Most of the time, your water filter should slot easily into place. But there are times when you might find that your filter is slipping out of place. So, why doesn’t a Frigidaire filter stay in place?
The most likely reason a Frigidaire water filter won’t stay in place is it isn’t properly aligned in the base. If the cap at the top of the filter is damaged or it is covered with protective materials, it may not stay in place. It’s also possible that the water filter base is damaged or defective.
Having a refrigerator filter that keeps slipping out can be very frustrating. But this doesn’t mean that something is wrong with the filter. Often, you just need to change the way you are loading it. Keep reading to learn how you can get your Frigidaire filter to stay in place.
Read my ultimate guide on refrigerator filters.
How To Keep a Water Filter in a Frigidaire?
If you are frustrated by your filter slipping out of your Frigidaire, you aren’t alone. But there are a few ways you can try to solve this problem. Some options you can explore include:
- Rotating the filter. At the base of your water filter, there will be a series of caps. This allows it to slot into place. At the top of the filter cover, there will be a series of cut-outs. This shows how the filter should be positioned. It will only fit one way.
- Check the caps. Often, the caps on the edge of the filter will be covered when it is shipped, to protect them from damage. You will need to remove these protective layers before you put the filter in.
- Inspect the filter. There might be an issue with the caps at the end of the filter. If one of these is bent out of place, it won’t be able to lock into place. In this case, you might be able to return the defective filter to the manufacturer and get a refund.
- Check the type of filter. There are multiple types of Frigidaire fridges available. So, you will need to find a filter that works with your model. To do this, you might need to consult the owner’s manual. You should also make sure that you are getting high-quality filters. This often means purchasing them from the manufacturer. If you try to get a cheaper knock-off, it might have the caps in the wrong place, so you can’t lock it into place.
- Not enough pressure. While you don’t want to force the filter into place, you might need to apply a small amount of pressure to help it click into place.
In most cases, this will solve the problem. But if you are still having problems there are a few other things you can try. First, you might want to get a new filter. Sometimes, the one you are trying to put into the fridge might be defective in some way.
You may find this video about replacing a Frigidaire filter base helpful.
Checking the Water Filter Base
If you can’t find a fault with the filter, the problem might lie with the water filter base in the fridge. This might be damaged if you push too hard on the filter, trying to get it into the slot. This can cause it to crack apart. At other times, you might find that it has started to jam the water flow.
Read my article about determining when to change the refrigerator water filter.
The good news is that there is often an easy fix. Here are the steps you will need to follow the access, inspect, and fix the base:
- Turn off the device. This will need to be done at the wall.
- Remove the water filter. Though you won’t need to disconnect the water, you can put a towel under the area. To remove the water filter, you will need to tap the base gently and it should slide out.
- Remove the light cover. This will give you better access to the water filter base. To do this, you will need to press gently against the hinges. With a bit of pressure, the cover should come off.
- Remove the screws around the filter unit. There will be a screw at the base of the unit. Once you have removed this, the filter cover should slide off. Then, you will see four screws around the base of the locking mechanism, these will also need to be removed.
- Disconnect the water tubes. To do this, you will need to first press upwards on the tube. Then, they should slide out easily. After you have done this, the water filter base should come out.
- Inspect or replace the base. Once the base has been removed, you can inspect it. Sometimes, pushing too hard on the water filter might have caused a screw in the base to come loose. You can try tightening it up and re-inserting the unit. If it is cracked or damaged, you will need to replace the base.
- Reinsert the water filter base. You will need to slide it up the slot.
- Put the water line back in the base. Make sure that the clear line is on the right. Push the lines up as far as they will go.
- Reattach the screws. Put the four screws around the water filter base. Then, you can slide the filter cover on, adding the screw that holds it in place.
- Add the light cover and filter. Finally, you will need to clip the light cover back into the hinges. The water filter should now slide easily into place.
In most cases, the mechanism will be relatively easy to fix. But sometimes, it will be cracked or damaged. Because of this, you will need to replace it. The good news is that these components are fairly cheap. You should be able to buy the on sites like Amazon for around $30.
If that doesn’t work, it might indicate a problem with the fridge. This is most common in older devices. You might be able to find the broken part and repair the damage yourself. But this can risk damaging the warranty if the repairs aren’t done correctly. Because of this, it’s usually best to call in a professional to do it for you.
Final Thoughts
Having a filter that won’t stay in is annoying. The good news is that there are a few simple fixes that you can try. If you are still having problems, you might want to call in a professional.