Sears Refrigerator side by side - water filter - scam?

harold balls · 2005-09-13T22:11:06+00:00

Yellow all, 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. Thanks for any input!!

Sep 13, 2005 28 Replies

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Wayne Boatwright 21 years ago

On Thu 15 Sep 2005 02:12:20p, harold balls wrote in alt.home.repair:

LOL! I hear you. Actually, I don't disagree with you at all. I was only pointing out the premise of their recommendation. Let's just say that the indicator light is for "dummies" and it's probably best that people who don't have a clue follow the prescribed recommendation. For those who can perceive the difference in flow and/or taste, then that is probably the best guide.

As to the "two week" recommendation, that is as much for health reasons and CYA as anything else. When the filter doesn't have a frequent flow, in certain environments it is possible for bacteria or other organic contaminants to multiply.

Back in the late 1960s, the Heater Division of Eaton Corp. developed one of the first activated charcoal water filters for residential contertop use. The activiated charcoal cartridge in this filter was significantly larger than any of those currently installed in refrigerators. Their general recommendation in their literature was to change the cartridge annually.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers!

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User Example 20 years ago

Whirpool has developed a new fridge that only tells you when the filter really needs to be replaced. It has a differential pressure guage and does random sampling to make sure the purity level is within spec. When it detects something odd in the water, it uses a built in internet connection to connect with the Whirlpool testing and engineering department for further analyis and, if the levels are bad, they will give you a personal phone call to explain it to you and let you know you need a new filter and where to buy one. This additional stuff makes the refrigerator cost about $2000 more than the other ones. But for you people who don't think the 6 month timer is good enough and ends up wasting filters, maybe this new fridge is for you. Perhaps in about 60 years it would pay for itself in filter savings.

Wayne Boatwright wrote:

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harold balls 20 years ago

Do you have a link to this new fridge that whirlpool has developed? The most expensive one their website list (retail $2795), still has the 6-month filter in the base with the indicator light. I would like to read about this. Thanks!

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Shirley Thebaglady 20 years ago

I bought a Sears side by side 2002 and according to my manual, it does not have a filter. I had a Sears service man last year and he said the same thing.

My daughter just bought a Sears and hers has a filter that has to be changed.

Check your manual.

shirley

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Wayne Boatwright 20 years ago

On Sun 18 Sep 2005 02:45:04a, harold balls wrote in alt.home.repair:

I seriously have my doubts whether this actually exists.

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harold balls 20 years ago

Yea Wayne , I didn't think it existed I just wanted to see how User would respond. I think He is missing the main point I'm trying to make in this topic. Either that or he works for sears :) good day!

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User Example 20 years ago

Of course it doesn't exist. I was just being sarcastic as I illustrated that they could make refers with filters that actually tell you when they need to be changed but it would cost you a lot more extra money. Heck, my whole house water softener doesn't even tell me when it needs a change.

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harold balls 20 years ago

I guess when it comes down to it, I made a bigger deal about this than was necessary. Like someone pointed out earlier, They have this type of setup for the people out there that wouldn't have a clue about when to change out a filter. I think I'll go away now. good day.

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