How to change and reset the Samsung refrigerator water filter

If you have a Samsung fridge with a dispenser or ice maker, it usually has a water filter. Some fridges are connected to the mains water supply and draw water from it for cooling, drinking, and making ice; there are cheaper fridges that are not connected to the mains water supply; in these fridges, a tank is installed into which water is poured.
You may have questions about how long it takes to change the water filter in your refrigerator and why Samsung recommends using Samsung-certified filters.

Why you need a water filter in your fridge and how it works

I suppose you might be wrong if you think the water filter in your Samsung refrigerator is installed to provide you with clean and tasty water. The primary purpose of the refrigerator water filter is to protect your refrigerator from possible malfunctions that may occur due to bad water, such as water containing various salt impurities that may stick to the walls of the ice mold, making it difficult to remove the ice, or clogging the water pipes. If the refrigerator is under warranty, Samsung will have to send a technician to you, which is an additional cost to the company. This is precisely what filters are used for.

The company’s marketing people will tell you that using a filter is good for your health because it traps harmful substances such as chlorine, lead, etc. What many people do not think about is that if your water has lead in it, you should not drink it at all. This is technical water, not drinking water, so your tap water will probably never contain lead.

What is in the refrigerator filter?

The water filter device is a plastic bulb containing the filter element. The filter element consists of several material layers that retain mechanical impurities. Charcoal is made from various organic materials, for example, the most common charcoal today is made from coconut shells, but walnut shells or apricot pits can also be used. Water passing through the layers of the filter is filtered, mechanical impurities are retained, and charcoal has a significant absorption; it remains dissolved harmful impurities, chlorine, herbicides, and petroleum products.

Where is the filter in a refrigerator?

Usually, the filter is installed in the refrigerator compartment; less often, the refrigerator has an external filter installed on the wall next to the refrigerator.
The filter is installed in the refrigerator compartment for several reasons, there is always water in it, and if you rarely use the dispenser or ice maker, bacteria can multiply in the filter and give the water an unpleasant smell; if the filter is placed in the refrigerator compartment the probability of such a case is very low because the filter is at low temperatures and it significantly slows down the deterioration of water.

How often does the filter need to be replaced?

You should know that Samsung recommends changing the water filter in refrigerators after six months. When we talk about how much water the filter in your Samsung refrigerator is designed for, it is usually 300 gallons of water or 1,200 liters. If you use one gallon of water daily, and make ice or chilled water, you can change the filter once a year, but Samsung recommends changing the filter every six months. Here’s why.

This is the average time the filter is guaranteed to perform its function.
The second is marketing; the more often you change the filter, the more filters you buy. Selling filters is also a source of income. For example, go to the Samsung store on Amazon; a filter costs $30 and up. Let’s say you bought a filter for $40; for ten years of use, you will change 20 filters, that’s $800.

To help you remember to change the filter, Samsung has provided a water filter status indicator.

Samsung Refrigerator Water Filter Status Indicator

Now, how Samsung implements the filter replacement reminder, an electronic clock built into the refrigerator reminds you to replace the filter after six months. Samsung refrigerators do not monitor the condition of the filter in any way. After six months, the filter has to be replaced, regardless of whether it has used up 30% of its resource. The filter indicator is an alarm clock that goes off after six months.

Depending on the refrigerator model, there are several ways to remind you to change the filter. 

• The filter status indicator is green; after five months, it turns yellow (warning that the filter needs to be replaced soon) and red – the filter needs to be replaced.
• Usually, the indicator is inactive; when it is time to replace the filter, the refrigerator will beep several times when the door is opened, and the “Filter” indicator will start flashing. 
• The filter indicator is inactive; it will turn red when it is time to replace the filter.

How to reset the water filter indication in a Samsung refrigerator

As I said before, the indicator will light up red if it’s time to change the filter. It is elementary to reset the indication: press the filter button and hold it for at least 3 seconds, after which a new cycle will start, designed for six months. It does not matter whether you have changed the filter or not. 

Not original water filter in Samsung refrigerator use

These nuances may be of interest to you. For example, a filtration system is installed in your home to purify tap water throughout the house. Do you need to change the filter in your refrigerator after six months, or Samsung recommends buying original filters or Samsung-approved filters? There are replacement filters on the market that don’t say Samsung approved. Can you install such a filter?

Changing the filter after one year

If you have a filtration system installed in your home, your refrigerator filter may last longer. However, you need to consider the volume of water going through the filter. If your standard filter is rated for 300 gallons (1200 liters) and you don’t choose to use that much water, you may want to replace your refrigerator filter after a more extended period, such as a year. You won’t be able to use the filter longer than that, anyway. I, for example, focus on the taste of the water; if the taste changes, then the filter needs to be changed, and I usually change the filter once a year. But this is my decision; Samsung recommends changing the filter after six months. If your home already has a good filtration system, you don’t need a filter in your refrigerator; you can just pull it out; the design of the refrigerator allows you not to use a filter. In case the filter is installed inside the refrigerator when the filter is installed, the water supply system is redirected through the filter; if you remove the filter, the mechanical valve will provide the water supply directly.

Filter replacement what is it

Not original filters (replacement filters). These are filters made by third-party companies for Samsung refrigerators. If the filter is certified by Samsung, it means that the quality of the filter meets Samsung standards. If the filter is not certified, the company that makes the filters does not want or cannot certify their products to Samsung. Such filters are much cheaper. I recommend buying either the original or certified filters. You can find many filters on Amazon and read reviews about them.

Most problems with filters occur in two cases, the filter leaks. This happens if the filter has a lousy rubber o-ring.
The second problem is that the filter fails quickly, and the water stops flowing from the dispenser. In this case, the filter is not made correctly; a regular proper filter has a mesh of carbon or similar fiber; this mesh holds the charcoal and prevents it from sticking together.