A refrigerator water filter is the one maintenance job every owner can do without tools. Most people still get it wrong, or skip it until the water tastes like a swimming pool. Here is how to do it right on the four brands we see most in Tri-Valley kitchens: Whirlpool, Samsung, GE, and LG.
When to replace the filter
Replace it every six months, or about every 200 gallons of dispensed water. Sooner if any of these show up:
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Water tastes or smells off (chlorine, metal, or musty)
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Flow at the dispenser slows down
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The filter-status light turns on
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Ice cubes come out cloudy or small
Hard water in parts of the East Bay shortens that window. If your area runs hard, plan on four months.
Whirlpool refrigerator water filter replacement
Most Whirlpool fridges (and their Amana, Maytag, and KitchenAid cousins) put the filter in one of two places: behind the kick-plate grille at the bottom front, or inside the upper-right corner of the fridge compartment.
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Find the filter. Base-grille filters pop out with a push or a quarter-turn. In-fridge filters twist counterclockwise about a quarter turn.
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Pull the old filter straight out. A little water spill is normal.
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Match the new filter model number to the old one. Whirlpool uses EveryDrop filters (Filter 1 through 5, model numbers like EDR1RXD1).
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Push the new filter in and turn clockwise until it clicks or locks.
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Run two to three gallons through the dispenser to flush carbon dust.
Reset the light by holding the filter button (or Water Filter / Light, depending on the panel) for about three seconds.
Samsung refrigerator water filter
Samsung filters usually sit inside the fridge, upper-left or upper-right corner.
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Turn the filter counterclockwise a quarter turn and pull it out.
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Insert the new filter (Samsung uses DA29 series, like DA29-00020B) and turn clockwise until snug.
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Flush two to three gallons.
To reset: hold Ice Type and Child Lock together for about three seconds. Panel labels vary, so check yours if those two do not clear it.
GE refrigerator water filter
GE filters are typically inside the fridge at the top, or in the upper-right corner.
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Push the release button or turn the filter to release it, depending on model.
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Drop in the new GE filter (XWF, XWFE, MWF, or RPWFE depending on your unit). These are not interchangeable, so match the exact model.
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Flush a few gallons.
Reset by holding the Reset Filter button about three seconds. Note: some GE models with the RPWFE filter use an RFID chip and will throw a “leak detected” or bypass message if a non-GE filter is installed.
LG refrigerator water filter
LG puts the filter inside the fridge, usually top-right or in the upper-left corner behind a flip-down cover.
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Open the cover, turn the filter counterclockwise, pull it out.
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Install the new LG filter (LT700P, LT1000P, and similar) and turn clockwise.
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Flush two to three gallons.
Hold the Filter button until the indicator clears.
The mistake almost everyone makes
Slow or sputtering water after a fresh filter is not a defective filter. It is trapped air. Run several gallons through before you assume anything is wrong. The first pours may run cloudy from carbon fines; that is harmless and clears within a gallon or two.
The second mistake is the bargain filter. A loose-fitting off-brand filter is the leading cause of leaks and stuck housings we pull apart on service calls. Use the OEM filter or a certified NSF 42/53 equivalent that names your exact model.
When it is not the filter
If water still tastes bad after a new OEM filter and a full flush, or the dispenser barely runs with the shutoff valve fully open, the filter is not your problem. Look at the water fill valve, the supply line, or a cracked filter housing. Those are repairs, not swaps.
That is where we come in. If you are in the Tri-Valley and a filter swap did not fix it, see our refrigerator repair guide or our refrigeration repair service. We service Whirlpool and every major brand. The diagnostic is $75, credited toward the repair when you book it.
Call ADRIUM at (925) 999-4095 or email [email protected], or reach us through the contact page. Founded 2021, CSLB #1136642, EPA #1279674151528, BEAR #50788, BBB A+.