How often should you replace your refrigerator water filter?

These tasks are more about efficiency, longevity, and comfort. Not a huge deal if you miss one, but it pays off over time.

Staying on schedule matters beyond the repair bill: a consistent maintenance record is one of the factors in a home's Roots Home Health Score, and well-kept homes typically sell faster and closer to asking price.

How to do it

The filter is a carbon cartridge with a fixed capacity. Once it's saturated, water flows through untreated even if it still tastes fine. Go by the calendar, not the taste, and buy either the OEM cartridge or one certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53.

1. Find the filter. Most are inside the fresh-food compartment (upper right corner or base grille). Note the model number printed on the old cartridge or in the door manual.
2. Buy the matching cartridge: OEM, or third-party with NSF 42/53 certification.
3. Swap it: most twist a quarter-turn or push-release. No water shutoff is needed; an internal valve closes when the cartridge is out.
4. Flush 2–4 gallons through the dispenser (or discard the first two batches of ice) to clear carbon dust and trapped air.
5. Reset the filter indicator light and write the date on the new cartridge with a marker.

Alternatives & optional extras

• Don't use the dispenser or ice maker much? Many fridges accept a bypass plug instead of a filter, so there are no more cartridges to buy.
• If flow is still weak after a fresh filter, suspect the supply line or inlet valve, not the cartridge.

Time: 10 minutes · Typical cost: $20–$60 for the filter

What you'll need

• OEM or NSF 42/53-certified refrigerator water filter (match your model number)

If you skip it

An exhausted filter stops filtering and starts restricting: dispenser flow slows, the ice maker strains, and the saturated carbon bed can begin harboring bacteria instead of removing contaminants.

Other refrigerator maintenance

• Clean refrigerator condenser coils — once a year
• Inspect ice maker water supply line — once a year

Related systems to keep on schedule

• Dishwasher — start with: clean dishwasher filter, every 3 months
• Washing machine — start with: inspect washer supply hoses, every 6 months
• Dryer — start with: clean dryer vent duct, every 6 months
• Range hood — start with: degrease range hood filter, every 3 months