Replacing RPWFE Refrigerator Filter - Beware of NSF Ratings
Jun 10, 2025EnergyComments (0)
The RPWFE is a common water filter used in GE refrigerators. You're supposed to replace it every 6 months, which can get expensive at $50 each for genuine GE filters. This may lead you to purchase cheaper aftermarket filters, such as Waterdrop, Glacier Fresh, or Maxblue (to name just a few). The aftermarket filters all have the RFID chip, NSF certification, and great reviews, just like the GE filters, but I wanted to dig deeper and see if these were actually as good as the OEM filters.
There isn't just one NSF rating for water filters, and just saying "NSF Certified" is mostly meaningless. There are several NSF ratings that show that a filter has been independently-tested to filter certain contaminants. Here are common ones you may come across on water filters:
Visit the NFS website for a full list and as new standards come out.
Here is a summary of what I found when researching and comparing the aftermarket filters.
NSF 42 Only
Many of the cheapest aftermarket filters only have NSF 42. That's enough for the NSF badge, but they likely won't filter any of the harmful contaminants as well as better filters. I recommend steering clear of these, or any that aren't very explicit about their NSF ratings.
Brand Quality
Some aftermarket brands don't have a brand website at all, and it is hard to find information beyond what's in the marketplace description and reviews. I recommend steering clear of these.
NSF 372
Some filters list NSF 372. This certifies that the lead content of the filter material itself is within required levels, but importantly this does not indicate how well it filters lead from the water (that's what NSF 53 is for). Listing NSF 372 may be an attempt to make a filter seem like it has more robust NSF ratings, but unless it lists NSF 53 at a minimum, steer clear of it. For example the cheapest Waterdrop filter, at the time of writing, lists NSF 42 and 372 only.
Quality Tiers
Some aftermarket brands offer tiers of filter, and have a "plus" or "advanced" version that have more NSF certifications. For example the Waterdrop Plus, at the time of writing, is NSF 42, 53, 372, and 401, while the cheaper variant is just 42 and 372.
A lot of the aftermarket filters have excellent reviews and ratings. Keep in mind that reviews and ratings are mostly a reflection of:
Critically, none of the metrics that most people will rate a filter on in their initial review have much to do with long-term health affects or filtering performance beyond taste. So just be mindful of this.
Do steer clear of filters with bad average ratings, as that probably means the filter has poor quality control or isn't a true direct replacement. But good average ratings should be just the start.
The genuine GE RPWFE filter, at the time of writing, has all four of the above NSF certifications: 42, 53, 401, and P473. I couldn't find an aftermarket filter that matched that. The closest one with good reviews and a good price was the Waterdrop Plus RPWFE (NSF 42, 53, and 401).
Note that this is likely to change over the years, so I encourage you to double-check the NSF ratings of both the GE RPWFE filter and the aftermarket replacements, and the NFS website. There will likely be new tests and protocols that come out, and the NSF has been known to update existing tests as well to make them more stringent. Existing filters may lose or pick up NSF certifications over time due to this.
As of right now, the choice comes down to spending about $15 to $20 more every 6 months to get GE filters versus the high-quality aftermarket filters. Buying multi-packs can save money too. There is some piece of mind knowing the filter has the best NSF certifications available, so for me personally I stick with the OEM ones and try to find multi-pack deals or other discounts.
NSF Ratings
There isn't just one NSF rating for water filters, and just saying "NSF Certified" is mostly meaningless. There are several NSF ratings that show that a filter has been independently-tested to filter certain contaminants. Here are common ones you may come across on water filters:
- NSF 42: Reduces aesthetic impurities that affect taste, such as chlorine.
- NSF 53: Reduces contaminants with known health effects, such as lead, asbestos, and mercury.
- NSF 401: Reduces contaminants such as prescription/OTC drugs, herbicides, and other chemicals and detergents.
- NSF P473: Reduces PFOA and PFOS (commonly referred to as "forever chemicals").
Visit the NFS website for a full list and as new standards come out.
Aftermarket Research
Here is a summary of what I found when researching and comparing the aftermarket filters.
NSF 42 Only
Many of the cheapest aftermarket filters only have NSF 42. That's enough for the NSF badge, but they likely won't filter any of the harmful contaminants as well as better filters. I recommend steering clear of these, or any that aren't very explicit about their NSF ratings.
Brand Quality
Some aftermarket brands don't have a brand website at all, and it is hard to find information beyond what's in the marketplace description and reviews. I recommend steering clear of these.
NSF 372
Some filters list NSF 372. This certifies that the lead content of the filter material itself is within required levels, but importantly this does not indicate how well it filters lead from the water (that's what NSF 53 is for). Listing NSF 372 may be an attempt to make a filter seem like it has more robust NSF ratings, but unless it lists NSF 53 at a minimum, steer clear of it. For example the cheapest Waterdrop filter, at the time of writing, lists NSF 42 and 372 only.
Quality Tiers
Some aftermarket brands offer tiers of filter, and have a "plus" or "advanced" version that have more NSF certifications. For example the Waterdrop Plus, at the time of writing, is NSF 42, 53, 372, and 401, while the cheaper variant is just 42 and 372.
What Do Good Reviews/Ratings Mean?
A lot of the aftermarket filters have excellent reviews and ratings. Keep in mind that reviews and ratings are mostly a reflection of:
- Fitment: How well the filter installs and fits, and is physically the same as what the customer expects (as good as an OEM GE filter).
- Visual Quality: How good and professional the label and packaging looks (which is mostly marketing quality).
- Taste Filtering: Mostly covered by NSF 42, which is how well the filter works at reducing things that affect taste. (Nearly all filters will meet NSF 42 at a minimum).
- Value: The price of the filter relative to the above qualities. Cheaper will usually result in a better rating as long as it appears to fit and work fine.
Critically, none of the metrics that most people will rate a filter on in their initial review have much to do with long-term health affects or filtering performance beyond taste. So just be mindful of this.
Do steer clear of filters with bad average ratings, as that probably means the filter has poor quality control or isn't a true direct replacement. But good average ratings should be just the start.
Verdict
The genuine GE RPWFE filter, at the time of writing, has all four of the above NSF certifications: 42, 53, 401, and P473. I couldn't find an aftermarket filter that matched that. The closest one with good reviews and a good price was the Waterdrop Plus RPWFE (NSF 42, 53, and 401).
Note that this is likely to change over the years, so I encourage you to double-check the NSF ratings of both the GE RPWFE filter and the aftermarket replacements, and the NFS website. There will likely be new tests and protocols that come out, and the NSF has been known to update existing tests as well to make them more stringent. Existing filters may lose or pick up NSF certifications over time due to this.
As of right now, the choice comes down to spending about $15 to $20 more every 6 months to get GE filters versus the high-quality aftermarket filters. Buying multi-packs can save money too. There is some piece of mind knowing the filter has the best NSF certifications available, so for me personally I stick with the OEM ones and try to find multi-pack deals or other discounts.