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Water Filter for the Amana AFI2538AEW5 (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:
✓
AFI2538AEW5 specifics — where the filter actually lives
On the AFI2538AEW5, the cartridge inside the fresh-food cavity, upper zone in most French-door builds, so expect to clear one shelf edge before you have working room. It is a twist-lock bay: one twist to release, one to lock; between them you are holding the entire service procedure.
Order-day practicalities: the reset control is the step everyone skips; the light will not acknowledge a new cartridge on its own. Read the prefix and the maintenance writes itself: count on AFI to place this unit among French-door builds; that placement carries the water-path geometry with it. That W5 suffix is trim-level shorthand. Amana kept the EDR4RXD1 bay common to every finish in the line.
AFI vs ARS — what the prefix tells you
Same parts shelf, two cabinet missions — French-door builds carry AFI; side-by-side builds carry ARS. Filter-wise the two lines converge on one cartridge family. By model-code convention the AFI2538AEW5 falls around 2012-2016; treat the dates as a working estimate, not record.
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.
AFI2538AEW5 filter questions
Amana AFI2538AEW5: how do I clear the change-filter light?
The reset is a press-and-hold on the filter control with the cartridge in place; check the AFI2538AEW5 owner’s manual for where that control sits on your panel.
Amana AFI2538AEW5: bypass plug needed without a filter?
You can, but unfiltered — the EDR4RXD1 bay needs no bypass plug; it just passes water through without filtering while the cartridge is out.
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 AFI2538AEW5?
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
This bay takes the OEM EDR4RXD1. 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
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 →