Samsung fridge water filters

Samsung sells three water filter systems that look similar but are not interchangeable: an internal cartridge for recent French door and side by side ranges, an older internal cartridge with a different housing, and an external in line cartridge fitted on the water pipe behind many American style fridges sold in the UK. Fitting the wrong one either will not seat or will not seal.

How to identify your Samsung fridge

The full model number is printed on a sticker inside the fresh food compartment, usually on the side wall or the ceiling, and starts with a letter such as RF or RS followed by a run of digits.

The way to tell the three Samsung systems apart without reading the model number is to look at where the fridge draws water: if there is a visible cartridge behind a door inside the fridge compartment, it is an internal system; if the only filter is a canister on the water pipe at the back, it is the external DA29-10105J system.

Water filters for Samsung 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
DA29-00020B (HAF-CIN/EXP)	Internal, twist lock cartridge in the top right corner of the fresh food compartment	Every 6 months, or sooner if the fridge's filter indicator lights up
DA29-00003G (HAFCU1)	Internal cartridge behind a cover marked Water Filter, older housing shape than the DA29-00020B	Every 6 months
DA29-10105J (HAFEX/EXP)	External, in line on the cold water supply pipe behind the fridge, quarter inch push fit connectors, no internal cartridge	Every 6 months, or at 500 gallons of throughput

Where Samsung owners go wrong

Ordering the DA29-00020B for a fridge that actually uses the older DA29-00003G housing, because the two cartridges look similar in a search results page but have different collar diameters.
Assuming an American style Samsung fridge has an internal cartridge at all: many RS series models sold in the UK use the external DA29-10105J instead, with no internal filter door.
Buying a generic inline filter for a fridge that actually has an internal cartridge slot, which leaves the internal slot empty and unfiltered.

When to change the filter

Samsung recommends changing the cartridge every six months regardless of which of the three systems your fridge uses. Most Samsung fridges also track usage and light up a filter indicator when a change is due, which is a more reliable signal than the calendar if your household uses more or less water than average.

Samsung water filters: common questions

Why does my Samsung fridge have no visible filter door?

It most likely uses the external DA29-10105J system, an inline cartridge fitted on the water pipe behind the fridge rather than inside the compartment. Check behind or underneath the fridge for a canister on the water line.

Can I fit a universal inline filter instead of the Samsung reference?

A universal inline filter can work on the external DA29-10105J system because it also sits on the water pipe, but it will not fit or seal in the internal cartridge slot used by the DA29-00020B or DA29-00003G systems. Match the fitting position first, not just the brand.

See current Samsung water filter prices on Amazon UK

Safe replacement procedure for any Samsung filter position

Before touching the filter, close the small isolation valve on the cold water feed if one is fitted. If there is no valve, do not pull pipework hard, and be ready to turn off the main cold feed. Dispense water for 5 to 10 seconds to release pressure in the line. Put a towel under the filter area because 50 to 150 ml of water can drain from the housing or tube.

For an internal twist cartridge, turn the old cartridge slowly until it stops, then pull it straight out. Do not lever it with a screwdriver, because the plastic head in the fridge is easier to damage than the cartridge.
For an external in line cartridge, mark the water flow direction on the old body before removal. Push the collet squarely into the connector, then pull the quarter inch tube out without bending it sharply.
Insert the new filter with the label direction and locking position checked before force is applied. If it does not seat with hand pressure, stop and compare the collar, tube size, and housing shape.
Open the water feed slowly. Check the joints dry with kitchen paper after 1 minute, then again after 10 minutes. A slow weep is easier to see on paper than by eye.
Run water through the dispenser for several minutes after fitting. Use a jug, not a glass, because the first water can contain air and loose carbon fines.

After water runs clear and the flow is steady, reset the fridge filter indicator using the fridge control panel. The exact button name changes by model, so hold only the button marked for filter reset or check the appliance label if the control panel has several shared functions.

Equipment, clearances, and measurements to check before ordering

Most jobs need only a towel, a bowl, a torch, and a small tube cutter for external pipework. Scissors can squash plastic tube, so use a cutter if the pipe end is damaged. A clean, square end matters because push fit connectors seal on the outside wall of the tube, not on the cut face.

Check point	Useful figure	Why it matters
Pipe outside diameter on external systems	Quarter inch, about 6.35 mm	The connector grips this size tube, and a metric tube that is close but not exact may leak.
Fridge movement needed for rear filter access	About 300 to 600 mm	This gives space to see the flow arrow and release the tube without kinking the line.
Water to flush after fitting	About 3 to 5 litres	This clears trapped air and carbon dust before normal drinking water use.
Time for leak check	1 minute, then 10 minutes, then after the first full glass	Some leaks appear only after the line is pressurised again.
Typical water left in an internal filter head	50 to 150 ml	This is enough to wet shelves, so remove food below the filter first.

If the fridge is built into a tight kitchen run, measure the gap before pulling it out. A water pipe behind the appliance should not be crushed flat when the fridge is pushed back. Leave a gentle loop rather than a tight bend, and keep the filter body away from the warm compressor area where possible.

Frequent faults during fitting and how to recover

If an internal cartridge will not turn fully into the locked position, remove it and inspect the lugs and collar. A small angle error at the start can feel like a wrong part. Reinsert it squarely, apply even pressure, and turn by hand only. If it still stops early, do not force it, compare it with the old cartridge and check the exact system page for DA29-00020B or DA29-00003G.

If water flow is weak after a successful change, trapped air is the most common cause. Hold the dispenser paddle for 10 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, and repeat until the flow stops spurting. This protects the dispenser valve from long continuous operation and usually clears air within a few minutes.

If an external filter leaks at the tube, close the valve, remove the tube, and cut off 10 to 15 mm to get a clean round end. Push the tube back in until it bottoms out, then pull it gently to confirm the grip ring has locked. If the tube is scratched for more than a few centimetres, replace that short section rather than trying to seal it with tape.

If the filter indicator stays red after replacement, the fridge has not detected the new cartridge. It normally works as a timer or usage counter, not as a sensor in the filter. Reset it manually. If the light returns immediately after reset, check the control panel lock and the correct button hold time in the appliance instructions.

Special cases before buying or refitting

Some kitchens have an external cartridge fitted in a cupboard or under the sink rather than directly behind the fridge. Follow the cold water pipe from the fridge before deciding there is no filter. The body may be clipped to the wall, lying behind the plinth, or fixed near the isolation valve.

If your fridge has both a visible internal cartridge space and an added in line cartridge on the feed pipe, treat this as a previous installer modification. Replace the filter that the fridge was designed to use, then decide whether the extra in line cartridge is still needed. Leaving an exhausted second cartridge in the line can reduce flow even when the new fridge cartridge is correct.

For a rental property or a second hand fridge, discard any open cartridge that came loose in a drawer, unless you can confirm it is unused and sealed. A filter that has been wet and then stored can hold stagnant water. When the appliance history is unknown, fit a new correct cartridge, flush it fully, and check all joints before leaving the fridge unattended.

If you are still unsure after checking the label and the filter position, use the model number and visible housing details before ordering. The FAQ covers common identification checks and reset questions without assuming that every Samsung fridge uses the same cartridge.