Home › Refrigerator Water Filters › Whirlpool › AFI2538AES12
Water Filter for the Amana AFI2538AES12 (EDR4RXD1)
✓ 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:
✓
AFI2538AES12 specifics — where the filter actually lives
Where the filter actually lives: upper rear of the fresh-food section in most French-door builds with interior dispensers, the same estate every French-door refrigerator in this family uses. Mechanically the AFI2538AES12 uses a twist-in cartridge: seat the cartridge against the o-ring, quarter-turn clockwise, and let the keyed flange do the aligning for you.
Field notes: a first removal that fights a set o-ring, and a status light that needs a manual hold-to-reset before it acknowledges the new cartridge. AFI reads as a chassis statement rather than a trim code: AFI generally indicates the French-door family, so cross-referencing cartridges by chassis rather than by door style usually keeps you out of the wrong-parts queue. A -12 style suffix means running production revisions; filter fit stayed constant across the whole run.
AFI vs ARS — what the prefix tells you
The AFI/ARS pair divides this family by layout — AFI answers to French-door; ARS answers to side-by-side; the water-filter answer is shared. Catalog convention puts the AFI2538AES12 near 2012 to 2016 — an approximation, useful for bracketing the cartridge era only.
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.
AFI2538AES12 filter questions
AFI2538AES12 filter light will not turn off — what is the reset step?
Lock in the new cartridge first, then hold the reset control for a few seconds — the AFI2538AES12 manual documents the button for each panel variant.
Does the Amana AFI2538AES12 need a bypass plug when the filter is out?
The bay self-seals: with no cartridge the AFI2538AES12 still dispenses, just unfiltered. No bypass plug exists for this line.
Are off-brand filters safe for an Amana 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 EDR4RXD1 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 AFI2538AES12?
Every six months or at the rated gallon capacity, whichever comes first — the EDR4RXD1 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
| Cartridge | OEM EDR4RXD1 | RECOMMENDEDUKF8001 Replacement Water Filter · 1-Pack – ClearFit | EDR4RXD1 EveryDrop Filter 4 Replacement · 1-Pack – ClearFit | UKF8001 Replacement Water Filter · 3-Pack – ClearFit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | OEM list | $17.99 | $17.99 | $44.97 |
| Verified fit | ✓ the bay cartridge | View & buy → | View & buy → | View & buy → |
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
Related guides
POPULAR GUIDE
How to change a Whirlpool refrigerator water filter
Every Filter 1–6 bay location — including the door-mounted bays on WRX models, with door-open angles and cap-release quirks. — read the guide →
POPULAR GUIDE
How to reset your Whirlpool filter light
Filter 1–6 indicator maps showing which key actually clears the light on your panel. — read the guide →
WATER PROBLEM GUIDE
Does your fridge filter remove fluoride?
What EDR1RXD1-class carbon blocks actually take out — and the systems that do remove fluoride. — read the guide →