What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Fridge Water Filter?

What’s more important than providing clean drinking water for yourself and your family? Not much. Clean drinking water is one of the most important things we need to live healthy lives, so keeping your fridge water filter clean should be one of the most important household tasks on your 6 monthly maintenance list. We get it, changing your water filter is a daunting task, one of those little tasks you forget about and wonder if it’s even really a necessity; it is.

If you want to keep your refrigerator drinking water supply free of pollutants, parasites, and unwanted molecules, you’ll need to regularly change your fridge filter. The lifespan of your refrigerator filters may vary depending on the brand and how frequently you use it. So one person may need to change their filter less frequently than another, but if you use your fridge water supply regularly, you’ll need to know when you should change your refrigerator water filter and remember that 6 months is the absolute limit of the filters recommended life.

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t; we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together some key points and tips about when you should change your water filter, alternative ways to keep your filter clean, and where to find discount fridge filters in Australia.

HOW LONG DOES A REFRIGERATOR WATER FILTER REALLY LAST?

You may be feeling pressured into changing your fridge filter more than you need to. Let us be honest, refrigerator water filter manufacturers do want you to buy new filters, and of course they want you to spend money with their brand. This may make you sceptical of their intentions in making such recommendations. It is important to remember that outside of what manufacturers recommend, water and health professionals alike recommend following the manufacturer guidelines to avoid contact with unwanted particulates and pollutants in your drinking supply. It may seem like a rouse, but it's not.

Manufacturers are not trying to scam you, but you may choose to use your own discretion and try some new tactics to help keep your filters clean and save money. Each manufacturer’s water filtration system is different in some way. An LG fridge filter is constructed differently than say an Aqua-Pure water filter. The same goes for Samsung fridge filters, Westinghouse fridge filters, and Everpure water filter replacement cartridges. As each is made differently, they can have varying performance capabilities and life span expectations. If you are buying a new fridge, look for one with a strong water filter performance and lifespan, to save some money 6 months down the road whilst experiencing clean and great-tasting water.

Do you want to know what happens if you don't change it? Well it's gross, but we've covered it here.

The average lifespan of most brand name water filters is approximately 6 months, but the true lifespan depends on how often you use it. If the members of your household drink a lot of water from the fridge, you may need to change your filter more frequently. Curious about how fridge filters work? Check out our post.

 

HOW OFTEN TO REPLACE FRIDGE WATER FILTER?

Experts recommend changing your refrigerator’s water filter every 6 months, but keep in mind that this may be different for your particular model of refrigerator. It is important to check your fridge’s user manual and warranty information to confirm. It is as equally important to ask yourself a few questions when you are deciding if it’s time to change your water filter or not. First consider the brand. Popular brand name filters include in this field includeSamsung refrigerator water filter, Aquapure Water filter , Eco Aqua replacement Filter and the Fisher and Paykel fridge filter, and many more. It is important to note not all are interchangeable so check with your manufacturer’s specifications first.

After you’ve determined what is required by the manufacturer you can begin to consider how you use your filter daily and how your filter is performing. If you’re not sure if it’s time to replace the filter, check for some of these key indicators:

  • Does your water supply have a strange or unpleasant smell?
  • Does your filtered water taste like tap water?
  • Is the water pressure from your refrigerator water filter weaker than usual?
  • Is there any cloudiness or any visible particles in the water?

 

If you answer yes to any of the above questions, it may be time to change your water filter, but keep in mind that your water filter may still need to be changed even with none of the above indicators. In most cases, changing the fridge water filter is very easy. Most manufacturers take steps to make sure the filters are easily accessible and simple to replace. Filters like the LG water filter and the Samsung filter may need to be twisted and pulled out, while some Aqua-Pure filters, Fisher and Paykel water filters, and Everpure water filters models may have an external housing that will require a little more effort to change out. Don't forget that RO water filters need to be changed regularly too.

Replacing refrigerator water filters is easy; you can do it yourself. Start out by figuring out where the fridge filter cartridge is located on your fridge. This may differ depending on the brand and model of fridge that you have. While Australia does have quite strict drinking water guidelines, there is no harm in adding some extra filtration yourself.

See our brand-specific removal and installation guides here:

CAN YOU CLEAN A REFRIGERATOR WATER FILTER?

With filter prices ranging from $30 - $100 in price, the thought of cleaning or backflushing your fridge water filter could seem like a practical solution. Unfortunately, it is not that simple and there are a few important reasons why.

Modern fridge filters are designed to remove a large array of contaminants from a municipal water supply and to achieve this, the filter media has to be high quality and the pore size that the water passes through needs to be very tight. For cyst rated fridge filters, the pore size needs to be at least one micron in size or 1000th of a millimetre. Any attempt to clean or backflush could damage the pores and enlarge them, allowing bacteria and particulate contaminants through to your drinking water. Alternatively, this could also block the filter to a worse state than first experienced.

When it comes to fridge filters, engineers specifically design them to do an optimum job for an allotted period of time and it is best to stick with the manufacturers recommendations. If you experience premature blocking due to high sediment issues, contact Discount Fridge Filters today and our team can assist in providing you with an economical prefilter solution to extend the life of your filter.

DO REFRIGERATOR WATER FILTERS GO BAD?

No matter the brand or make, whether you have a Samsung fridge filter replacement, LG fridge filter or Aquapure water filter, water filters do not go bad as long as they stay dry and kept in reasonably cool conditions. Shopping for brand names like the LG fridge filters in Australia can get annoying. You can buy spare filters and keep them at home so you won’t have to worry about them going bad or shopping for a new one every 6 months. Many online stores do also offer lower prices when buying in multiples so it can prove to be more economical over time for you to buy in bulk.

Looking for a Samsung water filter replacement in Australia? Or Aqua-Pure filters? Even if you are just searching for fridge filters online, your best bet is to save money and shop with Discount Fridge Filters. We offer low priced, quality brand name filters - it’s the best place to purchase a Samsung water filter for your fridge, or a Fisher and Paykel water filter. Stop thinking that changing your refrigerator water filter is hard; it’s really simple shopping with Discount Fridge Filters makes it even easier.