Maytag Wide-by-Side Fridge: Water Filter Issue

My sister has one of these Maytags, a model MZD2665HEW that by now must be several years old. She called earlier this week to advise that in trying to replace the water filter, which is inside the refrigerator at top right, something snapped off when she was attempting to remove the old filter.

Since she has American Home Shield coverage on all of her appliances, she placed a service call. The guy came out, easily removed the filter and installed the new one, and told her the broken piece didn't matter. The whole assembly went back together without any trouble. He gave her instructions on removing and replacing the filter that require two hands, pushing the receptacle and the filter toward each other.

The broken piece shown in the picture below appears to be a common type of clip that's been in use on refrigerators for decades. I can't figure out where it came from, though. She has changed out the filter a number of times before and apparently had difficulty, but never broke anything in the process.

Is there any other trick to this operation? I don't know if the owner's manual provides detailed instructions about it.

Oh, and the guy also echoed my advice, which was to wait at least a year between filter changes. My test is to smell a glass of tap water and compare it to a glass of filtered. If the filtered stuff doesn't smell bad like that from the tap, I don't see any reason to change it.


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Post# 705564 9/27/2013 at 01:43 (3,887 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)
Checkrate/Likes My sister has one of these Maytags, a model MZD2665HEW that by now must be several years old. She called earlier this week to advise that in trying to replace the water filter, which is inside the refrigerator at top right, something snapped off when she was attempting to remove the old filter. Since she has American Home Shield coverage on all of her appliances, she placed a service call. The guy came out, easily removed the filter and installed the new one, and told her the broken piece didn't matter. The whole assembly went back together without any trouble. He gave her instructions on removing and replacing the filter that require two hands, pushing the receptacle and the filter toward each other. The broken piece shown in the picture below appears to be a common type of clip that's been in use on refrigerators for decades. I can't figure out where it came from, though. She has changed out the filter a number of times before and apparently had difficulty, but never broke anything in the process. Is there any other trick to this operation? I don't know if the owner's manual provides detailed instructions about it. Oh, and the guy also echoed my advice, which was to wait at least a year between filter changes. My test is to smell a glass of tap water and compare it to a glass of filtered. If the filtered stuff doesn't smell bad like that from the tap, I don't see any reason to change it.

Post# 705565 , Reply# 1 9/27/2013 at 01:44 (3,887 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)
Checkrate/Likes A close-up.

Post# 705670 , Reply# 2 9/27/2013 at 11:57 (3,886 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)
Checkrate/Likes That broken clip came from the frame where the filter head clips and pivots on. It's not absolutely essential but it DOES help support the filter head. The frame just clips into the roof of the refrigerator. In reality, AHS should have fixed it since you're paying enough for it... The easiest way to change that filter is to grip and support it right where the filter attaches to the filter housing with one hand and twist with the other. They used to be looser but could leak so now they're tighter. I sometimes will swing by on my own to help change filters for my customers with arthritis issues... Part# 12688503 (part 18 in picture) I'll keep my eyes open for a good used spare... RCD

Post# 705706 , Reply# 3 9/27/2013 at 14:17 (3,886 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks Drew. She was talking about getting a whole new fridge just because of this, but she's not made of money. Plus, she'll probably not find anything with as quirky a layout (for her it was a selling point) as her wide-by-side on the market today. As for AHS replacing the broken component, I agree with you. It's no sweat for the repair service since they would be reimbursed, but lately she's been getting surly Russian men who wouldn't know the concept of customer service if they were hit over the head with it. Seems odd that they wouldn't want to leap at the chance to further their inherently corrupt behaviors by charging AHS for making such a repair.