How to Change Your Refrigerator Water Filter

Water filters, like all filters, need to be changed every now and then.  The consensus among manufacturers about the frequency varies between three and six months, depending on your volume.  All online advice-givers are going to qualify their recommendations with warnings about weird tastes, odors, colors, and particles.  When these occur, it's best to change it.

Which Filter to Buy?

Refrigerator brands typically aren't going to have a wealth of different water filters, so you should be able to ascertain which filter you need by going to the company's website or any site that trades in filters.  For the most
part, you shouldn't have to spend more than $30 dollars plus shipping costs.

Your Water Filter Location

The placement of a refrigerator water filter varies, but you can be pretty sure that it is easy to access.  The most convenient ones are located in the base grill and remove with a simple quarter-turn.  Otherwise, you may have to rearrange your freezer a bit to get to it.  When you do find the water filter, that's pretty much it.  Check your user's manual or the website for exact directions to the filter.

Resetting Your Filter Light

Cleverly, many manufacturers include indicator lights to let you know when it is time to change your water filter.  Not so clever, though, was the exclusion of automatic reset.  Follow the instructions below according to your brand:

Maytag

Press and hold the light and lock pads until the change filter light flashes.  This will take about three seconds.

Magic Chef

Press and hold the light and lock pads until the change filter light flashes.  Also takes about three seconds.

Ammana

Press and hold the light and lock pads until the change filter light flashes.  This should take about three seconds.

Jenn-Air

Press and hold the light and lock buttons until the change filter light flashes.

Whirlpool

Press down and release the refrigerator light switch 5 times within 10 seconds.

KitchenAid

Press down and release the refrigerator light switch 5 times within 10 seconds.

Frigidaire

Press the reset button down on the dispenser until the light starts to flash.

General Electric

Press the reset button on the dispenser for 4 to 8 seconds then release.

Hotpoint

Press the reset button on the dispenser for 4 to 8 seconds then release.