Question:
Wonder if anyone had the same experience. I have a searsside by side refrigerator I bought about three years ago. Paid around$1200 to $1300 for it. It works good but I don't understand the waterfiltration system thats on this unit. It has the filter at the bottombehind the grill. When you open the refrig. door , it has a bank ofled's towards the top. One of them says its time to change the waterfilter. This happens about every six months. I just hit reset and itgoes back to "good". I know this is nothing more than a programed chiptelling that light to come on every six months. Here is what i don'tget. I can take the water filter completely out of the unit and thewater dispenser still works! and it does not leak in the recepticlethe filter came out of. Now how in the hell is this filter, filteringany water? From my experience, When A water filter starts to "go bad"you will notice a decrease in flow the worst it gets. I've had thesame filter in since I bought it and have not notice any reducing inflow or any difference in taste. (Sears wants about $40 for anewfilter, but I see you can get them on the web for about $25.) I calledSears up one time to question them about this, and the lady said allshe can do is send someone out on a service call to look at it. (whichI would have to pay for). I've been waiting to run into a service guyout and about to cross examine him about this, but haven't run intoany yet.) BTW( i have city water, which the taste issue wouldn't be asnoticable probably). Has anyone else who has a sears side by side witha water filter noticed or experienced this situation? Water filterreplacement is a big business.

Answer: Wayne, not to be argumentive but from this website:http://www.fridgefilters.com/whirlpool-water-filters-4396508.htmlWhirlpool 4396508 Filter Life

The Whirlpool 4396508 Filter should be replaced:

Every 6 months orWhen the filter change indicator light comes on orIf the refrigerator has not been used for more than two weeks (forinstance, during a move) orIf you notice a decrease in the flow of water or objectionable tastesin the water or ice.

The above statement seems to indicate that the above filter can getplugged up to the point of effecting water flow. This would probablygo along with noticing a bad taste.The view i'm leaning to is that unless you see a reduction in flowrate or notice a change in taste, there is no need to replace thefilter. Money is not an issue. If User wants to replace his filterwhenever that little light tells him its time to do so, more power tohim. It will keep the economy moving.