How To Change A Fridge Water Filter Based On What Kind You Have

If your refrigerator has a water dispenser, chances are, it is going to have a water filter, too. That water filter needs to be changed every few months. If you don't change it, the water might start tasting funny, even metallic at times. Keep drinking it, and it might expose you to bacteria and diseases you might have never even heard of. Simply put, you absolutely need to change the water filter in your fridge. But how do you find a fridge water filter and change it? Well, that will vary depending on the manufacturer and what kind of water filter you have.

In general, most home refrigerators either have a push-in filter or an in-line filter. To figure out which filter you have in your fridge, start by checking the user manual. It will have detailed info about the exact make and nature of the filter, as well as where it sits in the fridge. Also, it might also tell you how often you should replace your refrigerator water filter. If you don't change it on time, the filter's effectiveness and your water quality drop will very sharply as a result.

Most of the modern home refrigerators use an internal push-in or quarter-turn cartridge water filter, and these built-in water filters are usually located behind a base grille underneath the fridge. Sometimes they might also be present within the upper right corner of the appliance's main compartment. Before changing anything, make sure that you locate and secure the main water shut-off valve, as this will halt the pressurized flow of water into the point-of-use system. After that's taken care of, all you need to do is disengage the filter from the housing.

Removing the water filter usually involves a smooth, counter-clockwise rotation. It typically only takes a ¼ turn to release the filter seal and close the internal water supply lines at the same time. Just be ready to clean out or deal with any accidental spillage from the filter cartridge or system. Next, you need to prepare the new filter for installation, and for this, you may need to remove some sort of protective cap or seal first.

Once done, align the new filter cartridge's locking tabs with the corresponding housing slots. Then, rotate it clockwise until it securely clicks into position. This should get the water filtration system of your fridge ready for use. Lastly, re-pressurize the refrigerator's water line by turning the external valve back on and let a few large pitchers of cold water through the new filter cartridge to remove any trapped air and carbon fines before use.

Some fridges, especially older models, skip the internal water filter. Instead, they have an in-line filter, which is usually mounted on the small-diameter water line that feeds the appliance. This is similar to in-line filters that are used on water coolers. Just like built-in water filters, when replacing an in-line water filter on the fridge, you first need to locate and shut off the primary water source connected to the refrigerator. This may be somewhere behind the fridge, under the sink, in the basement, or even outside.

Once this is taken care of, place a towel or pan under the cartridge to catch any residual water. It is also important to note here that many external filter units typically use compression fittings or push-lock connectors. So, you might need to either unscrew the old filter from the existing fittings or cut the plastic tubing away from the old filter housing before replacing it. Then, when swapping to a new in-line cartridge, make sure to match the flow direction arrows on the housing.

Also, if needed, trim any damaged tubing ends square and reinstall the supply line into the fittings before re-opening the valve. Issues with the water supply line are often the reason as to why your refrigerator is leaking. Just like the built-in water filters in fridges, make sure that you flush the new in-line filter and watch out for any leaks.