are refrigerator water filter replacement necessary?

In most cases, the filter cannot be bypassed. If your water is already filtered, you can replace the filter every year rather than 6 months. However, it must be changed to avoid overgrowth of bacteria, so you can't just leave the original filter in forever (technically you can, just like you can technically leave the original oil filter on your car).

Well, if true, that is a bit outrageous. I've done well without filtered water for my whole life, and the municipal water I'm on is just fine, so what this amounts to is a scam in which you are obligated to change the filter, which  costs over $40 a pop, even though you don't even want it and have no use for it. 

Unlike what the Blue Crew Guy suggests in his post, this is not at all like changing the oil filter on a car, something that is necessary to the operation of the car. The water filter on a refrigerator is by contrast absolutely unnecessary to the operation of the refrigerator or the dispensing of water and ice. What it is is a $90 a year expense (much more than the much ballyhooed cost of electricity to operate the refrigerator) that is sheer additional profit to Sears and can't even be bypassed by someone who would just as soon not have it.

There are some refrigerators that don't use filters, if you want that. I apologize for neglecting to mention that.

The vast majority of customers want filtered water, and it helps protect the icemaker and produces better tasting ice, so most refrigerators use water filtration.

It's as much a scam as cell phones getting smaller and refrigerators getting larger. It's what huge majorities of customers want, so that's the direction the majority of products take. That doesn't mean there isn't still something out there for you, it just means that most things you find won't fit your desires.

And my point, not to be argumentative, was that leaving a water filter in the refrigerator for extended periods of time, it will eventually begin damaging the refrigerator and harming the water, just like leaving an old oil filter on your car will eventually begin damaging the car.

And, if you noticed, I said that you could probably change it just once a year, so that reduces the annual cost by 50%.

But, as I said at the beginning, just get a refrigerator that doesn't have water filtration if you don't want it. There are some products available that fit the criteria you've set.

Another scam is not carrying last year's model lawn mower blades.

It, "Makes Customers buy new lawn mowers".

Quote from a store Customer...

:~

The premium red 21 inch blades were always hanging there on the hook.

And, now, the regular blades are restocked in the two trays, on the store display.

The "conspiracy" is over.

Good news.

Surge protectors DO NOT come with appliances.

So, if you don't want to protect the electronic control units, you don't HAVE to.

The water in my area is so mineral laced, it clogs almost any water-using appliance.

I for one am VERY HAPPY to have a built-in filter to help maintain my machine.

Umm...

No. I don't have a water softener (next step).

Potassium pellet or SALT.

I can't DEAL with all these choices!

Great question . . . so what it you just remove it altogether?  Is that an option?  Can someone please address the bypass option.  Thanks

Where I live we supposedly have the cleanest water. Alabama.. And to be honest when my mom doesn't change her filter or doesn't have one at all I can noty tell the difference.

My water, if drank without filtering, has a potential to kill unborn children and could, quite possibly, cause the normal person to grow extra appendages out of wierd areas. Please Please PLEASE keep the water filters in those fridges.

Regardless of whether or not most people want it, the fact is by your own admission there isn't a way to not use the filter. That is why we call it a conspiracy of razorblade proportions...why in the world would they not allow you to use it without, except to be as a source of forced income.

 To original poster: My kenmore 2003 sxs(106. Whirlpool built model) has not had a filter since 6 months after I bought it.Obviously the answer to your question is dependent on the model you are interested in.You need to pick a model and then check it's appropriate owners manual.A blanket statement cannot be made about "all refrigerators".There is no conspiracy.

There's no conspiracy because all you have to do is buy a refrigerator that doesn't use a water filter. Now, let's move on to the magic bullet and the Warren report...

You can bypass the filter depending on which model you have. Most filters can be taken out of the toe grill or behind the toe grill. If you have one like this you can take the filter out and replace the cap the way it was before taking off the filter to open the water valve up to bypass the filter.

To BlueCrewGuy:  If it's not a conspiracy than tell me how to find a model that doesn't FORCE you to purchase waterfilters and/or tell me which models have a built-in one that you don't have to EVER change.  I need a new frige. (and if anyone else is in need of  a new frige. DON'T buy an Amana!  I found out the hard-way that it's typical of them to last only 9 years and then their condenser coils go out which is over $350.00 not to mention the outrageous cost of labor).  Anyway back to the subject.  I have been researching for days, and can't find one that doesn't have waterfilters that the consumer needs to buy every 6 mths. for the life of the thing.   Let's see, say $40. 00 every 6 mths = $80 per yr. times say 9 yrs.  is  $720.00.   Oh wow I could almost buy a new frige. for that!! Oh but it's not a conspiracy.

The 3-pronged plug thing is making people use 3-wire grounded outlets, too!

they have them in California too? And by the way, they still sell those little thingys with the ground wire that takes a 3 prong plug and then plugs into an outlet without the ground hole. BUT, you gotta have a box that has a ground connection, otherwise you create a hazard. Kinda like pixxing in the wind.

What does that have to do with fridge filters?

That 3-wire deal is too dang "safe", too - like "filtering" that fridge water.

Can I just "cut off" the third prong?

BlueCrewGuyInMA said…

In most cases, the filter cannot be bypassed.

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I disagree. In MOST cases, the filter canbe bypassed, either by purchasing a filter bypass adapter, or by simply leaving the filter uninstalled -- depending on the model.

I purchased my LG refrig at Sears and I'll be darned if I can find the filter on line??  PN LG5231JA2006A?  Help

YumaDune said…

I purchased my LG refrig at Sears and I'll be darned if I can find the filter on line??  PN LG5231JA2006A?  Help

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What is the model number for the refrigerator, we can try it that way...

How do I find out if my sears kenmore side by side fridge has a water filter? It is about 10 years old and I just moved in to a condo and can't figure out how to change it, so I'm thinking it may not have one.