GE Monogram Refrigerator Water Filter Replacement: Find Your Filter by Model

GE Monogram refrigerators use one of four filters depending on age: XWFE, RPWFE, MWF, or GWF. Check your current filter's printed part number, or your model number against Table 1, to confirm which applies. GE Monogram recommends replacing every 6 months.

Which Water Filter Does Your GE Monogram Refrigerator Use?

GE Monogram's filter depends on the exact model and its production era, not on refrigerator style alone. Table 1 lists model pairings confirmed directly against GE Appliances' own parts documentation.

GE's own Monogram product pages confirm XWFE fits current-production side-by-side and French door units, with the exact location varying by configuration: upper right corner, upper left wall, or the left door, depending on the specific model.

How to find your GE Monogram model number

On built-in models, the model number is commonly printed inside the fresh food compartment on a side wall, or behind the base grille. If you can't locate it there, check your original installation paperwork or owner's manual, since built-in units don't always have an easily visible exterior label.

What is SmartWater filtration?

SmartWater is GE's brand name for the MWF and GWF filter generation, not a separate filter type of its own. GE's own product listing for the ZISS48DCASS explicitly describes it as having "SmartWater Filtration," which is GE's way of indicating this model takes an MWF-family cartridge rather than a newer RPWFE or XWFE.

Built-in, column and 48-inch models

ZISS and ZISB prefixes denote 48-inch built-in side-by-side configurations. ZIR prefixes denote all-refrigerator or all-freezer column units, commonly paired in a two-column installation. ZIS prefixes cover other built-in Monogram configurations. Within any of these prefixes, the specific filter still depends on the exact model and production year, not the prefix alone.

MWF, GWF, RPWFE and XWFE — Which Generation Is Yours?

GE Monogram's installed base spans four filter eras, and identifying yours starts with the physical filter, not the refrigerator's age alone.

MWF and its variants

MWF, MWFP, and MWFA are the same physical cartridge sold under slightly different part number variants. This same filter is also cross-referenced as Kenmore 46-9991, a naming holdover from when GE manufactured refrigerators for Kenmore.

GWF and older SmartWater filters

GWF is the SmartWater-branded predecessor to MWF, used on older Monogram models before the MWF part number consolidated the line. Both are cross-referenced together by GE Appliances Parts and aftermarket sellers, since they share compatible dimensions and connection type.

If your GE Monogram is from the 1990s

Monogram units from the WF-10 era are long discontinued for that specific part number. If your model or existing cartridge shows WF-10 or a similar very old part number, use GE's Filter Finder or call 1-800-277-3458 to confirm the current cross-reference for your specific model.

For the mechanics of RFID authentication, the 2022 XWFE design change, and a full RPWFE vs. XWFE comparison, see our GE refrigerator filter replacement guide, which covers that territory in depth.

Where Is the Water Filter on a GE Monogram Refrigerator?

Location depends on your specific refrigerator style, and built-in models are where most owners get stuck.

Behind the hinged overhead panel (built-in signature position)

On built-in Monogram refrigerators, the water filter cartridge sits in the case top assembly at the top of the appliance, behind a hinged overhead panel, according to GE Appliances' own support documentation. Some models use a drop-down access panel; others require removing a grille panel to reach it. This overhead evaporator compartment also houses the evaporator and the master power switch on built-in Monogram and 42-inch Profile models, with self-rising hinges that lift the panel most of the way once you start raising it.

Upper right of the fresh-food compartment

On ZIR column models and several newer Monogram configurations, the filter sits in a cylindrical housing in the upper right area of the fresh food compartment, a more familiar location for anyone who's changed a filter on a standard French door refrigerator.

Behind the base or bottom grille

Some Monogram configurations place the filter behind the base grille instead, accessed by pressing a release button or pulling the cartridge straight out once the grille panel is removed.

48-inch built-in models

ZISS48 series models specifically use the hinged overhead panel position described above, consistent across the confirmed models in Table 1.

How to Change the Water Filter in a GE Monogram Refrigerator

No tools are required for any Monogram filter type.

Before you start

• Have a towel ready; a small amount of water drains out when the old filter comes free.

• Unwrap the new filter and remove its protective cap before beginning.

• GE's own RPWFE documentation states no water shutoff is required for that filter type; follow the same approach unless your specific model's manual says otherwise.

Step-by-step replacement

1. Locate your filter using Table 1 or the location guidance above, based on your specific model.

2. Turn the old filter counterclockwise to unlock it.

3. Pull the old cartridge straight out.

4. Remove the protective cap from the new filter.

5. Align the arrow markings on the new filter with the housing.

6. Insert the new filter and turn clockwise until it locks into place.

7. Flush the system before drinking from the dispenser normally.

Flushing the new filter

Run 2 to 3 gallons of water through the dispenser to purge trapped air and carbon dust from the new cartridge. Cloudy water during this process is normal and not a sign of contamination; it clears within the first few gallons.

How to Reset the Water Filter Light on a GE Monogram Refrigerator

Whether you need to press anything depends on whether your filter uses RFID.

RFID models (RPWFE, XWFE)

Installing a genuine RFID-equipped filter clears the indicator automatically. There's no manual reset button for these filter types; the system recognizes the new cartridge and updates the display on its own.

Non-RFID models (MWF, GWF)

Hold the reset control on your control panel until the indicator clears. The exact button and its location vary across Monogram's control panel generations; if your specific model isn't covered by GE's general reset documentation, check your owner's manual for the exact sequence rather than guessing.

If the light won't clear

A reset that won't take is usually caused by a filter that isn't fully seated, the wrong cartridge for your housing, or, on RFID models, a chip the system isn't reading correctly. Reseat the filter fully before assuming the control panel itself has failed.

GE Monogram Water Filter Problems

Most issues trace back to a handful of causes.

A pressurized line is the most common reason a filter sprays water on removal, not a defect in the cartridge itself. Dispensing water briefly before removal relieves that pressure and makes the whole process cleaner.

Filter head, housing and gasket replacement

If the filter head, housing, or gasket is cracked or worn, replacing the cartridge alone won't resolve a persistent leak. These are separate parts from the filter itself and need their own replacement when damaged.

Using a bypass plug

WR17X33825 is the bypass plug for RFID-equipped Monogram models, allowing water flow without a cartridge installed. It does not filter water, so treat it as a short-term measure rather than an ongoing substitute for a proper filter.

Genuine vs. Comparable GE Monogram Filters

XWFE's NSF P473 certification specifically covers PFOA and PFOS reduction, a distinct claim from the general NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 standards most refrigerator filters carry. For a full breakdown of what each certification standard actually covers, see our guide on decoding fridge filter certifications.

Shop GE Monogram filters →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which water filter does my GE Monogram refrigerator use?

It depends on your model and its production era: XWFE and RPWFE for newer units, MWF or GWF for older ones. Check Table 1 or your current filter's printed part number to confirm which applies to your specific model.

Where is the water filter on a GE Monogram built-in refrigerator?

On built-in Monogram models, the filter sits in the case top assembly behind a hinged overhead panel at the top of the appliance. Some models use a drop-down panel; others require removing a grille panel to access it.

Is MWF the same as SmartWater?

SmartWater is GE's brand name for the MWF and GWF filter generation, not a separate filter type. If your Monogram model's description mentions SmartWater Filtration, it takes an MWF-family cartridge.

How do I reset the water filter light on a GE Monogram refrigerator?

On RFID-equipped models (RPWFE, XWFE), installing a genuine filter resets the indicator automatically with no button press needed. On non-RFID models (MWF, GWF), hold the reset control on your control panel until the indicator clears.

Can I use an MWF filter in a newer GE Monogram?

No, not if your refrigerator was built for RPWFE or XWFE. Those models require an RFID-equipped filter for the panel to recognize it; an MWF cartridge, even if it physically fit, wouldn't be read as installed correctly.

How often should I change my GE Monogram water filter?

Every 6 months, or sooner if water flow noticeably decreases. This applies across all four filter generations.

Sources

• GE Appliances Parts: XWFE Refrigerator Water Filter

• GE Appliances: Refrigerator Water Filter Replacements

• GE Appliances Parts: Model Search, ZISS48DCASS

• GE Appliances: Monogram Refrigerator Water Filter Location

• GE Appliances: Refrigerator Overhead Evaporator Compartment

• Monogram.com: GE XWFE Refrigerator Water Filter product page

• GE Appliances Parts: Find GE Water Filters