Hotpoint fridge water filters

The Hotpoint sold in the UK belongs to Whirlpool, following the Whirlpool takeover of the Indesit and Hotpoint Europe business. Its American style fridges use the Whirlpool SBS002 cartridge, sold directly by Hotpoint's own UK site. This is a different company and a different part to the US brand Hotpoint, which is owned by Haier and takes a GE-style filter that does not apply here.

How to identify your Hotpoint fridge

The rating plate with the full model number is inside the fridge, usually on the side wall or behind the salad drawer.

The SBS002 cartridge is fitted in the base grille at the front bottom of the fridge, the same position as on Whirlpool's own fridges, since Hotpoint's UK American style range is built by Whirlpool.

Water filters for Hotpoint 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
SBS002	Internal cartridge fitted in the base grille at the front bottom of the fridge, quarter turn fitting	Every 6 months

Where Hotpoint owners go wrong

Searching for a Hotpoint filter and buying the US GE branded XWFE, which is the correct part for the separate, Haier owned US Hotpoint brand and does not fit a UK Hotpoint fridge.
Assuming Hotpoint UK is the same company as the Hotpoint sold in the United States: the two brands have been owned separately since Whirlpool bought the Indesit and Hotpoint Europe business.

When to change the filter

Whirlpool, which owns the UK Hotpoint brand, recommends a change every six months for this cartridge.

Hotpoint water filters: common questions

Is Hotpoint UK the same brand as the Hotpoint sold in America?

No. The UK Hotpoint brand belongs to Whirlpool, following its acquisition of the Indesit and Hotpoint Europe business. The US Hotpoint brand belongs to Haier and is a separate company with separate parts. Always buy against the UK reference confirmed on this site if your fridge was bought in the UK.

See current Hotpoint water filter prices on Amazon UK

Tools, space and preparation before you remove the old cartridge

Put a shallow tray or a folded towel on the floor in front of the base grille before you start. A small amount of water normally escapes when the old cartridge is released, commonly a few spoonfuls rather than a full bowl, but it is enough to mark a wooden floor if it is left under the plinth.

Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the whole job if access to the base grille is clear.
Leave at least 40 cm of free floor space in front of the fridge so you can see the cartridge head and turn it squarely.
Use a torch if the kitchen lighting casts a shadow under the doors.
Have a 1 litre jug ready for the first water draw after fitting.
Do not use pliers on the cartridge body. Hand force is enough when the cartridge is correctly aligned.

If the fridge is set into a tight cabinet run, open both doors fully before you start. On many American style layouts the door edge blocks your view of the base grille when it is only half open. If the fridge has just been moved, wait until it is standing level again before fitting the filter, because a twisted cabinet can make the grille and cartridge opening harder to line up.

Step by step fitting procedure for the base grille cartridge

Start with the water dispenser not in use. You do not normally need to turn off the household water supply for a quarter turn internal fridge cartridge, but you should stop and isolate the supply if water continues to run after the old cartridge has been removed.

Open the freezer door far enough to give clear access to the front bottom grille.
Find the old cartridge in the grille opening and note its current handle position before turning it.
Turn the cartridge a quarter turn anticlockwise, about 90 degrees, until it releases from the head.
Pull it straight out, keeping it level, so trapped water stays inside the old cartridge.
Check that the sealing area in the filter head is clean and that no old seal or broken plastic has remained in the socket.
Insert the new cartridge straight into the head, without forcing it upward or sideways.
Turn it clockwise a quarter turn until it stops. The final position should feel firm, not loose or springy.
Dispense water into a jug in several short draws until the flow is steady and any trapped air has cleared.

Use the first litre for flushing, not for drinking or making ice. If the dispenser spits air, pause for 10 seconds and continue in short bursts. This is usually air from the cartridge and pipework, not a fault. If flow does not return after 2 to 3 litres, remove the cartridge and refit it, because the bayonet lugs may not be fully seated.

Figures to go by during fitting and flushing

Check	Practical figure	What it means
Cartridge turn	About 90 degrees	A quarter turn is enough. More force can damage the head.
Normal fitting time	10 to 15 minutes	Includes wiping the grille and flushing the first water.
Initial flush	At least 1 litre	Clears air and loose carbon fines before normal use.
Air clearing	Several short draws of 5 to 10 seconds	Short draws reduce splashing at the dispenser.
Leak check	Check again after 10 minutes	Some slow drips only show after pressure has rebuilt.

After fitting, wipe the cartridge end and the floor dry, then check the same area again after the fridge has been left pressurised for a few minutes. A dry tissue is useful because it shows a small leak before a visible drip forms.

If your appliance uses the SBS002 layout, use the dedicated fitting notes on the Hotpoint SBS002 filter page before ordering or replacing the cartridge. General water taste, flow and warning light questions are covered in the fridge water filter FAQ.

Common mistakes, recovery steps and special cases

If the old cartridge will not turn, do not crush it with grips. Push it inward firmly, then try the quarter turn again. Pressure on the cartridge face helps the bayonet lugs unload. If it still will not move, dry your hands and use a rubber glove for grip rather than a metal tool.

If the new cartridge goes in but springs back, it is not seated in the head. Remove it, look into the socket with a torch and insert it again in a straight line. The usual cause is starting the turn before the cartridge is fully home. If it feels cross threaded, stop at once, although this is a bayonet fitting, because forcing it can scar the plastic head.

If water flow is weak after replacement, run the dispenser in short pulls for 2 to 3 minutes total, with pauses between pulls. If the flow improves gradually, the issue was air. If there is no improvement, remove and refit the cartridge. Also check that the fridge water supply valve behind the appliance has not been partly closed during cleaning.

If the filter warning light remains on, treat it as a timer unless your specific fridge manual says otherwise. Many fridge indicators count time or dispenser use and do not test the filter media. Reset the indicator only after the new cartridge is fitted and flushed, so the next reminder is close to the real change date.

For rented homes, recently purchased used fridges and appliances without paperwork, take a clear photo of the rating plate and the cartridge position before buying. Do not rely on the name on the door alone, because the same visible Hotpoint badge can lead to the wrong family of parts if the appliance history is unknown.