We've never used the water dispenser on our fridge. We use a water pitcher with a filter that we have to change every 2-3 months. I tried using a kitchen sink water filter but found it in the way all the time when I was cooking food, draining food, etc.

Ah, I see how one on the faucet would be in the way. The filter I’m considering would be installed under the sink.

With my old French door fridge the dispenser also didn’t work while the door was open. One of my biggest pet peeves lol. Filling a water bottle took forever!

When I replaced my refrig, I bought one without a water dispenser. Old dispenser would drip water down the front of refrig, ugh. Plus the ice didn't work great. Now I have a water filter faucet and love it. (in addition to the regular faucet) The freezer makes plenty of ice. Also like the clean look of no dispenser on the fridge door.

You'll almost certainly get a much better filter, if you buy an undersink filtration unit than relying on the dinky little cartridge in your fridge. You also have fewer things that can break. Less chances of expensive water damage from a leak. Fewer energy losses. And more interior space.

IMHO, there really isn't any good reason to ever have an in-door water or ice dispenser.

I agree with what M posted for the most part. I'm assuming your water quality isn't that good or you would't consider an under the sink filtration system. I don't think you'll miss the water dispenser with better quality water at your sink.

We have/had both the water dispenser and ice dispenser in the door of our old fridge. Never used the water dispenser because of poor water quality - and so tired of buying bottled water and tossing those bottles. New fridge has no water dispenser, and the ice dispenser is inside the fridge (SZ) - I dislike filling ice cube trays and our hope is that the interior ice dispenser will be a better solution to the stray cube that would inevitable fall on the floor at some point. We too are installing an under sink water filtration system. And for drinking water we'll refill bottles and keep them in the fridge as needed.

We have well water and it tastes very good. No contamination problems when we have it tested, but you never know. Our water tastes the same going thru the filter.

Just to pile on, no to ice & water in frig, yes to under cabinet filter (and small RO faucet next to sink)

Thanks all! I live in NC and our tap water is very good IMO. Just wanted to make sure I was considering all options.

Most places in the US have good tap water! I still remember DD’s pediatrician telling her that she could give her newborn baby water straight from the tap - it is that safe! Forget the filters! They are necessary on refrigerators for water and even internal ice makers as the minerals in the water build up and can clog the tubing. Your kitchen faucet has a filter - unscrew it and lean it every few months so your water flow is not impeded.

How much and what kind of water filtration do you want? I'm perfectly happy with tap water, but if you live in a place with bad-tasting tap water, I'd go for a jug with a water filter -- the less tech you have, the less you have to break down. And that goes especially for fridges with built in water dispensers!

Most places have great water. Some places don't. And that's hopefully something you know about if you live there.

It could be organic contaminants (e.g. pesticides, drugs, solvents, ...), it could be minerals (e.g. hard water, "dirty" iron deposits, ...), it could be other industrial inorganic contaminants (e.g. heavy metals, nitrates, ...), it could be biological contaminants (e.g. viruses, bacteria, ...), it could be radon gas, or it could be harmless nuisance impurities (e.g. chlorine smell, sand, ...). Some of these are more likely in municipal water supplies, others are more common in local wells.

If you know what you are concerned about, then you can look for the appropriate type of filter. Quite frequently, a big activated-charcoal cartridge takes care of things. And that's the most commonly sold filter you'd get. But for other types of contaminants, charcoal is going to do zilch.

Also, it really depends on whether this is just a nuisance contaminant or whether there are real health risks associated with it. If in doubt, have the water tested by a lab. The supply in your house might very well have different water than the one your neighbor has, because internal piping materials differ.

We have an all refrigerator with no dispenser, so have a filter on the cold line of the prep sink. I had the plumber tee this line off to feed the ice maker. Our clean up sink does not have a filter and there is definitely a difference in taste.

We live in N.C. as well. Tap water tastes yucky. I have a faucet with the filter connected just to the cold water side (requires you to get a hot and cold water faucet) because we didn’t want a fridge with a water dispenser. Could not be happier!

I love my sink water filter. I have the option of a fridge water filter inside the fridge door but don’t wish to use it. The little faucet is mounted where a separate sprayer would be by the main faucet and the filter is under the sink. I have a Culligan brand that offers different levels of filtration based on the filter level you buy. It’s simple, affordable, great tasting water, and easy to use for drinking and cooking.

We have had a little faucet with a special filter installed at our sink for a dozen years. We drink a ton of water and it’s highly convenient but here’s our issue. We live in Texas and our water comes out of city water towers and during the summer, those suckers get hot. Therefore the water coming through our faucets and filtered water dispenser comes out hot too. We had to replace our fridge this summer and DH insisted on one with a water dispenser and oh, my! is that water cold and delicious!! It’s all I drink now and I love it. I know NC gets muggy and hot too, so there’s something for you to consider.