Tutorial How to hack GE refrigerator to use generic RPWF filters rather than expensive RPWFE
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2019
- GE is ripping you off by installing RFID chips in their RPWFE filters thus making it impossible to use cheaper generic filters in your refrigerator. Unless of course, you learn how to defeat the RFID requirement. GE sucks but you can beat them at their own game by following the steps I show you in this video.
I use Waterdrop RPWF compatible filters and they've worked out great for me saving me lots of money. Below is a link to where you can get them on Amazon. Start saving money now.
Instead of paying nearly $50 for GE branded filters (RPWFE) how does paying about $13/filter sound. Good right?
Waterdrop filter on Amazon: amzn.to/2oBtI4m
If you'd rather buy GE filters, here is a link to do so.
GE RPWFE filter on Amazon: amzn.to/2psIATc
Disclosure: As an Amazon Affiliate I earn a small commission from qualified purchases using my links which helps support this channel. Thank you. - Наука та технологія
GE is on to this hack and has made it more difficult to remove the chip. It seems they are gluing the chip down which makes it nearly impossible to easily remove it without damaging the RFID chip. Some people have had success using a heat gun to soften the glue, enabling them to remove the chip. Other people have apparently used a dremel tool to cut the plastic closely around the chip and remove the square of plastic with the chip still on it and sticking that onto the new filter. Also important to remember is that the orientation of the chip must be the same. If it is upside down or flipped over to the wrong side, it won't work.
Wil heating the chip to soften the glue ruin the chip
@@mikebednarcik4543 I don't think that gentle heat will damage the chip. Proceed cautiously and better to use less heat and gradually try again with slightly more heat until it softens enough to remove the chip,
DO NOT BUY ANYMORE GE PRODUCTS !
@@artvanderlay2110 That's a great idea
@@artvanderlay2110 stop importing/ exporting them.
GE Aerospace employee here. GE sold the Appliance business to Haier in 2016. Haier is a Chinese owned company. Enough said.
We have a 6-month-old GE fridge. We go away for the winter. When we came back, we noticed immediately that the water wasn't filtered. We used this filter for maybe 2 months. Because filtered water is important to us where we live. I went to Home Depot and purchased GE's proprietary filter for $53.98. I did some research and came across this filter issue. No one told us when we bought this fridge that it required a proprietary GE filter that shuts down water filtering. I called GE and they confirmed that the chip shuts off water filtering after 200 gallons or 6 months whichever comes first. I told them that taking away the consumers choice of when to replace their expensive proprietary GE filter was nothing but a scam and we only used our filter for two months and they shut it off. Of course, they wouldn't comment. I insisted they send me two free filters, which they said they would. I also told them I would escalate my complaint as I see this as fraud. I have filed a complaint with our state's AG this week.
Any further info on your escalated complaint?
@@michaelerbreviews A GE person called me. Basically, he was dispatched to blow me off or buy me off. After a lengthy conversation, it was obvious we were not going to agree. He seemed unaware or simply would not acknowledge that there are many PO'd GE customers out that don't like and were not aware of this proprietary water filter chip BS when they bought their fridge. That as consumers, we don't have a choice and are forced to buy their grossly overpriced $50 filter. I commented it's like GM making their cars so only a GM oil filter could be used. He did not dispute that certain GE fridge models will only take their proprietary filter with a chip. Contrary to what two of GE's so-called "customer service" reps told me, he emphasized that the filter does not stop working after 200 gallons or 6 months, whichever comes first. That those CSR's were simply wrong in what they both told me. I suggested they do a better job of hiring/training CSR's. The one with the crying baby in the background was the absolute worst. Paid to work from home and do a shitty job. Great gig if you can get it, I guess. He claims that is when GE testing shows the filter loses some efficacy and should be changed therefore the chip causes the red filter change light to come on. But the filter continues to filter water and it remains up to the customer when to change it. He further claims that no other aftermarket filter would provide the high-quality filtering that the GE filter does so they use this technology to "protect" their customers from poorly filtered water. Riiiiiiight. Some of his "solutions" to our concern about being low usage retirees or snowbirds and the 200 gallons or 6 months warning light were absurd and I told him so. In the end, I got GE to send me 4 filters and told them to F off and informed the Idaho AG's office that while not happy, I'm not prepared to waste any more time trying to fight a company like GE, and I consider the matter closed. People with GE fridges should flood GE with complaints. Maybe that will get someone's attention and they'll do something. But I doubt it.
@@jayf6525 thank you so much for replying and telling your story. That should be an eye-opener for many people
I just had to call a repair man b/c I thought I had broken something. Come to find out I bought a filter without a chip b/c is was about 1/2 the price of a GE Filter. It did not work. After many videos and $260 later I now know that GE holds consumers hostage to their prepriatery filters. Will remember this when I shop for a new unit in the future.
It's very irritating to say the least. I despise companies that do this sort of thing.
Thanks Michael, a minute in and I will definitely take GE off the list for our potential refrigerator replacement. I won't support a company that does this.
As far as glued on labels, heat helps get them off. hair dryer or heat gun is very helpful. soaking in water is good as well.
My 25 year old GE is still going, doubt the new ones are that good. And of course no chips. Also, I live in Louisville, and we have excellent water so no filtering needed.
Michael - thank you for making this video. I just paid $49.99 for a replacement filter cartridge and saw that a plastic strip had been glued on to it which fits your description about the RFID chip on new filters. Thankfully the old one just has the sticker. I, too am very annoyed with GE for trying to force me to spend $100 per year on filters. The ones for my fridge only last 6 months regardless of water flow - and after the due date the number of days overdue is displayed. I know that this will be the last GE fridge I buy. My GE dishwasher just stopped powering on, and it isn’t that old - maybe 4-5 years. Apparently there’s a circuit board that just “wears out.”
It's a complete money grabbing ripoff from GE. I will not buy another GE appliance as a result unless they change this.
Simply superb! Its heroes like you who stand up to this non-sense extortion. Great work buddy.
Amer Khaqan Thanks man.
I ‘ve been trying to outsmart my GE RPWFE filter for 2 years.
I’m spending $400k to remodel my airport house and will be
spending about $20,000 ON NON-GE APPLIANCES.
Note- 3 days ago I ordered a FREE GE filter bypass that I will
leave in my current refrigerator when I donate it to charity.
I don't blame you. It's infuriating.
This is super helpful, saved me a lot of money
Here's the thing .. an entry level printer is $50 = below cost. And I can pay more for an unlocked version. A fridge is $1000+ and I NEED WATER TO LIVE. Denying that and jacking up prices is a crime.
This is the reason I threw my Keuig coffee maker in the dumpster. Now I brew a full Mr Coffee pot.
Pull it back out of the trash, unscrew the top, cut the green wire, screw the top back on, then BOOM, it will take any kcups like the original Keurigs.
@@gregsewell4259 I never head of that hack before. Great idea.
AMEN, I DO NOT BLAME YOU.... Time to get real ..... :)
Thank you so much for this tutorial! Much needed!
To find out when you have to change the filter you can buy a TDS EZ water tester to make sure your readings are within ideal drinking water range. You can also take a sample to a pool or hot tub store which can also check your water. I hope this helps you out.
Thanks Micheal for responding to my message. I will be sure not to buy the Keurig 2.0. Thanks again!
Thank you, I picked up one of these GE Cafe’ refrigerators from Best Buy marked way down because of a scratch (so small literally on the edge of the door) for $800 and there is no way I was going to pay $50 for a filter
It's a money grab by GE for sure. Greedy little bunch they are.
Wow Thank you for sharing this !! Now I can workaround a solution with this greedy company
Yup. It will mean that many, many of us, including me, will NEVER, EVER buy a GE refrigerator again, and I own 6 rental properties plus my own home that need new fridges every so often. Bye, bye, GE. This will extend to other types of appliances which I used to buy from GE. Hopefully many others will take this approach vs. GE.
Which other fridge company is reliable besides GE. Reliability has gone poor for many companies since 10+ years ago, eg. like Samsung, LG, and more brands - something breaks within 5 or 6 years. The repairman confirmed that GE is the brand which sees less frequent repairs. So which brand do people go for when they move on....
You're a good man thank you.
I did this also. Using the bypass insert rfid chip taped into the filter housing. Installed a regular filter. Every thing is working, but not getting any messages about not filtering water or non filtered water ? Any ideas ?
Keurig makes the crappiest coffee
Hi Michael, To make the chip stick to the refrigerator, what kind of tape did you use, or did you turn it around and use the original tab that you pulled off? Thank you for this. This burns me to no end! My oem filter only lasted 4 months before light came on!
Barbara Verser I agree, that’s pretty darn irritating. I think I could use a stronger word. I simply used a double sided piece of Scotch brand tape. I’m not so sure it’s going to last a long time. I may research stronger tape or I was thinking maybe just a little dab of a silicone adhesive would do a good job as well but I have not tried it.
I purchased a GE for my renters and only now found out it requires the XWFE filter. to help them out from paying $50 plus twice a year I am going to install the bypass plug and then, an inline filter in back of the refer, which can be bought at Home Depot for under $30 (also a few more expensive too) that is supposed to filter up to 5,000 gallons before needing to be replaced.
According to Amazon website, the manufacture of the original GE RPWFE Refrigerator Water Filter is also made in China which is selling for $52.48 each. Any idea where to find one that is Made in USA for cheaper price?
just remove the chip from the plug supplied with the unit. use a razor knife under one corner and it pops right off. these are proximity sensors, location is not paramount. use cellophane tape to adhere the chip to the inside of the recess behind the filter.
People are saying that newer chips are glued on and cannot be easily removed.
Thanks Micheal, very interesting.
Please do a video on the GE XWFE frig filter, it's harder to work with. Screw GE, no more of their products.
Thx for the info. My Adora GE has had me replacing a filter every three months! What a scam.
Usually the reminder is time-based and not an accurate reflection of how much water has been filtered. If you reset the warning you can continue using the filter if you don't use much water through it. But good quality third party filters are going to save you money for sure.
Micheal, I tried the hack but now the frig has an error message on the front panel. It's two characters, the first character looks like an upside down "F" followed by an "F". I tried looking on GE's website but didn't see anything that resembled this code. Any ideas??? Thanks Gregg
Gregg Adams are you getting filtered water? If yes, I guess I’d just ignore the code. I have an error on mine too. I ignore it.
I figured out that means “turbo freeze” (the upside-down F is actually a t) mode. Just hold the Freeze button for 3 seconds and it will go away.
I have always been a GE fan, but if one company is doing it then others will follow. These companies will do anything to make people spend more money.. I had not heard about the k cups. Micheal is this on newer Keurig machines? I have an older smaller individual one. Thanks for your input.
Barbara Johnson Yes it is on Keurig 2.0 machines.
I was sent to a site to get theXWFE filter for GE it says it is the correct one but it does not work! Looks exactly the same and says it is a GE filter it does not have the chip glued on it?
Does the fridge not have a message to replace the filter? As your using the old chip? Meaning even should I take a new filter it will show to replace?
After installing the chip and generic filter I get the "Replace water filter" message" but it works
your the best, thanks for info
Glad to help. Thanks for your comment.
If the chip tells you when to change it regardless of water use from the fridge (as others have mentioned) wouldn’t the old chip taped to the secondary filter still show a red light to indicate a change filter notice?
As far as I know the change filter, notification is simply timing out six months. When you reset that from the control panel, it resets it for another six months. The chip is just to verify that you’re using expensive GE filters.
HOLY SHIT MAN Thanks ✌️🙏🇨🇦
I cut and removed the glued-on RFID chip from the bypass filter (that I got from GE for FREE lol) with a Dremel tool. I then taped it to the sensor area with a piece of packing tape. I plugged in and started using an inexpensive filter that I paid $12 for that was highly rated on Amazon. Works like a champ! I get a small "water not being filtered" when running the water but what does the fridge know? At least it's not an error message or a red alert. The water IS being filtered although not by having GE hold a gun to my head. I change the filter once every year or two, or when the water flow starts to slow.
Perfect. You should probably consider changing the filter every few months however unless you use very little filtered water.
@@michaelerbreviews We use very little - less than a quart a day is my guess.
Where do you get bypass cartridge?
I just got a GE $30 bypass plug to replace the cartridge, and have the water come from my sink water filter.
Sure, that's fine if you don't want to use the refrigerator to provide your filtered water. Many others don't have under sink water filters though. And even those need new filters right? Hopefully not as expensive as the GE filters.
@@michaelerbreviews Even if you don’t have an under sink filter, you can add a filter to the line going to the refrigerator. There are plenty of really good filters that are really economical, The ones I’m using her about $12 each.
Great video... but you left out one variable. My "Rule Following wife!". After watching this I told her about it and she went on to essentially defend GE like a lawyer. Stuff like "it might void the warranty". I have, over the years, learned to choose my battles. Do you have any advice for me?
I recommend saying, "yes dear, I understand what you are saying." Then I would proceed with the hack. Since you are not actually physically doing anything to alter the refrigerator itself other than hacking up a used filter that would otherwise be thrown away I don't see a problem here.
Find a new wife.
Can you leave the original old filter in the fridge so it read the rdid but the new filter is on it? How about removing the chip and taping it close to the rfid reader
Some people do the latter... taping the chip close to the reader.
The RPWF generic filter purchased to effect your hack for the RPFWE won't fit into the filter bay; it has a completely different prong configuration. Any thoughts, please? THANKS!
I don't have an answer for you but do have a question. When did you purchase your refrigerator? As far as I know the dimensions and other specifications of the RPWF and RPFWE at the time of my review were the same so I have no idea why the "prong configuration" should be any different. Maybe the brand that you bought mislabeled the part. What exact filter did you purchase?
They fit. Just do NOT twist it once installed!
Even with the old filter in. The water cont.. to filter. It works past 6 months it will just continue letting you know how many days since you last changed the filter. I use my refrigerator water very little. I use an Alexa Pure instead for my drinking water. And change my filter on my Café with GE part about once a year.
That’s correct, the filter alert is determined by time, not by volume of water filtered. If you use very little water, the filter could last you much longer than six months. But the timer is reset every time you change the filter.
I’ve been reading about GE countdown chips that automatically turn off the ice maker and water dispenser after six months. I suppose this hack can’t work with GE refrigerators with this technology as the chip is “expired” after six months. I will choose a different refrigerator manufacturer if this is the case.
It wouldn’t surprise me if that is true. Just ridiculous and reason enough to stay away from GE. It seems to me that if your refrigerator comes with a bypass adapter then this hack should still work since the chip in the adapter shouldn’t time out. But I don’t know that for sure. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of GE engineers?
@@michaelerbreviews ... the Shadow knows
This is what I have....
Our GE filters are throttling down after just 6 weeks of use!!!
@forsetkh mine shut off the entire water and I emailed. I bought a new filter and it still doesn't work. I hate this
My RPWFE Filter the chip is glued on behind the peel-back label. Am I SOL?
GE is seemingly doing everything it can think of to eliminate this hack. Some people have had better success using the chip from the bypass filter. You could try softening the glue by using a heat gun which may enable you to remove the chip. Some people have very carefully cut the plastic around the chip and then tape that into the filter in the same location.
@@michaelerbreviews I gently cut around the chip with a rotary tool (Dremel).
I checked my filter and it's installed backwards. It still works and the light just came on to replace it. I'm trying to figure out how it's working if it has the RFID chip that is on the front of the filter rather than up against the reader in the back. Anyone have any ideas?
Kay Cannon is it the original filter? Assuming that your refrigerator requires the one with the chip, the only thing I can figure out is that the chip is being read even though it is installed opposite where it should be. Maybe somebody else has a better idea.
I'm not sure how old the filter is but the refrigerator is from 2015. I just moved into the house. I'm wondering if the cheaper filter would work without the hack since it's working now installed backwards. I'll give it a try, I guess.
Kay Cannon I think your refrigerator probably does not require the filter with the chip. However they stopped making the filters without the chip. So the fact that your water is still dispensing even though the filter is backwards is probably why it still works. In your case it doesn’t matter if it’s backwards because your refrigerator probably doesn’t require a filter with the chip. If that’s the case, moving forward you can use a third-party RPWF compatible filter.
That sounds logical. I'll try one and see it it works. If it doesn't, I'll try one of the hacks and make it work. Thanks all!
Kay Cannon what is the final result?
How do you reset the filter change warning? Model GFE28GUNIFFS
Is the control panel on the inside of the door? Usually you would press and hold the reset filter button for 3 seconds
Not all heroes wear capes, although you'd probably look great in one
haha. Thanks.
Does anyone know if this affects the warranty on the fridge?
If you don't modify the fridge in any way no-one but you is going to know that a generic filter was used. Just keep an old GE filter around and swap it out if you need a service call.
I want to figure out how to hack the refrigerator itself so that it thinks it sees an RFID chip or it no longer cares if there's one. Whichever. There's got to be a signal that set or reset from the sensor to the panel.
That sounds logical. If you discover a solution I hope you'll share it here.
@@michaelerbreviews I'd be happy to...but I'm not sure I want to take a chance of permanently damaging my new refrig in the process.
Seems like this should be a "Class Action Lawsuit" and to the Keurig haters - we like the coffee and the assortment and it's a simple hack to use non-Keurig "approved" pods.
It's really price gouging and there's no excuse to justify it except greed as far as I'm concerned.
I bought genuine GE replacements but didn’t get them from GE. They look like they have the RFID chip on them but they don’t seem to be recognized by the fridge. Aaaaugh
In 2016 "Haier" a Chinese appliance company purchased GE and bam our consumers here in the U.S are hit with an additional $60 dollar charge every six months which is totally garbage since we already paid $2500 bucks for the fridge. Money hungry if you ask me!!!
Agreed.
Wow - I don't have a GE fridge (this video started after watching a different bypass plug video) but now I will NEVER buy any appliance from GE EVER. Those guys are morons and I hope no other appliance maker is following suit with this RF ID nonsense or I'll boycott them too.
Dara Parsavand it’s unbelievable right? Greedy companies. Coincidentally I replaced my filter just today with a third-party filter using the hack that I demonstrated. Saved myself about $40.
Will the water work with just the bypass cartridge in the fridge? I'm looking at buying this fridge but we have a whole house filter.
Shannon Evans yes.
@@michaelerbreviews thank you. I assumed so, but thank you for confirming.
Yes, it will work. I just ordered the bypass from Amazon and installed it.
@@michaelerbreviews It will, but your water will not be filtered and may taste like crap and have harmful chemicals in it.
@@urbanoasisgregg Not if they have a whole house filter. It would be redundant. But if no other filtration is in place, then yes, the bypass filter will allow unfiltered water to pass through.
Not all models of GE have the circuitry for the chip (cheaper models don't). None of the owner's manuals will tell you if your model requires the RFID chip, they just say "on some models". They always say you must use only genuine GE filters (XWFE). So it's like you have the threat of needing the chip. So some cheaper models likely will not check for the chip and you can use much cheaper XWF filters. Just don't tell GE. I find this crazy and actually a little humorous.
Thanks for the additional input.
Agree! I have the stripped down model which is a bottom freezer and no in door water. The refrigerator alarm went off telling me a need a new XWFE filter for the ice! I have no idea if I can use XWF filter.
M filter is XWFE, is that the same as RPWFE? I’m so confused.
I don’t know. Sorry.
Where do you get the bypass cartridge??
It should have come with your refrigerator. You can order them from GE and I believe they are available for online ordering as well.
@@michaelerbreviews Would it be in or on fridge somehow or would it have come with paperwork, etc?
@@kristinahitchcock5230 Mine was in a plastic bag along with the Instruction Manual, Warranty info, etc.
@@michaelerbreviews ok thanks!
Will this hack work for 2023 models?
Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to that question.
My filter only last 3 months and its getting ridiculous.
Filters last according to how many gallons go through them, not how many months elapse. However, the timer in the GE refrigerators are set to alert you after a pre-determined amount of time passes, not how much water is used. In other words, you could not use your filter at all for three months and it will still tell you it's time to change it. So pay attention to how much you use the filter and ignore the alert to change it.
Does anyone know how to reset the filter warning after you replace the filter this way?
My refrigerator has a small panel inside the left hand door that has a button to turn off the filter warning. I've learned that the warning is based on the amount of time that has elapsed and nothing else. So every 6 months that light will go on again. Just press the button to turn off the filter warning after you've swapped out the filter for a new one.
Glued on RFID labels? Come on GE 🤣
Doesn't the refrigerator know you are reusing an old RFID chip? You should be using the chip from the bypass instead.
If you don't reset the alert, then no, the refrigerator doesn't know. If you reset the alert, I'm not sure what would happen. That's why I don't reset the alert. I keep track of when the filter needs to be replaced and replace it.
@@michaelerbreviews On the new GE refers, the chip ID is monitored so that you cannot use the chip from your old filter. You MUST use the chip from the filter by-pass plug. Also, the refer will stop dispensing both water and ice when the usage amount has been reached. This hack will only work on models before 2020.
@@murrayrussell9371 Wow, GE just keeps making this more obscene year by year.
I have this refrigerator and I get the expired message after 6 months. I press the button on a display, I think it has to do with saying use the bypass but not sure. It then continues to provide water. Every now and then I have to press the bypass button again. Maybe this doesn't quite make sense. However I continue to have water past 6 months after it has expired, and get a reminder every 6 weeks or so which I ignore. Or maybe I press the bypass button. Hasn't happened recently so I can't remember.
So... I think when you use this previous RFID filter and put it on a new filter you'll get the 6-month warning that you'll see every 4-5 weeks and you just press the bypass button.
What I'm saying is that even though the filter hits the 6 months expiration date, I could still use it as long as I want to without replacing it. So I believe just taking the RFID chip off an old one and put it on to new like he showed, I will still be able to get filtered water. Just have to put up with the expired message every month or so.
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?
That would be a great solution. Hope someone can chime in on that.
RFID's produce digital data when interrogated, a string of bits. The string of bits is the ID that's sent by a radio frequency: RFID. There's no way you can just connect wires together and generate this ID transmission.
@@henryD9363 no, but the transmission triggers a specific state. when that state is triggered, it may be as simple as a completed circuit. so it's not abut mimicking an rfid signal, but merely recreating whatever simple "switch" is used once the rfid is checked. if this is a digital switch controlled entirely by a microprocessor, then yea, there is no simple wire splicing solution.
Those old filters still cost 40s to 50 bucks so idk she see them for 25
Amazon has them without the chip for 12 bucks each
@@iroc341 yep! Then I looked for the GE ones and they were 50 bucks. I bought a few but I'll get the $25 ones next
I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GE ANYTHING
I think a lot of people would agree with that statement.
I stopped being a capitalist when I had to Hannibal Lecter my old water filters skin and tape it onto my cheaper better filter.
You gotta do what you gotta do
GE filters are made in China. Says it on ours and it's the original.
Waterdrop are also made in china
Capitalism at its finest..... GREEED
It seems to me that would be the primary motive. Perhaps GE might say they are trying to ensure the safety of its consumers by providing a superior filter that you can be assured of, but if that is an angle they are trying to get across, I don't buy it, figuratively and literally.
@@michaelerbreviews its the whole "right to repair" movement all together... The problem is with tech, we are moving to an environment that we do NOT own our products, we just have the allusion we do... Apple is a huge one, John deere tractors another. They force us into these ownership "leases" where we cannot fix what we own... and that is wrong IMO
@@RussellD11 Yes I agree. And the fact that we pay thousands of dollars for devices that can't even be upgraded or repaired is unacceptable. Not only is it environmentally harmful, it is just wasteful and unnecessary. Why shouldn't I be able to upgrade my RAM, SSD or other, what-used-to--be user replaceable, components?
One word: CHINA
Geez. All that pissing around to save a few bucks over 6 months! Plus u have to find a replacement filter that is trustworthy. It just is not worth 2 hours of my life screwing with that. But Interesting info just the same. I agree that it is a planned rip off by the oem manufacturers.
To each his own. However, it's not just "a few bucks." It's more like $30 to $40 several times a year. Over the course of ten years the savings would pay for the refrigerator.
Just get to the point !
What's your point?