Is changing icemaker water filters a scam? - Page 2

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

LG is probably the worst company when it comes to water/ice filters. Mine cost $50 every time I have to replace it and LG doesn't even have them! They seem to be on indefinite backorder.

I went through about 4 or 5 places on-line before I found one that actually HAD a filter. So, I need to look about 3 months into the current filter in order to even find one at 6 month intervals.

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

Thanks for the link, Dennis. Not sure where my wife ordered the last one from, but these seem cheaper.

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

Thanks for the link Dennis, i'll have to try them next time unless I can get the deal I got at Home Depot last week.
I went to pay for my filter and some air conditioning filters and used the self check line. I scanned the water filter first, expecting it to come up $39.95 but it wouldn't scan and customer service couldn't get anyone to price check so she said "here, my gift to you",
I walked out quickly,needless to say!

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

Yep, thats what they get for laying off 7,000 people recently, no one to help! That worked out well for the Depot now didn't it?

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

Our Whirlppol side by side warning light is for sure on a timer...we started putting filters in in January several years ago and like clockwork, the light to change the filter changes in June...then January...then June again...

I found that Wal Mart now sells the Pur filters for these fridges a few dollars cheaper than Sears etc.

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

Just wondering why one needs a filter at all—assuming that your water is potable out of the tap, why is a filter necessary in the fridge?

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

I use filters where scale could ruin an expensive appliance, such as a refigerator or expresso machine.

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

...or an expresso machine for that matter. It's obvious I was nearing the end of my work week.

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

The filter's job is not to make water potable, the job is to take tap water and make it taste better by removing additaves such as chlorine. In my house the water from the tap tastes a little funny, the water from the filter tastes better. In some areas where tap water is good tasting the fridge filter is not necessary.

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

I can say they remove (or at least reduce) taste and smells. I use tap to brush my teeth and the water always tastes like the PVC pipe and when showering, I can smell the chlorine and whatever else is in my city's water supply.

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

Filtration, as provided in a refrigerator cartridge, will not remove hard-water minerals. However, the hard water minerals may cling to the particulate matter in the water and when you remove the matter it may look like lime scale (or lime slime) when you open the filter. The amount removed in the filter will not change the "hardness" of the water.

Water softening is done in one of three main ways:
1. It takes raising the pH of the water and precipitating out the hardness chemicals (mainly magnesium and calcium carbonates and hydroxides) which undergo chemical changes at high pH. The water plant then lowers then pH to stabilize the water.
2. Exchaning of the calcium and magnesium for sodium or potassium using an ion exchange resin (house water softener) that you regenerate.
3. Reverse osmosis - which is basically a type of "high-pressure filtering" that can remove the minerals.

You can also use eloctrodialysis or boil the water and collect and recondense the steam, but these are extremely high energy or impractical ways.

A refrigerator water filter will remove large particulate matter, and if charcoal based, may remove disinfection chemicals (chlorine and chloramines).

If you have a charcoal based filter that removes the disinfection chemicals you should never fill a pitcher and leave it settting around for a long time as you have now removed the chemicals that inactivate organisms that could make you sick.

Sorry about the long response - I am a water supply engineer with 22 years experience who designs municipal treatment, pumping, and distribution systems.

PS - even though tap water is very good in my home community and just as "safe" as bottled water, I prefer the filtered water from my refrigerator over straight tap water. The filter does remove some particulates and chemicals that make the water taste not quite as good.

Re: Is changing icemaker water filters a scam?

Thanks for that nugget. That means I'll never fill my dogs' water dish from the filter tap onthe front of the fridge. Tap is what they will get.