Today we're here to answer the question “Should I clean my fridge filter?” With fridge filter prices range from $30 and $100 in price, it might seem like a practical solution to clean your fridge filter. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and I’ll give you a few reasons why reusing an old refrigerator water filter could be harmful to your health. First, let's consider how fridge water filters work and what they're made of.
Can You Clean And Reuse Refrigerator Water Filters?
No, and here's why. Modern fridge filters are designed to remove an array of different contaminants from your water supply. To do that, the media has to be of high quality, and the pore size has to be really small, so small in fact that it’s actually getting down to one-thousandth of a millimetre.
In the attempt to clean such a fine media, it could lead to the pore size being damaged, thus allowing particulate matter such as dirt sediment and bacteria could come through to your drinking water.
What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Fridge Water Filter?
Other consequences of reusing an old water filter include various contaminants and chemicals being present in your drinking water as your old water filter is now unable to effectively filter out all contaminants found in tap water. Your water may smell and taste bad. Worse, there may be no outward signs of your old fridge filter not filtering your drinking water effectively, as some contaminants may now be present in your water due to your filter having been damaged from cleaning and rubbing it, not to mention the age of your filter causing it to not filter drinking water as effectively as it used to. See our post on what happens when you don't change your refrigerator water filter for more information.
As refrigerator water filters are not meant to be cleaned and therefore cannot be cleaned thoroughly, continuing to use an old fridge filter may result in bacteria growth on your fridge filter over time, as well as build-up and scale in your refrigerator systems that can cause long-term damage. It's simply not worth risking damage to your expensive fridge as well as risking your health by reusing and cleaning a fridge water filter.
How Long Do Water Filters Last In My Refrigerator?
Fridge filters are designed by engineers to an optimal job for a long period of time, rather than cleaning, it’s best to stick with the manufacturer recommendations and change the filters every six months. Take a look at our article on how long fridge filters last for more details.
If for instance you do find your filter cartridge actually blocked before this time, it’s best to change or get in contact with us today to sit and talk about pre-sediment filters to make that cartridge last that little bit longer for you.
Are you looking for a replacement water filter for your fridge? We'll be glad to help you select the best refrigerator water filter for your fridge model. Check out our range of water filters at https://discountfridgefilters.com.au/ and give us a call if you've got any questions.
