How Often to Change a Fridge Water Filter: Explained

The manual for your model of refrigerator will include a recommendation for how often you should change your fridge water filter, usually supplying a timeline number in months and a number of gallons used. Most fridges will also have an indication system, with a flashing light or alarm that lets you know the water usage or timeline has been met and it is time to change your filter. This is an educated guess by the manufacturer, however, and may not be the case for your individual experience. Your water may be contaminant heavy, full of elements that clog up filter media more quickly and cause the need for more frequent change-outs. Or maybe you have a water softener or other factor making your water filter last longer. In any case, here are four other ways you can tell it is time to replace the water filter in a fridge.

Slow Water Flow from the Dispenser
As your water filter cleans your water, it collects impurities. Over time, the collected impurities begin to impede the flow of water. A sudden, noticeable decrease in the flow of your water is a great indicator that it is time to change your refrigerator filter.

Foul Odor or Taste in Water
If the water filter becomes too clogged with impurities, these minerals, dirt, and other debris may start leaking back into your water, resulting in fridge water that tastes bad. This can make water smell metallic, chlorinated, or even like sulfury rotten eggs, and may give the water a similar funny taste. If you have an ice dispenser, the ice may smell or taste off as well.

Decreased Ice Production
Another sign in models that also have an ice dispenser is a decrease in ice production or in the size of the ice that is produced. Just like a decrease in the water flow, smaller or less ice can mean that the water filter media is full of impurities and is no longer allowing water to flow as adequately through the filter cartridge.

Visible Sediment or Particles in Water
When a refrigerator filter is first installed, flushing it is recommended to get rid of any loose carbon fines. These fines can look like little black specks in the water or ice. After a flush of about 3-5 minutes, the water should run clear. If after 6 months or so you start seeing fines or other particles in your water and ice, it is probably time to change your filter. These particles can be from a buildup of sediment and dirt collected by the filter media falling off and reentering the water. Cloudiness is also a sign that your filter is no longer able to filter out contaminants, and that they are just flowing right out of the dispenser.

Where can I buy a replacement fridge water filter?
Purchasing a refrigerator filter can be fairly easy. You can choose to purchase directly from your fridge manufacturer, or you can look in home improvement stores like Lowes or Home Depot. Even easier is purchasing from an online retail store, such as one that provides handy reminders of when it is time to purchase a new filter.

How do I know which water filter fits my fridge?
The manual of your refrigerator will most likely tell you the model of filter needed for your refrigerator. You can also look at the original filter that came with your fridge for replacement information. You don’t have to choose the OEM cartridge replacement, however. You can also look into high quality compatible replacements. Just make sure that your filter model number or refrigerator model number matches the replacement filter’s compatibility.

Can I change the fridge water filter myself?
Refrigerator filter replacement is fairly straightforward. There are a number of different ways to install a filter depending upon the fridge brand and model, but most can be done within a couple of minutes. The refrigerator manual and replacement filter should come with installation instructions. If you are still having trouble, most filters also have easy-to-follow instructional videos online.

What tools do I need to change a fridge water filter?
Most filter changes can be done with your hands. In fact, using tools may just break a refrigerator filter. At most, you might use a pair of pliers to loosen a filter cartridge, but this should be done as gently as possible to not cause any damage to the housing or other refrigerator components.

What happens if I don't change my fridge water filter?
If you choose not to replace your fridge filter, you are going to notice a large reduction in water flow and ice creation. This reduction can cause strain on the system, particularly on the icemaker, which could lead to possible damage. Having an old filter also defeats the purpose, as it will no longer adequately reduce impurities, often leading to bad taste and odor in ice and water. If you do not wish to continuously replace a filter, you can look into installing a bypass plug instead.

How long does a typical fridge water filter last?
Most refrigerator filters have an average lifespan of 6 months. This means a filter is designed to provide the best filtration for fresh, crisp water in that time. After 6 months you are likely to experience a decrease in filtration efficiency and quality of the filtered water.

Are there different types of fridge water filters?
Each brand of refrigerator has water filters available for their refrigerator models, and most have different filter cartridges for various models. In addition, there are alternative aftermarket options for most OEM filter cartridges. In many cases, these third-party replacement filters offer similar or even better quality than the OEM filter. Most refrigerator water filters consist of a food-grade plastic cartridge filled with activated carbon media. Carbon water filters excel at reducing chemicals like chlorine for an improvement of taste, odor, and appearance of water. Otherwise, there are inline cartridge filters available that can be attached to a water line to the fridge rather than in the filter housing, and these filters can be carbon, sediment, or a combination of filtration types. There are also bypass plugs that allow you to skip the filter system in the fridge and just dispense the regular tap water. Most fridges come with a bypass plug.

How do I dispose of an old fridge water filter?
The simplest answer is to throw it away in your regular garbage. Refrigerator filters do not contain harmful or hazardous materials. Throwing them away does mean they will sit in the landfill for years and years to come, and given how often you do need to replace them, it can feel like a lot. Certain manufacturers like Whirlpool and GE offer recycling programs that allow you to mail your filter to them for recycling. However, there are usually certain steps you must take like dismantling the filter and allowing it to dry for a designated amount of time before you can mail it in. If your manufacturer does not offer a recycling program, you can look into third-party options. Many of these alternate programs do have a fee and will also require certain steps before you can send them the old filter.

To Sum Up
Refrigerator water and ice dispensers are a handy way to get clean, filtered water in your home. To ensure that the water stays tasting and smelling great, the cartridge inside of the fridge does need regular replacement. If you follow the steps and look for the signs outlined in this handy guide, your fridge will continue to supply you with fresh water for years to come.