flushing before first use.
Plastic housing leachables (BPA/phthalates)
No public recalls or test data documenting leaching from the DA29-00020B plastic housing. Cold-water contact and short residence time make migration unlikely; housing material and mold composition are not disclosed, but typical OEM refrigerator filter housings comply with FDA food-contact rules.
Contaminant breakthrough if clogged
If the filter is used well beyond its rated capacity, chlorine and odor removal decline, but microbial or chemical contamination entering the water supply is not documented. The risk is loss of function rather than hazard introduction.
Off-gassing or odor from new cartridge
Some users report a weak plastic or carbon smell from new refrigerator filters. This typically dissipates after flushing and is not linked to chemical leaching, but may reflect residual manufacturing solvents or odors trapped in the carbon itself.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Refrigerator Filters
Kenmore
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Lower-concern water filter; carbon-based design unlikely to contain PFAS, but Kenmore makes no explicit PFAS disclosure.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Kenmore
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Lower concern for PFAS; standard cartridge filter with no known PFAS-bearing materials, but brand offers no transparency.
✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all
Clearly Filtered
Water Pitcher Replacement Filter 3-Pack
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✓Brand claims PFAS-free (unverified)
More refrigerator filters grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.