There is a lot of misleading information online on the best time to change the water filter in your refrigerator.
Some say you should swap it every six months, while others say you should wait till the water quality drops.
Either way, you want to get a high-quality replacement filter from Discount Water Filters. This shop stocks genuine products, always has everything you need, and ships nationwide.
Do You Really Need to Change the Filter?
The short answer is yes. A clogged filter is the reason why your water is tasting funny, or there’s slight discoloration.
And the only solution is to replace the worn-out part with a genuine water filter.
Some refrigerators can work fine without a filter, but that is probably a bad idea. You risk exposing your family to fertility problems, cancer, and a host of gastrointestinal illnesses. The takeaway? Do not ignore or skimp on a water filter.
How Often Should You Change the Filter?
There’s no straight answer to this question. However, some refrigerator makers such as Samsung and Fisher have inbuilt systems that alert users when a filter goes out.
They do this by lighting up a bulb on the onboard screen where everybody can see it. Most manufacturers say the filters are good for six months, but that usually depends on the water source.
A high level of impurities combined with above-average usage may result in a warning light sooner than six months.
If you’re working with an older refrigerator, the taste test is probably your best. People will start noticing the chlorine smell in the water or catch tiny particles floating in their drinking water, and that’s the best time to replace the water filter.
Alternatively, set a reminder for six months on your phone.
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Signs Your Refrigerator Filter Needs to Be Replaced
Cold, clean water is a luxury that every family deserves, but it comes at a price. You have to keep swapping water filters to continue enjoying this modern-day luxury.
However, you need to know when to replace these little parts. Here are some of the tale-tale signs of a worn-out refrigerator water filter.
The Water Tastes Terrible: Water dispensed from your fridge should taste fresh or with a mild plastic taste. Anything beyond that is a sign of a clogged water filter that needs to be replaced.
Ice has an Odd Smell: If you don’t pick up the bad taste in the water, you’ll most likely notice an unpleasant odor in the ice. Usually, it is a sour, metallic smell that makes your beverages undrinkable. Also, the size of the ice might shrink.
Slow Tickle: Maybe the water doesn’t taste terrible yet, but it comes out in a slow trickle. This is the best time to replace the filter before the smells and funny “flavors” kick in.
Black Impurities in Water and Ice: Sometimes, the activated carbon in water filters finds its way into dispensed water. It might be the result of a low-quality replacement or a worn-out filter. Either way, you need another water filter to avoid health issues.
Water Filter Light Comes on: Newer fridges will show a warning light when the water filter needs to be replaced. It’s not clear how this system works, but it probably bases its assumption on the flow rate and age of the filter.
It’s been More than a Year: If it’s been more than a year since you last changed the filter, please consider replacing it. Remember, the active carbon can also grow old and start passing black particles.
What Happens if you Don’t Change the Filter?
The consequences of forgetting to change the water filter are pretty serious. But the most pressing one is exposure to harmful chemicals.
The filter reduces the number of invincible impurities in your drinking water, including excessive chlorine and other contaminants.
Your refrigerator also ages quicker if you don’t keep up with maintenance. Scaling and deposits may ruin the refrigerator’s ability to detect a worn-out filter, and that could mean hundreds of dollars in repairs.
This clogging also tends to slow down the appliance, leaving the water tasting funny and the ice smelling pretty bad.
Generally speaking, you should change the filter every six months or even sooner. This keeps your refrigerator in good condition, and it will give you the service you deserve.
Get replacement parts from an industry-vetted store, then check out a video or two on how to change the filter on your fridge model. After that, you should be good to go for another six months.
