Refrigerator filters - is there some sort of trick to this?

WobblyHand

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I hesitate to post this, but, I'm not sure what to do next. Long story short, bought some EPTWFU01 filters for out Frigidaire refrigerator. You all are going to tell me that I shouldn't be buying them off eBay, but this time I did. Maybe they are counterfeit, or maybe not. I took our fridge model number and went to frigidaire.com to look up the correct water filter. EPTWFU01 was the correct number. I also checked what they had for sale, and it showed what looked like my filter, including the made in Singapore on it. Thought I could do better than $53 for the filter...

My filters are also claimed to be made in Singapore. I installed one about a month ago, and apparently didn't get it right. It leaked. It dripped constantly, like once every 5 seconds. When you used the water in the fridge (or icemaker) the water was a stream. I cleaned up all the water and tried again. Tried rotating the filter 180 degrees (but vertical, as the instructions say) and then twisted 90 degrees CW. Seemed to seat. Same leaks. Cleaned everything up again. Even with the filter in, and not using any water, our fridge is wet from leaking.

Gave up for a while. Today, I take the second filter (like a dope I had bought two of them) and follow the instructions to the letter. Same deal, drips every 5 seconds, plus a steady stream if water is used. I shot a video of it. You can find it at:

Looking at the fridge, there are two seals for the filter. Without crawling into the fridge, I ran my finger over the o-rings and they seemed intact. I suppose I could change them for something fatter? Maybe they are worn or flattened? Fridge is only a couple of years old...

Assuming the filter cartridges are ok (bad assumption?) what would you do? Or how could I check if the cartridge is good? Machine a plug with o-rings and pressurize with water?
PXL_20221027_171024720.jpgPXL_20221027_171042150.jpg
I have asked for my money back, but we will see how that goes. The seller does claim no leaks... You can't see it in the photos, but in the outer inner diameter, the walls are not cylindrical, it appears there is a dent (casting sump) on both sides. It shows up as a subtle v shadow. Don't know if the forum will defocus this picture.
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Have you checked the condition of the seat inside your refrigerator? Not so much that it might be in poor condition, but maybe mineral buildup on it? I too will not pay the outlandish prices they want for my Samsung replacement filters; I get PureIce from Amazon and can get 3 for half the price of one Samsung. I have never had an issue with them. So, not the same company, but discount product vs discount product. I assume anything is possible, but I'm thinking the seat within your refrigerator. Perhaps a wipe down with vinegar than a light layer of mineral oil?
 
Have you checked the condition of the seat inside your refrigerator? Not so much that it might be in poor condition, but maybe mineral buildup on it? I too will not pay the outlandish prices they want for my Samsung replacement filters; I get PureIce from Amazon and can get 3 for half the price of one Samsung. I have never had an issue with them. So, not the same company, but discount product vs discount product. I assume anything is possible, but I'm thinking the seat within your refrigerator. Perhaps a wipe down with vinegar than a light layer of mineral oil?
I'm not positive what you mean by the seat. The cartridge is sealed by and inner o-ring and outer o-ring, both of which are in the refrigerator. There is a stop that is built into the cartridge. You can see them in picture #2 at 1 o'clock and 7 o'clock. Guess I need to get a step stool to get a little higher and closer to the seals and the "seat". Maybe there is something there that is not visible from four feet away.
 
I have a Maytag with a similar filter. I replaced it once at a cost of around $45.00.
There was no way I was going to pay that kind of money every 3-4 months.
I installed the bypass plug that came with refrigerator and then installed an inline water filter on the line coming into the refrigerator. This filter accepts charcoal filters which I can but 3 for $12.00. Fortunately, our city has extremely good water so really a filter system wasn't needed but I installed it anyways to make the wife was happy. I now change the filter element once a year
 
Here's a picture of the o-ring seals.

Double seal for the inner seal and single seal for the outer.
PXL_20221027_194417601.jpg
 
The seals are at arms length. I'd need an o-ring pick to remove them.
 
Seems as if water must come in from center and leave via the many holes on out side. Either that larger ID of filter is a gnats hair too big, or that one large seal has some sort of damage to it. Honestly the easiest test is to get a name brand filter, if it fixes it, you know the cheap filters are the culprit. If I was a betting man, I’d guess that large single seal is the issue.
 
Seems as if water must come in from center and leave via the many holes on out side. Either that larger ID of filter is a gnats hair too big, or that one large seal has some sort of damage to it. Honestly the easiest test is to get a name brand filter, if it fixes it, you know the cheap filters are the culprit. If I was a betting man, I’d guess that large single seal is the issue.
The picture I attached earlier shows a shadow like v on its side, sort of like <. I think the lower tail of the < is in the sealing region. Both of these filters have that same characteristic. This was supposed to be a name brand filter... I think I got a factory reject that ended up on the grey/black market or an outright counterfeit part. It's aggravating as all get out to be forced to either over pay, or play the roulette wheel. I don't actually know where the problem is, the filter or the fridge. Maybe I will make a pressure tester for the heck of it.
 
I'd try a little vaseline, if that doesn't get it, I would return it
 
Maybe I’m just being paranoid, but I’d never buy a water filter off ebay.

The “no names“ cut so many corners, there’s no way of knowing that whats in it for filter material is safe or not. So many things coming out of PRC are sketchy at best, no way am I going to run water I’m going to drink through whatever “chemical soup” they they have stuffed in there. Heck, you might even cut it open and find a pair of mickey mouse children's socks stuffed in there.

Sure, I may get the same “chemical soup” if I buy the oem Samsung one from my local dealer, but at least I can be relatively sure that the “CSA” label on the cartridge means something.

For me, theres places to save a buck and places not to. This is one where “Pony up” for the oem stuff makes sense.

That the replacements are leaking is just another indication to me that they’re not manufactured “up to snuff”. Which brings in to question the quality of the rest of the product and most importantly: what the heck is in there as filter media.

YMMV…..
 
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