If you have been looking for how to remove a Kenmore refrigerator water filter, ice maker, or even water line, look no further than this article.
Table of Contents
How to Remove a Kenmore Refrigerator Water Filter
To remove a Kenmore refrigerator water filter, do the following:
Step 1
Unplug the refrigerator from the wall outlet. For some units, this may be difficult so just flip the switch on the circuit breaker.
Step 2
Turn the water supply to the refrigerator off. Do this to avoid water spilling everywhere. Take it a step further by laying a towel close to the bottom edge of the unit.
Step 3
Along the refrigerator’s bottom, you will find the handle of the water filter protruding. Grab it through the bottom grille and turn it counterclockwise until loosens and releases from the water filter housing.
Pull the filter out and remove the handle from its back. You will need it for the new filter.
For a Kenmore Elite refrigerator, the water filter is inside the unit, at the top left corner. Press the sides to loosen the cover of the housing and drop it down. Then, lower the filter just like the housing cover and pull it out.
If the filter housing cover or water filter can drop down far enough, you may have to remove the top shelf inside the refrigerator to create more space.
How to Remove the Ice Dispenser Cover on a Kenmore Refrigerator
Removing the cover on the front of the ice dispenser on a Kenmore refrigerator is quite easy. Find the two small slots at the bottom of the front cover, slide a small flat-blade screwdriver or putty knife into them, one after the other, and pop the cover off.
How to Remove a Kenmore Elite Refrigerator Air Filter
To remove the air filter from a Kenmore Elite refrigerator, find the filter inside the refrigerator, at the center back. With a little force, twist the cover counterclockwise to pop it off. The filter is inside the cover so just lift it up and out.
How to Remove a Kenmore Refrigerator Door
To remove the door on a Kenmore refrigerator, take the following steps:
Step 1
Turn off the refrigerator from the temperature dial; turn it down to the lowest or press the button to turn it off if it has a button.
Step 2
Empty the contents of the door bins so the door is not heavy. If you want to, remove the door bins to make for easier removal.
Step 3
With a nut driver, remove the screw that holds the cover of the hinge in place. You will see 3 screws holding the hinge in place. Use a ratchet to loosen and remove them. Then, pivot the hinge to the side.
Step 4
Now, gently and carefully pull the door a little out and lift it up so it comes off the hinge at the bottom. Set the door aside.
These steps work for the door without a water line running through it. If the door has a dispenser and water line running through it, remove the cover of the hinge and locate the line at the top.
Disconnect the line from the top and pull it out from the bottom. Then, loosen the screws on the hinge, pivot the hinge to the side, and lift the door up and out.
For a Kenmore Elite Refrigerator
If the refrigerator has a freezer at the bottom, remove the left door by first disconnecting the water supply line. To do this, find the connector on the lie and press it to release the line. Then, pull the line out of the connector.
Next, open the door and unmount the screw holding the cover the hinge in place. Then, lift and remove the cover. Now, pull out the water line and remove the wire connectors as well as the grounding screw.
Turn the lever of the hinge away and remove the hinge from the latch, all the while, holding the door so it does not fall. Afterward, lift the door up and away from the hinge at the middle.
For the right door, simply remove the screw on the cover of the hinge and lift off the cover. Next, turn the lever of the hinge away and remove the hinge from the latch. Grab the door, lift it up and release it from the hinge at the middle.
The same steps apply to a side-by-side Kenmore Elite refrigerator. The only difference is that you will lift the doors off the hinges at the bottom because there is no middle hinge.
How to Remove a Kenmore Refrigerator Door Handle
To remove the door handle on a Kenmore refrigerator, disconnect the unit from electric power and open the door of the refrigerator. Find the screws securing the top of the handle to the door. Unmount them and set them aside carefully. Then, move the handle away from the corner guard.
Next, push the bottom part of the handle with some force to the right to release it from the fastener holding it in place. Finally, lift the handle up and out.
Some handles don’t have screws; you have to push them up to release them from the mounting plugs. Use some force to release them without breaking the fasteners.
How to Remove a Kenmore Refrigerator Ice Maker
Take the following steps to remove the ice maker in a Kenmore refrigerator:
Step 1
Disconnect the refrigerator from electric power by unplugging it or tripping the circuit breaker.
Step 2
Open the door of the freezer and pull out the ice bucket and chiller. You will see the ice maker’s mounting bracket once you remove them. With a Phillips screwdriver, loosen the bracket’s screws but don’t remove them completely.
Step 3
Lift the ice maker up until the screws drop down and are loose. Then, lower the ice maker to clear it from the tabs. Now, you will be able to reach the back of the ice maker and disconnect the connections and remove the machine completely from the refrigerator.
How to Remove a Kenmore Refrigerator Light Bulb Cover
To remove the cover of the light bulb in a Kenmore refrigerator, insert a small knife from the edge to et under it. Then, pop the cover out but do this gently.
How to Remove the Bottom Drawer from a Kenmore Refrigerator
To remove the bottom drawer from a Kenmore refrigerator, pull out the drawer to its full extension. Go to the rail on the left and with a flat-blade screwdriver, push the tab in order to loosen the drawer and detach it from the rail.
Next, go to the right side of the drawer and push the tab there to loosen the drawer. Now, you can lift up the drawer and pull it out to remove it.
Here is a video showing how to remove the bottom drawer from a Kenmore refrigerator…
Check out these other articles…
Kenmore Refrigerator Door [Problems & Solutions]
Kenmore Ice Maker Filter [Problems & Solutions]
Kenmore Refrigerator Keeps Making Ice [How to Fix]
Kenmore Refrigerator Inlet Valve [Issues & Solutions]
Kenmore Refrigerator Water Line [Problems & Solutions]
How to Set Up a Kenmore Refrigerator [Quick Guide]
Kenmore Refrigerator Is Not Cold Enough [Solutions]
How to Remove Back Panel of a Kenmore Refrigerator
To remove the back panel of a Kenmore refrigerator, move the refrigerator to create space at the back. You may need to find someone to help you do this if the refrigerator is heavy or is not on wheels. Disconnect the refrigerator from power after moving it.
Next, find the screws holding the back panel to the refrigerator and unmount them using a crosshead or flat-head screwdriver. Hold the panel on both sides and lift it out of the way.
Some panels don’t have any screws holding them in place. You just need to pop them off the back of the refrigerator.
How to Remove Bottom Grill on Kenmore Refrigerator
To remove the bottom grill on a Kenmore refrigerator, open the doors, place your fingers on the curved part, and push it down. The grill will snap off the bottom of the unit.
This video demonstrates it…
How to Remove a Kenmore Refrigerator Door Gasket
To remove the door gasket on a Kenmore refrigerator, find the retainer around the perimeter of the door. Lift the inside edge of the gasket o you can loosen the screws holding the retainer in place. Don’t completely remove the screws so the door can remain intact.
The gasket will slide right out from the retainer as you loosen the screws. If you have to help it out, do so but use a lot of force.
Watch this video for a visual demonstration…
How to Remove a Kenmore Refrigerator Water Dispenser
To remove a Kenmore refrigerator water dispenser, you need a putty knife. Slide the knife into the bottom edge of the dispenser and start prying it loose gently. Move along the bottom to the side as you gently loosen the dispenser. Do this until the dispenser loosens from the body of the refrigerator.
Gently and carefully lower it because there are wires connected to the back of it. Balance the dispenser and disconnect the wire harnesses. Then, you can remove it.
For a Kenmore Elite refrigerator, pull out the drip tray and remove it. You will see screws holding the dispenser cover in place at the bottom. Remove them and slide up the cover to lift it off the front of the dispenser.
Disconnect the wire harness at the back of the dispenser cover and place the cover in a safe place. Next, unmount the screws that hold the module in place. Then, lift the module and disconnect the harness at its back to remove it completely.
How to Remove Glass from Kenmore Refrigerator Shelf
To remove the glass from a Kenmore refrigerator shelf, slide the glass back a little. Then, place your hand under it and lift it carefully. Next, slide it slowly out of the frame and hold it with the other hand. Now, the glass is separate from the shelf.
If the glass does not slide out, look for locking tabs under the plastic frame, to the right and to the left. Release the tabs before you can slide the glass out.
How to Remove Ice Tray from Kenmore Refrigerator
You cannot remove the ice tray from a Kenmore refrigerator. The ice tray is the mold that holds water that freezes and forms ice cubes. It cannot be separated from the ice maker. So if you are looking to remove the tray, you will have to remove the ice maker.
But if you are looking to remove the ice bucket, simply lift it slightly and pull it toward you and out of the freezer.
How to Remove the Front Panel on a Kenmore Refrigerator
To remove the front panel on a Kenmore refrigerator, first, disconnect the unit from electric power. Next, look for a notch at the bottom of the front panel and when you find it, insert a small flat-head screwdriver into it. Pry off the panel, one section at a time, and move around the panel until you pry it off completely.
How to Remove a Kenmore Refrigerator Water Line
To remove a Kenmore refrigerator water line, do the following:
Step 1
Unplug the refrigerator from electric power and turn the water supply off by turning off the valve under the sink.
Step 2
Lay a towel under the water filter compartment to absorb water when you remove the water filter. Next, turn the filter to the left to loosen and release it. Once it is free, remove it out of the compartment.
Step 3
Loosen the single screw that holds the water filter compartment in place with a screwdriver. Then, remove the screw and pull the compartment forward to release it from the locking tab at the back. The housing will drop down and out of the way.
Step 4
Go to the back of the refrigerator and disconnect the water line from the water inlet valve. With a wrench, loosen the connector securing the line to the valve and take it out of the way.
Remove the access panel at the back and unmount the screw that holds the inlet valve to the refrigerator frame. Do this with a Phillips screwdriver. Once loose, lift the valve out and release the tabs locking the water line to the valve so you can pull it out.
Step 5
Set the inlet valve aside and loosen the screws on the clamps that secure the water line to the back of the refrigerator, up to the top. At the top, pull the blue water line out using the wrench to hold the release collar. Next, remove the screw holding the cover on the lines and lift off the cover. Set it aside.
Step 6
Go to the front of the refrigerator and pull the water filter housing toward you. As you do so, the water line comes out of the refrigerator. Look inside the housing when it is close enough and you will see where the line connects with a locking tab.
Pull out the locking tab and remove the line from the housing, using the wrench to hold the locking collar in place.
Now, you can go around back again and pull out the water line from the Kenmore refrigerator.
This video shows how to remove the water line from a Kenmore refrigerator and replace it…
How to Remove the Drip Pan from a Kenmore Refrigerator
The drip pan on a Kenmore refrigerator is not designed to be removable. Therefore, cleaning it may be near impossible if you cannot find a way to empty the pan.
But on a Kenmore Coldspot refrigerator, take a look at the bottom in front. If the refrigerator has a grille there, remove it to access the drip pan. If there is no grille, go through the bottom back panel to reach the pan. It pulls straight out in the type of Kenmore refrigerator.
How to Remove a Stuck Water Filter from a Kenmore Refrigerator
To remove a stuck water filter from a Kenmore refrigerator, wiggle the filter while you are trying to remove it. Sometimes, deposits cause the old water filter to stick to the housing and wiggling it loosens the deposits.
If the wiggling does not release the stuck filter, turn off the water supply from the source and dispense some water from the dispense to reduce the pressure. Then, try again. The pressure of water coming into the refrigerator may cause it to stick.
Try extending the filter head fully out from the water filter housing if you remove the filter by pulling it down and swinging it out. If the filter remains stuck, try pulling it out before removing it.
It is important to always use a water filter that is recommended for Kenmore refrigerators. Using another type may cause it to stick or affect the flow and quality of water.
How to Remove the Light Switch on a Kenmore Refrigerator
To remove the light switch on a Kenmore refrigerator, turn off the power from the unit by disconnecting it. Remove the single screw that holds the control housing to the roof inside the refrigerator.
Pull the housing down and disconnect the wire connector. Next, press the locking tab by the side of the housing inwards and push the switch out of the housing. Finally, disconnect the wires from the switch.
Recap
This detailed guide on how to remove a Kenmore refrigerator part will help you replace faulty components. Most of them are pretty easy to do while the rest may require professional help. If you find any part too difficult, contact Kenmore for further assistance or chat with our appliance technicians who are ready to help with any appliance problem.
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