You come back from a nice relaxing vacation, and open up your fridge for a snack… and you’re greeted with the smell of something way past its expiration date. That smell can linger, and quickly get rid of your post-vacation glow.
Expired food, mold, and other mysterious smells in your fridge can be both unappetizing and unhealthy. Luckily, it’s easy to prevent odors and even bacterial growth.
All it takes is the proper maintenance of your fridge air filter! By replacing your air filter periodically, you can ensure the freshest, healthiest food for you and your family. Even if you forget about the milk while you’re out of town.
In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know to maintain your filter. Read on to learn fridge air filter tips that can keep your family’s food safe!
What Do Fridge Air Filters Do?
Fridge filters are small, flat, filters made up of several layers of fabric. Between the layers, they often have activated charcoal, an effective deodorizer.
Fridge filters fit in the air passageway of your fridge compartment and clean all the air that enters the fridge. They also clean the air that circulates throughout the fridge.
Deodorizing
A fridge is basically a closed box for your food. If something spoils, or if bacteria enter the fridge, it doesn’t take long to spread in this confined space. If bacteria or foul odors spread in your fridge, they could settle on your food!
Many people use baking soda to deodorize their fridges. However, a box of baking soda is only effective in a small area of the fridge. With an air filter, the entire air pathway is filtered.
Air filters neutralize odors and ensure that only fresh, sanitized air is passed around your fridge and over your food. This ensures your fruits and vegetables can stay crisp and clean for longer.
Health Benefits
The NSF performed a study that found that the fridge is one of the dirtiest appliances in the kitchen! In the vegetable compartment alone, they found a variety of germs like Salmonella, Listeria, mold, and yeast!
You can’t completely prevent germs in the kitchen. However, with proper maintenance of your fridge air filter, you can take action to prevent the formation of most bacterial colonies within the fridge.
By preventing bacteria and other microbes from entering your fridge, you prevent your family from consuming them. Healthy food means healthy family members!
Additionally, if someone in your family has allergies or asthma, polluted air can impact their health. Using an air filter in your fridge, you can keep these contaminants out of their food.
Pet owners should also be sure to maintain their air filter, as pet dander and hair can enter the fridge via the air passage.
Energy Efficiency
If you neglect your fridge air filter, it can get clogged up with particulates. Not only is this unhealthy, but it can also cause your electric bills to go up.
When the air filter is impacted, the machine has to work harder to pull in and circulate air. The harder the machine has to work, the more energy it consumes and the more heat it can give off. Keep your energy bills down by keeping your fridge functioning smoothly.
Replacing Your Air Filter
Proper care and maintenance improve the effectiveness of both your air filter and your fridge. Replacing your fridge air filter is very easy. The process can be completed in just a minute or two!
Finding Your Air Filter
Not all refrigerators have air filters. The more modern your machine is, the more likely it is to have an air filter.
If you’re not sure where your air filter is refer to the owner’s manual or take a look around inside, they’re easy to spot! Look for a raised housing compartment along the walls of your fridge. Often times they are located high on the back wall.
When to Buy a Fridge Air Filter?
It’s recommended that you change your fridge air filter every six months on average. You can also check your user manual to find specific guidelines for replacing your fridge air filter. Luckily this six-month cadence is also the recommended time to change your fridge water filter, so it’s easy to remember to change them both at the same time.
How to Replace the Filter
Your user manual will usually list the air filter product number. If you don’t have a manual, the model number is often located on the old filter. If you find that number, it’s all you need to find your replacement filter on DiscountFilters.com.
If you can’t find your product number, you can search for filters by brand and refrigerator model. Discount Filters also offers free returns if the filter doesn’t fit your machine.
The replacement process is quick and easy. You can either follow the instructions in your user manual or even find videos on YouTube to show you how to make the change with your particular fridge model.
Don’t Forget Your Water Filter!
As long as you’re replacing your fridge air filter, make sure you don’t forget your fridge water filter. Replacing your water filter reduces waterborne contaminants and keeps your water and ice clean.
If you replace your water and air filters at the same time every 6 months, it’s much easier to remember when they need maintenance and you can order your filters at the same time!
Check out our tips for replacing your water filter, and give your fridge a full filter replacement.
Replace Your Filters Today!
You are what you eat! Good health starts with the food we put into our bodies, so it makes sense to keep your food storage systems as clean as possible. When you’re ready to order affordable replacements for fridge air (and water) filters, check us out and find out how we are helping millions of Americans save on filters.