Maintenance procedure · Written to ASD-STE100 Issue 9 · Formatted to ANSI Z535

Refrigerator Water Filter Replacement

Domestic refrigerators with a dispenser or icemaker filter — identifying the right part for your model, fitting it, and flushing the system afterwards
ApplicabilityDomestic refrigerators with a replaceable water filter cartridge for a dispenser, an icemaker, or both
Task time26 min to 31 min editorial estimate, not a measurement
PersonnelOne
Revisionv1 · 2026-07-29
BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you begin. This procedure is general reference information, not professional advice. Equipment varies by manufacturer, model, and year. Always follow the documentation supplied with your equipment — where it differs from this page, follow the manufacturer. Verify that you have the tools, the working conditions, and the ability to do this task safely. If anything is unclear, if the equipment is damaged, or if the task exceeds your experience, stop and use a qualified professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for the outcome. This site accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or injury arising from the use of this information.

Specifications marked unverified could not be traced to a manufacturer source. Do not rely on them — obtain the value from your equipment documentation.

Summary

The filter cartridge behind the grille or inside the fridge is a consumable, and it is the one piece of maintenance on a refrigerator that has a direct effect on what you drink. The EPA puts it plainly: a filter is only effective if it is maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions for how long it lasts before it needs replacing. The physical job is about fifteen minutes, needs no tools on most models, and the fiddly part is not the fitting but the flushing.

This page will not tell you which filter to buy, and that is deliberate. Filter parts are bound to the model, not to the brand: LG alone lists six different filter parts for its own refrigerators, and GE's own replacement instructions apply to a named list of model prefixes rather than to all of its fridges. So the page sends you to your model number instead of guessing a part number, which is the failure that ends with a filter that does not seat and a puddle under the fridge. The flush volume gets the same treatment for the same reason: Whirlpool, GE and LG each give a different figure, and all three are printed below with their names against them rather than averaged into one.

Necessary equipment

ItemNote
TowelWater stays in the filter housing after you remove the filter.
Container of 4 litres or moreA large container decreases the number of times that you empty it.
Flashlight optionalA filter housing behind the base grille is in a dark space.
New water filter cartridge materialThe part number must be the part number for your refrigerator model.

Find the correct filter

Estimated 8 min

NOTEThe part number for a filter applies to a group of models and not to a brand. Do not use a part number from a different model.
Water filter part number for your model
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTATION OR THE MODEL NUMBER LABEL FOR THE FILTER PART NUMBER

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

  1. Find the model number of your refrigerator.
    • The model number is on a label in the refrigerator compartment.
    • The label is usually on a side wall or below the crisper drawer.
    • The model number is not the number on the front of the door.
    3m
  2. Find the filter part number for that model number.
    • The manufacturer gives a filter part number for each group of models.
    • The used filter usually has its part number on the body.
    • LG has six different filter parts for its own refrigerators.
    4m
NOTICE

USE A FILTER THAT THE MANUFACTURER APPROVES FOR YOUR MODEL.
A different filter can leak. Its performance for your refrigerator is unknown.

  1. Get a new filter with that part number.
    • Examine the new filter for a certification mark.
    • The EPA says that an accredited body tests a certified filter.
    1m

Prepare the refrigerator

Estimated 4 min

  1. Find the filter housing.
    • The filter housing can be in the refrigerator compartment.
    • The filter housing can be behind the base grille.
    • The documentation gives the position for your model.
    2m
  2. Read the documentation for the release method.
    • Some filters turn a quarter turn.
    • Some filters have a button that releases them.
    • Some filters are behind a door that opens first.
    2m
  3. Remove the containers below the filter housing.
    <1m

Replace the filter

Estimated 4 min

NOTICE

PUT A TOWEL BELOW THE FILTER HOUSING BEFORE YOU RELEASE THE FILTER.
Water in the housing falls onto the floor.

  1. Put a towel below the filter housing.
    <1m
NOTICE

DO NOT USE FORCE ON THE FILTER.
A filter that does not turn is usually a filter that turns in the other direction.

  1. Release the used filter with the method for your model.
    • A small quantity of water flows from the housing.
    <1m
  2. Remove the used filter from the housing.
    <1m
  3. Compare the new filter with the used filter.
    • The two filters must have the same shape.
    • The two part numbers must be the same.
    • If the two filters are different, stop here.
    1m
  4. Remove the protective cover from the new filter.
    • Do not touch the seal at the end of the filter.
    <1m
  5. Put the new filter into the housing.
    • Align the filter with the opening before you push it.
    <1m
NOTICE

MAKE SURE THAT THE NEW FILTER LOCKS IN ITS POSITION.
A filter that is not fully in position causes a leak.

  1. Turn or push the new filter until it locks.
    • The lock direction is the opposite of the release direction.
    • LG says that a filter that does not go into position needs service.
    <1m

Flush the water system

Estimated 6 min to 11 min

Flush volume after filter replacement
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR FILTER FOR THE FLUSH VOLUME

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

Three tier-1 manufacturer sources give three different flush volumes for the same task, and this page prints all three rather than choosing one. Whirlpool (whirlpool-flush-water-system, accessed 2026-07-29) states that the volume varies by filter and that some filters need 1, 2, or 4 gallons. GE Appliances (ge-water-filter-replacement, accessed 2026-07-29) gives approximately 1 to 2 gallons. LG (lg-water-filter-installation, accessed 2026-07-29) gives 2.5 gallons, or approximately five minutes of dispensing. Whirlpool's own page is the strongest evidence that no single figure is correct across models: the manufacturer that sells the filter declines to give one number and routes the reader to the filter itself. Averaging these would produce a figure that no manufacturer publishes.
NOTICE

FLUSH THE WATER SYSTEM BEFORE YOU DRINK THE WATER.
Air and carbon particles are in the water from a new filter.

  1. Put the container below the water dispenser.
    <1m
  2. Operate the water dispenser until the water flows.
    • The first water can flow in bursts.
    • Air in the water system causes this.
    <1m
  3. Continue until you get the volume of water that your documentation gives.
    • Whirlpool says that its filters need 1, 2 or 4 gallons.
    • GE Appliances says approximately 1 to 2 gallons.
    • LG says 2.5 gallons, or approximately 5 minutes.
    • Whirlpool also gives 5 seconds on and 5 seconds off at the dispenser lever.
    5m
  4. Discard the water that you collected.
    <1m

Complete the work

Estimated 4 min

Water filter replacement interval
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTATION FOR THE REPLACEMENT INTERVAL

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

The four manufacturers checked for this page agree on six months, and one of them adds a second condition that the others do not. Whirlpool (whirlpool-when-to-change-water-filter, accessed 2026-07-29) gives every 6 months, or when the indicator light comes on, or as needed. LG (lg-water-filter-installation, accessed 2026-07-29) gives every six months. Samsung (samsung-refrigerator-cleaning-plan, accessed 2026-07-29) gives every 6 months. GE Appliances (ge-water-filter-replacement, accessed 2026-07-29) gives every six months OR after 170 to 200 gallons of dispensed water, whichever comes first, which is a different rule and not a different number. This page does not publish six months as a verified value, because the interval that governs is the one in the documentation for your own model and this record carries no entry in the specification registry.
  1. Set the filter indicator to its start condition.
    • The documentation gives the method for your model.
    • LG gives a press of 3 seconds on the water filter button.
    1m
  2. Examine the filter housing and the floor for a leak.
    • Examine the same area again after some hours.
    1m
  3. Discard the ice in the ice container.
    • The icemaker made this ice with unfiltered water.
    1m
  4. Record the date of the replacement.
    • A record of the date shows when the next replacement is due.
    1m

Terminology

This page uses one term for each item and holds it throughout, as ASD-STE100 requires. Equipment sellers and other guides use the names below for the same parts.

water filter cartridge
Also called: fridge filter, refrigerator water filter, ice maker filter, the water thing in the fridge, filter cartridge, everydrop filter
filter housing
Also called: filter head, filter holder, filter socket, the hole the filter goes in, filter bay
base grille
Also called: kick plate, kickplate, toe kick, bottom vent, front grill
filter indicator
Also called: filter light, change filter light, the orange light, replace filter message, filter status light
model number
Also called: model no, serial plate, rating plate, the sticker inside the fridge, appliance model

When to use a professional

Stop if the new filter does not go into position. LG says that a filter that will not seat, or that starts to leak, needs a service diagnosis. Do not use force on the filter housing.

Stop if water continues to flow from the filter housing after you fit the new filter. A leak inside a cabinet can cause damage that you do not see for weeks. Speak to a certified appliance technician.

Stop if you must cut, join or move the water supply pipe behind the refrigerator. That work is not part of this procedure. Speak to a licensed plumber.

A refrigerator filter is not a treatment for water that is not safe. If you have a notice about your water supply, follow the instruction from your water supplier.

Common questions

How often should I change my refrigerator water filter?

Every six months is what all four manufacturers checked for this page say, so this is one of the rare cases where they agree. Whirlpool says every 6 months, when the indicator light comes on, or as needed. LG and Samsung both say every six months. GE Appliances is the one that adds a second condition: every six months or after roughly 170 to 200 gallons of dispensed water, which will come sooner in a busy household. Your own manual is still the one that governs, and heavy use or poor incoming water quality shortens all of these.

Which water filter fits my fridge?

The one your model number calls for, and nothing on this page can tell you which that is. Filter parts are tied to groups of models rather than to a brand: LG lists six different filter parts for LG refrigerators alone, and GE's own replacement instructions apply to a specific list of model prefixes rather than to every GE fridge. Find the model number on the label inside the fridge, usually on a side wall or under the crisper drawer, and look the filter up from that. If you still have the old filter, its part number is usually printed on the body.

Can I use a cheaper aftermarket filter?

That is your call, but check two things before you do. The first is fit: a cartridge that does not seat properly in the housing is the most common cause of a leak under a fridge. The second is certification. The EPA points out that filters certified by an accredited third-party body have had their contaminant reduction claims independently verified, and that a filter is only effective if it is replaced on the manufacturer's schedule. An uncertified filter is an unknown quantity, not a cheaper known one.

How much water do I need to run through a new filter?

There is no single answer, and the manufacturers do not pretend there is. Whirlpool says the amount varies by filter and that some of theirs need 1, 2 or 4 gallons. GE says approximately 1 to 2 gallons. LG says 2.5 gallons, or about five minutes of dispensing. We print all three rather than averaging them, because an average is a number nobody published. Read the insert that came with your filter.

Do I need to turn off the water supply first?

On most modern refrigerators, no. The filter head has a valve that closes when the cartridge comes out, which is why only a small amount of water escapes. Neither Whirlpool's flush guidance nor GE's replacement instructions ask you to shut off the supply. If your documentation does ask for it, follow your documentation.

Why is my water cloudy or spitting after changing the filter?

Air, and it is normal for a short while. Whirlpool describes exactly this: if the system is not flushed after a filter change, air in it can cause dripping at the dispenser, small or hollow ice cubes, and a cloudy look to the water. The cure is to keep flushing until it clears. Throw out the first batch of ice for the same reason.

What happens if I just never change it?

Flow drops first, usually showing up as a slow dispenser or small ice cubes. The filtration itself stops being what it claims to be well before that, which is the part you cannot see: the EPA's position is that filters are only effective if maintained to the manufacturer's stated life. A clogged filter does not become a better filter.

Sources

Every specification on this page is traced to one of these sources. Tier 1 is a manufacturer document, a published standard, or a government safety authority. See Standards for the full tiering rule.

  1. Tier 1When to Change the Water FilterWhirlpool Corporation (Whirlpool Product Help) · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  2. Tier 1How to Flush the Water System in a RefrigeratorWhirlpool Corporation (Whirlpool Product Help) · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  3. Tier 1Refrigerator - Replacing the Water FilterGE Appliances, a Haier company (GE Appliances Support) · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  4. Tier 1LG Refrigerator - How to Install Your Refrigerator Water FilterLG Electronics U.S.A. (LG USA Support Help Library) · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  5. Tier 1Easy steps to a cleaner Samsung refrigeratorSamsung Electronics (Samsung Canada Support) · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  6. Tier 1Identifying Drinking Water Filters Certified to Reduce PFASUnited States Environmental Protection Agency (Office of Research and Development) · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25

Revision history

Current version 1 · updated 2026-07-29 · next review due 2027-07-29

  1. v1 · 2026-07-29First draft. Sourced to Whirlpool, GE Appliances, LG and Samsung support documentation and to the EPA. No value publishes as verified. The part number is model-bound and publishes as consult-the-manufacturer; the flush volume is a three-way disagreement between Whirlpool, GE and LG and publishes with all three named.

Corrections to this page are listed in the public corrections log. Reports that are credible and not yet verified are listed in the public errata register, and an open one renders above the step it concerns.

Comments and corrections

Found an error? A correction with a manufacturer source is applied and logged publicly. You can also write to corrections@fixchecklist.com.

Every step above carries its own report control, which tags the report with that step so a correction reaches the right place. For anything about the procedure as a whole — the order of the sections, a step that is missing, something that did not match your equipment — use this: report something about this whole procedure.

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