When was the last time you thought about your refrigerator filter? If you’re like me, the answer is probably “never.” But believe it or not, those little filters can make a big difference in the taste and quality of your drinking water and ice.
A clogged or dirty water filter in your refrigerator can lead to a host of problems including bad tasting water, water that doesn’t smell fresh, and even ice that tastes funny. So how do you know when it’s time for a new filter? Some of the early warning signals that your fridge’s filter needs to be replaced include bad tasting water, off odors, and small ice cubes.
In this article we review how your refrigerator filter works, the 9 signs that it might be time for a replacement filter, and a lot more. Continue reading to see if you need a new filter.
Read my ultimate guide on refrigerator filters.
Table of Contents
All About Your Refrigerator Filter
Most refrigerators sold today come with a water filter. This filter is designed to remove chlorine and particulates from your drinking water and the water used to make ice. They do a great job of improving the taste and smell of your water.
Like most things in your home, however, water filters don’t last forever. Eventually, they become clogged with sediment and need to be replaced.
How does your refrigerator filter work
Most refrigerator filters combine two water treatment technologies to make your water smell and taste good – activated carbon and particle filters.
Carbon filters are made of charcoal that has been activated with high temperature steam. This process creates tiny pores in the charcoal that trap contaminants as water passes through. These pore spaces adsorb chlorine, VOCs, and other impurities, which improves the taste and smell of your water.
Particle filters are usually made of polypropylene, a type of plastic. They work by trapping particulates like dirt, silt, and rust as water passes through them. This helps to improve the clarity of your drinking water.
What contaminants do refrigerator filters remove
Most refrigerator filters are designed to remove chlorine, VOCs, and particulates from your water. Some are also designed to remove lead.
- Chlorine – Chlorine is a common disinfectant added to municipal water supplies. While it’s effective at killing bacteria, it can also give your water an unpleasant taste and smell.
- VOCs – Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that can vaporize into the air at room temperature. They can be found in things like cleaning products, paint fumes, and gasoline. VOCs can give your water an unpleasant taste and smell.
- Particulates – Particulates are tiny pieces of dirt, silt, rust, and other materials that can make your water look and taste cloudy.
- Lead – Lead is a metal that can be found in old pipes and solder. It can cause health problems if it’s ingested, so it’s important to remove it from your drinking water.
- Taste and odor – Although not technically contaminants, taste and odor are qualitative measures of water quality. If your water tastes or smells bad, it’s probably because it contains one or more contaminants. Your refrigerator filter is designed to remove these nuisance compounds.
Given the importance of your refrigerator filter, how do you know when it’s time to replace it? Let’s take a look at some signs that it might be time for a new one.
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1 – Water and Ice Have a Chemical Flavor or Bad Taste
The first sign that your fridge’s water filter is spent is that your water and ice will start to taste bad. If you notice a strange flavor in your water or ice, it’s probably time for a new filter.
Tap water often has residual chlorine which can give your water a chemical taste. The carbon in your fridge filter will remove this chlorine, improving the taste of your water. However, the carbon has a limited service life, and, over time, it will become less effective at removing contaminants. This can cause your water and ice to taste bad.
If you notice a difference in the taste of your water or ice, it’s probably time for a new filter.
2 – Ice Cubes Are Smaller Than Normal
All of the water that goes to your ice maker has to pass through the water filter first. The filter removes particles and suspended particles, and eventually, these will start to accumulate in the filter, reducing water flow. This can lead to smaller than normal ice cubes because not enough water is getting to the ice maker.
If you notice that your ice cubes are smaller than usual, it might be time for a new refrigerator filter.
3 – Water Smells Bad
Your refrigerator filter is designed to remove contaminants that can give your water an unpleasant taste or smell. However, over time, the carbon becomes spent (i.e., used up) and is unable to remove all of these contaminants. This can cause your water to start smelling bad. You may also notice that your ice cubes have an odor – the refrigerator filter treats your drinking water and water used to make ice.
If you notice that your water smells strange, it’s probably time for a new refrigerator filter.
4 – Water Flow Rate is Very Low
All of the water that is dispensed for drinking or used to make ice must flow through the filter. The particle filter traps sediment and other suspended solids that are in your tap water. Eventually, the filter becomes clogged with these materials and water flow is reduced. This can be frustrating when you’re trying to get a glass of water or fill up a pitcher.
If you notice that the water flow from your dispenser is lower than normal, it’s probably time for a new refrigerator filter.
5 – Water and Ice Are Cloudy or Murky
A properly functioning water filter on your fridge will remove all turbidity and particles. Your water should be crystal clear when you hold your glass up to the light. Any color or cloudiness is a sign that your fridge filter is not functioning properly.
Red or brown water is usually a sign of iron. Grey or white color could be small, suspended particles or turbidity. If your water isn’t clear and transparent, the filter needs replacing.
6 – Water Has Black Specks in It
Refrigerator filters use activated carbon to remove chlorine and other impurities from your drinking water. The filters are filled with granules of carbon that are about the size of sand grains.
The granular activated carbon is retained in the filter housing by a mesh screen. If the screen is damaged, some of the small specks of the black granular carbon can pass through the filter into the water line. These black specks can also make their way to the ice maker.
If you notice black specks in your water or ice, it’s probably time to replace your refrigerator filter.
7 – Replace Filter Light Is On
Most refrigerators with water filters have a warning filter light that comes on when it’s time to change the filter. When the water filter light comes on, it’s time to change your filters.
There are two ways that your filter’s service life might be determined by your refrigerator:
- the volume of water dispensed since the filter was installed
- a timer
If you have a filtered refrigerator, it’s important to keep an eye on the replace filter light. Once it comes on, don’t delay in replacing the filter.
If the replace filter light on your refrigerator is on, it’s time to replace the filter.
8 – It’s Been 6 Months Since You Changed Filter
Most refrigerator manufactures recommend replacing the filter every 6 to 9 months. Each brand is different, so be sure to check your owner’s manual for the recommended service interval for your refrigerator.
If it’s been more than six months since you changed your refrigerator filter, it’s time to replace it.
9 – Your Refrigerator Makes Strange Noises
If you can hear your fridge making strange noises or it’s louder than normal, there’s a good chance that the water filter may be fouled. As water flows into your refrigerator, it passes through the filter. It eventually becomes plugged and fouled by particles and other contaminants.
When the filter gets plugged, it creates a lot of backpressure that resists the flow of water. As the water moves through the restricted filter, it can cause vibrations that produce rattling or humming noises. This issue becomes worse as the filter becomes more fouled.
If you notice any changes in the sounds your refrigerator makes, or the noise becomes louder than normal, it’s probably time for a new filter.
Final Take
The signs that your refrigerator filter needs to be replaced can be subtle and sometimes hard to detect. That’s why we’ve put together this list of nine telltale signs that it might be time for a new filter. Keep an eye out for these signals, and if you’re seeing more than one or two, it’s probably time to replace the filter.