Filter Funk

Another photo post. When we bought our house, the previous owner took his refrigerator and stove with him. So, we got to buy new ones when we moved in. The refrigerator we got has a little water/ice dispenser thing in the door, and it’s all filtered water. Built in. Pretty cool. All the ice, too.

There’s also a little indicator light that tells you when you need to replace the filter. Usually it is green. But then it turns amber, and eventually red. Well, the other day it turned red for the first time. Back when it turned amber, I dutifully bought a new filter, and waited with pure glee for the day I would get to replace the old one.

That day came. It was yesterday. Part of the excitement I had was the simple design of the refrigerator. You open the door, and at the top, right next to the thermostat knobs, there is a button. You press the button, and the filter pops out. You pull it out and slide the new one in. Simple. Smart. Easy.

But when I pulled the filter out, I was horrified. Horrified in a very satisfied way, though. Below is a comparison of the filters. The new filter on the left, the old on the right.

I was horrified to see what the water I drink was going through. And, yet, deeply satisfied at what that filter had kept out of what I drink.

I only wish I had a higher quality camera to really capture the detail. When you move the old filter, black sediment clouds the water. You can get a sense of it by looking through the plastic.