Frigidaire FRSS2623AW Water Filter Replacement Guide
Quick Answer
The water filter in your Frigidaire FRSS2623AW keeps your ice clear and your water tasting fresh by scrubbing out lead, chlorine, and cysts. The most common sign it is time for a swap is when your water dispenser starts trickling like a leaky faucet or your ice cubes look cloudy and small.
Here's what most people don't think about: ignoring that little red light doesn't just mean bad-tasting water. A clogged filter builds up backpressure that can wear out your water inlet valve way faster than it should, and that's an $80-150 part plus labor. This swap takes literally five minutes. You don't need any real tools. If you can change a light bulb, you can absolutely do this.
Look, I've swapped out probably a thousand of these things over the years. For a typical family of four, six months is about right before you need a new one. Got hard water? You'll probably see the flow slow down closer to month four. And honestly, once that Replace Filter light goes red, the carbon inside has basically given up and you're just running water through a fancy plastic tube at that point.
Most Likely Causes
Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:
Carbon block saturation from standard use60%
Heavy sediment buildup from local water supply25%
Air pockets trapped in the filter media10%
Improper seating or O-ring issues5%
Symptoms You May Notice
Filling an 8-ounce glass takes 15-20 seconds when it used to take about 5. That slow trickle is usually the first thing people notice.
Ice cubes are coming out noticeably smaller, hollow in the middle, or kind of cloudy and misshapen.
Your water has a distinct chlorine smell or that weird metallic taste, kind of like you're drinking out of a garden hose.
Tiny black specks floating in your water glass or showing up in your ice, those are carbon fines from a filter that's starting to break down.
That Replace Filter indicator on your dispenser panel has been red or blinking and you've been hitting snooze on it for a while.
Can you reset a Frigidaire refrigerator to clear the PWF-1 code?
Find the Water Filter button on your dispenser panel and hold it down for three seconds. You'll see the light switch from red to green or the Replace message will clear out. That's it, done. If your FRSS2623AW has the touchscreen display, tap Settings from the main screen and look for Filter Life or Water Filter Reset. If three seconds doesn't work on the first try, hold it for five. A few people have had to unplug the fridge for 30 seconds first, then plug back in and try the reset again.
Tools Required for Diagnosis
Thick towel or rag8-ounce measuring cupLarge pitcher or bucket (for flushing, about 3 gallons)Phone or kitchen timer (for flow rate test)
Diagnostic Checklist
Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.
Replacement Parts
If your diagnostic testing proves the component has failed, you will need a replacement. We recommend OEM parts over aftermarket for water-handling components.
Part Name
OEM Number
Estimated Price
PurePour PWF-1 Water FilterFPPWFU01 · $45–$59
FPPWFU01
$45 – $59
PureAir Ultra II Air FilterPAULTRA2 · $18–$25
PAULTRA2
$18 – $25
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need a PWF-1 or a PureSource 3 filter?
The FRSS2623AW specifically uses the PWF-1, also marketed as the PurePour filter. It's that long slender cylinder with the push-to-release mechanism. The PureSource 3 looks similar from a distance but it's a totally different mount and won't seat properly in your housing. Best way to confirm? Pull out your current filter and look for the part number printed on the label. It'll say PWF-1 right on it. And always double-check your model number inside the door before ordering, because Frigidaire uses several different filter designs across their lineup.
Why is my water dispenser still slow after changing the filter?
If you've got a brand new filter and the flow is still slow, don't panic. Nine times out of ten when I see this, there's air trapped in the filter or somewhere in the water line. You probably just haven't flushed enough yet. Run another full gallon through and see if it improves. If it's still slow after 4-5 gallons total, then you're probably looking at a kinked supply line behind the fridge, a partially frozen water tank (check if your ice maker is also acting up), or a water inlet valve that's starting to fail. That valve runs about $40-80 to replace.
Can I use an aftermarket filter instead of the Frigidaire brand?
You can, and plenty of people do to save a few bucks. But I've pulled out a bunch of these that were letting water completely bypass the filter media because the housing fitment was slightly off. The OEM Frigidaire PWF-1 is NSF certified and tested specifically in this housing. Aftermarket filters say 'compatible' but that just means they fit, not that they seal right. If you go aftermarket, at least get one that's NSF 42 and 53 certified, not a total generic knockoff. The OEM runs about $40-50 but it goes on sale pretty regularly.
The filter light stayed red after I changed the filter. Why?
The fridge doesn't actually have a sensor that reads filter quality. It's literally just a timer counting six months from whenever you last reset it. So when you put in a new filter, you have to manually tell it to start counting again. Press and hold the Water Filter button for three seconds. If it still doesn't reset, try closing the fridge door first, then hold for five seconds. A few people have had to do a soft reset by unplugging the fridge for 30 seconds, then plugging back in and doing the button hold. That almost always gets it.
What happens if I don't change the filter for a year?
At the one-year mark, a few things have probably happened. The carbon block is completely saturated and isn't removing anything anymore, so you're drinking basically unfiltered tap water through a slow nozzle. Worse, that damp environment inside the filter can actually grow bacteria in the media. And all that sediment buildup can starve your ice maker, causing the harvest motor to overwork or the mold to over-freeze. I've seen inlet valves fail way earlier than they should on fridges where the filter was ignored for 18+ months. Change it every six months, it's a $40-50 filter.
Can I run my refrigerator without the filter installed?
Yeah, you can. There's a bypass plug that should have come with your fridge. It fits into the filter housing and lets water flow through without any filtration. If you can't find yours, Frigidaire sells a replacement bypass plug (part number 241535801) for just a few bucks. Your water and ice will still work fine, you just won't have any filtration happening. Good option if you're waiting on a filter to ship or you've already got a whole-house filtration system doing the job anyway.
Models Known to Experience PWF-1 Errors
This repair applies to most Frigidaire refrigerators with this error code. Common model numbers include: