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Water Filter for the Maytag MFT2976AEW00 (EDR2RXD2)
✓ 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:
✓
MFT2976AEW00 specifics — where the filter actually lives
Where the filter actually lives: inside the fresh-food cavity, upper zone in most French-door builds — usually a kneeling-height or shoulder-height swap, not a teardown. The seat is a twist-in design — the ears on the cartridge neck are the guide — line them up, lift into the seat, and quarter-turn home.
Field notes: expect the first swap to take longer than the box suggests — aged o-rings grip — so budget ten minutes, not five. One prefix, one chassis family: the MFT tag is how the catalog sorts French-door machines — carry it into any fit checker and the right cartridge line follows. The 00 suffix here is a revision index, not a different machine — trim and door hardware can shift between revisions, the filter bay does not.
MFT vs MSD — what the prefix tells you
MFT or MSD: the badge difference that does (and does not) change the filter order. MFT machines are French-door; MSD machines are side-by-side. Both draw from the same cartridge line, which is why fit charts list them together. By model-code convention the MFT2976AEW00 falls around 2012 to 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.
MFT2976AEW00 filter questions
Clearing the filter status light on a Maytag MFT2976AEW00?
Press and hold the reset control until the light clears (a few seconds), with the new cartridge already seated — the MFT2976AEW00 owner’s manual lists the button location for your control panel.
Maytag MFT2976AEW00: bypass plug needed without a filter?
No — run it empty if you like; the EDR2RXD2 bay needs no bypass plug, it simply passes water through untreated.
Are off-brand filters safe for a Maytag 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 EDR2RXD2 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 MFT2976AEW00?
Every six months or at the rated gallon capacity, whichever comes first — the EDR2RXD2 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 EDR2RXD2 | RECOMMENDEDEDR2RXD1 Replacement Water Filter · 1-Pack – ClearFit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | OEM list | $17.99 |
| Verified fit | ✓ the bay cartridge | 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
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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 →