How to Replace an Electrolux Refrigerator Water Filter—and Find the Right One

Replacing your Electrolux refrigerator's water filter comes down to three things: confirming your exact model number, matching it to the correct filter, and installing it correctly. Get the first two right and the installation itself takes about a minute.

Get either one wrong, and you can end up with a filter that doesn't seat properly, doesn't filter what you expect it to, or simply doesn't fit the housing at all.

This guide walks through all three steps in order, using only confirmed specifications for Electrolux's Pure Advantage EWF01 filter, so you're working from verified information rather than guesswork.

Find your refrigerator model number

Before you can order the correct filter, you need your refrigerator's exact model number, not just the general product line or the style of refrigerator you own. Electrolux, like most appliance manufacturers, produces multiple model variations within the same general refrigerator family, and those variations don't always use the same filter.

Two refrigerators that look identical from the outside, and even share a similar model name, can require different replacement parts depending on the specific configuration and production run.

The fastest way to confirm what filter you currently have is to check the cartridge itself. The model or part number is typically printed directly on the filter, either on a label wrapped around the cartridge body or embossed on the plastic housing.

If you still have the box or packaging from your last filter replacement, that will also show the part number.

If you don't have easy access to the old filter, or you're not sure whether the one currently installed is even the correct one, your refrigerator's data plate is the next place to check.

Most refrigerators list their full model number on a data plate somewhere inside the unit, and your owner's manual, if you still have it, will list the exact filter part number the manufacturer specifies for your model.

Taking the extra minute to confirm this before ordering is worth it. A filter that looks similar in a product photo, or that's marketed as a generic Electrolux replacement without a confirmed model match, is exactly how people end up with a cartridge that doesn't seat correctly.

Find the compatible replacement filter

The EWF01 is Electrolux's Pure Advantage water filter, confirmed for a specific set of Electrolux models. Check your full model number before ordering rather than assuming it fits based on refrigerator style alone, since not every Electrolux refrigerator uses this filter, and appearance alone isn't a reliable way to confirm compatibility.

What the EWF01 actually filters

The EWF01 is certified to NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53, the two most relevant certification standards for a refrigerator water filter. Standard 42 covers aesthetic effects, meaning taste, odor, and general water clarity.

Standard 53 covers health-related contaminants, a more rigorous category that includes substances with actual health implications rather than just taste and appearance. A filter certified to both standards is being independently tested against a broader, more meaningful set of criteria than a filter certified to taste and odor reduction alone.

Specifically, the EWF01 reduces alachlor, atrazine, chlorine taste and odor, cysts, 2,4-D, lead, lindane, mercury, Class I particulates, toxaphene, and turbidity.

That list covers a mix of concerns: chlorine taste and odor affect how your water tastes day to day, while lead, mercury, and cysts are contaminants that matter for health reasons regardless of taste.

Atrazine, 2,4-D, lindane, and toxaphene are agricultural chemicals that can show up in water supplies near farmland, and their inclusion on the reduction list is part of what the Standard 53 certification specifically verifies.

Turbidity and Class I particulates relate to the physical clarity of the water, catching sediment and fine particulate matter that can affect both appearance and taste.

Capacity and specifications

The EWF01 is rated for 400 gallons or 6 months of use, whichever comes first. This dual rating matters because a filter's real lifespan depends on how much water actually passes through it, not just how much time has gone by.

A household using the dispenser and ice maker heavily can reach the 400-gallon mark well before the six-month mark arrives, in which case the filter should be replaced based on usage rather than waiting for the calendar deadline.

A lighter-use household might not reach 400 gallons in six months, in which case the six-month mark becomes the limiting factor instead.

The filter has a service flow rate of 0.5 gallons per minute, an operating pressure range of 30 to 100 psi, and an operating temperature range of 33 to 100°F.

These specifications matter mostly as a sanity check: if your home's water pressure or supply temperature falls well outside these ranges, that's worth knowing before you install a new filter and find that flow or performance isn't what you expected.

Most residential water systems fall comfortably within these ranges, which is part of why the EWF01 works as a straightforward drop-in replacement for the models it's confirmed for, without any additional pressure regulation or adjustment needed.

It's worth pausing on why matching the exact filter to your exact model matters as much as it does. A refrigerator's water filter housing is built to a specific physical connector design, and the filter cartridge has to mate with that connector correctly for both the seal and the internal flow path to work as intended.

A cartridge that's close in size but not a confirmed match for your model can still physically fit into a housing in some cases, but "fits" and "seals correctly" aren't the same thing. A filter that doesn't seat against the connector the way it's designed to can leak, restrict flow more than expected, or in some cases let unfiltered water bypass the filter media entirely.

Confirming your model number against the EWF01's confirmed compatibility list before ordering is a small step that avoids all of that.

Filter location

On the models it's confirmed for, the EWF01 is located on the lower-left side of the fresh food compartment. Knowing where to look before you start makes the whole replacement process faster, since you won't need to search the refrigerator interior once you're ready to begin.

Shop the EWF01 replacement filter →

Replace the filter

Once you've confirmed the EWF01 is the correct filter for your model and you have the new cartridge in hand, the replacement itself is a short, tool-free process. Follow these steps in order:

1. Turn off the ice maker at the control panel. This prevents the ice maker from cycling while the filter housing is open and the water line is temporarily disconnected.
   
   

2. Push the filter release button above the cartridge to disconnect it. This button releases the internal locking mechanism holding the old cartridge in place.
   
   

3. Slide the old filter cartridge straight out and discard it. The cartridge should come out with a straight, even pull rather than requiring force or twisting.
   
   

4. Unpack the new filter and remove the two protective caps covering the inlet and exit. These caps keep the filter's connection points clean and sealed during shipping and storage, and both need to come off before installation. Leaving either cap on will prevent the filter from seating and connecting properly.
   
   

5. Slide the new filter gently into the housing until it stops against the connector at the back. Don't force it. The filter should slide in smoothly until it meets resistance at the connector, which is the correct stopping point before the final push.
   
   

6. Push firmly until the cartridge snaps into place. You should hear two distinct clicks as the cartridge locks into the housing, and the front of the cartridge should sit flush with the release button once it's fully seated. If you don't hear both clicks, or the cartridge doesn't sit flush, it isn't fully installed yet.
   
   

7. Turn the ice maker back on. This restores normal operation once the new filter is confirmed in place.

Flush the water, reset the indicator, and check for leaks

After installing the new filter, press a glass against the water dispenser and check for leaks at the filter housing. Some sputtering is normal as trapped air purges from the system, and this typically settles after the first glass or two of water runs through.

This initial flush also clears out any carbon fines, tiny particles of filter media that can be released the first time water passes through a new cartridge, so don't be concerned if the very first bit of water looks slightly different than what you're used to.

Once you've confirmed there's no leak at the housing and the water is running normally, press and hold the Filter Status button on the control panel for 3 seconds.

When the display changes from "Replace" to "Good," the reset is complete, and your refrigerator's six-month countdown will begin tracking from this installation date. Skipping this step doesn't affect the filter's actual performance, but it does mean your indicator light won't give you an accurate reminder for your next replacement.

If you do notice a leak at the housing after installation, don't assume the filter itself is defective. In most cases, a leak means the cartridge didn't fully seat during step 6, and reinstalling it correctly resolves the issue. See the FAQ below for more detail on troubleshooting a leak specifically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bypass the water filter temporarily? 

Some Electrolux refrigerators include a bypass plug for use without a filter installed, which keeps water flowing to the dispenser and ice maker without filtration. Check your owner's manual to confirm whether your specific model supports this, since running the system without a filter or a proper bypass plug installed can cause leaks. A bypass plug is meant as a temporary measure while you wait for a replacement filter to arrive, not a long-term substitute for filtration.

Why is my Electrolux refrigerator filter leaking?

A leak at the filter housing most often means the cartridge didn't fully seat during installation. Confirm you heard both clicks when installing it and that the front of the cartridge sits flush with the release button, as described in step 6 above.

If it's fully seated and still leaking, remove it and reinstall it, making sure it slides all the way back until it stops against the connector before you push it into place. Rushing the installation, or pushing the cartridge in at an angle rather than straight, is the most common reason a filter that seems installed still leaks.

It's also worth checking that the two protective caps from step 4 were both actually removed before installation, since a cap left in place can prevent the cartridge from seating correctly even if it otherwise slides in without obvious resistance.

Is the air filter the same as the water filter?

No. The EAFCBF is a separate air filter, distinct from the EWF01 water filter, and the two serve different functions inside the refrigerator. If you're troubleshooting a water quality or ice quality issue, the EWF01 is the relevant part; the air filter addresses odors inside the refrigerator compartment itself and doesn't affect water or ice.

OEM vs. DFS compatible: which should I buy?

The EWF01 sold on DiscountFilterStore is a genuine OEM part, certified to NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53 and confirmed for your specific model. Buying the confirmed OEM filter removes the guesswork of matching a generic replacement to your exact model, since the certification and fitment are both already verified.