How to Replace the Water Filter on a Kenmore Refrigerator: Find Your Filter by Model Number

Kenmore does not manufacture refrigerators. Whirlpool, LG and Frigidaire build them, so the water filter depends on your model number. The first 3 digits of that number name the builder, and the builder decides which filters fit.

Most Kenmore filters need replacing every 6 months, or sooner if water flow slows. The tables below map each filter number to its builder, removal method, location and rated capacity. Once you know your part number, you can shop Kenmore replacement filters.

Which Water Filter Does My Kenmore Refrigerator Use?

Your Kenmore refrigerator's model number decides which water filter it uses, because the company that built it decides which filters fit.

How to find your Kenmore model number

The Kenmore model number is on a tag inside the refrigerator, usually on the upper side wall of the fresh-food compartment.

According to Sears PartsDirect, the tag can also be on the ceiling, on the frame behind the crispers, inside the freezer on some models, or behind the kick plate. Copy the whole number. The first 3 digits are the prefix, and the next 5 digits are the base model.

What the 3-digit prefix tells you

The 3-digit prefix on a Kenmore model number names the builder: 795 means LG, 790 means Frigidaire, and 106 means Whirlpool.

Table 1 shows each prefix with its filter family and the guide that covers it.

Table 1. Kenmore Model Prefix to Builder and Filter Family

Other prefixes exist. If yours is not listed, do not guess. Check your owner's manual or the model page on Sears PartsDirect.

Worked examples

A Kenmore Coldspot numbered 106.5xxxxx is built by Whirlpool and uses a Whirlpool-family filter such as the 9081.

• Example 1: 106.5xxxxx Coldspot, prefix 106, built by Whirlpool, takes a 9081, 9083 or 9082 depending on style.

• Example 2: 795.7xxxxx Elite, prefix 795, built by LG, takes a 9690, or a 9490 on some French 4-door models.

Both examples use placeholder digits. Check your full model number before you order.

Kenmore Water Filter Cross-Reference by Part Number

Each Kenmore filter number maps to a builder, a removal method and a rated capacity, and the tables below show the pairings we could verify.

Master cross-reference

Table 2 lists each Kenmore filter number with its OEM equivalent, builder, removal method, location and rated capacity.

Table 2. Kenmore Filter Master Cross-Reference

The Kenmore 9690 filter is built by LG and fits Kenmore refrigerators with a 795 model-number prefix. It does not fit every Kenmore.

Where a cell says "check your model," sources disagree or do not list the detail. Confirm it in your owner's manual or on the Sears PartsDirect page for your model.

Superseded and discontinued numbers

Kenmore 9084 is replaced by EDR4RXD1, and several other retired Kenmore numbers now map to current Whirlpool or Frigidaire filters.

Table 3 shows the old number and its current replacement.

Table 3. Old Kenmore Number to Current Replacement

Refrigerators with no built-in filter can take an inline filter in the water line behind the refrigerator. Sears lists Kenmore 3844609 and 3844709 for this.

Kenmore Elite water filters

Kenmore Elite is a trim level, not a filter type, so your model-number prefix still decides which water filter fits.

Sears PartsDirect lists these Elite filters by removal method:

• Eject-and-slide: 9081 and 9999

• Push-button eject: 9083, 9911 and 9916

• Cup-cover: 9913

• Swing-out: 9490

Kenmore Coldspot 106 water filters

Kenmore Coldspot 106 models are built by Whirlpool, so they use Whirlpool-family filters such as the 9081, 9083 or 9082, depending on style.

Confirm the pairing on the Sears PartsDirect page for your full model number. Our EveryDrop filter numbers guide explains the current EDR numbers that replace older Whirlpool-family parts. Sears lists the 9082 as certified to NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401.

Where Is the Water Filter in a Kenmore Refrigerator?

Kenmore water filters sit either inside the fresh-food compartment, at the top right or top left, or behind the base grille at the bottom front.

Table 4 matches fridge style to the usual location and removal method.

Table 4. Filter Location by Fridge Style

Inside the fresh-food compartment

Inside the fresh-food compartment, Kenmore filters sit at the top right or top left, depending on the model.

On French 4-door models such as the 9490, the filter can pull down or swing out from the top-left wall. The LG-built 9690 sits at the top right on side-by-side models and at the top left on French door models.

Behind the base grille

Some Kenmore filters sit behind the base grille at the bottom front, and the decorative cap from the old filter goes back on the new one.

Sears notes that eject-and-slide filters such as the 9081 and 9999 can sit in the bottom grille. The 9915 also sits at the base grille. Keep the decorative cap when you swap a grille filter.

How to Replace a Kenmore Refrigerator Water Filter

Replace a Kenmore water filter by matching your removal method, swapping the filter, flushing at least 2 gallons, and resetting the light.

Before you start

Before you replace a Kenmore filter, gather a towel and the new filter; no tools are needed for any method.

• Turn off the ice maker first if your filter is an inside push-button type.

• Put a towel down, because a little water can drip when the old filter comes out.

• Unwrap the new filter and check that it matches the old one.

• For a pull-down filter, remove the shelf below it and set a container under the front of the cover.

Steps by removal method

Kenmore water filters use seven removal methods, and your part number tells you which one you have.

Table 5 lists each method with its removal and install steps, based on Sears PartsDirect guidance.

Table 5. Removal and Install by Method

The eject-and-slide method is the most common one, and the 9081 uses it. Follow these steps:

1. Open the filter cover door.

2. Pull the old filter straight out of the housing.

3. Unwrap the new filter and check that it matches the old one.

4. Point the alignment arrow up for a top-right filter, or left for a grille filter.

5. Slide the new filter into the housing until it stops.

6. Close the cover door.

7. Flush the line and reset the light, as covered below.

Flush the new filter

Run at least 2 gallons of water through the dispenser after you install a Kenmore filter, or the amount in your manual.

Sears PartsDirect's guide says to run 2 gallons to purge air and residue. Some Sears product pages list a higher amount for specific filters, so your manual comes first if it differs. The first water can sputter or look cloudy because of trapped air, and that clears as you flush.

How to Reset the Water Filter Light on a Kenmore Refrigerator

The reset method for a Kenmore filter light depends on who built the refrigerator, so start with your model-number prefix.

Whirlpool-built (106) Kenmores

Whirlpool documents five reset methods, and a Whirlpool-built Kenmore (prefix 106) uses the one that matches its control panel.

Table 6 lists each control type and its reset, according to Whirlpool's product-help documentation.

Table 6. Reset by Whirlpool Control Type

If your panel matches none of these, check your owner's manual. Whirlpool's product-help page lists a few more panel variants.

LG-built (795) and Frigidaire-built (790) Kenmores

On an LG-built Kenmore (prefix 795), hold the Filter button for about 3 seconds; a few models need about 5 seconds.

For a Frigidaire-built Kenmore (prefix 790), follow the reset steps in your owner's manual. Our LG guide and Frigidaire guide cover those brands in more detail.

How Often Should You Replace a Kenmore Water Filter?

Replace a Kenmore water filter every 6 months, or sooner if water flow slows, and check the rated gallons for your filter number.

Interval and rated capacity

Kenmore rates the 9081, 9690 and 9490 for 200 gallons, the 9890 for 500 gallons, and the 9915 for 120 gallons, each with a 6-month interval.

Table 7. Rated Capacity by Filter

Use the rating for your own filter number, because the ratings differ. Households that use a lot of water can reach the gallon limit first. Our guide on how long fridge filters really last explains why.

Signs it needs changing early

A Kenmore filter needs changing early if water flows slower, tastes or smells different, or ice turns cloudy.

• Slower flow from the dispenser

• A change in taste or odor

• Cloudy ice

Our post on the signs your fridge filter is bad covers each one.

Kenmore Water Filter Troubleshooting

Most Kenmore filter problems after a change come from a filter that is not fully seated, trapped air in the line, or the wrong reset sequence.

The filter won't come out or won't lock

A Kenmore filter that will not come out or lock usually means the removal method does not match the filter type.

Check your part number in Table 5. Pull-down filters on some models also need a turn to the left, and eject-and-slide filters need the cover door fully open.

Leaking, slow flow or the light won't reset after replacement

Leaks, slow flow and a light that will not reset after a Kenmore filter change each have a common cause, listed in Table 8.

Table 8. Troubleshooting

If flow stays slow after flushing, see our guide to a slow dispenser after a filter change. To clear trapped air, see how to clear an air lock in the water line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes Kenmore refrigerators?

Whirlpool, LG and Frigidaire build Kenmore refrigerators; Kenmore is the brand name, not the manufacturer. The first 3 digits of the model number name the builder: 106 is Whirlpool, 795 is LG, and 790 is Frigidaire. Once you know the builder, you know which filter family to shop.

Are Kenmore and Whirlpool water filters the same?

Only for Whirlpool-built Kenmores, which carry a 106 prefix. Those models use Whirlpool-family filters such as the 9081, and retired numbers now map to EveryDrop parts. LG-built Kenmores with a 795 prefix use different filters, such as the 9690 and 9490, so check your prefix first.

What water filter does a Kenmore Coldspot 106 use?

A Kenmore Coldspot 106 is built by Whirlpool and uses a Whirlpool-family filter such as the 9081, 9083 or 9082, depending on style. Confirm the pairing for your full model number on the Sears PartsDirect model page or in your owner's manual before you order.

Does Kenmore Elite use a different filter?

No. Kenmore Elite is a trim level, not a filter type, so the model-number prefix still decides the filter. Sears PartsDirect lists Elite filters 9081, 9999, 9083, 9911, 9916, 9913 and 9490. Match your prefix and part number as you would for any other Kenmore.

How much water should I run through a new Kenmore filter?

Run at least 2 gallons of water through the dispenser, or the amount in your owner's manual. Sears PartsDirect's guide says 2 gallons, while some product pages list more for specific filters. The first water can sputter or look cloudy from trapped air, which clears with flushing.

Does my Kenmore have an air filter too?

It may. Some Kenmore models include a separate air filter, which is a different part from the water filter. Check your owner's manual for its part number.

Sources

• Sears PartsDirect: How to replace the water filter in a Kenmore refrigerator (filter types and removal methods)

• Sears PartsDirect: How to replace the water filter in a Kenmore Elite refrigerator

• Sears PartsDirect: How to replace eject-and-slide-out refrigerator water filters

• Sears PartsDirect: How to replace open-tray-and-twist-out refrigerator water filters

• Sears PartsDirect: How to replace the water filter in a Crosley refrigerator (inline filter numbers 3844609 and 3844709)

• Sears PartsDirect: Kenmore refrigerator water filter 9690 (AGF80300801)

• Whirlpool Product Help: How to reset the water filter status light

• Whirlpool Product Help: Water filter status light won't reset (side-by-side refrigerator)

• Whirlpool Product Help: Water filter status light won't reset (French door refrigerator)