Kenmore · Refrigerator Filters
SpiroPure Sp Le1000 Certified Refrigerator Water Filter
Lower PFAS concern for typical carbon filter, but Kenmore offers no transparency on source or treatment.
The SpiroPure Sp Le1000 is a standard activated-carbon refrigerator filter with no disclosed PFAS issues or confirmed Teflon-type coating/Teflon-family coating coatings. Carbon-based filtration media itself is generally lower concern.
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Activated carbon filter media
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The SpiroPure SP-LE1000 uses activated carbon as its primary filtration medium, a porous form of carbon that adsorbs chlorine, taste, odor, and some organic compounds through physical trapping rather than chemical reactions. Activated carbon does not leach heavy metals, plasticizers, or reactive compounds into water under normal refrigerator conditions because it works passively. The filter housing is typically polypropylene plastic, which is stable at cold temperatures and does not break down or off-gas under standard fridge use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Kenmore (owned by Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores) markets this filter as NSF/ANSI Standard 42 certified, meaning it has third-party testing for chlorine and taste/odor reduction. However, Kenmore provides no public statement on PFAS removal capability, source of activated carbon, or how their filters handle emerging contaminants. No major recalls or health controversies are on record for this specific filter model.
How it compares in its category
Refrigerator filters like this one occupy a middle tier of performance: they reduce chlorine and sediment better than no filter, but activated carbon alone does not reliably remove PFOA/PFOS, nitrates, fluoride, or bacteria. Premium alternatives (pitcher filters with ion-exchange or reverse-osmosis under-sink systems) offer broader contaminant removal but cost more and require more maintenance. This filter is comparable to other budget refrigerator filters (Whirlpool, GE generic equivalents) in material and certification level.
If you buy it
Replace every 6 months or after 300 gallons, whichever comes first, to prevent bacterial colonization in saturated carbon media. Do not attempt to clean or reuse; activated carbon is single-use and regeneration at home is not effective. Store unopened filters away from direct sunlight and heat. If water flow slows noticeably before 6 months, replace early, as this signals filter saturation and loss of adsorption.
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 filter media
Activated carbon is a porous medium that can harbor bacteria if not replaced regularly or if water flow stagnates; this is a general risk for all carbon filters under poor maintenance, not a manufacturing defect.
Polypropylene housing leachables
Polypropylene used in filter housings is chemically stable at refrigerator temperatures and does not off-gas or leach BPA or phthalates under normal conditions; no recalls or reports for this product.
Carbon dust or fines in water
Some activated carbon filters may shed small carbon particles if not pre-rinsed or if media degrades; NSF 42 certification includes testing for particulate matter, but real-world shedding depends on handling and installation.
Incomplete contaminant removal
Activated carbon does not reliably remove PFOA/PFOS, fluoride, nitrates, or some pharmaceuticals; this is not a safety defect but a performance limitation of the technology, not specific to Kenmore.
Housing durability and seal integrity
No established reports of housing cracks, seal failures, or cross-contamination leaks for the SP-LE1000 model; typical plastic filter housings can degrade if exposed to freezing or physical impact.
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
9690 Refrigerator Water Filter 1-Pack, Nsf/wqa/iapmo Certified, Reduces 99% Chlorine & Odor, BPA-Free, Replacement for 46-9690 469690 Lt700p
activated carbon filter cartridge
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
Pureline Filter Compatible with Whirlpool Everydrop Filter 1
Activated carbon and fiberglass filter media
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
Activated carbon and ion-exchange resin filter media
Lower-concern option; activated carbon filters are standard PFAS-reduction media, but verify pitcher durability and actual tested removal rates independently.
✓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.