JennAir Water Filter Replacement: Finding the Right Cartridge and Swapping It
JennAir refrigerators use Whirlpool-family EveryDrop filters, so the replacement you need is the one whose number matches the cartridge already in your fridge. Read that number off the old filter or the owner’s manual, order the same number, then swap it, flush the line and reset the indicator. The swap itself takes a few minutes and no tools.
With a premium built-in or French door fridge, the tricky part usually isn’t the swap. It’s being sure you’re ordering the right cartridge, because several EveryDrop filters look alike but lock into different housings. This guide starts there.
Which Filter Does Your JennAir Take?
JennAir is part of the Whirlpool family of brands, along with KitchenAid, Maytag and Amana. Its refrigerators use EveryDrop cartridges, which Whirlpool numbers as Filter 1, Filter 2, Filter 3 and so on. Each number fits one housing design.
You have three reliable ways to pin down your number.
1. Read the Old Cartridge
The filter number is printed on the label of the cartridge you’re replacing. It might show an EveryDrop number, an EDR part number or a Whirlpool part number. Take a phone photo of the label before you throw the old filter away. Labels fade, and the photo saves you guessing next time.
2. Check the Owner’s Manual
Your manual names the correct replacement filter, usually in the water filter or accessories section. If you’ve lost the paper copy, you can download it from JennAir’s support site using your model number.
3. Use the Model Number Sticker
On most JennAir refrigerators, the model and serial number sticker sits inside the fresh food compartment, on a side wall or near the top. That model number is all our team needs to find your filter, even if the old cartridge label is unreadable. Our walkthrough on how to find the right refrigerator water filter has more tips for tracking down model and part numbers.
Where the Filter Sits Gives You a Clue
The filter’s location narrows down which family you have before you even read the label.
- Upper right of the fresh food section: common on French door models.
- Behind the base grille under the doors: used on many bottom-freezer and some built-in models.
- Upper left: seen on some column refrigerators.
Location is a clue, not proof. Two fridges with the filter in the same corner can still take different cartridges, so always confirm the number before you buy.
OEM or Certified Compatible?
You can choose a genuine EveryDrop cartridge or a certified compatible filter made to fit the same housing. Both work in a JennAir as long as the listing names your exact filter number.
Genuine filters are the factory match. Certified compatible filters cost less, and ours are WQA approved and tested to meet the same industry standards. With two changes a year, that difference adds up.
Some JennAir top-freezer and bottom-freezer models use a quarter-turn cartridge in the base grille called Filter 6, also labeled 4396701 or EDR6D1. The genuine Filter 6 (4396701) is made for Whirlpool-family top-freezer and bottom-freezer refrigerators, JennAir included. If your old cartridge shows one of those numbers, that’s your match.
Once you know your number, browse our Whirlpool and EveryDrop refrigerator filters. You’ll find genuine OEM and certified compatible cartridges for less than the big-name retailers, and multipacks bring the cost per filter down even further.
How to Swap a JennAir Water Filter
The release method depends on your housing, but the routine is the same for every style.
- Lay a towel under the housing. A few ounces of water usually escape.
- Open the filter cover, or locate the cartridge end in the base grille.
- Release the old filter. Depending on the housing, you’ll twist it counterclockwise, press an eject button, or pull it straight out.
- Pull the old cartridge out and set it aside so you can double-check its label.
- Remove the protective cap from the new filter and make sure its O-rings are in place.
- Insert the new filter the same way the old one came out, then turn it clockwise or push it in until it locks.
- Close the cover.
On some grille-mounted housings, the end cap stays with the fridge rather than coming on the new filter. If the old cartridge had a cap on the end, move it across to the new one before you install it.
If the new filter won’t seat, stop and compare its number to the old one. A cartridge that only almost fits will leak or cut your water flow.
After the Swap: Flush, Clear the Ice, Reset
Flush the Line
New cartridges hold air and loose carbon fines. Run water through the dispenser into a large pitcher until it flows steadily, following the flush amount printed in your filter’s instructions. Sputtering and cloudy water at the start are normal and clear as you go.
Start Fresh With the Ice
Your ice maker draws from the same filter. Empty the ice bin and throw out the first few batches after a change, then let the ice maker refill. A full bin can take about a day.
Reset the Indicator
The filter status light on most JennAir models runs on a timer, so you have to clear it yourself. Many models use a button such as Filter or Water Filter held for a few seconds, and menu-style displays put the reset under a settings or options screen. Controls vary a lot across the range, so follow the steps in your owner’s manual.
When Something Isn’t Right
Water drips around the housing. Take the filter out, check that the protective cap is off and the O-rings aren’t twisted or missing, then reinstall it firmly. If a correct, seated filter keeps leaking, shut off the water to the fridge and contact JennAir service. A cracked housing needs a technician.
Flow is weaker than before. Air in the line is the usual cause, so keep dispensing in short bursts. If flow stays weak, check that the filter is fully locked and that the household supply valve is open.
The water tastes flat or odd. A few glasses of off taste right after a change usually clears with more flushing. If problems come back months later, look out for the signs your refrigerator water filter is failing, such as slower flow or a chlorine taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Whirlpool or KitchenAid filter in my JennAir?
Yes, when the filter number matches. These brands share the EveryDrop cartridge line, so a Whirlpool or KitchenAid box with your number on it fits your JennAir housing.
How often should a JennAir filter be replaced?
About every six months, or sooner if the light comes on early or you use a lot of water and ice.
My old cartridge has no readable label. What now?
Use the model number sticker inside the fresh food compartment instead. Email it to contact@filterforfridge.com and we’ll confirm the filter that fits.
Does a built-in JennAir use a different filter than a freestanding one?
It can. Built-in, column and freestanding JennAir models don’t all share one filter. Always go by the number on your cartridge or in your manual, not by the style of fridge.
Get the Right JennAir Filter the First Time
Enter your fridge or old filter number into our Cross Reference Filter Tool to see your match. Prefer a second opinion? Reach out to our team with your model number, and we’ll point you to the right cartridge, shipped free.
