HOW to HACK YOUR FRIDGE to take CHEAP Water Filters!!
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- Опубліковано 20 сер 2024
- Here's a quick diy video on how to hack your GE Smart Fridge that uses the expensive RPWFE water filters. This hack will allow you to save around $60-$75 per year! Links below for what you will need:
Dista DWF 36 Replacement Filters (2-pack)
amzn.to/2FamlbF
GE Plug Bypass with RFID chip
amzn.to/2FPRezl
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Used a rotary saw to remove everything but the 1/4" of plastic all around the chip that is included with the bypass filter. It's a bit bulkier than the chip alone, but it works fine. Taped it in place and now I have "unfiltered" water filtered by a $12 RPWF filter. I have set a reminder on my phone to replace every 6 months. Also set another reminder to never buy another GE product.
wow, thanks for sharing this information.......I want to know now where to get the $12.00 RPWF
Mr. Vintage: Great video! No cheesy intro/outro music, great lighting, camera is steady and in focus. You explained things clearly. This will keep money in our pockets and out of GE's pockets. Hope GE doesn't know where you live.
Wonder why GE wants to pay no taxes while gouging us...???
I found a bunch of Walmart-brand filters in the clearance aisle for $5 each so I bought 5 of them. Then I found this video and now I have $5 filters for the next two years. Thank you for the help.
What a great hack! Since we rarely use our water, after 6mos the shame light came on, and I KNOW there's no way my filter needed to be changed, so I did this hack and re-installed the filter. Now, I only see the 'not filtering' light instead of the Shame-On-You light. Up Yours GE! And thanks for posting this!!!
So GE glues these chips into the bypass filter so that an attempt to remove them, will likely result in damaging the chip. They are paper thin and fragil. The chips are also recessed a little bit so to make them more difficult to remove. I ruined a chip trying to remove it and I considere myself skilled and carful. So I bought another bypass filter. This time I cut the chip out leaving it glued to the plastic. The chip and the plastic ended up being about a 16th to an 8th inch thick. I wasn't sure if the thickness would be an issue preventing the filter and door from closing completely. The result was that the thickness didn't interfere at all and worked like a charm when taped in. Without going into detail, I used an electric miter saw to cut the plastic on two sides of the chip, and used my vibrating multitool saw to cut the plastic on the back. I am also outraged at GE for doing this. At least companies that make printers basically give printers away and charge you up the ? for the ink cartridge's. GE doesn't give away anything. Next time I will look for this type of scam before I buy a new refrigerator.
I tried removing the paper thin half inch “chip“ from both my own RPWFE filter and a newly ordered bypass filter. In both cases (and I I’m also quite careful), the chips failed to work after removing and placing them in just the right spot. One thing no one is talking about is the second super tiny micro chip behind the one shown in this video. This super tiny embedded chip is smeared with high temp glue. I was able to remove this chip and my efforts still failed. The question is, does this second tiny chip matter at all?
@@phattyboombatty use a flat pocket knife and gently lift each edge until the epoxy separates, I was able to "flick" out the chip in once piece and works great when taped on like in the video
@@phattyboombatty I'm having the same issue - if I remove the chip from my bypass, I can't get the fridge to dispense water even after repositioning numerous times. If I try putting it back in the bypass plug, the bypass plug no longer works either. I too wonder if the little metal 'dot' behind the rfid chip is needed to make this whole thing work.
@@danielsimon1345 please let me know if you find anything out . I fortunately id did the same thing and left a little metal dot behind. Not working afyer many reposisitioning of the chip
@@drmbotana1 I ended up cutting out the entire chip section of the pvc tube with a Dremel and taped it to the side of my new filter to get it working. Of course, I had to use a new GE filter to do this, as the prior attempt had the small metal dot separated.
Worked like a charm. I went with other recommendations in the comments and decided to cut a section out of the old RPWFE filter rather than attempt to remove the chip. It took me less than a minute with my Dremel. Then simply eye-balled placement of the cut-out section onto the new RPWF filter and taped it on. I went with the Dista DWF-36 replacement filter recommended in the video; purchased a pair of them from Amazon for less than $30. Taped the date of replacement onto the filter cover in the fridge and set a replacement reminder on my phone. Thanks! Now onto the those printer ink cartridge replacements!
You could also use bypass filter and install an external filter in the back of the fridge by simply tapping into the water supply line. There are many videos on installing one here in UA-cam.
This is the much easier thing. That's what I am doing.
I just did this and it works like a charm. To mark the spot better, I affixes four short pieces of twine around the circumference of the square where the chip sits in the bypass device and magic-marked the twine. When I put back the bypass, it left a nice square marking so I knew exactly where to place the chip.
You can easily unscrew the display , unplug the two wires to the display assembly, remove the 4 screws on the mobo, and put black electrical tape over the 'Not Filtering' portion of the display. Re-assemble just as easily.
Additionally, no need to order a bypass filter from Amazon. Call GE and they ship it to owners for FREE.
Ooh, that would be a youtube video I'd watch. Fix the problem at the source.
I don't believe GE offers the "free" bypass anymore but I ordered one for the same price on Amazon with faster shipping.
Thank you! Straight to the point, no stupid music. Effective and efficient and saves us money. Much Appreciated!
Thanks for the tip. I am so sick and tired of paying up to $50 for a water filter each and every 6 months. Bought the AQUACREST Replacement RPWF Refrigerator Water Filter, Compatible with GE RPWF (Pack of 3). Cost $23.59 for a three pack on Amazon.
This is a really great idea which I attempted yesterday. I with you so tired of these companies totally trying to take advantage of the comsummer and wishing I would have know about this before buying this fridge! Never again GE! Anyway just an update to the hack trick. GE has obviously caught on because they have applied a super strong epoxy type glue to the chip/card reader. This makes it totally impossible to remove it without damaging it completely, which I did, regardless of using surgeon like skills! They also placed chip inside a square niche cut out on filter bypass rather than being flush with plastic, which makes for a challenge to carefully remove it. Needles to say I had to order another filter bypass and just buy the the damn $50 filters. Curse GE! Shame on them for forcing customers to pay $100 a year just to operate a damn fridge!
I don't know if anyone else did this, but I remove the chip from the original ge filter, lifted the generic filter sticker, and placed the old chip there. Yes, I got the same message "overdue blah, blah" but it works, and save buying the bypass. 👍😊👍
Thanks so much for this video. I was livid when I discovered that GE hijacked my new refrigerator by forcing me to use their outrageously expensive water filters. Your video instructions are excellent, but after reading other hacks, I decided to not attempt to pry the RFID chip from the bypass filter, to avoid damaging it. Using a hacksaw, I cut two perpendicular lines on each side of the chip. Then I drew a sharpie line under the chip and drilled small holes along the line. From there I was able to remove the chip (still encased in plastic) with an X-Acto knife. I used a grinding tip on my Dremel tool to carefully remove as much plastic as possible without touching the chip. Worked perfectly. I found non-chipped replacements on Amazon for $12.50 each (two pack was $25.00).
Great hack! Thank you! A couple of other tips that I learned in the process. Thank you to @Brian for his tips on how to remove the light panel and his idea to put some tape on the "Not filtering" light. I taped over both words so it will never bother anyone. Also, someone else pointed out that GE is now adding some glue to the RFID chip and it's making it more difficult to remove without damaging it beyond repair. That poster suggested taking a hacksaw to the bypass filter and removing the whole thing (chip and plastic) so you don't damage the chip. I damaged the first one and had to buy another one for $22 so I would suggest following that advice. Finally, keep in mind that the RFID chip from the bypass filter needs to be taped the same way it would read if it were on the bypass filter. In other words, you have to put the tape on the side that was attached to the bypass filter or it will be backward and won't trick the chip reader. Again, thanks for this great hack and for helping fight against corporate greed!
i am going to try this. I ruined my first bypass filter. thanks for the tip
All, I have one more important tip: use a hair dryer to losen up the glue in the back of the chip. I applied a hair dryer for a min and used a small, thin flat screwdriver and was able to remove the chip with no damages.
*OMGoodness, it TOTALLY WORKED ! My fridge is 6 months new and came with the non filtration insert. THNK YOU SO MUCH for your post 👍🏼*
Two important details:
1. After you perform this hack, if you want to get rid of the "not filtering" message, simply unplug and then plug in the refrigerator. It will keep running with the hacked RFID chip and not display the "not filtering" message anymore.
2. Use the RPWF filters with the hack because they are the same quality filter without the RPWFE chip, but keep in mind you still need to change it every 6 months for safety reasons (they build up mold over time). This hack saves you money by keeping track of the 6 months yourself, but you still should change the filter.
Works like a charm! You're the best! I had originally bought one RPWFE at $55 and I used the chip under the sticker. I could simply reset the "Change the filter" in the menu. I almost broke the chip because obviously it is glued with super extra crazy glue. Anyways, it works. Bought 3 RPWF filters for $18. Thanks a lot!
Thank you so much!! This worked extremely well!! We bought the wrong replacement filters (without the chip) a few years ago because they were cheap (they were knockoffs) but wouldn't work. I could see there was a chip in there but didn't think through how to hack it...and i refused to pay what GE was asking for their own filter replacement part - ridiculous. I came across this video the other night and immediately ordered a 4 pack of knockoffs (excelpure) on Amazon for $38.99 (a 4 Pack!) and installed one according to your video. I used toothpaste instead of paint and regular scotch tape because we are out of packing tape and was amazed that it worked. I'm so happy!! Thank you!!
OH MY! THANK YOU! I have RO set up before the refrigerator and when I had to replace the filter the first time I was shocked at the price! But I can just use the bypass because of my RO. But happy to know if I want to use a filter again I have a work around. Glad I found you while I was shopping for my new filter!
I called GE Parts and they sent me a bypass for free. Great hack thanks!!
They charge for these now.
This works perfectly. At first the paint to mark the spot did not work for me, so I used a 3x3 M sticker that came with my tv antenna, that fits perfectly in the square, I played with it for a couple of tries until the sticker stuck to the refrigerator then I marked around the sticker with an expo marker. Simple! By the way while I was using a hacksaw as someone suggested so not to damage the chip, the chip came off on its own from the plastic. I guess it was all the shaking from using the hacksaw.
Thank you!
In fact you can also use the same chip from original filter provided with new fridge. The difference is that your refrigerator will still show you sign “replace water filter”. But you will get the advantage of new cheaper filter. You don’t have to buy bypass filter.
U don't have to buy it anyway... they're free at ge
M B hi! How is that so?
The GE part that lets you run without a filter is indeed free from GE. It says so in the owner’s manual. Just call the customer service number shown.
@henrykiser8880 on GE's site the bypass is $38.
Would have liked to see ylu remove chip from bypass
That's the only part which I messed up on. I used some peanut butter to mark the spot. But couldn't get the chip off.
I cut the chip off the OEM filter initially supplied and tape it on new generic filters with painter's blue tape - ez on ez off, works great.
You sir have saved us all a lot of wasted cash!
I used a small rolled piece of tape to mark it because my filter did not make complete contact with the wall. The tape was able to stick where the reader is hidden. THANK YOU!
RPWFE is NSF 42 , 53 Certified and cleams more chemicals than NSF 401 . Where as DIsta DWF 36 is only NSF 42 certified, And that is IF you buy and they send you one that is the moidel that is certified. Ive seen many aftermarket filters that sell you a certified filter but in the packaging is a non certified model.
Thanks. Will give it a try. Might have to cut up an old filter to get it to work given how they are gluing them on now.
I used a HOT air gun on the glue behind the chip that loosened the chip undamaged then taped the chip as shone in this great video-good luck
Did this hack today. Cut around the chip on bypass plug, taped to interior of filter holder and works great. Thanks for the detailed instructions.
Great hack! Thanks. Used an oscillating tool to make 3 plunge cuts. Took 10 minutes total. Your smart GE… but we’re smarter😉
Use bypass tube and put a real filter under the sink on supply line. Done deal!
Doing this right here…. Tomorrow. Not to mention, a supply line filter (depending on which you buy) can work better, and cost less. The Waterdrop filter costs less than $ 60, and last 2 years.
Aww man wish I saw this before buying and opening the GE replacement package ($44.95 each at Home Depot!🙅🏻♀️)... but will definitely do this next time👍🏻
I have the GE smart fridge that has a built in Kuerig.This model did not stop the water at six months but now tells me how many day I am past due on replacing. I will wait for the display to say 180 days since I only want to replace yearly. (I have another filter system downstairs that already filters the water going to the fridge.) Noticed genuine GE filters as low as $37 on Ebay. Normally found at $50 from GE. I would not have purchased this fridge had I known the filter cost.
This works great. Use bandsaw to cut out rfid.
That's great, but now GE uses some super cement to glue the rfid to the bypass cartridge. I couldn't get it off without destroying it.
Yeah I did too.....sux
Me three.
Same. Solution is to carefully saw the underlying plastic with a very fine toothed blade. Cut it as the restaurant scene in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life says, "Wafer thin."
@@paulrendon1297 I used a cold saw and hacked off either end of the plug leaving just the square chip glued to the remaining plastic. Then I took it to the belt sander and shaved it down perfect. Broke my first chip trying to pry it off. The second try worked great.
@@paulrendon1297 I hope monsieur was not overdoing it last night.
I did this and used a non-chipped filter. It works, for a while. So this works to extend the time on the chip to about 60 days after it registers as time to replace it, but after that, it no longer dispenses in my fridge. It's like the chip has a drop dead date on it that you can't reset. So I got another two months out of the chip I tore out of the original filter, but now.... No dice.
You need to do this with the bypass filter chip to fool the fridge into believing you're not filtering so it won't count down the days.
Beware: There a fake GE water filters now - I've seen them on eBay and on Amazon.com. They look real, but are missing the RFID chip. Some have the label installed 180 off - so the install alignment arrow is on the wrong side of the filter.
Unscrew the inside wall where everyone is taping the chip to and pull that plastic inner wall part out. Behind that plastic part is the circuit board that senses the chip. There are three wires plugged into that board, a Purple wire, a Black/Red wire, and an Orange/Gray wire. Who here knows the correct combination to splice those wires together, to bypass the chip altogether?
Interesting idea. Wonder if that would work.
They appear to be using epoxy on the chip now! I am HATING GE!
Don't pull the chip off the plastic. Just cut all around the chip and leave it glued to the 1/16" thick plastic. It'll still fit in the compartment behind the new cheapo filter.
@@reznunt i just destroyed mine. i hate these effing bastards
@@dogwalkfinds9899 did the same, now need to buy another one.
You Rock! Thank you, I thought that sticker on the filter was talking to the fridge. Tried putting that sticker on new filter but to no avail. Once I got the chip out of the sticker and followed your instructions, it worked perfect.
Hey great video thanks for sharing I just saved my mom about $35!
Opa's Workshop awesome!
This may work but it is just as simple to leave the bypass in and install a small inline water filter that are cheap and inexpensive cartridge
You saved me serious $$$ with this hack. Thank you!
Has anyone come up with a way to bypass the message so it doesn’t show “unfiltered”
Has anyone else done this and it seems like their bypass “goes bad” after a year? We’ve had ours 3 years, first year we used their filters then I found this hack, this will now be the third bypass I am going to have to buy because it went back for the second time almost exactly a year to the day of the first one going bad…. It’s almost like these things are timed just like their filters are 🤬
I had to cut the chip out with a band saw and Dremel tool. After that I had to grind the plastic (careful not to hit chip) so it would allow the filter door to shut. Works find now my filter is about $8 vs $45. I will never by GE again. In their quest to bled more money from me they lost a good customer for life. Thanks to JR Stegall for idea to cut chip out.
the chip on my bypass filter was completely glued on, no way I can get it off without damaging it, I hate GE
Ben Edmundson other than the filter scam by GE, does the GE frig work well?
Great instructions..thanks but how do you do it for XWFE filter, I’m not paying $49.00 every 6 months
after replacing OEM GE filter with "RPWFE Water Filter, Replacement for GE RPWFE Rеfrigеrator Water Filter (Without RFID Chip)-2 PACK", I found that NEITHER the old filter nor the new filter worked at all until I RESTARTED my "GE Profile™ Series ENERGY STAR® 22.1 Cu. Ft. Counter-Depth French-Door Refrigerator" I did not see this recommendation in any of the videos.
I have a 2019 ge adora french door refrigerator and my diplay screen has given me information that my fliter needed to be changed a week ago. This refrigerator still dispenses water using this type of filter.Are there different models that the refrigerator will stop water flow when this filter expires?
Did GE get wise to this hack? I ordered a bypass and am trying to pry the chip off. I can’t even get it started. It’s like they superglued the thing super well. Was it this way for everyone else? I can’t get a fingernail underneath it. And it’s depressed a little which makes it hard to get to. Any tips?
Ive had this same issue. I wish I read all the comments about it before trying so hard. I've ruined 3 of them
I have one of those GE refrigerators, I will have to try this.
jlen82.... *Yes... you must try it! it totally works! 😳😆*
I wonder if that will work on my Whirlpool fridge with the same sort of filtration? I'll have to check that out. Thanks for the tip.
I bet you could. check out the reviews of your replacement filter on Amazon...that's where I first read of this hack!
Thanks mate!
Something doesn't make sense. If I put a non-RFID filter in, the device still dispenses water and makes ice but the lack of signal makes the refrigerator bypass the filter (or at least that's what the display reads). So why does the bypass cartridge need a chip at all if the whole point of the chip is the turn the bypass off?
Worked like a charm!
Hi my GE Fridge uses XWFE Water filters. How can I use the cheaper XWF Filters? Please help. Thank you
Bravo! This worked perfectly. Thanks.
I hacked my ge profile 2008 water filter by removing the filter while at work, then putting it back in. No more beeping.
Amazon link for bypass not working
Totally awesome. It worked! Thank you.
Thanks, Just did mine works great.
cooldog60 that's awesome!
Excellent video bro you won my subscription
How did you get the chip off. I destroyed two chips attempting to remove them. It seems GE is using some type of industrial cement.
Same thing happened to me. GE is now using glue to thwart people from doing this hack.
I am going to cut down the bypass with a chop saw and a vibratory saw until the chip is not recessed into it i plan on testing the glue to chip with a scraper and may continue to shave the filter bypass plastic away with the oscillation saw.
Hello, I tried the exact steps and repositioned the chip multiple times and it just shows the red light and won't let water out. HAs things changed since this video? Or has anyone else encountered this problem?
Awesome tip. Thank you!!
If we use the chip from the bypass filter, then how does the water get filtered by the generic/replacement filter? I'm confused...
Hi, I have the same GE model as in your video. Followed your directions, work initially, now getting the message "Replace Water Filter Dispenser Off ". How do I reset? Even tried putting bypass chip on used filter, removing old chip and glue. Thanks
Thanks for the video. I had to use the dremel trick to get the chip off the original filter but it worked. I seem to have a problem though. I have a GE Profile Model PFE28KBLGTS and after doing this my Autofill (uses sensor to automatically fill glass with water) feature doesn't seem to work. Of course it worked perfectly fine before doing the hack. I'm at a loss. It dispenses water and ice but pushing the Autofill does nothing. Any suggestions? After going thru all this I really don't want to have to buy an OEM filter after all.
My apologies. It's working now. The only thing I did was try a different glass.
Awesome thanks for showing
Do you think thos will work on a whirlpool?
Will the RPWF filters work in the Fridge? The chips just let you know when to change the filter? If you remember when to change it can you just use the FPWF filter without all the changing of your Fridge?
Works!
Great video, thanks! But, wondering what went wrong? I used the bypass filter rfid chip and as expected it said 'not filtering' but, water flowed! Then, for no reason, after 3 weeks it stopped working. I got the red triangle of death! I tried repositioning the chip, no luck. As if it's not even being read? Thoughts? Thanks!
i have a similar looking fridge (double door with pullout freezer). I've used off-brand RPWFE filters, and do not get any 'no filter' messages and the filter countdown still pops up and even goes into a negative.
are there some fridge's that simply don't have/use that chip? could mine just be busted from the get-go?
The top of the filter is different (the little flange things on the filter). How'd you get by this?
Great vid, VWW! Thank you.
Thank you so much!
for a refrigerator filter, if you rarely use your water, why does it have to be changed every 6 months?
capacity is actually based on quantity of water used (170 gallons i think), not time.
Why don't you take the chip off your used RPWFE filter rather than a bypass so you won't see the no filter message? Especially if they're gluing the chip to the bypass too.
Has anyone done this with the newer XWFE type filters?
how do you know what by pass filer to by ? can't find one for model gfe28gmkmes. thanks
Hi. Ordered my fridge today. Do you have an updated link for the generic filters? It says currently unavailable. Thanks for the awesome hack! 🖖🏼
Once the change filter alert goes on, the fridge notifies GE and then they actually send me postal mail reminding me its time to buy their overpriced filters.
Me too the damn thieves
What happens if you use the bypass cartridge. Will it bypass the filter and work or not.
Awesome hack!
How did you get the chip out of the bypass? It's recessed.
Most people gently pry it out with a flat tipped screwdriver or maybe a plastic putty knife corner etc.
Some people (like me) ruin the chip despite being careful. Cutting the plastic with a Dremel so that you have a small tile of plastic with the chip on it works well if you're handy like that and might avoid the chance of you damaging the chip. Most people seem to be prying it off (it's glued) with no problems.
I don't have the dummy filter.
I have tried this and it seems my replacement filter has different plastic tabs on the end that do not get seated into the receptacle on fridge. Am I not pushing hard enough or do you have a link to filters that will "snap in" and fit well? The filters I purchased have the same tabs as the Dista filters which do not match the original or the tabs on the bypass. Thanks!
I'm lost. What does the bypass filter do? It's long and plastic but I don't see it installed anywhere??? Do you buy it only for a chip? If yes can't I use the chip off the old filter???
The Bypass filter chip fools the fridge into thinking that there is a "bypass" in place. So the fridge continues to allow the water function to work. The old chip off the old filter will register as 6 months old and will no longer work. This is a way to make the fridge think that it is in "bypass mode". That is why you need that bypass chip. With that bypass chip in place you can use cheap filters as long as you like.
Watch his video again. The bypass filter's chip will turn your water back on. Your GE refrig will think the bypass filter is in the slot, when actually, you only have the bypass filter's RFID chip taped in, and a generic water filter. The old filter's chip won't work as it is expired and GE wants you to purchase their new filters. This method simply allows you to use non GE filters to get filtered water and saving you some coin.
Nice Hack Kyle, Thumbs up my friend.
Thanks man!
THANK YOU! Worked perfect.
Awesome, great job! glad the video helped!
Great Hack. Did you have any issues installing the Dista filters due to the different style locating tabs near the O-ring?
Genius dude.
Thank you!
I dont think I would never buy another GE appliance
How did you remove the chip?
Hello please help!
Are you sure this dista filter 36 works for this fridge?
Like the inlet head of filter going into fridge filter receiver w no leaks etc.?
Has anyone had any problems with slow water flow on their fridge. I changed the filter and still
There are other videos on UA-cam that address that issue. Were you able to fix yours yet?
Thank you for the video, I have a question: if we ignore the display and replace it with a cheaper water filter without a chip will the water work at all?
no. you will get a dispenser off error.
How did you remove the chip from the Bypass. It is glued down
Thanks for the great video... as an experiment, I used the RFID chip from the expired filter... the only things I can see that are different are that the "## Overdue" and "Replace Water Filter" warnings (...on my fridge's screen -- yours may be an indicator light instead) are displayed instead of the "not filtering" warning. This allowed me to keep the bypass plug in a functional (i.e., chipped) state - at least it will, if the "days overdue" counter doesn't eventually cut off the water when it reaches some particular number of days (in which case I'll edit this or post a followup comment). I'd originally hoped that the overdue counter would remind me to swap filters when it reached 180 days, but it looks like the counter only has 2 digits, ;( .
Any luck with this working? Did your fridge continue to dispense water after the replace water filter warning?