Daewoo fridge water filters

Daewoo fridges sold in the UK, including older American style models rebadged for John Lewis, generally use an external in line filter on the water supply pipe rather than an internal cartridge.

How to identify your Daewoo fridge

The rating plate with the full model number is inside the fridge compartment. On older John Lewis branded American style fridges built by Daewoo, the model number will read JLAFFS or JLAFFB followed by digits rather than showing the Daewoo name.

The cartridge itself is not inside the fridge: look behind the appliance, on the water pipe running from the mains stop tap to the fridge inlet. It is a sealed cylinder clipped into the line with a push fit connector at each end, and its own reference is printed along the body rather than on the rating plate.

Water filters for Daewoo fridges

Each reference below has its own page on this site with the full list of fridges it fits, the fitting steps and the mistakes that send people back to buy a second cartridge.

Filter reference	Fitting position	Change interval
DD7098	External, in line on the cold water supply pipe, quarter inch push fit connectors	Every 6 months

Where Daewoo owners go wrong

Assuming a Daewoo fridge has an internal cartridge: most confirmed models use an external inline filter on the water supply pipe instead.
Searching only under the Daewoo name when the fridge was actually sold as a John Lewis branded appliance manufactured by Daewoo.
Refitting the cartridge the wrong way round. An inline filter carries a flow arrow on its body that has to point towards the fridge, and a reversed cartridge pushes water through the carbon bed backwards, releasing what it has already trapped instead of holding it.
Pulling the old cartridge out before closing the stop tap on the mains supply. The pipe stays under pressure until that tap is shut, and the connectors release with a sharp push rather than a pull.

When to change the filter

A six month change interval is the usual guidance for this style of external cartridge, and an inline filter sitting behind the appliance is easy to forget: writing the fitting date on the body with a marker at the moment you install it is the simplest reminder, since there is no dashboard light to prompt you.

Daewoo water filters: common questions

My fridge says John Lewis, not Daewoo, does this filter apply?

If the model number matches JLAFFS2009 or JLAFFB2011, yes: these were John Lewis branded American style fridges manufactured by Daewoo and confirmed to use the DD7098 external cartridge on this site's model page.

Do I need to flush the new cartridge before drinking the water?

Yes. Draw several litres off through the dispenser and pour them away, in short bursts rather than one continuous draw. New carbon gives off fine dust and trapped air on first use, so the first glasses can look cloudy or grey; that clears once the bed is wetted right through.

The water still tastes fine, can I leave the old cartridge in?

Taste is a late signal rather than an early one. Once a cartridge is past its capacity it stops holding chlorine and can give back some of what it captured, which is why the interval is set on how much water has passed through rather than on how the water tastes.

See current Daewoo water filter prices on Amazon UK

Tools, space and measurements to check before you start

Plan the job as a plumbing task, not as a fridge task. The working area is normally behind or beside the appliance, so pull the fridge forward only as far as the water pipe and power lead allow. If the pipe is tight, do not drag the fridge further, because the push fit joints can be loaded sideways and start leaking after the new cartridge is fitted.

Have a towel, a shallow tray and a torch ready before opening any connector.
Use a permanent marker to write the fitting date and the flow direction on the visible side of the new cartridge.
Check that the pipe is quarter inch outside diameter, which is about 6.35 mm, before assuming it matches the cartridge connections.
Leave at least 50 mm of straight pipe before each connector where possible, because a bent pipe end may not seal evenly in a push fit fitting.
Keep the old cartridge nearby until the new one has been tested for leaks, so you can compare flow direction and connector seating.

The pipe end must be round, clean and free from deep scratches. If a pipe has been crushed by the fridge roller or kinked behind a cabinet, cutting back to a clean section is safer than refitting to the damaged part. Do not use sealant tape on a push fit connector, because the seal is made inside the fitting, not on a screw thread.

Step by step replacement procedure

Turn off the small cold water stop tap feeding the fridge. Dispense water from the fridge for about 5 to 10 seconds to release most of the trapped pressure, then stop when the flow fades. Switch the fridge off at the socket if access allows, mainly to avoid running the dispenser pump or valve while the line is open.

Put the towel and tray under the old cartridge. Push the pipe gently into the connector first, hold the collar squarely against the connector body, then pull the pipe out while keeping the collar pressed in. This movement is often missed: pulling alone usually tightens the grip rather than releasing it.

Fit the inlet pipe into the new cartridge until it reaches the internal stop. On a quarter inch push fit connector this final movement is small, but it should feel positive. Fit the outlet pipe in the same way, with the marked flow direction pointing towards the fridge. Tug each pipe lightly after fitting. The pipe should not pull back out.

Open the stop tap slowly, only a quarter turn at first, and watch both joints for 60 seconds. If the joints stay dry, open the tap fully and flush the cartridge into a jug or through the dispenser as described on the specific cartridge page. The DD7098 page gives the cartridge specific fitting notes where they apply.

Figures to use while diagnosing flow and leaks

Check	Practical figure	What it tells you
Pipe size	Quarter inch outside diameter, about 6.35 mm	A visibly smaller or larger tube is not the correct direct fit for this style of connector.
Initial leak check	At least 60 seconds with the tap partly open	Small weeps often appear only after the connector has filled and pressurised.
Second leak check	5 minutes after full pressure is restored	A pipe that was not fully inserted can creep under pressure.
Clearance behind fridge	Enough room for the cartridge and pipe bends without crushing	A cartridge trapped against the wall can load the fittings and cause a delayed leak.
Change interval	About 6 months in normal use	A calendar reminder is more reliable than waiting for taste or flow changes.

If water flow is weak immediately after fitting, first check that the stop tap is fully open. Then check that no pipe has folded when the fridge was pushed back. A tight 90 degree bend behind the appliance can reduce flow enough to make the dispenser slow even when the filter is fitted correctly.

Frequent faults, recovery steps and special cases

If a connector drips, close the stop tap, depressurise the line and remove the pipe. Look for a scored ring around the pipe end. Cut back a small clean section only if there is enough spare pipe to refit without tension. Reinsert the pipe squarely and test again before moving the fridge back.

If the cartridge was fitted the wrong way round, close the tap and refit it in the correct direction. Do not try to correct the problem by flushing for a long period while it remains reversed. Once refitted, flush again until the water runs clear and steady. If taste or particles continue after repeated flushing, replace the cartridge rather than leaving a contaminated line in use.

If there is no local stop tap behind the fridge, use the nearest upstream cold water isolation valve. In some kitchens this may be under the sink. If you cannot identify the valve, do not release the push fit connector under pressure. The small amount of time saved is not worth the risk of flooding a cabinet or floor void.

For a John Lewis branded appliance made by Daewoo, identify the fridge by the full model number and identify the cartridge by the printing on the filter body. These are two separate checks. If the model label is unreadable, the safest route is to compare the installed inline cartridge position, pipe size and connector type before ordering. General help on symptoms after fitting is covered in the FAQ.