The water in your home can contain impurities that affect its clarity, taste, smell, and safety. Water can contain dirt, rust, chlorine, or water-hardening minerals. These deposits can cause health issues, damage to your refrigerator, and leave your water and ice cloudy and undrinkable. This water filter uses a block of activated carbon to filter these pollutants out, giving you healthy, clear, great-tasting water and ice. This filter fits many Samsung refrigerators, and is rated NSF 42 and 53, which certifies that this fridge filter removes pollutants including: chlorine, cysts, asbestos, benzene, sediment, and sand. A good way to judge whether the filter needs to be replaced is when the water flow to the dispenser starts slowing down and there has been no change to the water pressure to the product. There is no bypass needed. Just remove the filter and it will automatically bypass the water filter.