On Wed, 21 Apr 2004 14:15:24 -0400, "Dan O."
wrote:
Naugahyde wrote in message ...
We have a Kenmore Side by Side Refrigerator
with ice and water dispensor that we purchased
2 years ago. We have never changed the water
filter. The water isn't slow coming out nor has the
ice dispensor depleated in production. The water
tastes great... no chlorine flavor. We use it very
regularly - probably about 1/2 a gallon+ a day.
The filter light is still GREEN.
The manual states that you should change the filter
when the light turns red, then mentions that should
happen between 6 and 9 months. My wife is
insisting that the light is not working since it has
never turned yellow or red (in 2 years). But then I
point out that the water tastes good and isn't
slow coming out.
You may not be able to tell contamination by taste and the water may
not slow even when the filter should be changed.
According to what I've read, bacterial contamination only happens in
charcoal filters when there are air pockets... something you'd expect
in a pitcher filter, but not for fridges. Other contaminates like the
metals would eventually "break through", but really, they're filtered
out at the municipal water supply.
Besides, there's nothing on the filter that directly indicates it
being charcoal. It just says "Mechanical and Chemical Reduction
Filter". I suppose that's what it is considering the price range ~$30.
http://www.fridgefilters.com/whirlpool-4396510.html
My wife called Sears and told them what was
going on. They wanted to charge $40 just to
send out a technician since it's out of warranty.
My wife explained that they were losing money
on water filters since I refuse to buy one until
either the water tastes chlorinated or the
light turns red.
The Sears lady just said nothing for a while then
asked "well what do you want ME to do about it?"
Please advise.
1. There's no guaranty you'd buy a replacement filter from Sears,
they're sold lots of other places. Kind of hard to justify giving
something away for free when you *might* reap some benefit from it in
the future.
BTW. The service would likely be at least 3-4 times the price of a
replacement filter. That means they wouldn't even have a chance to
recover their costs for 2-3 years.
I understand that in this regard, Sears loses out on no money since I
could get my filters anywhere. I just want to know if anyone out there
knows why the light isn't turning red. According to the manual, that
means the filter is still good. And the water tastes great... And the
water flow/ice production is still as good as the day we got it
(actually better since it was fixed soon after we got it). That's
three for four. The only thing outstanding is that the manual states
the light should turn red between 6 and 9 months of being reset when a
filter is replaced and that didn't happen.
"When should the Whirlpool 4396510 refrigerator filter be replaced?
This Whirlpool filter should be replaced:
Every 6 months or
When the filter change indicator light comes on or
If the refrigerator has not been used for more than two weeks (for
instance, during a move) or
If you notice a decrease in the flow of water or objectionable tastes
in the water or ice. "
2. I don't know why people expect a *1* year warranty to cover
failures 2 or more years down the line. 1 year is ONE year? (sorry for
the reality check)
I personally don't expect anyone to grant "free" service after a
warranty period has expired. However, I have had people offer repair
service on items that were defective and RECALLED years after the
warranty expired. Neither my wife nor I knew if that were the case and
it never hurts to ask. Besides, we were just fishing for some advice
like "oh, yeah. That light is not reliable." or "Press the filter
reset light for 5 minutes while waving a rubber chicken over your head
and chanting 'softer side of Sears... softer side softer side...'"
Geeesh! You and that Sears woman need to calm down and stop jabbing
people. It's not like you're talking to a third grader.
3. You never posted what exact model you have to there's no way to
tell how your model is designed to work. Many of Sears Kenmore fridges
are built by Whirlpool and *some* Whirlpool models are suppose to
monitor both duration (time) and usage. *IF* your model is so
equipped, I would think it is not working correctly.
Good point. It's Model 106.51262102 and requests filter WF-NLC250 or
WF-LC400. The current filter doesn't specify which kind it is, only
that it's part number 46-9902, which can be found from the link
http://www.fridgefilters.com/whirlpool-4396510.html
4. Replace the filter so you can be sure you're not contaminating your
family. Monitor the situation and after a set period of time or usage
if the indicator does not change, have it serviced and/or replace the
filter.
Contaminating them with what? It sounds like unfiltered water is much
safer by how you keep going on about contamination.
Do NOT rely on taste for flow rate alone to be the judge of when to
replace your water filter.
I don't rely solely on taste .... I rely on multiple factors. Taste
being one of them, but also the indicator light and the water flow/ice
production. Had the light been green and the water taste good, but the
flow and production gone down, I would have replaced the filter by
now. If the water flow was good but tasted bad, I also would have
replaced it. Actually... had the light turned red at all, I would have
replaced it right away. The only thing that indicates we should change
the filter is a manual that says "6 to 9 months", and as you stated
before, Sears (the company that produced the manual) is only out for
money so why should I trust them?
Has anyone had problems with their light not changing colors? The only
issue I've found is that people complain of it turning too soon (like
within 3 months after a filter is replaced and the light is reset).
What mechanism is used on this model 106.51262102 to determine what
color the light should be? Is it through some arbitrary timer? Through
some simple water analysis (electrical current comes to mind since
pure H2O carries none, only the metals and minerals dissolved within
water cause it to carry current, and it wouldn't require a replaceable
pH indicator). I have no idea what these water filter systems out
there are using to determine when they should be replaced.
I'm sure I could do some water tests on it for pH, chlorine, metals
and bacteria. Are there any other tests I should perform to make sure
this water is safe from "contamination"... and please explain what
type of contamination you are talking about. If it's so serious, I
need to know. There are no health warnings on the filter and no EPA or
FDA statements to indicate it being dangerous to "over use" a filter.
Thanks,
Bri
JMO
Dan O.
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Appliance411.com
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