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Refrigerator water filter — check a stored spare before you install it

Fridge filter

Installing a spare refrigerator water filter from the closet? Check the box seal and any date on the label first, so an old or opened spare is not a surprise.

open French-door refrigerator in a home kitchen
Photo: USDAgov / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

A spare refrigerator water filter that sat in a closet is usually fine, but give it a quick look before it goes in the fridge.

Check a spare refrigerator water filter first

  1. Make sure the inner bag is still sealed — an open bag can let dust in.
  2. Look for a printed date or lot code on the box and note it.
  3. Confirm the model number still matches the one in your fridge.
  4. If anything looks off, set it aside and use a fresh sealed filter.

Honest stop: shelf life differs by brand — when the label is unclear, the filter maker’s support line can tell you what the code means.

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