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Water Filter for the GE ESS25LGNABB (MWF)
✓ 100% compatible — no bypass plug needed
🔧 5-min push-in swap
🇺🇸 Ships from Indiana
Every cartridge that fits this model — pulled live from the catalogue:
✓
ESS25LGNABB specifics — where the filter actually lives
The ESS25LGNABB carries its water filter bottom of the fresh-food column or at the grille line in most side-by-side builds, the same estate every E-series side-by-side refrigerator in this family uses. The seat is a twist-in design — offer the cartridge, feel the base o-ring register, and lock it by geometry rather than by force.
Two quirks worth knowing before you order: carbon fines in the first pours are normal for a fresh bed, and the filter timer only restarts when you hold the reset. Prefix literacy pays here: ESS typically codes for E-series side-by-side machines in this catalog, and in that format the water path is long enough that a neglected cartridge shows up as flow drop before it shows up as taste. Trailing letters like BB denote trim and finish: stainless, panel-ready, handle variants. The water path is identical across them.
ESS vs HSS — what the prefix tells you
Two prefixes, two missions: The door count differs — E-series side-by-side against side-by-side — but the bay and the cartridge order do not. Cabinet decode: 25 cubic feet — the number that tells you whether this cartridge feeds a family-size dispenser or a compact one.
Swap it in 5 minutes
- Twist the old cartridge a quarter turn counterclockwise and pull it straight down — keep a towel in reach for the dribble.
- Fill the new cartridge with cold tap water so the chamber is not fighting an air pocket.
- Offer the new cartridge to the bay, push up, and twist a quarter turn clockwise until the stop catches.
- Run two gallons through the dispenser to flush carbon fines, then hold the filter-reset control until the status light clears.
What this filter takes out of your water
| What it targets | Standard that covers it |
|---|---|
| Chlorine taste & odor | NSF/ANSI 42 — aesthetic effects |
| Particulates, Class I | NSF/ANSI 42 — fine sediment |
| Lead | NSF/ANSI 53 — health effects |
| Cysts (cryptosporidium, giardia) | NSF/ANSI 53 — microbial |
| PFOA & PFOS | NSF/ANSI 53 (P473) — varies by cartridge |
Coverage above lists what the standard addresses, not a performance claim for any specific cartridge — removal claims vary by certificate, so check the NSF listing for the exact part number you are buying.
ESS25LGNABB filter questions
ESS25LGNABB filter light will not turn off — what is the reset step?
Press and hold the reset control until the light clears (a few seconds), with the new cartridge already seated — the ESS25LGNABB owner’s manual lists the button location for your control panel.
Can I run the GE ESS25LGNABB with no cartridge installed?
Nothing to buy — the MWF housing closes without a cartridge; water runs unfiltered until the next one goes in.
Are off-brand filters safe for a GE refrigerator?
Certified aftermarket cartridges are built to the same NSF test standards as the OEM part, and federal warranty law (Magnuson-Moss) protects your coverage when you use them.
Why is the OEM MWF cartridge so much more expensive?
Part of the OEM price is the badge and the distribution chain. Certified alternatives meet the same test standards at a lower unit price, especially in multi-packs.
How often should I replace the filter in my ESS25LGNABB?
Every six months or at the rated gallon capacity, whichever comes first — the MWF class cartridges all share that service interval.
Do I need to turn off the water supply to change it?
No — the bay is designed for a live swap. Expect a small dribble, keep a towel in reach, and flush a couple of gallons through the new cartridge before the first glass.
Every filter that fits your fridge
This bay takes the OEM MWF. ClearFit verified-fit alternatives for this exact slot are being staged — every compatible option for your fridge is one lookup away.
Check every filter that fits →This filter expires six months from today
Your HVAC filter is probably on a different cycle. Track them all in one place.
months until this filter should be replaced (200-gal rated life)
Free tool · tracks fridge + HVAC + whole-house · auto-refill optional
More models using this filter
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