Kenmore Refrigerator Filter Replacement Guide

The Kenmore-labeled filter is always a relabeled OEM cartridge sold at a markup, so the first move is decoding the first three digits of the model number. 106 is Whirlpool and uses EveryDrop-style push-in filters (upper-right of the fresh-food compartment or in the base grille) — common parts are EDR1RXD1 and EDR2RXD1. 795 is LG (Kenmore Elite) with a twist-in cartridge inside the compartment, cross-referencing to LG LT700P or LT1000P. 253 is Frigidaire and takes a PureSource push-in filter such as WF3CB or EPTWFU01. Buying the OEM version instead of the Kenmore label typically saves 30–40%, because the Kenmore filter is the same cartridge with a 40–60% markup.

When to replace it#

• The filter status light turns red or reads "Replace" (most models count water volume or time, not actual condition)
• Dispenser flow slows noticeably as the cartridge clogs
• Water or ice tastes or smells off
• Ice cubes come out cloudy
• It has simply been six months, the recommended interval regardless of the indicator

Kenmore's rule of thumb is every six months or 200 gallons, whichever comes first, and homes on well water or high-sediment supplies need it sooner. Because the indicator tracks usage rather than the cartridge itself, do not wait for the light if taste or flow has already changed.

How to swap it#

Whirlpool 106 push-in: you do not need to unplug the fridge. Find the housing (upper-right of the fresh-food compartment; look for a round cap or a push-button release), press the release or turn the cap counterclockwise, and pull the old filter straight out. Push the new one in until it clicks, then run two to three gallons through the dispenser to flush it — cloudy water at first is normal carbon dust — and reset the indicator by holding the filter button for a few seconds.

LG 795 twist-in: open the filter cover (usually upper-left interior), turn the old cartridge about a quarter turn counterclockwise, and pull it out. Insert the new one, turn clockwise until it locks, flush two to three gallons, and reset the indicator on the display.

Either way the job needs no tools and takes under two minutes, so there is no scenario where a service call is warranted for a filter change.

Getting the most from a filter#

Mark the install date on the cartridge with a permanent marker rather than trusting the electronic indicator alone. Flush every new filter before drinking to clear the carbon fines that make water look chalky. If flow stays slow even with a fresh filter, check household water pressure — anything under about 40 PSI limits flow regardless of the cartridge. And buy in multi-packs directly from the OEM brand, since bulk EveryDrop or LG pricing usually beats single Kenmore-labeled filters per cartridge. Life runs about six months on good municipal water, three to four months on well water, and although excellent water might stretch it toward nine months, the internal seal degrades past six months regardless.

A note on running without a filter#

Most Kenmore refrigerators accept a bypass plug if the unit has no water line, and running with the plug keeps the water system pressurized. Running with no filter and no bypass plug can trigger error codes on some models and prevents the system from pressurizing properly, and unfiltered water deposits sediment in the ice maker and valves over time — so keep either a filter or the bypass plug installed. On the LG-built 795 platform in particular, remember these fridges use Whirlpool W10-family parts only where the builder is Whirlpool; an LG-built unit needs LG cartridges, and the two are not interchangeable.