If I had to make a list of the little things I forgot about a lot, I’d list: Getting my oil changed, visiting the dentist, and changing the filters in my home. It’s something that’s easy to forget about until something goes wrong. Not changing air and fridge filters long enough can lead to health and maintenance issues. Regarding fridge filters, many people forget to buy replacements after going through the initial OEM filter. And even when people are ready to buy a replacement, it can be a confusing experience, so many part numbers, aftermarkets and OEMs…but we’re here to help. We’ve been developing comprehensive filter guides for all of our products and today’s filter is the L500. It is an aftermarket replacement for the popular model number 4396508.
Filtration Process
The L500 water filter can fit into brands such as Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Amana, and Thermador. It’s a high quality alternative to the name brand filters, which are often close to 2x the price. However, the filtration processes are very similar, and aftermarkets can filter just as well as the OEMs if not better. The key behind most fridge filters is activated carbon. Activated carbon is a specially engineered form of carbon built specifically to filter out impurities. The act of filtering is called adsorption. Adsorption is different from absorption in that it allows the water to pass through and only holds the impurities. The tap water from your home’s supply gets pushed through the carbon block’s many tiny pores. The water is leeched through in a matter of seconds all while impurities such as sediments and chlorine get left behind in the carbon block. The result is crystal clear, great tasting water every time.
Installation Process
- Turn off ice maker
- Twist cap about 1/4 turn counter-clockwise
- Pull the old filter cartridge straight out
- Slide the grille cap off the end of the old cartridge
- Slide the cartridge grille cap onto the new cartridge
- Insert the new filter cartridge into the base grille with cap in vertical position
- Rotate cap clockwise until horizontal
- Flush water through system for approximately five minutes
- Turn on the ice maker again and enjoy!
Routine Filter Replacement
As stated earlier, filters need to be replaced every so often to ensure that every thing is running efficiently. Eventually, the carbon in the filter begins to degrade, resulting in less efficient filtration and a lower quality of water. We recommend that you replace filters every 6 months to ensure that you’re family is always supplied with the best water.
To see if the L500 is right for your fridge, check out our handy Filter Finder.
