While some appliance maintenance can be deferred to suit your schedule, changing a refrigerator water filter shouldn’t be one of those tasks. With that said, you may still be wondering, “How often should I change my refrigerator water filter?”

We’ll answer this question and provide step-by-step instructions to change it with ease.

Why, When & How:
How Often Should I Change My Refrigerator Water Filter?

Learn how to change the two most common Maytag refrigerator filters. We’ll also answer how often should I change my refrigerator water filter for best results. But first, here’s why it’s so important to change your filter regularly.

Why You Need to Change Your Water Filter

A refrigerator water filter screens out impurities from your home’s water supply. Over time, the filter can become clogged with these contaminants and won’t function properly. When this happens your refrigerator water will no longer be filtered and will contain pollutants that could affect its taste and smell.

These common signs can indicate it’s time to change your filter:

  • Refrigerator water tastes bad
  • Ice has a bad smell or taste
  • Decreased water pressure when dispensing water
  • Ice is smaller or malformed
  • A refrigerator alarm or light indicates a change is needed

How Often to Change Your Maytag Refrigerator Water Filter

How often should I change my refrigerator water filter to ensure it’s working properly? Most experts agree that changing refrigerator water filters every 6 months will allow the filter to function optimally. However, if you notice any of the above signs you may need to change it more frequently.

How to Change Your Refrigerator Water Filter

Changing a refrigerator water filter can take minutes with the right steps. Here’s how to change refrigerator water filters in two common locations:

Upper Right Corner:

  1. Locate the filter compartment in the upper right corner of the refrigerator’s interior.
  2. Pull the compartment door down.
  3. Remove the old filter by pulling it down, rotating it to the left, and pulling it out.
  4. Open the new filter and remove its protective cap.
  5. Insert the new filter into the compartment, making sure the arrows on the filter are pointing upward.
  6. Rotate the filter to the right as you push upward to lock it in place.
  7. Push the compartment door up to close it.
  8. Flush the new filter by dispensing and disposing of 4 gallons of water.

Base Grille:

  1. Locate the filter cover on the left side of the refrigerator base grille.
  2. Hold down the eject button while pulling the cover straight out.
  3. Remove the filter cartridge cap by turning it counterclockwise and pulling it straight off the cartridge. Set the cap aside.
  4. Detach the protective cap from the new filter.
  5. Place the filter cartridge cap on the end of the new filter, making sure the ridges on the cap align with the arrows on the filter. Turn the cap clockwise until it’s secure.
  6. With the arrow on the filter facing upward, hold the filter by the cap and push it into the filter compartment.
  7. The eject button will pop out when the filter is completely inserted.
  8. Dispense and dispose of 4 gallons of water to flush the filter.

Now that you know how often should I change my refrigerator water filter, where can you find the filter you need? Visit Tampa Appliance Parts. We offer the widest variety of refrigerator parts Tampa.