Sub Zero Water Filter: Which One Fits Your Unit (2026)

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Finding the right Sub Zero water filter is simpler than for most fridge brands, because nearly every current built-in Sub-Zero takes the same cartridge: part 4204490. The exceptions matter, though. Some 2008 to 2010 Built-In units use an older 7023812 filter, and the 4204490 fits Classic models only from a specific serial number onward. Sub-Zero units are also expensive, long-lived appliances, so a leak from a poorly fitting cartridge costs more than the filter ever saved. This guide shows how to confirm your part, then compares three genuine Sub-Zero listings and three compatibles.

Part of our Plumbing & Water guide — start there for the full picture →

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How we compared: we compared 11 current Amazon listings for Sub-Zero refrigerator water filters on what each listing states: part numbers and cross-references, units named, certification wording, rated gallons, flow and pressure specs and replacement interval. Four are genuine Sub-Zero and seven are third-party compatibles. We did not lab-test any filter or install them hands-on. Prices and availability change, so check the current listing before buying.

Quick picks: Sub-Zero water filters worth comparing

Product	Best for	Key features	Price	Buy
Sub-Zero 4204490	Most current built-in units	Genuine Sub-Zero cartridge 750-gallon rated capacity Classic, Designer and PRO	$69.00as of Oct 20, 2026 5:33 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
Sub-Zero 4204490 + 7007067	Water and air filter together	Genuine water and air filter Meets or exceeds NSF 42 and 53 Air part 7007067 = 7042798	$134.99as of Oct 20, 2026 5:33 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
Sub-Zero 7023812	2008 to 2010 Built-In units	Genuine older-style cartridge Push in to remove Chlorine, taste and odor	$59.95as of Oct 20, 2026 5:33 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
Caehomly 4204490	Compatible certified for lead	CSA certified to NSF 42 and 53 Lead, VOC and PFAS listed 3 to 6 months or 300 gallons	$29.99as of Oct 20, 2026 5:33 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
GLACIER FRESH GF-ZERO	Budget taste-and-odor compatible	Tested to NSF 42 NSF database model GF-ZERO 6 months or 200 gallons	$37.79as of Oct 20, 2026 5:33 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
Waterdrop WD-F03SZ	Longest unit list	Names BI, IC, IT, PRO and CL units 500 gallons per filter No NSF standard named	$28.99as of Oct 20, 2026 5:33 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price

Prices are Amazon’s listed prices as of the time shown and change often; check Amazon for today’s price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Which filter fits your fridge

The table gathers only what these 11 listings state about part numbers and units. It is a cross-check, not Sub-Zero’s full compatibility list.

How to confirm your Sub-Zero part

Sub-Zero adds a wrinkle other brands do not: serial number matters as well as model. The genuine 4204490 listing says it fits Classic units (the series formerly called Built-In) starting with serial number 4134313, and the 7023812 listing says it fits Built-In units made from 2008 to 2010. A BI-36U from one year may therefore take a different filter than a BI-36U from another.

1. Read the old cartridge. The part number is printed on it. A 4204490, 4290510 or 9030868 means the current filter; 7023812 means the older one.
2. Find the model and serial plate. On built-in Sub-Zero units the rating plate is usually inside the unit near the top or behind the upper grille; the use and care guide shows the exact spot for your series. Note both the model (for example BI-36U or PRO48) and the full serial number.
3. Check the manual. The use and care guide for that model names the filter and shows the housing location. If the serial falls near the 4134313 cutoff, the manual or a Sub-Zero parts lookup is the tie-breaker.

Integrated and column units (the IC, IT, CL, DET and DEC names in compatible listings) also show up on 4204490 fit lists, so the same check applies to them.

Genuine vs compatible

Four NSF/ANSI standards appear on refrigerator filter listings:

• NSF/ANSI 42: aesthetic effects, mainly chlorine taste and odor and particulates.
• NSF/ANSI 53: health-related contaminants, including lead, cysts and some VOCs.
• NSF/ANSI 401: emerging contaminants such as certain pharmaceuticals.
• NSF/ANSI 372: lead content of the filter’s own materials only, not lead reduction.

Two genuine Sub-Zero listings (the 2-pack and the water-and-air combo) say the 4204490 meets or exceeds NSF/ANSI 42 and 53. “Meets or exceeds” is not the same statement as “certified by” a named body, so the listing wording alone does not prove third-party certification. The CDC recommends looking up a specific product in the NSF database to see what it is certified to remove. No listing names 401.

Among the seven compatibles, only the Caehomly names NSF/ANSI 53, and it is the only one that names a certifier (CSA Group) for both 42 and 53. The three GLACIER FRESH listings say they were tested to NSF 42 and give a model number to look up. The VitaLiving names 42 and 372. The two Waterdrop listings name no NSF standard at all. For lead, the EPA’s consumer tool points buyers to filters certified against both NSF/ANSI 53 and 42 for lead reduction to 5 ppb or less.

No listing describes a chip or sensor that rejects third-party cartridges. The real risk with a compatible in a Sub-Zero is physical: a cartridge that seats poorly in a built-in unit can leak into cabinetry. Several compatibles stress leak-proof fits, but those are claims from the seller, not a certification.

The six picks, compared listing by listing

1. Sub-Zero 4204490 — Best for Most Current Built-In Units

Best overall Sub-Zero filter

Why we like it

• Genuine Sub-Zero cartridge
• 750-gallon capacity, highest on the shelf
• States flow, pressure and temperature limits
• Names the serial number cutoff for Classic units

Sub-Zero 4204490 — genuine, 750 gal, 0.78 gpm, 40–100 F, 35–120 psi, 1-yr defect warranty

The Highest Stated Capacity on the Shelf

Every listing on this shelf that states a gallon rating comes in below this one. The compatibles range from 200 gallons (GLACIER FRESH) to 300 (Caehomly and VitaLiving) to 500 (Waterdrop). The genuine 4204490 states 750. Combined with the genuine 2-pack’s statement that a filter keeps a Sub-Zero supplied for a year, it means fewer changes in a typical household.

It is also the only listing with engineering specs: a 0.78 gpm flow rate, a 35 to 120 psi pressure range and a 40 to 100 F temperature range. The pressure range is worth knowing in foothill homes, where house pressure can run high; if yours sits above the stated maximum, a plumber should look at the pressure-reducing valve before any filter goes in.

This single-filter listing does not name an NSF standard. The genuine 2-pack and combo listings say the same part meets or exceeds 42 and 53.

Check Sub-Zero 4204490 price on Amazon

2. Sub-Zero 4204490 + 7007067 Combo — Best for Changing Water and Air Filters Together

Best water + air combo

Why we like it

• Genuine water and air filter in one box
• Says it meets or exceeds NSF 42 and 53
• Clarifies 7007067 and 7042798 are the same
• Authentic factory parts per listing

Sub-Zero 4204490 + 7007067 — genuine water and air filters, NSF 42/53 met or exceeded

The Only Listing That Pairs the Water and Air Filters

Of the 11 listings, this is the only one that includes Sub-Zero’s air filter. It also resolves a common confusion by stating that air filter numbers 7007067 and 7042798 are the same product, which saves owners from hunting for a part that has simply been renumbered.

Its water filter half is the same 4204490 as pick 1, and this listing adds the NSF 42 and 53 statement that the single-filter listing leaves out. The genuine 2-pack carries the same statement and adds that the filters are made in Madison, Wisconsin, and keep water and ice supplied for a year.

The air filter only helps if your unit has the air purification slot. Check the use and care guide before paying for both.

Check Sub-Zero 4204490 + 7007067 price on Amazon

3. Sub-Zero 7023812 — Best for 2008 to 2010 Built-In Units

Best for 2008 to 2010 units

Why we like it

• Only listing for the older 7023812 filter
• Genuine Sub-Zero part
• States the production years it fits
• Push in to remove

Sub-Zero 7023812 — genuine, Built-In 2008–2010, chlorine taste and odor, push to remove

The Only Filter Here for Units That Predate the 4204490 Cutoff

Ten of the 11 listings are for the 4204490 family. This is the one exception, and it is the reason the serial-number check above matters. A Built-In unit made from 2008 to 2010 may need this cartridge instead, and none of the seven compatibles on this shelf lists 7023812 as a cross-reference.

The listing is short. It names chlorine, taste and odor reduction and the push-to-remove motion, but no NSF standard, gallon rating or interval. Owners should rely on the use and care guide for the replacement schedule.

Because no compatible covers it here, the genuine part is effectively the only documented choice for these units.

Check Sub-Zero 7023812 price on Amazon

4. Caehomly 4204490 Replacement — Best Compatible for Lead and PFAS Claims

Best certified compatible

Why we like it

• Only compatible here naming NSF 53
• Names a certifier, CSA Group
• Lists lead, mercury, VOC and PFAS reduction
• Twist-in, tool-free install

Caehomly 4204490 — compatible, CSA-certified NSF 42 + 53, lead/VOC/PFAS listed, 3–6 mo / 300 gal, 2-pack

The Only Compatible That Names a Health Standard and a Certifier

Seven compatibles sit on this shelf. Only the Caehomly names NSF/ANSI 53, and only the Caehomly names who certified it. It ties that certification to specific reductions, including lead, mercury, VOCs and total PFAS. Of all 11 listings, it is the only one that mentions PFAS.

That makes it the compatible to consider where lead is a concern. It also means comparing like for like with the genuine filter, whose listings say it meets or exceeds 42 and 53 too. The trade-off is life: 300 gallons and a 3-to-6 month window, against 750 gallons and about a year for the genuine part.

Check the certification in the certifier’s listings before relying on the PFAS claim; the listing does not give a certificate number.

Check Caehomly 4204490 price on Amazon

5. GLACIER FRESH GF-ZERO 2-Pack — Best Budget Taste-and-Odor Compatible

Best budget compatible

Why we like it

• Gives a model number to check with NSF
• Long BI and PRO unit list
• Twist-lock, tool-free install
• Sold in 1, 2 and 3 packs

GLACIER FRESH GF-ZERO — 4204490 compatible, NSF 42 tested, 6 mo / 200 gal, 2-pack

The Shortest Stated Gallon Life, With the Clearest Lookup

Three GLACIER FRESH listings (1, 2 and 3 packs) carry the same GF-ZERO specs. They are the only listings on the shelf that tell buyers which model number and manufacturer name to search in NSF’s database, which is a useful way to verify the claim.

The claim itself is modest: NSF 42 for chlorine, taste and odor. The listings make no lead claim. Their 200-gallon rating is the lowest stated on the shelf, under a third of the genuine 750 gallons, so a household that drinks a lot from the dispenser will change these more often than the 6-month mark suggests.

For a Sub-Zero on treated municipal water where taste is the goal, that may be fine. Where health contaminants are the concern, the Caehomly or the genuine filter is the better-documented choice.

Check GLACIER FRESH GF-ZERO price on Amazon

6. Waterdrop WD-F03SZ 2-Pack — Best for Checking Fit Across Unit Series

Best unit-series fit list

Why we like it

• Longest Sub-Zero unit list on the shelf
• 500 gallons per filter
• Covers newer CL, DET and DEC models
• Step-by-step install instructions included

Waterdrop WD-F03SZ — 4204490 compatible, 500 gal / 6 mo, broad unit list, no NSF standard named

The Only Compatible That Names No Certification at All

This listing earns a place for one reason: its fit list. It names more Sub-Zero units than any other listing here, including the newer Classic (CL), Designer column (DET and DEC) and PRO model numbers. If your unit is a recent column or Classic model, this list is the quickest cross-check that 4204490 is the right family.

The caution is just as clear. Both Waterdrop listings talk about pressure and cycle testing and coconut-shell carbon, but neither names an NSF standard. Every other compatible on the shelf names at least NSF 42. Its 500-gallon rating is second only to the genuine filter, but a capacity claim without a named certification is hard to verify.

Use it as a reference for fit, and choose a certified filter for the fridge.

Check Waterdrop WD-F03SZ price on Amazon

Other listings on the shelf

The genuine Sub-Zero 4204490 2-pack carries the same part as pick 1 and adds the made-in-USA and one-year statements. The VitaLiving SR24 3-pack names NSF/ANSI 42 and 372 and a 300-gallon life. It also claims to fit InSinkErator F-1000 style under-sink systems, an unusual dual-purpose claim worth checking against your Sub-Zero housing before buying.

How often to change a Sub-Zero filter

The genuine listings point to roughly a year and 750 gallons. Compatibles state 6 months (GLACIER FRESH, Waterdrop) or 3 to 6 months (Caehomly), with gallon limits from 200 to 500. Use whichever limit arrives first for the cartridge you actually install, and do not stretch a compatible to the genuine filter’s one-year schedule.

The filter indicator on a Sub-Zero is generally a timer that counts time since the last reset, not a sensor reading the cartridge. Reset it after each change per your use and care guide, and change early if flow drops. The CDC advises changing filters on the manufacturer’s schedule so they keep working and germs do not grow in them, and suggests wearing gloves and washing your hands afterward.

What a Sub-Zero filter does, and when to look further

The filter treats only the water headed to the dispenser and ice maker. The CDC notes that fridge filters typically use activated carbon to improve taste and smell and that most are not designed to remove germs, and its guidance on home treatment systems recommends testing water first and checking a system’s label for the specific contaminants you care about. Our refrigerator water filter guide covers the basics, and the best refrigerator water filter roundup compares brands.

Municipal customers can read their utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report, which the EPA makes searchable, before paying for extra certifications. If testing shows lead, a 53-certified filter matters, and for a whole kitchen an under-sink water filter treats the faucet too. Mountain and foothill homes on wells often need treatment beyond any fridge cartridge; see whole-house water filters.

Install and leak checks for built-in units

• Lay towels below the filter housing; built-in units sit inside cabinetry where drips go unseen.
• Match the part number and, for older units, the production years before opening the box.
• Twist or push the cartridge as your manual describes until it seats fully, then run water to flush it.
• Check the housing and the floor at the unit’s base for moisture over the next few days.
• Reset the filter indicator and write the install date on the cartridge.

A slow leak behind a built-in refrigerator can soak subfloor and cabinet panels for months. Our plumbing and water hub explains what inspectors check around appliance water lines. Buying a Front Range home with a built-in Sub-Zero and want the supply line, shutoff and surrounding cabinetry checked for moisture? Reach out through our contact page to connect with a vetted local inspector.

References

• About Choosing Home Water Filters — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• About Home Water Treatment Systems — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Consumer Tool for Identifying Point-of-Use and Pitcher Filters Certified to Reduce Lead — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Consumer Confidence Reports — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency