Does Your Refrigerator Have an Air Filter? Brands, Part Numbers and When to Change It

LG, Whirlpool-family (Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, JennAir) and Frigidaire refrigerators that have an air filter use a carbon odor filter that each maker says to replace every 6 months. The air filter is separate from the water filter and doesn't treat your drinking water or ice. To see if your fridge has one, check for an AIR FILTER button, a vented door on the rear wall, the accessory packet and your manual (Table 2). Replacements are in our refrigerator air filter collection.

Which Refrigerator Brands Use an Air Filter

Refrigerator air filters are used by LG, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, JennAir, Frigidaire, Electrolux, some Kenmore Elite models and some GE Café and Monogram models. Each brand uses its own part number. Table 1 lists them with each maker's interval.

LG and LG-built Kenmore Elite

LG refrigerators with an air filter use the LG LT120F, which LG says to change every six months or when the FILTER alert light turns on. Some LG-built Kenmore Elite models used the Kenmore 9918, which Sears PartsDirect lists as replaced by ADQ73214408. You'll find LG parts in our LG refrigerator filters collection.

Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag and JennAir

Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag and JennAir refrigerators with an air filter use the Whirlpool FreshFlow W10311524, also sold as AIR1. Whirlpool places it behind the vented door on the rear wall near the top of the refrigerator compartment. DFS stocks the W10311524.

Frigidaire and Electrolux

Frigidaire refrigerators with an air filter use the PureAir Ultra II PAULTRA2, which Frigidaire says to replace every 6 months. Electrolux models use the EAFCBF (PureAdvantage); follow the interval printed on the filter package. Browse Frigidaire refrigerator filters for both water and air parts.

GE Café and Monogram, Samsung and others

Some GE Café and Monogram models use the GE ODORFILTER, a charcoal cartridge GE says to replace every 6 months, or sooner if odors become noticeable. Confirm in your manual, since GE's fit list isn't complete. Samsung says not all of its refrigerators have a deodorizer, and some models have one you clean rather than replace.

We could not confirm an air filter for Bosch, Thermador or Siemens refrigerators; check your manual.

Table 1 summarizes each brand. Use it to find your part number, then check your model's manual.

Table 1. Refrigerator Air Filter by Brand

How to tell if your fridge has one

To tell if your refrigerator has an air filter, look for an AIR FILTER button or icon, a vented door on the rear wall, a filter in the accessory packet, or an air filter section in your manual. Any one of these is a strong sign. Table 2 lists the four checks.

Table 2. Does My Fridge Have One? Four Checks

What a Refrigerator Air Filter Does (and Doesn't Do)

A refrigerator air filter is a carbon filter that reduces food odors inside the fridge; it doesn't filter water and doesn't keep produce fresh longer. Those jobs belong to different parts. Table 3 compares them.

Carbon filters reduce food odors

Refrigerator air filters use carbon to reduce food odors, according to Whirlpool, Frigidaire and GE. Whirlpool's FreshFlow and Frigidaire's PureAir Ultra II are carbon filters, and GE's ODORFILTER uses charcoal. Makers describe them as odor filters, not as anything more.

Not a water filter, not a produce saver

A refrigerator air filter doesn't treat drinking water or ice, and it isn't Whirlpool's Produce Preserver. The Produce Preserver W10346771A absorbs ethylene in the crisper drawer and is replaced every six months. Your water filter is a separate part with its own schedule.

Table 3. Air Filter vs Water Filter vs Produce Preserver

Air filter vs baking soda

Baking soda and activated charcoal are both long-standing ways to absorb refrigerator odors, and food-safety guidance lists both. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension's guide to refrigerator odors, based on USDA guidance, suggests trays of activated charcoal or baking soda. Whirlpool claims its FreshFlow filter is 15X more powerful than baking soda at reducing common food odors.

How Often to Change It and What Happens If You Don't

Change a refrigerator air filter every 6 months for most brands, or when your fridge's filter light comes on. Then reset the indicator. Table 4 shows each maker's wording.

Every 6 months for most brands

Whirlpool, LG, Frigidaire and GE all say to replace their refrigerator air filters every 6 months. GE adds "sooner if refrigerator odors become noticeable," and LG says to change it when the FILTER alert light turns on. Samsung's deodorizer is cleaned once or twice a year instead.

Table 4. Interval by Brand (Manufacturer Wording)

Resetting the air filter light

Resetting the air filter light depends on the brand; on Whirlpool models, hold the AIR FILTER button for 3 seconds. Whirlpool's indicator shows Blue, Yellow or Red status. For Frigidaire, see how to reset and replace the air filter on a Frigidaire refrigerator.

Skipping a change: what to expect

If you skip a refrigerator air filter change, the filter stops doing its one job: reducing food odors. Makers set the 6-month interval for odor control, not for food safety. GE says to replace its filter sooner if odors become noticeable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all refrigerators have an air filter?

No, not all refrigerators have an air filter. LG, the Whirlpool family, Frigidaire and Electrolux use them on many models, and some GE Café and Monogram models do too. Samsung says not all of its fridges have a deodorizer. Check for an AIR FILTER button, a rear-wall vent or your manual.

Does a refrigerator air filter affect water or ice?

No, a refrigerator air filter doesn't affect your water or ice. It's a carbon odor filter for the air inside the fresh-food section. Drinking water and ice go through a separate water filter, which has its own part number and replacement schedule.

Can I clean a refrigerator air filter instead of replacing it?

Most refrigerator air filters are replaced, not cleaned: Whirlpool, LG, Frigidaire and GE all give a 6-month replacement interval. The exception is Samsung's deodorizer on some models, which Samsung says to clean once or twice a year. Follow your manual for your model.

Do Samsung refrigerators have an air filter?

Some Samsung refrigerators have a deodorizer, but Samsung says not all of its models do. Samsung's support guidance is to clean the deodorizer once or twice a year. Check your manual to see whether your model has one.

Do I need an air filter if my fridge didn't come with one?

If your refrigerator wasn't designed with an air filter, there's no filter slot to fill. Air filters are made for specific housings, such as Whirlpool's rear-wall vented door. Check your manual; if it lists no air filter, your fridge doesn't use one.

Sources

• University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, Solving Odor Problems in Your Refrigerator or Freezer
• Whirlpool: FreshFlow W10311524 and Produce Preserver W10346771A product pages; Air Filter Installation and Air Filter Indicator Light help pages
• LG: LT120F product page
• Frigidaire (frigidaire.ca): PAULTRA2PK
• GE Appliance Parts: ODORFILTER
• Sears PartsDirect: Kenmore 9918; W10315189 fit list
• Samsung Australia support: cleaning the refrigerator deodorizer