If your refrigerator has a water dispenser, it also has a water filter. This filter prevents impurities from affecting the refrigerator’s drinking water and ice, requiring regular replacement. But are refrigerator water filters necessary? Will a refrigerator work without a water filter? We’ll answer these questions so you can maintain the quality of your water.

Determining When Are Refrigerator Water Filters Necessary

A refrigerator water filtration system helps ensure that your drinking water tastes its best and is free of contaminants. However, a refrigerator will work without a water filter, and there are times it may not be needed. Here are some considerations in determining when are refrigerator water filters necessary.

How Refrigerators Work Without A Water Filter

Most refrigerators can continue to dispense ice and water without a filter with the use of a bypass plug. This device seals off the filtration tubing so that water from the refrigerator goes right to the dispenser.

Most refrigerator purchases include a bypass plug with the refrigerator. If you need to purchase a bypass plug, we recommend getting the same brand as your refrigerator manufacturer.

Choosing to bypass your refrigerator’s water filter can be an appropriate choice if you have a home water filtration system already installed. However, if you don’t have such a system, we suggest maintaining your refrigerator water filter to ensure better quality drinking water and ice.

How To Install A Refrigerator Bypass Plug

Are refrigerator water filters necessary for you? If you’ve determined your filter isn’t needed, here’s how to install a bypass plug quickly and easily:

1. Locate your refrigerator’s water filter
2. Remove the filter by turning counter-clockwise
3. Insert the bypass plug into the filter opening
4. Turn the plug clockwise to lock it in place
5. Test your water dispenser to make sure water still flows with the bypass plug.

Why You Should Change Your Refrigerator Water Filter

Without a home water filtration system, your refrigerator water filter is a valuable opportunity to rid your drinking water of impurities. However, the filter will become clogged with particles and contaminants over time and be unable to do its job. When this happens, you may notice that your ice tastes bad or your water has an unpleasant odor.

Wondering how often to replace a refrigerator water filter? Most manufacturers recommend doing so every six months or sooner if your ice or water has a bad odor or taste. It’s also suggested that you replace your filter with the same make and model as the original for optimal fit and function.

Here’s how to replace refrigerator water filters on most model refrigerators:

1. Locate the filter. Most are on the refrigerator’s water dispenser door or behind the base grill.
2. Remove the old filter. A twist-lock filter is rotated counter-clockwise to remove. A push-button filter is removed by pushing the button to the left of the filter and pulling it straight out. Take care to remove the filter cap.
3. Install the new twist-lock filer by inserting it in the filter opening and turning clockwise to lock in place. For a push-button filter, twist the old filter cap onto the new filter. Push the new filter into the filter opening until it clicks in place.

We hope this clarifies when are refrigerator water filters necessary as well as how to bypass the filter system and change a filter.