How often should I change my refrigerator water filter?

Every six months is the standard recommendation for most refrigerator water filters, or sooner if you notice slower flow, a bad taste or odor, or the filter indicator light comes on. Heavy water use or poor incoming water quality can shorten that interval. A six-month schedule keeps the filter reducing contaminants like chlorine, sediment, and in many filters lead, effectively. A filter left in far past its life stops filtering well and can actually harbor bacteria, so the calendar matters even if the water still looks fine.

Do I need to turn off the water to change a fridge filter?

For most twist-in and push-in filters, no — the filter housing has a self-sealing valve that stops the water flow automatically when you remove the cartridge, so you can swap it without shutting off the supply. Some older or inline filters do require turning off the water line first, so check your manual. Either way, keep a towel handy, because a little water in the line often drips out when you pull the old filter. If a filter type calls for shutting the valve, do so.

Why is my water dispenser slow after changing the filter?

Slow flow right after a filter change is almost always trapped air in the new filter and lines, not a defective filter. Dispense several gallons of water — usually 3 to 4 gallons — to purge the air and flush out harmless carbon fines, and the flow returns to normal. If it stays slow after flushing, check that the filter is fully seated and locked, and that you installed the correct filter for your model. Air purging is a normal part of every filter swap.

Do I have to flush a new refrigerator water filter?

Yes — always run 3 to 4 gallons of water through a new filter before drinking, discarding it, to flush out loose carbon fines and air. The first water through a fresh carbon filter often looks cloudy or grayish and may taste off; that is normal carbon dust and air, and flushing clears it. Skipping the flush means gritty, off-tasting water and sputtering ice. Run the dispenser until the water runs clear and steady, then the filter is ready to use.

What happens if I do not change my fridge water filter?

An overdue filter gradually stops reducing contaminants and restricts flow as it clogs, so your water and ice taste worse and dispense slower. Beyond taste, a saturated filter can no longer trap the chlorine, sediment, and other contaminants it is rated for, and a very old, damp filter can become a spot for bacteria to grow. There is no benefit to stretching a filter far past six months — replacements are inexpensive relative to the appliance and the water quality they protect.

How to Replace a Refrigerator Water Filter (Any Type)

Written & researched by Derek Holt Home & Appliances Editor

Updated August 2026

Golden-hour view of a person's hands lifting food from a countertop appliance in a bright kitchen

Affiliate Disclosure

Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. We do not buy, test, or physically handle the products we cover; our rankings come from aggregated owner reviews, ratings and expert consensus. Commissions never change our verdicts. How we rank · full disclosure.

Replacing a refrigerator water filter is a 5-to-10-minute beginner task with no tools — just the correct replacement cartridge, which runs roughly 25 to 55 dollars (2026). Most modern filters are twist-in or push-in with a self-sealing valve, so you usually do not even need to shut off the water. The whole job is: find your filter type and location, remove the old one, seat the new one, flush 3 to 4 gallons through it, and reset the indicator. The two things people skip and regret — flushing the new filter (or the first glasses taste of carbon) and buying the exact filter your model takes.

How to Replace Your Fridge's Water Filter - Consumer Reports

Tools and materials

The correct replacement filter for your exact refrigerator model.
A towel to catch the few drops that come out with the old filter.
Materials: nothing else — no tools. Clean water pairs with a clean coffee setup; see our guides to descaling a coffee maker and the best electric kettles, plus the coffee maker roundup if you are upgrading.

Overhead view of a person's hands lifting food from a countertop appliance in a bright kitchen, in soft overcast light

Step 1: Find your filter and its type

Locate the filter — common spots are inside the fridge at the top rear or in a bottom-front grille — and identify whether it twists in or pushes in. Note the exact model number printed on the old filter so you buy the correct replacement. Using the wrong filter is the most common cause of leaks and poor fit.

Step 2: Remove the old filter

For a twist-in filter, turn it a quarter to half turn counterclockwise and pull it straight out. For a push-in type, press the release button and pull. Keep a towel underneath — a little water in the line usually drips out. Most housings seal automatically, so you rarely need to shut off the water, but do so if your manual says to.

Close-up detail of the material being worked in a small kitchen appliances project, in warm evening lamplight

Step 3: Install the new filter

Remove the protective caps from the new filter, align it with the housing, and twist or push it in until it locks — you should feel or hear it seat. Do not force it; if it resists, check the orientation. A fully seated filter is what prevents leaks and restores full flow.

Step 4: Flush the new filter

Run 3 to 4 gallons of water through the dispenser and discard it. The first water often looks cloudy and tastes of carbon — that is normal carbon dust and trapped air, and flushing clears it. Purging the air also fixes the slow flow that is normal right after a swap. Run it until the water is clear and steady.

Close-up detail of the material being worked in a small kitchen appliances project, in bright midday sun

Step 5: Reset the indicator

Press and hold the filter-reset button on the control panel (often labeled "filter" or "reset") until the indicator light turns off or green, per your manual. This resets the six-month timer so you know when the next change is due. Discard the first batch of ice too, since it was made with unflushed water.

Where to go next

Fresh water helps every drink — pair this with descaling your coffee maker, deep cleaning a blender, and resetting a jammed garbage disposal. Everything sits under the small kitchen appliances hub.

We never buy or physically test the products we rank — our picks come from aggregated owner reviews and expert consensus, explained on how we rank.

How to Replace a Refrigerator Water Filter