Samsung DA29-00003G water filter

If your fridge is one of the models below, the water filter you need is the DA29-00003G (HAFCU1).

Older Samsung French door and side by side fridges built on the earlier HAFCU1 internal housing, which predates the HAF-CIN system used on the DA29-00020B.

Specification

Manufacturer part number	DA29-00003G (HAFCU1)
Equivalent codes	DA29-00003B, DA29-00003A, HAFCU1/XAA
Fitting position	Internal cartridge behind a cover marked Water Filter, older housing shape than the DA29-00020B
Capacity	Approximately 1135 litres (300 gallons) per cartridge, some retailers state 200 gallons
Recommended change interval	Every 6 months
NSF certification	Certification varies by retail pack; check the box of the cartridge you buy

What does not fit

DA29-00020B (newer internal housing, different diameter) and DA29-10105J (external in line system).

How to replace it

Locate the filter compartment described above and turn off the fridge's water supply if your model has a shut off valve.
Turn the old cartridge a quarter turn in the direction marked on the housing, or press the release catch, then pull it straight out.
Check the reference printed on the old cartridge against DA29-00003G (HAFCU1) before fitting the replacement, since two cartridges from the same brand can look alike but not seal the same way.
Remove the protective cap from the new cartridge, then push it into the housing and turn it a quarter turn until it locks.
Run 2 to 3 litres of water through the dispenser before drinking it, since new cartridges release carbon dust on their first use.
Reset the fridge's filter indicator, usually a button held for a few seconds, so it counts down correctly to the next change.

Common mistakes

Buying by fridge brand alone instead of checking the exact part number, which on a brand with more than one system leads to a cartridge that does not fit.
Leaving the filter well past its change interval, which reduces flow rate and can let the carbon block become a place for bacteria to grow rather than filter them out.
Forcing a cartridge that does not turn or push in without resistance; if it does not seat cleanly, it is very likely the wrong reference.

How this reference sits in the Samsung range

Samsung also sells the DA29-00020B and DA29-10105J, and these are not interchangeable with the reference on this page. Compare the fitting position before you order:

Other Samsung reference	Fitting position
DA29-00020B (HAF-CIN/EXP)	Internal, twist lock cartridge in the top right corner of the fresh food compartment
DA29-10105J (HAFEX/EXP)	External, in line on the cold water supply pipe behind the fridge, quarter inch push fit connectors, no internal cartridge

Where this information comes from

The specification above is taken from Samsung Parts (samsungparts.com) product listing confirming DA29-00003A, DA29-00003B and DA29-00003G are the same interchangeable part across successive packaging updates. References are re-checked when a manufacturer renumbers a pack; if you find a discrepancy with your own fridge, tell us and the page is corrected.

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Tools, space and measurements to check before you start

Set up the job as a wet service task, not as a dry part swap. A small amount of trapped water can come out of the head when the cartridge is removed, even if the dispenser has not been used recently.

Use a dry towel under the filter housing and a second towel for your hands, because a wet cartridge is harder to grip and easier to cross seat.
Keep a 1 litre jug beside the fridge so you can measure the purge water accurately instead of guessing from glassfuls.
Allow about 10 minutes for a normal change, plus 5 to 10 minutes if the old cartridge is stiff or the dispenser line contains air.
Leave at least 250 mm of clear hand space in front of the filter cover, because the cartridge has to be pulled straight out before the new one is aligned.
Do not use pliers on the body. If extra grip is needed, use a dry cloth around the cartridge and turn by hand.

A DA29-00003G type cartridge is a short internal cartridge. As a practical check, the removed cartridge body is usually in the order of 55 to 60 mm across and about 145 to 160 mm long, not counting small end details. Use this only as a sanity check. The printed reference and the housing shape matter more than a tape measure, because similar Samsung filters are close in size but use different locking geometry.

Detailed fitting procedure with checks at each stage

Open the fridge door fully and remove any shelf items that stop your hand approaching the filter squarely. If the filter cover hinges or slides, open it gently and note the exact angle of the cartridge before you move it. A quick phone photo helps if the markings inside the housing are hard to see.

Depressurise the water circuit before removal. If the appliance has a local valve, close it and press the dispenser lever for 5 to 10 seconds. If there is no accessible valve, dispense a small amount of water first and work slowly, keeping the towel tight under the housing.

When the old cartridge is unlocked, support it with one hand and pull along the axis of the housing. Do not pull downward unless the housing is designed that way. A sideways pull can mark the plastic socket or disturb the seal face, which may cause a leak only after the dispenser is used.

Before inserting the new cartridge, look into the head for old seal fragments, grit, ice, or a damaged locating tab. The socket should be clean and dry enough to inspect with a torch. Fit the new cartridge in one continuous motion, push it fully home, then turn it to the stop without bouncing it back and forth.

After fitting, run the dispenser in short bursts. Use 20 to 30 second runs with 20 second pauses until the purge volume is complete. This is kinder to small fridge valves than one long continuous run, and it makes leaks easier to spot while the cover is still open.

Faults after replacement and how to recover

Symptom	Likely cause	Recovery check
Water drips from the filter head	Cartridge not fully locked, seal face dirty, or wrong cartridge family	Remove it, inspect the socket, refit once by hand, then test with the cover open for 2 minutes.
No water from the dispenser	Supply valve closed, air lock, or filter not seated far enough to open the internal valve	Confirm the valve position, press the dispenser for 30 seconds, then reseat the cartridge if flow does not start.
Water spurts or looks cloudy	Air in the line after the filter change	Dispense in measured batches until the flow is steady. Fine bubbles should clear after standing in a glass for a few minutes.
Flow is much slower than before	Partly closed valve, trapped air, kinked feed pipe, or a blocked old line	Check the valve first, then purge again. If flow remains poor with a correctly seated filter, inspect the supply pipe behind the fridge.
Indicator will not reset	Wrong button sequence for that control panel	Hold the filter reset control for 3 to 5 seconds, then check the appliance display rather than the dispenser flow.

If a cartridge starts to enter but stops after only a few millimetres, do not force it. Compare the old and new end fittings side by side under good light. If the new part resembles the later internal system, check the separate Samsung DA29-00020B page before trying again.

Special cases on older Samsung installations

Some older fridges have been moved, plumbed in again, or fitted with an external isolation valve by a previous owner. In that situation the fridge model alone may not tell the whole story. Trace the water path from the wall valve to the appliance and confirm whether the active filter is inside the fridge or in line on the pipe.

If you find an external cartridge behind or beside the appliance, do not assume the internal DA29-00003G is also being used. Some installations have only one active filter, while others have been altered over time. For external systems, compare the layout with Samsung DA29-10105J before ordering any replacement.

After a house water shut off, a filter change can release sediment already sitting in the pipework. Run the nearest cold tap for 30 to 60 seconds before purging the fridge. This reduces the chance of pushing loose particles into the fridge valve and dispenser line.

If you are maintaining more than one Samsung appliance, label the spare filter box with the fridge location and the date fitted. For range level checks, use the Samsung fridge water filters page and compare the physical fitting position first, then the printed reference.