When Should I Change My Refrigerator Water Filter?

Water filters are a lot like the tires on your car in that you often find yourself trying to extend the amount of time they are in use to save yourself money. The thinking being, my tires are still round and my water isn’t murky, so maybe I’ll think about a replacement next month. 30 days later and your tires don’t grip as well and your water has a slightly more funny taste. The cycle continues until years have past and you are left wondering, when did I last swap out my old filter?

Not unlike road conditions that can affect how many miles you get from your tires, filters can last longer than expected or wear out sooner depending on the quality of water flowing into your home. When you buy a replacement water filter you will find documentation on the filter, box, or included instructions that explain how often you should expect to replace your filter.

Without a device that measures exactly how much water is moving through the filter, being told it can process anywhere from 240 gallons to 500 is a little crazy. So lets assume normal usage and say that going on a 6 month schedule is a safe bet that you won’t be buying a new filter too early and wasting money, and not too late that you aren’t benefiting from its filtration capabilities.

You can use the Filtersfast.com Auto Delivery Service to take the guesswork out of your filter replacement schedule. Select ‘Auto Delivery’ on the product page before clicking ‘Add to Cart’ and save money instantly. Manage your auto delivery settings from your account page.

When using a water filter you might find the taste of your water changes over time. When first installed, chlorine odor and taste will likely all but disappear. A few months later, these tastes may return. That isn’t uncommon. Nearly all filters, be they air or water, rely on some form of carbon media to absorb unwanted aesthetics (anything that makes you say ‘yuck’).

Like a paper towel, eventually this carbon loses effectiveness. Just because the taste of your drinking water changes does not mean your filter is no longer removing contaminants. It is more likely there is a greater amount of chlorine or other environmental factors affecting your water than what the manufacturer designed the filter to handle.

In this situation you have a few options. The less preferable solution would be to change out your refrigerator water filter early. Either when the taste of your drinking water changes, or on a set schedule every 3 or 4 months. Thankfully, when you go this route our Auto Delivery Service allows you to change how often new filters are delivered to your door.

Another option is to install a whole house water filter system. This equipment installs at the source of water coming into your home. They are cost effective for most families and provide extra protection against waterborne impurities, sediment, chlorine taste and odor. In extreme circumstances where water quality in your area is below average, a whole house water filter can improve the effectiveness of water filtration throughout your home. The less sediment and chlorine the filter in your refrigerator, at your sink, or shower has to process the longer it will last.

There are many water filters to choose from but you don’t need to feel overwhelmed. Every refrigerator that uses a drinking water filter was designed to fit specific models of filters. This makes buying filters easier than you think. Use our Refrigerator Water Filter Finder and we’ll guide you through a step-by-step process to find the right filter for your refrigerator. Most of these install in under a minute.

Want to know what is in your water? If you think there is an excessive amount of chlorine, lead, or an imbalance of pH in your water that could effective the life of your appliances or your own health, check our selection of easy to use water test kits. No expensive equipment is required and they are easy to use and provide quick results. Some kits are specific to either city water or well water.

Some are all-inclusive meaning that they test across the board for the most common contaminates including bacteria, lead, chlorine, other chemicals, minerals and pesticides.  These are a good place to start if you have no idea what type of water you have in your home.