Samsung · Refrigerator Filters
Replacement Water Filter for Select Samsung Refrigerators - White
Lower-concern choice; standard RO/carbon filters typically avoid PFAS, but Samsung provides no transparency.
Samsung replacement water filters use activated carbon and polymer components, common filtration materials with lower PFAS risk profiles than treated textiles or nonstick coatings. However, Samsung makes no public disclosure about PFAS in this product or testing.
Shop Samsung on Amazon →Material
Activated carbon filter media with polymer housing
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
This filter uses activated carbon as its primary filtration medium, a well-established material that adsorbs chlorine, taste, and odor compounds through physical binding. The housing is polymer (likely polypropylene or polyethylene), which is inert when in contact with cold water and does not leach under standard refrigerator conditions. Activated carbon itself has no known toxicity risk to drinking water when used in food-contact applications, and Samsung's filters are designed for cold water only, eliminating heat-stress concerns that can degrade polymer housings.
The brand's record and disclosure
Samsung does not publicly disclose specific material composition, contaminant removal certifications, or PFAS testing results for this filter model, which is typical of major appliance OEM filters but limits independent verification. The brand does not appear in major PFAS litigation or regulatory violations specific to water filters. Samsung refrigerator filters are not NSF or WQA certified at the product level, meaning no third-party testing backs removal claims, though the filter itself follows FDA food-contact material rules.
How it compares in its category
This filter is a captive OEM product with no interchangeability; you must use Samsung-brand replacements or third-party aftermarket clones. Aftermarket carbon filters for Samsung refrigerators often carry the same material profile but less quality control and inconsistent testing. Compared to point-of-use pitcher or faucet filters, refrigerator filters offer convenience but less visibility into replacement intervals and flow rate degradation, making maintenance discipline critical.
If you buy it
Replace every 6 months or per your water usage and hardness; Samsung recommends every 6 months, but mineral-heavy or high-use households may need quarterly replacement to prevent bacterial biofilm growth in clogged carbon beds. Do not attempt to clean or recharge; activated carbon is single-use. Ensure the filter is installed correctly to avoid bypass leaks that render it useless. Cold water only; this filter is not designed for hot water and will degrade rapidly if misused.
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 biofilm growth if unmaintained
Activated carbon beds can harbor bacteria if not replaced on schedule; stagnant water in older filter media creates favorable conditions for Pseudomonas and other waterborne pathogens. Regular 6-month replacement mitigates this risk significantly.
Polymer housing leachables under stress
The polypropylene or polyethylene housing is inert in cold water and not associated with documented leaching into drinking water at refrigerator temperatures. No recalls or contamination reports found for Samsung refrigerator filters on this basis.
Improper installation or bypass
Consumer reports and appliance forums document cases where filters are not seated correctly, allowing unfiltered water to bypass the media entirely. This is a user-error risk, not a material hazard, but compromises the filter's protective function.
Activated carbon dust or particle shedding
Well-manufactured activated carbon filters are designed to contain media particles; Samsung filters are not documented to shed visible carbon particles into water. Initial flushing of new filters is recommended industry-wide as a precaution but is not a known issue for this brand.
Lack of third-party certification
Samsung does not disclose NSF or WQA certification for this model, meaning contaminant removal claims are not independently verified. For consumers in areas with known water quality issues, this lack of transparency may warrant upgrading to a certified filter.
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.