Countless appliance owners rely on the water dispensers in their fridge freezers to provide fresh water and ice. What many may not have, however, is the necessary knowledge for keeping that water fresh and safe for drinking. That’s where water filters come in!

So if you have a fridge freezer that dispenses water but you can’t remember the last time you checked or changed the filter, read on. There’s plenty here you’re going to want to know!

What are fridge water filters?

The water filter in your fridge freezer serves to keep the water and ice filtered, fresh and fit for drinking. They do this by causing a chemical reaction between activated carbon and chlorine in the water. The activated carbon then acts like a kind of sponge and absorbs chemicals and potential contaminants that may be lurking around in your drinking water. This can be anything from parasites and bacteria to fluoride and chlorine, and the process is called chemical absorption.

However, as effective as they may be at providing you with fresh, suitable drinking water, fridge freezer water filters don’t last forever. Over time the filter will begin to lose its effectiveness, and failing to change it can result in scaling and deposit build-up in the water and ice machine. This costly error can seriously damage your fridge and, of course, cause your water to not be filtered properly.

How can I maintain my water filter?

Fortunately, maintaining the water filter in your fridge freezer is actually fairly simple and easy. All you have to do is make sure you change it before it starts to do more harm than good! There are a few ways to recognise when your water filter needs changing, including the following:

• Keep a tab on how long you’ve been using the same water filter for. It’s recommended that you change your water filter once every six months, so simply jotting a note down in your calendar should help to remind you!
• Many fridge freezers also come with a display screen that indicates when it’s time to change your fridge’s water filter. This is usually a simple light-up image or word, as pictured above, and can be handy if changing your filter happens to slip your mind.
• If your fridge’s water starts to taste strange or metallic, this is also a sign that your water filter is no longer doing its job properly and needs to be changed as soon as possible.

How do I change my water filter?

Once you’ve gotten hold of a new water filter for your fridge freezer, you’ll need to know how to actually change it too. This isn’t too difficult to do once you’re familiar with the replacement process… but of course, there’s a first time for everything and appliance care can be a bit daunting to those who are not entirely used to it!

That’s why we’re here to help. Our video guide on how to replace an external water filter will run you through the process step by step, helping you get your fridge’s water and ice fresh and safe for consumption once more. While the process may differ slightly depending on your particular brand of fridge freezer, the process should generally be the same!

Check out our video below to learn how to get your filter changed in no time:

And that’s all you need to know about your fridge freezer’s water filter and how to maintain it! While you’re here, why not also make sure you’re using your entire fridge freezer as efficiently as possible? Our blog post on fridge freezer energy efficiency advice will help you make the most out of your appliance and save some dosh while you’re at it!

Tags: Filters, Fridge, fridge advice, Fridge Freezer, water filter