How To Change or Replace Your Refrigerator’s Water Filter?

Staying hydrated tops all our healthy life goals, doesn’t it? Water plays a vital role in our lives. Now imagine the hot chilling weather and no cold water. Sounds horrible, right?

Your cold water from the refrigerator is the only thing that keeps you sane during that weather. But if you fail to change the filter that dispenses water and ice in your refrigerator on time, you’ll have to say goodbye to all the cold delight.

So how to change the water filter in the fridge by yourself? Find that and much more out below!

What is a Refrigerator’s Water Filter All About?

There is an ice generator and chilled water faucet in most contemporary refrigerators. All of these are fed by a short pipe connection.

A changeable water filter also ensures the ice cubes are pure and taste good. The frequency with which you should replace the filters is determined by the purity of your water system and how frequently you are using the water and ice dispensers.

If your water or ice does not taste as pure as it should, changing the filter will likely solve the issue.

Why Do We Need To Change These Water Filters?

The answer is quite simple. Suppose you keep using the same filter for an extended period. In that case, it will no longer filter out pollutants or other material. And if bacteria and minerals pass through the screen, your fridge water may taste nasty, the ice would smell foul, and the filter might ultimately clog.

So, it’s better to change your filters timely as advised by the manufacturers.

Ideally, you should be changing your filters every six months to keep water quality top-notch. It also prolongs your machine’s overall life and functionality.

When Should You Be Changing The Water Filters of Refrigerators?

When it’s time to change your filter, your smart fridge often tells you so. Modern refrigerators have a touchscreen display where an indicator flashes when it’s time to change the filter.

Some fridges also have a feature where the current filter can display the due date of replacement.

But what do you do if you don’t have a smart fridge? You can easily notice the change in your regular chilled water. And when it’s time to replace your refrigerator’s water filter, the flavor of the ice or water changes. It also starts to smell weird.

There’s an added indicator that you can keep in mind. When filters are clogged, the water flow through the dispenser isn’t as smooth. As a result, you’ll notice slower water flow through the dispenser.

Types of Refrigerator and How To Change It

Refrigerators come in different shapes and sizes. They all, therefore, have different requirements in terms of filters as well.

But, you don’t have to stress too much over the type of filter your fridge needs. You’ll easily find this detail on the user manual that came with your fridge or on the internet.

Once you’ve figured out what kind of filter you need to shop for, take these cues to fix or replace your water filters pretty easily:

Twist On Filters

Twist On Filters

Located typically behind the bottom-most grill or inside the fridge or the right side of the bottom, there is usually a small compact place that you need to refill.

Steps to Change The Twist on Filter:

  1. Twist the filter anticlockwise and pull it straight from the housing.
  2. Now, remove the cover from the old filter and put it onto the next one. Your work is halfway done.
  3. Lastly, put the new filter and twist it clockwise until it screws in place.

Push-In Filters

Push-In Filters

These filters remain hidden at the front of your fridge. However, in some models, you may find it in the back compartment.

Steps to Change The Push-In Filter:

  1. Push the filter button, which releases the already kept filter. If there is no button present, there will be a compartment from which you can release it.
  2. Open the cap of the filter and check to see if the old one is removed.
  3. Now, insert the filter you bought, and you are good to go.

How To Clean Your Water Dispenser?

Now that you know all about changing the filter of your refrigerator’s water dispenser, you should learn a bit more about keeping them clean. So, while we are at it, let’s discuss what you can do to keep your water dispensers clean:

  • Turn off your fridge’s electrical supply to stay safe while you clean. It would also be a good idea to unplug it from the socket.
  • The biggest threat to the clean dispenser is a clogged pipe. It would be best for you to clean this pipe timely. Because then you’ll have healthy and chilled water. Moreover, a clean line would dispense more water. Hence, use a 1:1 proportion of water and vinegar to clean these pipes regularly. Just oven the valve and pour the mixture into the pipe. Once cleaned, attach back the valve.
  • Give your dispenser some downtime by shutting the supply for some time. This will allow the pipe to dry down a bit. It might seem like an unnecessary step. But it’ll help you prolong your dispenser’s life by ridding it of impurities that go dry on getting no water.
  • You can also clean your dispenser using cleaning solutions. An ordinary fridge cleaner is fine, but check the refrigerator’s user manual to be sure.

Keeping your fridge clean and its water filter spotless and sanitary will make sure you don’t have to replace it frequently. It will save you plenty of money over time. So follow these steps carefully.

FAQ’s

In case we might have missed the above to explain about replacing your refrigerator water filter, here are the facts and questions that cover all the important aspects you wanted to know.

Q1. Do I need to turn the water off to change the refrigerator water filter?

Most modern refrigerators have an auto shut-off valve, so you don’t need to turn off the water when changing the refrigerator’s water filter. In fact, shutting off the water can actually cause some problems during installation, such as air blocks, etc.

Q2. How do I change the water filter on my GE refrigerator?

GE advised that you replace your refrigerator’s water filter every six months / after every 200 gallons of water that have been dispensed. The water supply does not have to be shut down during the process.

• Place a cloth under the old filter before you remove it so that it can catch the drops of water that might fall upon the removal of the filter.
• Hold the filter, turning it towards the left till it stops. While turning the filter, gently pull it down from the filter head.
• Remove the plastic cap from the replacement filter. Fill the top of the new filter with tap water. Place it inside the cartridge holder by keeping the arrow on your filter aligned with the cartridge holder. Push the filter upwards gently to fasten the cartridge top in the filter head.
• Turn the filter slowly to the right until the cartridge stops turning. The cartridge will rise into position as you turn it.
• After you replace the filter, the trapped air must be removed from the system. On the dispenser, select Water and press it until the water starts to flow. At first, there may be sputtering as the air comes out – this is normal. Continue to dispense until there is a smooth water flow, so you are sure all the air has been purged from the system.

Q3. How long should you run water after changing the filter?

You should run the water until there is no more sputtering in the water flow. This ensures that all the air that may have been trapped has been let out of the system.

Q4. Is it really necessary to change your refrigerator water filter every six months?

The recommendation of changing every six months is to help customers avoid building up and damage to your unit. Ultimately the choice is up to you. However, changing regularly is your best bet if you wish to maintain top performance and longevity.

Q5. How do I know if my water filter is bad?

There are tell-tale signs that can let you know if your water filter is bad and needs replacing. Ultimately, it has to do with performance as well as the quality of the dispensed water. Some signs include:

• Decreased water pressure or flow rate
• Bad taste of the water
• Small particles in the water
• Dispenser begins to make odd noises
• Warning lights

Q6. Does refrigerator water filter affect ice maker?

You can still use your refrigerator’s ice maker regardless of your water filter’s state. However, this will affect the quality of the ice. Using the ice maker hand in hand with the water filter can also increase the lifespan of your ice maker and the refrigerator in general.

Conclusion

We hope that changing your refrigerator’s water filter will be a piece of cake for you now. If you have a specific question when you’re trying to do this, you can get in touch with WaterSeer.org experts. They’re the best to tell you what to do. Or you can comment them down below to get your answers!