How to Replace a Refrigerator Water Filter

Refrigerator water filters live in one of three places: inside the upper-right or upper-left wall of the fresh-food compartment, behind a flip-down door in the ceiling of the fridge, or behind the front bottom toe-kick grille. Open the doors and look for a small cylindrical cartridge about the size of a 12-ounce can. The two common locking styles are twist-in (you twist a quarter turn to release) and push-in (you press a small button to release). Note your refrigerator brand and model number — the model sticker is on the inside wall of the fridge near the top — so you can buy the right replacement.

Lift the wire shutoff arm in the freezer to the up position, or press the "Ice Off" button on the dispenser control panel. Some Samsung and LG models have the toggle inside the freezer ice bucket itself. Turning the ice maker off prevents it from trying to fill while the filter is out, which would dump water into the bucket or onto the floor. Also place a small towel directly under the filter housing to catch the few tablespoons of water that will drip from the old filter when you remove it.

For twist-in filters, grasp the cartridge body and rotate it counterclockwise a quarter turn (about 90 degrees) until it stops, then pull it straight out — it will resist for the first half-inch as the internal valve seals, then slide free. For push-in filters, press the small round release button next to the housing, and the cartridge will spring out about an inch so you can grip and pull it. Tip the old filter sideways immediately into your towel so the small reservoir of water inside does not splash. Wipe any drips from the housing area with the towel.

Take the new filter out of its packaging and pull off the protective plastic caps from both ends — keeping a cap on by accident is the number one cause of "no water flow" complaints after a swap. Look at the O-rings: there are usually two small black rubber rings near the top of the filter neck, and they must be seated flat in their grooves with no twists or gaps. If an O-ring is missing from a brand-new filter, return it — do not try to install a replacement ring yourself.

For twist-in models, align the tabs on the filter neck with the slots in the housing, push the filter straight in until it stops, then rotate clockwise a quarter turn until the printed label faces forward and you feel a firm stop. For push-in models, push the filter straight in firmly until you hear and feel a click — the release button will pop back out flush with the housing. Do not over-twist or use tools; the lock is designed for hand-tight only and forcing it past the stop will damage the internal valve.

Hold a large pitcher or glass under the water dispenser and run at least 3-4 gallons of water through it (about 4-5 minutes of dispensing in 30-second bursts to avoid overheating the dispenser solenoid). The first quart will sputter and run cloudy or gray — that is loose carbon fines and trapped air, and it is normal. Keep flushing until the water comes out clear and tastes neutral. Dump the flushed water on plants or down the drain; do not drink it.

Lower the ice maker shutoff arm back down (or press "Ice On" on the panel) so the ice maker can begin filling again. The first batch of ice will form within 90 minutes to 3 hours depending on your model. Throw out the first two full batches of ice — they will contain the same loose carbon and trapped air as the flushed water and will look cloudy or have a slightly off taste. After the third batch, the ice will be clear and taste neutral.

Find the "Filter" or "Filter Reset" button on the dispenser control panel — on Samsung it is labeled "Ice Type / Filter," on LG it is "Light/Filter," on Whirlpool and KitchenAid it is just "Filter." Press and hold it for 3-5 seconds until the red status light turns green or blue, or until you hear a confirmation chime. If your fridge has a touchscreen, navigate to Settings > Filter > Reset. The filter light is on a flow-volume timer, so resetting it now means the next "Replace" warning will be accurate.