Finding the Best Kenmore Water Filter: Tips & Tricks

Let’s talk replacement filters for your Kenmore refrigerator.

At its core, this decision is about using a name brand filter versus a third party alternative, which is almost always much cheaper.

So it comes down to this: do the third-party filters work just as well? Or should you pony up for the name brand?

After several hours of research, including talking with our readers who’ve tried both approaches with their Kenmore refrigerators, we came down to this conclusion: third-party filters are an acceptable alternative that work well . . . and save you money to boot.

We also spoke with appliance industry veterans who confirm the performance of third-party filters is on par with the name brand options.

That said, we know some folks preferred the tried and true, sticking with a name-brand replacement. Nothing wrong with that, of course.

Before ordering any of these filters, double check compatibility with your refrigerator model—water filters that fit Kenmore refrigerators come in a couple of different models.

Here are the best bets:

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!