# Refrigerator Water Filters: Scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 27, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401 "2016-01-27T19:16:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/21 "2016-01-28T19:11:41Z")
I used to reset mine and change it every other time it would get to zero. The timer was set for 6 months, so about once a year. Now, like someone else said, I wait until the flow is reduced or the water tastes funky again, it’s probably every 2 years or so. Looks like the last time I bought one was January 2012 (4 years ago). My water does taste like Chlorine right from the tap and does taste much better from the fridge, but as long as it’s still flowing and tastes fine, I don’t see any reason to spend $40 (generic) to $70ish (name brand) on a new one. A while ago I was going to put in a whole house filter because of some mold/mildew issues I was having, but the city recommended against that. They said that the chlorine (in attempt to remove whatever was causing my issues) in the system was a good defense against it and that removing that would only make the problem worse. So I never bothered with it. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/22 "2016-01-29T18:01:11Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Do you filter the tap water in your house before drinking it? Did you filter the water you made ice with in your old fridge? If both those answers are “No”, then you don’t need a filter. See if you can just pop it out and leave it out - some fridges allow you to do that and just bypass the filter if it isn’t present. If you try drinking the tap water and can, but just don’t like the taste, then you DO need a filter. Though having purchased a fridge with a filter, and finding the water tasted _worse_, I wouldn’t be in a hurry to do that again. We use a Brita pitcher - considerably cheaper than the price difference for a fridge with a built-in, and the replacement filters are 5 bucks, not 50. That said, for the OP, yeah, there’s probably a timer based on the filter being “changed”. Unless you suspect non-tasting contaminants in your water supply - in which case you have other problems as well - I’d let it go until the water tastes off or the flow diminishes. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2018, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/24 "2018-03-12T08:56:25Z")
Spam reported. ( **smallred007** ). ---
**Author:** ![NessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a698b9/32.png) [@NessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NessBird)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/25 "2019-12-18T22:00:36Z")
I unscrewed the filter – so far so good. Then it starts to pour water into the fridge. So lesson 1: turn off the water first. But this forum is for smart people. You all know that. Just saying. I don’t want a filter, don’t need a filter, don’t have a convenient plug to replace the filter – what a pain. Have to figure out where to get one and how to install it. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/26 "2019-12-18T23:05:07Z")
> [@NessBird](#): > > I unscrewed the filter – so far so good. Then it starts to pour water into the fridge. So lesson 1: turn off the water first. > > But this forum is for smart people. You all know that. Just saying. > > I don’t want a filter, don’t need a filter, don’t have a convenient plug to replace the filter – what a pain. Have to figure out where to get one and how to install it. > 😕 Google the make/model of your fridge with ‘bypass filter’ (or something along those lines). You can likely find a dummy filter or plug that will fit in it’s place. Between Amazon, Ebay and repairclinic, something should show up. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/27 "2019-12-19T15:38:47Z")
It’s not supposed to pour water into the fridge when you unscrew it. I’ve never seen a fridge that required you to turn off the water when changing the filter. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/28 "2019-12-19T15:53:06Z")
At the risk of threadshitting, I will say that I have not connected a water supply to my refrigerator since the time many years ago when I came home and found water pouring out of the refrigerator due to a faulty ice maker. I know two other people who also had water damage to their house due to a refrigerator malfunction. I have a water filter on my kitchen sink, and manual ice cube trays are not that hard to deal with. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/29 "2019-12-19T15:58:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It’s not supposed to pour water into the fridge when you unscrew it. I’ve never seen a fridge that required you to turn off the water when changing the filter. But they do tend to dribble a bit. My fridge even said to hold a cup or bowl under it while changing it to catch the couple of drops that come out. > [@markn\_1](#): > > At the risk of threadshitting, I will say that I have not connected a water supply to my refrigerator since the time many years ago when I came home and found water pouring out of the refrigerator due to a faulty ice maker. I know two other people who also had water damage to their house due to a refrigerator malfunction. I have a water filter on my kitchen sink, and manual ice cube trays are not that hard to deal with. I wouldn’t call that threadshitting, but I’m not sure what it has to do with how often you change your water filter. Keep in mind that you have water lines running all over you house. I know a few people that have had washing machine water lines burst, but didn’t go back to washing my clothes by hand in a tub. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/30 "2019-12-19T16:05:13Z")
> [@JackaRoe](#): > > Power outages can also reset the timer so it is best to keep track of when you replaced it. > > I buy mine online, its is much cheaper than Lowes. Try searching Amazon for your refrigerator model. Home Depot wanted $50 for the water filter and $20 for an air filter for my LG frig. From Amazon I bought a pack of 4 water and 4 air filters for $21 and shipping was free. Got them 2 days later, I figure that’s enough to last me for the next 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/31 "2019-12-19T16:22:40Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > It’s perfectly possible and also more expensive. Also if you train everyone to replace it every six months regardless of condition then you have nice predictable sales cycles. If I sell one refrigerator every 20 years to a customer I can anticipate selling 40 water filters. I think mine (a Kitchenaid) uses some sort of flow sensor or pressure sensor, and changes the warning light from green to yellow, and then from yellow to red based on that, as it doesn’t seem to be based on time, since the filters come with little month stickers where you write in the year for the next suggested filter change (~3 months according to the book). It doesn’t seem to be based on time, because the light rarely if ever turns yellow before the 3 months are up, much less red. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/32 "2019-12-19T16:34:56Z")
Those fridge cartridge filters are absolutely ridiculously priced. It’s like printer ink, they are making a good amount of money on those filters. Instead, I bought a set of inline water filters that connect to the plastic water line going to the fridge. They are pretty easy to install (though you DO need to turn off the water first and use a towel for clean-up and a bucket to flush the filter first). They are good for 3x more than the cartridge filter is, and they cost (depending on what you get) about 5 - 10 bucks per filter. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/33 "2019-12-19T16:56:24Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Keep in mind that you have water lines running all over you house. I know a few people that have had washing machine water lines burst, but didn’t go back to washing my clothes by hand in a tub. To me, the risk/reward ratio is very different. Washing clothes by hand is enormously more work than washing them in a machine. On the other hand, to my mind, pushing a button on the refrigerator to get water is not a single bit easier than pressing a lever on the sink. Nor does the effort of refilling ice cubes tray, which I do maybe once a month, rise to the level where I’m looking for an alternate solution. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/34 "2019-12-19T21:09:03Z")
I have a KitchenAid fridge, same company as Whirlpool. For all I know your fridge is the same as mine with a different label. The water filters are ridiculously expensive, no justification for it whatsoever. I refuse to pay $50 for one. Even the aftermarket ones are not cheap. I used to buy external filters for my previous fridge, like what **crazyjoe** is talking about. > [@doorhinge](#): > > Don’t forget why you bought a fridge with a water filter. You want filtered water. Nope. I bought a fridge with a water filter for the same reason I bought a car with a gas mileage indicator. I don’t need either one but it just came with it. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/35 "2019-12-19T23:52:41Z")
We’ve had this same fridge with the water dispenser/filter for 10 years. I just get the best deal I can on the filters and replace them when the indicator says so. We like the filtered water and just chalk up the cost to one of our likes. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/36 "2019-12-22T22:00:21Z")
My ice maker is sourced off an RO system, so although it has a filter, I don’t ever expect it to get clogged. I just hit a reset button whenever the fridge suggests I must change the filter. We have awesome water in this part of the state, so I’m not sure why the PO put in the RO system; maybe just to remove the chlorine taste. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/37 "2019-12-22T22:29:05Z")
all though la county water taste like it comes straight from a swimming pool it’s ridiculously “hard” … I buy our filters through sears… and yeah if it wasn’t for the ice maker I wouldn’t bother since i have arrowhead/nestle delivering my water anyhow but its 50 bucks a year… and wel lwere over it and i might just check out water filters through amazon although i have a sears card so it dosent hurt fiancially … ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401/38 "2019-12-22T23:00:00Z")
The local water gets run through a Brita before use–turn on the tap and a yellow cloud of Cl comes out. The sonic-lite ice maker is fed a careful diet of distilled water. I think where I lived before sold water by the slice. There were days when you could not see through the glass… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-water-filters-scam/744401.md?page=1)