How to Clean an Ice and Water Maker in a Refrigerator
2024-11-30
A refrigerator ice maker and water dispenser are fun features that sometimes get overlooked during routine kitchen cleaning. They do require regular maintenance, especially in areas with hard water as lime deposits may clog lines and dispensers or cause white stains to build up around nozzles. Most refrigerators require deep cleaning every six to 12 months. Let’s see how to do it.
What You’ll Need:
Screwdriver
Small funnel
White distilled vinegar
Clothespins
Empty bowl
Flashlight
Clean rags
Cotton balls or swabs
Steps:
1. Shut off the water valve that feeds the water-dispenser and ice-maker lines by turning clockwise. Use a screwdriver to remove the screw affixed to the plastic/copper tubing water lines. Remove the ice-maker line completely, but leave the dispenser line attached to the dispenser door nozzle.
2. Remove the ice bin and dump the ice out in the sink. Allow any ice buildup on the inside of the bin to thaw completely. Using a small funnel, pour 3 to 4 cups of white distilled vinegar into the ice-maker and dispenser lines with and allow it to soak for five to 10 minutes to break down the lime. You can clip the open end of the lines up with a clothespin so the vinegar doesn’t drain out.
3. Run the vinegar from the water line out through the water dispenser and into a bowl, which breaks free the lime in both the line and the dispenser nozzle. Shine a flashlight into the dispenser nozzle area so you can see any dirt, then thoroughly clean the outside of the nozzle with a clean rag moistened with vinegar. Use cotton balls or swabs to clean in small, narrow areas and inside the nozzle opening, if necessary. Flush the line and nozzle with clear water.
4. Wash the ice-maker bin in warm, soapy water. Rinse with clear water and dry thoroughly before replacing it. Hook the water line back up to the ice machine. Clean the ice dispenser and the chute on the outside of the fridge with vinegar. Rinse with clear water.
5. Reattach the plastic/copper tubing by slipping the end back into place and tightening with a screwdriver. Turn the water valve on. Keep the ice cube maker turned on. Run water through the entire system several times before drinking. Throw out the first batch of ice cubes because they may have a slight vinegar taste.
Use a Refrigerator Water Filter to Lessen Cleaning Frequency
A high-quality refrigerator water filter will remove chlorine, copper, cadmium, zinc, mercury, and lead, making water less hard. It is an effective way to keep your refrigerator ice and water maker clean and continuously provides you healthy, fresh and clean water. However, remember to change your refrigerator water filter every 6 months to ensure you get well-filtered water and ice.
Life Hacks for Healthy Drinking | Why You Should Often Change Your Refrigerator Water Filter
There is multiple access for clean and safe drinking water in our daily life. Installing a water filter in the fridge is a common and convenient method for fresh water and ice cubes. A refrigerator filter has a high water filtration capacity to keep water purified, but it has a limited service life. So, experts suggest that the filter should be replaced at least every six months to ensure its high performance. But, replacing a refrigerator water filter regularly is often ignored by people.
Why Refrigerator Filter Should Be Often Replaced?
Six months is often the average time for replacing depending on usage frequency and flow rate. Failure to change your filter timely will end up with a buildup of waterborne pollutants, heavy metals, chlorine byproducts, dust, bacteria even bad taste and smell to saturate the filter. You can set an alarm in your phone or make a mark on your calendar to remind yourself to replace it. Also, If you're not sure how long it is since you have changed the fridge water filter, several signs that it needs to be replaced include:
Unpleasant or funky water taste or odour. This may be the best indication. When your water does not taste or smell the same as before, it is time for changing the filter to enjoy the tasty and refreshing water again.
Decreased water flow. Your filter will be clogged up with debris or minerals after a long time use, particularly if you live in a hard water area. Once you figure that you have a lower flow or pressure of water, replace your filter without hesitation.
The working indicator light. Many fridges are built with indicator lights to alert you as soon as your filter needs to be changed. So if the light is on, change the filter.
How to Pick Up A Refrigerator Filter Replacement
When it comes to choosing a water filter for your refrigerator, it may be confusing and challenging because a great number of replacement products are available on the market. Generally speaking, these following factors are needed to be considered.
1. OEM VS Off-Brand
If you have a GE refrigerator, forking the money over to a genuine replacement filter from GE is prone to be the easiest and most convenient approach. However, you don't have to. You can pick up a replacement made by an off-brand manufacturer. An imitation filter is much more cost-effective than a genuine filter without compromising flow rate, filtration performance and build quality. But you must recognize that some cheap off-brand filters may not work as well as the good off-brand filters and cannot help eliminate contaminants as expected. Thus you should be cautious when you decide to buy an off-brand fridge filter.
2. Compatibility
If a water filter is not compatible with your fridge, it won't fit at all or at least properly. It will cause leaks or slow water flow. Hence, before you purchase a refrigerator filter, you should check the model number of your fridge. The number can often be found in the user manual or on the label inside or at the back of the fridge. Then you can match the model number to the list of fridges which a certain filter supports. Also, you can contact the customer service team of the manufacturer or visit their website to check which filter is right for your refrigerator.
3. Filtration Capacity and Filter Media
Fridge filters' capacity is rated by gallons, which means how many gallons of purified water a filter can create before replacing. The standard filtration volume of a fridge filter is 300 gallons, while some may reach no more than 200 gallons and some can provide 400 gallons. A lower filtration capacity is not necessarily bad but certainly adds your cost because you have to change filters more frequently. When it comes to filter media, the coconut activated carbon is regarded as the best material for fridge filters. Coconut carbon filter is eco-friendly, safe and non-toxic, most importantly, effective in removing organic chemicals, pesticides, disinfection byproducts, herbicides and other unwanted contaminants.
4. Authority and certification
Filters certified by NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and IAPMO R&T have been tested through material safety, structural integrity and filtration performance. They are capable of eliminating pollutants and harmful impurities in the water. If you want to buy a good refrigerator filter, keep this point in mind.
Where To Buy The Best Refrigerator Filter Replacement
The best refrigerator filters are advantageous in terms of high effectiveness, great value and ease of use. The filters available at Watens, built with coconut shell charcoal filter media, provide the superior ability of contaminant removal and water filtration. All our filters have passed through professional tests and achieved authorized certification.
Various types of filters are compatible with different fridge models. Before buying a refrigerator water filter replacement, please make sure the filter fits your current refrigerator. Contact us for more information about our refrigerator water filters.
Why Watens | What Makes Watens All The Difference
Most water filters, in the market, are used to eliminate contaminants and essential minerals as well. We recommend you to drink purified water with natural minerals provided by Watens products. All our fridge water filter cartridges are strictly manufactured using high-grade materials designed to be safe for water used for consumption.
Benefits of Using a Refrigerator Water Filter
Installing a good quality water filter in your refrigerator is much cheaper than other forms of water filtration, but also has the extra bonus of making sure you have access to chilled pure water whenever you want it.
A good fridge filter removes impurities while also provides you better smelling and tasting drinking water or ice directly dispensed from your freezer.
Compared to other water filter system, a refrigerator filter helps to save space in your kitchen. Plus, it is usually very easy to install and does not require any tool.
Watens Makes All The Difference
Authorized Certification
Watens refrigerator filters are certified by IAPMO R&T against NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53.
Superior Contaminant Reduction
Watens refrigerator water filters are tested to remove 99% of most pollutants, such as herbicides, pesticides, cysts, pharmaceuticals, dissolved metals, volatile organic chemicals and more.
State-of-the-art Engineering and Filtration
Designed with a concentrated coconut shell carbon, Watens fridge water filters are able to reduce chlorinated products, heavy metals, harmful sediments, and odor while keeping the original minerals which are beneficial to human health.
Our Mission
We take it a step beyond and create refrigerator water filters which can be recycled into other useful products. We focus on standing out among the crowd in terms of further waste reduction and promoting environmental sustainability.
Wrap Up
Watens has launched types of water filters for W and Frigidaire fridge models. To know more about our water filters and explore the right filter for your fridge, keep visiting our page watens.com. Happy drinking!
Why Everyone Should Drink Filtered Water | Filtered Water VS Unfiltered Water
Our body consists of approximately 60% of water. Drinking water is indispensable for body functions and a healthy diet, but not all water is safe and clean for consumption. Having pure and safe water will help you stay hydrated and improve your quality of life. More and more people become aware that water safety is incredibly important to health, and they take an initiative to access clean and high-standard drinking water.
Filtered Water VS Non-Filtered Water
As we know, the public water supply system certainly contains waterborne contaminants, such as chemicals, heavy metals, microorganisms and harmful ingredients, even in the United States. Five common contaminants are found in unfiltered water - arsenic, aluminum, chlorine, fluoride and lead. The pollutants not only cause severe disease of cancer but bring unpleasant smells and tastes. Studies have found that a great number of cases of waterborne disease exist nationwide in America every year.
So drink filtered water!
Filtered water can successfully rid chemicals, heavy metals, toxins, bacteria, parasites and viruses which have penetrated into the water by agriculture, industry and mining. Drinking filtered water can boost your health, such as skin hydration, weight loss, nutrient absorption, digestion, reduction in cancer risk and detoxification.
Other Benefits of Drinking Filtered Water
In addition to the health benefits, filtered water also possesses other practical benefits on cost, convenience, environment and maintenance.
1. Cost-effective
Using a water filter for safe drinking water is much cheaper than purchasing bottled water. Although bottled water is convenient, the cost will add up over time to become an annoying budget.
2. Convenient
You can drink filtered water at home whenever you want instead of rushing to a store to grab some bottled water, especially when you are dehydrated and find no bottled water at hand.
3. Eco-friendly
Compared with bottled water, water filters offer a far more environment-friendly solution to safer and cleaner drinking water. Rather than overloading on plastic bottles, go green with a filter and protect the earth.
4. Low-maintenance
Water filters are often portable and easy to use and change. They are low maintenance.
5. Better taste and smell
Once the impurities in water are removed, the filtered water tastes and smells better. This can result in a sense of satisfaction after drinking filtered water.
The Best Water Filter
There are various water filtration systems to obtain filtered water. But not all water filters have a powerful capability to remove all pollutants. You should choose the water purifiers which meet NSF/ANSI standards, meaning that the water filtration system has been testified to reduce certain contaminants.
Compared with other water filter systems, fitting a filter in your refrigerator helps to save space in your kitchen. Plus, it is often very easy to install and use.
If you are searching for a refrigerator water filter of top-quality and high-performance for your home, you can visit Why Watens for more information.
What Is Coconut Shell-based Activated Carbon?
Activated Carbon filtration is one of the most effective and easiest methods of removing organics from aquarium systems, for activated carbon is a natural, practical, and economical option. Therefore, you can buy the best quality activated carbon for water and use it for refrigerator water purification.
What is coconut shell-based activated carbon?
There are different types of activated carbon according to its raw materials. And coconut shell is one of the best sources of activated carbon. Using coconut shell-based activated carbon has a lot of advantages.
Here are the top three things that make coconut shell-based activated carbon a great water purifier.
1. Excellent absorptivity
There is a larger surface area and higher density of micropores in coconut shell-based carbon than the other kinds of activated carbon, which allows an excellent absorptivity and makes it the best water purifier. This is the reason why it is regarded as one of the best raw materials for water purification as it can adsorb volatile organic compounds and other pollutants.
2. Odor removal
Some carbon might leave an ashy smell in the water. But this is not for coconut shell-based activated carbon. Compared to the other types of activated carbon, it has a stronger water purification capacity. Plus, it is easier and takes less time to manufacture activated carbon with coconut shells.
3. Strong durability
Durability is another advantage of using coconut shells to manufacture activated carbon. The high density of micro-pores offers it greater mechanical strength, which makes it harder to wear. They can remove all kinds of pollutants more effectively without being damaged.
Top Three refrigerator water filters at Watens
So far, we have learned that the most obvious advantage of coconut shell-based activated carbon is its strong water purification capacity. So now if you are considering changing a water filter for your refrigerator, you might wonder, is the best refrigerator water filter made from coconut shell-based activated carbon? The answer is an absolute yes. At Watens, here are the top three refrigerator water filters, and all of them are made from coconut shell-based activated carbon.
Frigidaire Refrigerator Water Filter | Stay Healthy And Hydrated from Drinking Filtered Water
For the person who predominantly drinks water from the fridge, it’s wise to buy a refrigerator water filter to stay hydrated and healthy. Refrigerator water filters give the convenience of clean, filtered water, but they need to be replaced every six months. Replacing the filter in your fridge periodically is to protect your family’s health since these water filters can not only improve the taste of ice and water, but also eliminate harmful contaminants, like bacteria, pesticides and heavy metals without diminishing the minerals that are beneficial to your body.
The Importance of Drinking Filtered Water
Filtered water tastes better than unfiltered water and is good for your health in the long run. Everyone needs to drink at least eight glasses per day to keep their body functioning optimally. The filtered water is free of impurities, sediment, chemicals and bacteria. The better the water tastes, the more you’ll drink it and stay adequately hydrated.
The filtered water makes a big difference in the taste of what you eat and drink every day, such as coffee, ice cubes and smoothies and more. The water and ice from the refrigerator are purified through the inside water filter. The water filter helps keep the good stuff stay and takes the bad one out of water and ice cubes. Therefore, you, your family and your pets can easily get access to safe, healthy water.
Drinking filtered water is to save money. And you’ve made a huge contribution to the environment by drinking filtered water instead of bottled water. As a typical one-liter plastic bottle uses about two liters of water during this process, a one-liter bottle of water actually represents three liters of water consumption. Most water bottles are made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastics that require vast quantities of fossil fuels to produce and transport. Although these bottles are recyclable, many of them end up in landfill and take up to 1000 years to decompose.
What to Consider When Buying a Frigidaire Fridge Filter Replacement
Choosing a water filter model compatible with your Frigidaire fridge is the first and most important factor. Then you should find out what kind of contaminants the filter can remove and how long it can last and other additional factors like international certifications and more.
Refrigerator & Filter Model Compatibility
Finding the right replacement filter for your refrigerator may be a challenge as there are a wide variety of filter types in Frigidaire refrigerators. The simplest way is to take the previous filter and check the model number. If this doesn’t help, you can also check out the user’s manual of the refrigerator or the filter (if they’re preserved well). The final option is to check the information on the official website where lists the fridge brand and compatible filter models.
Certification & Contaminant Removal
The majority of refrigerator water filters are at least NSF (National Science Foundation) certified for standards 42, which helps to reduce chlorine and improve the taste of drinking water. If a filter doesn’t have an NSF 42 rating, it’s best to look elsewhere. After all, you have plenty of options. Other filters are certified to a higher level. For example, water filters with NSF 53 can remove a large number of contaminants like mercury, arsenic and many others that may be hazardous to health. Therefore, before purchasing, it’s important to check the contaminants the filter does and does not remove.
OEM Filters or Generic Branded Filters
Not all fridge filters are made by the refrigerator’s manufacturers. Some are name-brand filters, while others are produced by off-brands. Moreover, there’s more than one filter that is compatible with your refrigerator on the market. Although an OEM filter is more expensive than a generic brand filter, its quality is guaranteed. However, some generic filters are even better than official filters and help save a lot of money. If you do decide to buy a generic branded filter for your refrigerator, make sure the filter comes with the relevant certifications such as NSF and check out the customer reviews.
Filtration Capacity
How long a filter lasts depends on the filter type, how often you use the filter and your local water quality. Typically, most refrigerator water filters such as carbon filters last for about six months. For a family of three or four, this’s the equivalent of 200 to 300 gallons of filtered water. Although water filters are expensive, many manufacturers pack them into two or more at more affordable per-unit prices. This provides consumers with a money-saving method to keep the water and ice from your refrigerator fresh all year round.
Installation
There’s no need to worry about the installation. The filter usually fits into a small compartment inside/outside your refrigerator. You can find useful information from the instructions in the refrigerator’s or filter’s instructions or on YouTube. Once installed, use about four gallons of water to flush the filter for the first use.