Many of us think the main function of refrigerators is to keep things cool and prevent them from rotting too soon.
However, the modern fridges are also responsible for providing us with drinking water. They are equipped with water filters to make the default tap water free of contaminants and thus safer to drink!
However, what happens if you don’t change your water filter? Well, not replacing them in time can lead to more bad than good.
How, you ask? Let’s explore the possible repercussions of not changing your water filter.
Repercussions Of Not Changing Water Filter
You may have wondered from time to time about what could really happen if you skipped water filter replacement just once or twice? We are here to answer your question by briefly discussing the most common repercussions of not changing your water filter on time.
● Passing Contaminants
Every water filter, regardless of its material and design, has a specific shelf life. By continuing to use it past that time limit, you and your loved ones can face the dangers of coming in contact with water-borne contaminants.
This kind of expired water filter will lose the ability to separate the contaminants hidden in its default supply of water. As a result, you will be receiving the unfiltered water which can cause health hazards. It will basically be like drinking water right from the tap – no boiling, no precaution, raw water.
This may not be that big of a deal in the financially secure families of the first world countries since their tap water does not contain too many pathogens. However, it can pose serious threats for many other people living in less secure and hygienic conditions.
For them and for others, keeping water filters up to the mark and replacing them after their time is up are both vital to keep the water-borne contaminants away.
● Mineral Buildup
Minerals are usually a good thing for the human body. Especially in the case of kids, these elements help in ensuring the proper growth of their bodies.
Being an adult, you can rely on them for improving your current health. For instance, calcium helps with building strong bones and keeping teeth healthy. Iron helps with oxygen transportation while potassium is busy with keeping your muscles and nerves in the ideal state.
So initially, minerals in water don’t sound like an ominous situation. However, these very minerals can be the cause of your troubles if you take too much of them!
There can be buildups of such minerals inside your water filter if it is not replaced on time. As a result, consuming these in high proportions on a daily basis can lead to kidney stones in your body. While they do not cause death, living with them is very painful and they are hard to get rid of as well.
You can decide to either naturally pass them or undergo a surgery involving ultrasound technology. The first one will cause you enormous pain while the latter will cost you a fortune. So the best way to handle this situation is never letting it happen by getting a new water filter.
● Leaking of Buildup
Apart from minerals, there can be other kinds of buildups inside your water filters over time as well. More often than not, these are much more harmful than minerals. They usually appear like goop which can leak out with the discharged water.
Because of their presence, the water you pour in the glass can have a bad odor, a foul taste or a disgusting color! As a result, you will not be able to use the water and it will all be wasted.
An effective way to avoid this kind of scenario is installing a new water filter replacing the old leaking one. It will be free of goop and therefore, deliver you clean and clear water every time!
● Damaged Water Pressure
Your old filter is more susceptible to clogging. If it does get clogged, you may suffer from a much lower water pressure than usual. While this does not necessarily mean that you cannot continue dealing with your regular household activities, it will surely raise the levels of frustration for you!
How Often Should You Change Your Water Filter?
The ideal timespan for changing your water filter varies for so many models of household appliances. Usually, the particular model of your refrigerator, dishwasher or similar device comes with a manual specifying the recommended time table for changing the water filter.
Generally speaking, you should think about replacing the water filter anytime you observe a major change in its taste, smell or appearance. For a more specific time interval, you can take the period of six months as a threshold.
Other Water Filter Maintenance Facts
1. Regular Inspection
The simplest rule to follow is just inspecting the refrigerator at regular intervals. Ideally, you should pull out the water filter and examine it on a monthly basis. You can also clean it and other parts of your refrigerator right after that. Also keep an eye on how the water looks, smells and tastes.
2. Choosing The Right Filter
Before buying any water filter, make sure your brand and refrigerator model is compatible with it. The user manual provided with your fridge should have all the necessary instructions about choosing the right water filter.
For instance, Samsung refrigerators don’t allow using any filter that is not approved by their brand.
3. Free Air Vents
Always make sure that the air vents of your fridge are not blocked by something. They can easily be obstructed with plastic bags or similar objects without your knowledge. Get rid of them so that your air vent is free from these hindrances so that the refrigerator doesn’t become overcooled.
If a fridge continues to be cooled longer than necessary, the water filter can break down and lead to water leakage.
Conclusion
Now that you know what happens if you don’t change your water filter, it’s time to be careful.
As you can see, keeping the water filters clean and functional is pretty easy. Just check up on it every month and replace it at regular intervals of six months. Make sure that the air vents are not blocked to prevent water leakage.
Taking these simple steps will increase the lifespan of your water filter and improve their service!