Does your fridge still smell after you have removed old leftovers and cleaned the shelves? If your refrigerator has a replaceable air filter, it may be time to check it. An overdue filter can contribute to lingering food odours, but spills, uncovered food, and other maintenance issues can also be responsible.
This guide explains when to replace your filter, how to find a compatible part, and what to check during installation.
Quick replacement overview: Confirm the correct part using your refrigerator model number and manual. Locate the filter housing, open it as instructed, remove the old cartridge, and fit the replacement in the specified orientation. Close the cover and reset the reminder using your model’s instructions. The housing design and reset procedure vary by refrigerator.
What Does a Refrigerator Air Filter Do?
On compatible refrigerators, an air filter helps reduce food odours inside the food compartment. Carbon-based filters capture odour-causing substances as air passes through the filter. They need periodic replacement to maintain their intended performance.
Odour reduction and ethylene absorption are different functions. Do not assume that every carbon air filter removes ethylene or bacteria. Dedicated produce-preservation accessories, such as ethylene absorbers, serve a separate purpose; check the manufacturer’s description for the exact part. An air filter does not replace regular cleaning or proper food storage.
When Should You Replace Your Refrigerator Air Filter?
Check your model’s recommended replacement interval. For example, LG recommends replacing the LT120F approximately every six months or when the Change Filter light appears. Whirlpool also specifies a six-month interval for its W10311524 FreshFlow filter. Follow the instructions for your particular filter rather than assuming every model uses the same schedule.
1. The Recommended Replacement Date Has Arrived
Keep a record of the installation date and set a reminder based on the manufacturer’s guidance. If you do not know when the filter was last changed, check your maintenance records and inspect the cartridge according to the manual.
2. Food Odours Persist After Cleaning
Lingering onion, garlic, or leftover smells are a reason to check the filter’s age. First remove the source of the smell, clean spills, and cover strongly scented food. Persistent odours alone do not prove that the filter has failed.
3. Odours Affect Other Food or Ice
If uncovered food or ice picks up unwanted smells, review food storage and cleaning as well as the filter’s replacement schedule. Replacing an overdue air filter may help with odour control, but it should not be treated as the solution to every taste or ice-quality problem.
4. The Filter Reminder Appears
If your refrigerator has an air-filter indicator, follow the instructions displayed or listed in the manual. Treat it as a maintenance reminder; do not assume it directly measures odours or filter saturation. Indicator colours, timing, and reset controls differ by model.
How to Find the Right Replacement Air Filter
Start with your refrigerator’s full model number and the part code printed on the existing cartridge. Check both against the manufacturer’s compatibility information and the replacement listing. Brand name or appearance alone is not enough to confirm a fit.
Quick Parts Depot’s refrigerator air filter category includes replacement options to compare with your appliance requirements:
- Whirlpool and KitchenAid: Check whether your model uses the W10311524 FreshFlow air filter. Whirlpool describes this specific filter as 15 times more effective than baking soda at reducing common food odours. That comparison should not be applied to all refrigerator filters.
- LG: The LT120F air filter, listed as ADQ73214404, is an option for compatible models. Check your model number and housing requirements before ordering.
- Frigidaire: If your appliance specifies it, compare the PAULTRA PureAir Ultra filter with your existing part and model requirements.
- Bosch: The 17007000 ethylene absorber refill kit is a produce-preservation accessory. Check that your appliance has the matching system; it is not a universal substitute for an odour filter.
How to Replace Your Refrigerator Air Filter
Read your appliance manual before starting. The steps below provide a general sequence; cover designs, cartridge orientation, and reset controls vary.
- Locate the housing. Find the air-filter compartment shown in your manual. Depending on the model, it may be on the rear wall or near the top of the refrigerator compartment.
- Open the cover as instructed. The housing may twist, unclip, or open with a release tab. Avoid forcing a cover that does not move as expected.
- Remove the old cartridge. Note its orientation and any markings before taking it out. Follow the product instructions for disposal.
- Install the compatible replacement. Remove packaging as directed and align the cartridge with the housing markings. For the LT120F procedure covered by LG’s guide, the side marked “FRONT” faces outward.
- Refit the cover and reset the reminder. Use your model’s reset procedure. LG’s illustrated guide specifies holding the Fresh Air Filter button for three seconds; other models may use different controls. Record the replacement date.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An air filter helps control odours in the refrigerator compartment. A water filter treats water supplied to the dispenser or ice maker. They are separate parts with their own compatibility and maintenance requirements.
Do not wash a replacement cartridge unless its manufacturer explicitly identifies it as washable and provides cleaning instructions. Follow the specified replacement schedule for disposable filters.
Do not assume yours does. Check the owner’s manual or look up the full appliance model number before buying a filter.
Not necessarily. Spoilage alone does not establish a filter problem. Check the appliance’s temperature and storage guidance, and distinguish a dedicated ethylene absorber from a general odour filter.
Check for forgotten food, spills, and uncovered containers. Follow the cleaning and troubleshooting instructions in your appliance manual. If the smell persists, contact the manufacturer or a qualified appliance service provider.
Ready to replace your filter? Browse refrigerator air filters at Quick Parts Depot Canada, compare your model and part number with the listing, and check current availability and delivery information before ordering. Choosing the correct part is the first step toward straightforward replacement.