Stop and think for a moment, when was the last time you changed the water filter in your refrigerator? Has it been six months? Maybe a year? Longer? If the answer to any of these is yes, it’s time to change your filter. Another way to tell is if the water from your fridge is exhibiting any of these signs.
Slow flow
Noticeable odor
Water or ice that is dark or cloudy.
What is the point of a fridge filter?
Now you know what’s wrong with your filter, but what’s the point in one? If you live in the city, you might be thinking, “isn’t that part of the reason why I pay so much for water? So that it will be clean?” Well, yes and no. The truth is that city water isn’t created equal. The filter is meant to remove debris, minerals, and any other impurities from your water before it’s dispensed or turned into ice. If you leave it unfiltered, the taste and quality can be affected, as well as your health.
So what are the different types of filters?
As of right now, there are four main methods used to filter water for home use.
Reverse osmosis
Ion exchange
Steam distillation
Activated Carbon
While activated carbon is both the most common and the most popular at the moment, the others have their benefits as well.
Reverse Osmosis filters out contaminants by using water pressure to force the water through a membrane. Things like iron, mercury, and lead are left in the membrane and flushed away. The downside is that things like pesticides, metals, and solvents are still able to pass through the membrane.
Ion Exchange filters are great for homes that have hard water. Ion exchange is a chemical process that swaps out ions like sodium in exchange for heavy metals. The result is that you get ‘softer’ water with a more pleasant taste. The downside, though, is that it will raise the sodium content of your water. Not the best thing if you’re on a low sodium diet!
Steam Distillation is a process that uses the lower boiling point of water to your advantage. The water is set to boil and turns into steam. That steam is then collected and cooled to condense back into water. Since most heavy metals have a much higher boiling point than water, they’re left behind. The downside to this is that distillation also removes the beneficial minerals from your water as well.
Activated Carbon Filters as we pointed out already these are the most widely used. Charcoal is a very porous material, so it serves to remove many different contaminants from your water. When water passes through, it undergoes a chemical reaction when it comes in contact with the carbon. This gets rid of things like chlorine. Larger sediment particles get stuck to the outer surface, while stuff like lead gets trapped in the interior. All of this working together explains why carbon is the most commonly used.
Whichever filtration system you choose to use, make sure that it’s NSF certified so that you know you and your family are safe.
How often should you change them?
Your water filter should be replaced every six months at a minimum to guarantee they are working correctly. If you or your family drink a lot of water, you might even have to replace it more often. Keep an eye on the light, as well as the quality of your water to know when it’s time. While water filters do a lot of work to purify your water, if you don't change them regularly, they can begin to add contaminants to your water as well as create problems for your appliances.
How do you change them?
The four most common types of filters are Push-In, In-Line,Twist-In Base and Twist- In Interior.
Push-in filter:
Remove and discard the old filter by pushing the “eject” button or by twisting off the filter cap.
Remove the filter cap on the end of the filter to reuse with the new filter.
Line up the arrows on both the new filter and the filter cap. Snap it into place by turning it clockwise.
Continue pushing the filter in, until the eject button pops.
Make sure the cap is secure.
Reset Refrigerator Water Filter indicator light if you have one.
In-line filter:
Turn off your cold water supply to the fridge.
Between the shut-off valve and refrigerator, locate an easily accessible portion of the tubing. Cut tubing, by using tubing cutters for copper/plastic. Make sure to cut square rather than angled to avoid leaks. Smooth cut edges with steel wool or file if necessary.
Remove the end cap on the new filter and insert tubing. Lock into place by holding down end cap.
Turn the water supply back on.
Hold filter over a bucket and run the water until clear. Do this for both ends of the filter.
Make sure to check for leaks.
Twist-in Base:
Locate the filter cap in the base grille; turn to the left to remove. It might be stiff if it’s been a while.
Slide the filter handle off to reuse.
Discard the old filter.
After removing the new filter from its packaging, replace the filter handle, and insert it by twisting it into place.
Reset Refrigerator Water Filter indicator light if you have one.
Twist –in Interior:
Look to the upper right on the inside of your refrigerator. The filter should be there.
Open the cover by either pushing or pulling.
Release the old filter by twisting counterclockwise.
Insert the new filter and lock it into place by turning clockwise until it snaps. Don’t push too hard, or you can break the handle.
Reset Refrigerator Water Filter indicator light if you have one.
And that’s it!
Takeaways:
Yes, changing your fridge filter regularly does serve a purpose for both your fridge and your health.
The four types of filters all have their ups and downs, with activated carbon filters currently being the industry standard.
Changing your filter doesn’t have to be complicated!
And if you don't want to deal with the hassle of finding the right filter and installing it, we can do it for you! Book an appointment today.