Last Updated on October 13, 2022 by Jason Nguyen
Knowing how often to change KitchenAid water filters is an essential part of maintenance and housekeeping. More importantly, maintaining a properly functioning refrigerator filter ensures continuous drinking water and ice supply. Whenever your KitchenAid filter fails, your refrigerator should give you a warning through the indicator light.
But how often should you replace fridge water filter? Ideally, water filters for Kitchenaid fridge have an estimated lifetime of six months. However, its efficiency depreciates over time depending on use, and in some cases, the mesh screen may fail before the lapse of six months.
Consequently, it doesn’t work efficiently, posing you at risk of infection. If the device wears out and the indicator light doesn’t come on, you will notice changes in color, smell, and taste of water.
Why It’s Important to Replace a KitchenAid Refrigerator Water Filter
A KitchenAid refrigerator water purifier is a filtration tool that helps remove certain impurities and chlorine. As a result, you enjoy safe drinking water, free of bad smells and tastes. However, if overused, it loses its functionality allowing harmful particles, chemicals, and bacteria to sip through.
Also, with continued use, the device becomes clogged with impurities that make their way into your drinking water in higher concentrations. Additionally, clogged refrigerator filtration tools reduce the water flow leading to lesser and smaller ice cubes.
Signs That You Need To Change The Filter In a Refrigerator
How often do you need to change refrigerator water filter? In this section, we will answer this question by looking at signals that your filter is losing its efficiency.
Indicator light alert
Most KitchedAid refrigerators have an indicator light to alert you when to change the purifier. The indicator is often located on the temperature control panel and can detect when it is not working correctly.
After six months
If your refrigerator does not have the status indicator, you may want to change the filtration equipment every six months. Some experts recommend that you don’t use it for periods exceeding one year.
Low pressure and small ice size, and volume
Sometimes, the purifier may get clogged before the stipulated time, and you might notice a lower amount of dispenser water or ice cube volume and size. If you see such signs, then you should change it immediately. Remember, the longer you use the purifier, the more harm it could cause.
Changes in taste and color
A properly working cartridge should produce crystal clear water with good taste. If it becomes murky or begins to have a foul odor, you should have the purifier immediately replaced as you could be consuming harmful components and bacteria.
How Often Should You Replace a Filter?
You need to understand when to change KitchenAid water filters to ensure a continued supply of safe drinking water for your loved ones. And as stated above, you should change your fridge filters as often as needed.
A refrigerator purification device is meant to provide six months of service. However, depending on how it is installed and used, you may need to replace it less or more often. The refrigerator will usually indicate when a replacement is necessary, but that should not deter you from changing it earlier when necessary.
Will KitchenAid refrigerator work without water filter?
No, a KitchenAid refrigerator will not work without a water filter. The water filter is necessary to remove impurities from the water supply, and without it, the refrigerator will not be able to function properly. Additionally, not having a water filter can cause damage to the fridge over time. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the water filter is replaced on a regular basis.
How to remove a stuck water filter from a KitchenAid refrigerator.
If your water filter is stuck and you can’t remove it, don’t worry. There are a few things you can do to loosen it up.
First, try twisting the filter counterclockwise. If that doesn’t work, soak the filter in a cup of white vinegar for 10-15 minutes. This will help break down any build-up that might be causing the filter to stick.
Once the filter is soaked, try twisting it again. If it still won’t budge, you can use a pair of pliers to gently pull it out.
How to replace Kitchenaid side-by-side refrigerator water filter.
1. Start by finding the water filter housing. This is typically located in the top right corner of your refrigerator, near the front.
2. Next, locate the release button or lever on the housing and depress it to release the old filter.
3. Remove the old water filter from the housing and discard it properly.
4. To install the new filter, simply insert it into the housing and push until it clicks into place.
5. Finally, close the housing and test the water dispenser to ensure proper operation.
Final thoughts
There is no specified KitchenAid water filter change frequency- this means you should replace your refrigerator sieve often to safeguard your health. Some studies have indicated that an old filter can be a breeding site for bacteria which could affect your health. Therefore, if it is clogged or expired, you may want to remove it as it might contaminate your water and ice further. You can opt to go without it until you purchase a replacement.