How Often Should I Change My Refrigerator Water Filter?

If your refrigerator dispenses water, chances are it uses a water filter. And if it’s been a long time since you’ve replaced it, the inside of it may be clogged with some of the gunk.

Changing your refrigerator water filter is the kind of routine maintenance that can be easily be ignored, but just like the oil in your car, it’s important to keep a regular schedule. Most manufacturer guidelines recommend that you replace your water filters every six months. Of course, these guidelines are just for broad situations – rather than your specific situation. If your family uses a heavier than average amount of water, your filter could expire early. In fact, if you wait too long, your old refrigerator water filter may actually be growing bacteria and mold.

So how do you know when it’s time to change your refrigerator water filter? You may notice a “decreased flow.” Your ice maker may have stopped making ice cubes plural, and decided to make one dirty singular cube.  Of course, most refrigerators will also have a  status indicator light in your fridge that can give you a helpful idea.

But overall, the most effective way to determine if your refrigerator water filter is shot is simply to utilise your smell sense for an unpleasant taste or odor.  The type of contaminants reduced by a properly functioning filter will appear more and more as your filter ages.  And when it gets to the point that you start to notice, it’s time to make a change.