Filter 1 to Filter A: The Best Water Filter for Whirlpool Refrigerator

Whirlpool has done something sensible with its filters. The everydrop line gives each one a number or letter and a color, and it covers Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Amana and JennAir refrigerators. If you know your number, you know your filter.

The picks below are not choices in the usual sense, since your fridge takes just one of these. They are a map: which number you have, what it states, and what your options are if the genuine one is not to hand. We keep to what each listing says, for the water and ice that end up in everything from a glass at dinner to a pitcher of agua fresca.

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Quick verdict: which Whirlpool filter to buy

Five everydrop filters at a glance

All five are genuine and share the same three standards; what differs is the slot and the listed reductions. All eight filters are reviewed in full below.

Product images from Amazon. Claims are as stated on each listing; reduced substances vary, and your own water may not contain them.

Find your everydrop number

Pull the old filter and look for a number or letter, a color and a part code such as EDR4RXD1. Whirlpool says to choose the package matching the number or letter and color of your filter. Your manual, or the model number inside the fridge, gets you the same answer on Whirlpool’s site.

You may also see older codes. Compatible listings tie UKF8001 to Filter 4, 4396841 and 4396710 to Filter 3, and 4396508 to Filter 5. W10295370A goes with Filter 1. A label like WHR, KAD or P4RFWB can belong to the same slot under a brand-specific name, so compare numbers before you assume you need something new.

What the certifications tell you, and what they do not

Filter listings throw around a lot of numbers, so it helps to read them as the listings themselves explain them. Amazon Basics describes NSF/ANSI 42 as covering chlorine, taste and odor, and 372 as covering lead-free materials. Waterdrop describes 53 as covering reductions such as lead and mercury, and 401 as covering substances such as bisphenol A and some pharmaceuticals. A filter with only 42 and 372 is a taste filter with lead-free parts. It is not making the claims a 53 filter makes.

Also look at who is certifying. Some listings name NSF International or IAPMO R&T, some name neither, and some say only “certified”. The everydrop titles state NSF 42, 53 and 401, while the Whirlpool-label WHR1RXD1 says only “NSF Certified”. We report each claim as it is stated and have not confirmed compatible brands’ certificates in a directory ourselves. If a claim matters to you, look the model up in the certifier’s own listing before you buy. None of this tells you what is in your own water; your water utility’s annual report is the place to start.

Our picks for the best water filter for Whirlpool refrigerator owners

Five everydrop filters come first, then the Whirlpool label for Filter 1, and last two compatibles from brands that state what they certify. Our main guide covers everydrop Filter 1 itself.

How to choose a Whirlpool refrigerator filter

1. Start with the number and color

It is the easiest rule in this category, and the maker asks you to follow it. Everything else on this page comes second.

2. Decide genuine or compatible

Whirlpool warns that non-genuine filters may cause damage, and its everydrop Value listing says damage from non-genuine filters is not covered by its warranty. That is worth weighing while your fridge is in warranty.

3. Compare value lines carefully

There is also an everydrop Value Filter 4, listed as NSF certified for lead, chlorine, taste and odor, but it does not name the standard numbers. If you want the full NSF 42, 53 and 401 claim, the standard line is the one that states it.

4. Read your own filter’s reductions

The listed count runs from 28 to 75 across this line. A count is only useful in terms of what is in your own water, and your utility’s annual report will tell you more than a number on a box.

5. Change on time

Whirlpool says every six months or 200 gallons. Set a reminder, or use your fridge’s filter light, and run a little water through after a change.

How we picked these eight Whirlpool filters

We started with the genuine everydrop line, used only the parts that were plainly in stock, and added compatibles that name a standard. That gives six parts from one maker, which is the honest result for a brand-specific page: each is a different fit, not a color of the same filter. Everydrop Filter 1 itself is on our main guide, so it is not repeated here, and we say so. We did not test these filters or confirm certificates in a directory. We also checked the CPSC recall database by brand and found no recall for these water filters.

Whirlpool water filter questions, answered

Is everydrop made by Whirlpool?

Yes, the listings call it “everydrop by Whirlpool” and describe it as the official filter for Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Amana and JennAir.

How do I know which everydrop filter I need?

Match the number or letter and color on your old filter. Your manual or the fridge’s model number will also tell you.

Do everydrop filters remove lead?

The everydrop listings say they are certified to reduce heavy metals among other contaminants, and the Whirlpool-label Filter 1 listing says 99 percent of lead. Check the performance data sheet for your own filter.

How often should I change a Whirlpool filter?

Every six months or 200 gallons, according to the everydrop listings.

Can I use a compatible filter in a Whirlpool refrigerator?

Many are sold for these fridges, and some state certifications. Whirlpool warns against them and says damage from non-genuine filters is not covered under its warranty.

Our last word on Whirlpool filters

Match your number and color, buy the everydrop and change it on time. For Filter 1 and other fridge brands, see our refrigerator water filter guide, and if you want a dedicated line, see our inline refrigerator water filter guide. For a night off the kitchen entirely, see our menu and call to order.