How Often Do I Need To Replace My Refrigerator Air Filter?

Air filters in refrigerators are designed to keep your fridge smelling fresh. They work very similarly to air filters inside your home, keeping the air clean, catching airborne particles, and preventing odors from building up. Also, like home filters, they need to be replaced regularly. For most fridges, the best time to replace the air filter is every six months, as this is when they tend to lose effectiveness. To make it even easier for yourself, change it at the same time you replace your refrigerator water filter, which also lasts about six months.

Air filters are an important part of refrigerator maintenance. Traditionally, baking soda is a budget-friendly way to neutralize odors in your fridge, and it is effective up to a point. However, it doesn't work as well as an air filter and only removes smells, not particles and bacteria. Filters, on the other hand, help to prevent bad odors, regulate moisture, stop mold, and slow down spoilage. Additionally, they prevent food poisoning as they catch bacteria like salmonella and listeria that may spread from raw meats and unwashed produce to other, already cooked foods.

While every six months is a good suggestion, sometimes you'll have to change the filter sooner. If you tend to store strong-smelling leftovers in your fridge or keep it full, the filter may give out faster. You can tell it's time to replace it when you start to notice bad odors even after your fridge is cleaned out.

If you get blasted with a wave of odors whenever you open the door to grab a bite to eat, you need to change your filter, even if it hasn't been a full six months. You may also find that your food goes bad more quickly, starts tasting funny, or absorbs the strong smells in your fridge. Unfortunately, it doesn't work the other way around. Even if you don't notice odors, it's a good idea to replace the filters by the six-month mark, as this is when many stop working properly and can no longer adequately catch bacteria and odors.

Thankfully, unlike other household essentials you should replace more often, you don't need to remember the date for this one most of the time. Many refrigerators have a status light or a display somewhere that lights up when the filter needs to be replaced. Every fridge is a little different, but it generally only takes a few minutes to swap in a clean one. Make sure you buy the right kind for your fridge.

The filter is usually near the air intake, hidden behind a panel that may or may not be labeled "air filter." You just pull out the old one and replace it with the new one by snapping it into the slot. To make your life a little easier, and to get a reminder when you need it, don't forget to reset your filter warning. Usually, this involves pressing and holding a button.