05Consumables · change intervals included
Refrigerator water filter replacement goes by the twist-lock, not the shape of the can.
Water filter cartridges, vacuum bags, vacuum belts and the other parts that wear out on a schedule. Send the model number of the fridge or the vacuum. We match the filter to the housing's lock, the bag to the collar and the belt to its cross-section, and tell you how often it actually needs changing in Austin's hard water.
Lock type checked · OEM or compatible
Water filter
Refrigerator water filters, OEM or compatible
Filters fit one of a handful of lock styles: quarter-turn bayonet in the ceiling of the fresh-food section, push-in with a release button in the grille, or an inline canister on the supply line behind the fridge. Two cartridges can be the same diameter and length and still use different lug spacing. Forced in, the wrong one leaks into the crisper drawer overnight.
We sell the OEM cartridge and, for the common housings, a compatible one. The compatible cartridge is cheaper and fits the same lock. What can differ is the certification on the media; some compatibles are certified for chlorine taste and odor only, while the OEM listing may also cover lead or cysts. We tell you which is which so you choose on facts, not on the price alone.
After fitting, run two gallons through the dispenser before you drink it. The first water carries carbon fines and runs gray for a few seconds. That is normal.
| Point | What we compare | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lock | Quarter-turn, push-in or inline | From model listing |
| Lug spacing | Photo of the cartridge end | Revisions differ |
| Bypass cap | Whether the housing needs one when empty | Some do |
| Media rating | OEM listing vs compatible sheet | Stated on reply |
Vacuum bags and belts
Vacuum bags by collar, belts by cross-section
A vacuum bag is a paper or synthetic sack glued to a cardboard or plastic collar. The collar is what fits: hole diameter, collar width and the notch that keys into the bag dock. Get the collar wrong and the bag tears off the inlet, the motor pulls dust through the pre-motor filter, and the filter clogs in a week. Synthetic bags cost a little more and hold fine dust better than paper. On a machine with an allergy filter, use synthetic.
Upright belts come in two kinds. Flat rubber belts stretch and are meant to be changed every few months. Geared or ribbed belts last much longer and are usually not interchangeable with the flat ones, even if the length looks right. We match the cross-section and the width to the model, the same way we would with a dryer belt by rib count.
A smell of burnt rubber when the brush roll is jammed means the belt is already glazed. Change it with the roll cleaned out, or the new one goes the same way.
| Part | Matched by | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Bag | Collar hole, width, keying notch | Paper or synthetic |
| Flat belt | Width and relaxed length | Usually sold in pairs |
| Geared belt | Tooth pitch and width | Single |
| Pre-motor filter | Model listing | Foam or felt |
05.3Change intervals · household use
How often each one actually needs changing
These are the intervals we give people at the counter. The manufacturer's number is printed first where one exists; ours is what tends to happen with Austin water and Texas dust.
| Item | Usual listed interval | Sign it is due | Indicative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fridge water filter | 6 months or ~200 gal | Slow dispenser, taste returns | $19–$52 |
| Vacuum bag | When 2/3 full | Suction drops before full | $6–$24 pack |
| Flat vacuum belt | 3 to 6 months | Brush roll stops under load | $6–$24 |
| Pre-motor filter | Rinse monthly, replace yearly | Felt stays gray after a rinse | On reply |
| Trimmer line | As used | Breaks at the eyelet | See lawn and garden |
Reorders are the easy part
Once we have matched a filter or a bag to your model, the next one is a one-line message. Say "same as last time" with your name and we look it up.
- Model numberFridge tag inside the fresh-food section; vacuum tag on the base or behind the bag door.
- Lock, collar or section checkedWe confirm against the listing and ask for a photo where revisions split.
- Reply with the numberOEM and compatible side by side when both exist.Indicative, confirmed on reply
- Counter or postEverything on this page ships.