Samsung Fridge Water Filters, Supplied and Fitted
Genuine and certified compatible filter cartridges for Samsung RS side-by-side and RF French Door fridges. Supply only nationally, supply plus installation across Johannesburg and surrounds.
Samsung is the dominant side-by-side fridge brand in South African homes, and the filter market around it is a mess of lookalike cartridges and inconsistent part numbers. This page narrows it to three cartridges that cover nearly every Samsung sold locally since 2013, with a clear map of which one fits which fridge. We stock them in Fairland and install across the northern suburbs.
Which Samsung filter fits which fridge?
Match your model number prefix to the row below. If your exact model is not printed, pick the closest prefix and we confirm the cartridge when you enquire.
| Fridge series | Filter cartridge | Example models |
|---|---|---|
| RS side-by-side (modern) 2015 onwards | HAF-CIN / EXP DA29-00020B |
RS50RS52RS68RS7RS8RSA1RSH5
e.g. RS68N8320S9, RS52N3313SA, RSA1RHMG |
| RS side-by-side (older) Pre-2015 | HAFCU1 DA29-00003G |
RSG5RSH1RS21RSJ1
e.g. RSG5DUMH, RSH1UTPE, RS21HUTPN |
| RF French Door (modern) 2017 onwards | HAF-QIN / EXP DA97-17376B |
RF28RRF23RRF28K9RF28M9RF22RRF28T
e.g. RF28R7201SR, RF23R62E3SR, RF28M9580SG |
| RF French Door (older) 2013 to 2017 | HAF-CIN / EXP DA29-00020B |
RF28HRF23HRF263RF4289RF260
e.g. RF28HMEDBSR, RF263BEAESR, RF4289HARS |
| External inline (any Samsung) No internal slot | Quarter-inch Inline DA29-10105J | Any Samsung without an internal filter slot, or as extra pre-filtration before the fridge. |
Not sure which row your fridge sits in?
The finder matches your exact model number against the Samsung database in a few seconds. Type the first six characters and it shows you the correct cartridge, the certifications, what it removes and how to reset the indicator.
Open the FinderThe Samsung cartridges we stock
Three internal cartridges cover nearly every Samsung fridge in South Africa. A fourth universal inline cartridge handles older units and secondary pre-filtration.
HAF-CIN / EXP
The default Samsung cartridge. Fits the entire post-2015 RS side-by-side range and the 2013 to 2017 RF French Door models. NSF-42 and NSF-53 certified, 0.5 micron, twist-in.
Check if this fits my fridgeHAFCU1
The older-generation Samsung cartridge for pre-2015 RS side-by-sides. Same twist-in format as HAF-CIN but a different internal thread, so not cross-compatible. NSF-42 certified, 0.5 micron.
Check if this fits my fridgeHAF-QIN / EXP
Push-fit cylindrical cartridge for post-2017 Samsung French Door fridges. Sits inside the left door, not the main cabinet. NSF-42 and NSF-53 certified, 0.5 micron.
Check if this fits my fridge
What a Samsung filter actually does
Every Samsung cartridge runs the same three-stage sequence inside the housing. Municipal water enters the inlet, passes through a sediment wrap that catches rust, grit and pipe particles, then moves into an activated carbon core that reduces chlorine taste, chlorine odour and most volatile organic compounds. Cleaner water leaves the outlet and feeds both the door dispenser and the ice maker.
Samsung's newer HAF-CIN and HAF-QIN cartridges also carry NSF/ANSI 53 certification, which covers health-related contaminants like lead, cysts and some pharmaceutical traces. The older HAFCU1 is NSF-42 only (taste and odour). The jump in spec is one of the reasons Samsung changed the cartridge generation in 2015.
- Chlorine and chlorine odour reduction from the activated carbon layer
- Sediment, rust and fine particles caught by the outer wrap
- Cysts, lead and mercury reduction on the newer NSF-53 certified SKUs
- VOCs and pharmaceutical traces on HAF-CIN and HAF-QIN
What the Samsung filter indicator light means
Samsung tracks filter life on a timer, not a flow meter. Every six months the indicator cycles from blue to amber to red. Here is how to read it and what each stage is telling you.
Fresh filter, keep dispensing
The indicator sits blue for the first five to six months. No action needed. Dispenser and ice maker flow at full rated rate. Taste and odour stay neutral as long as the carbon core is within its capacity.
Order your replacement
The timer is approaching the six month mark. The cartridge still works, but order the replacement now so you are not dispensing through a depleted carbon core for weeks. This is the signal to send us your model number for a quote.
Replace now
The filter has passed its rated life. Carbon exhaustion allows chlorine taste through, sediment starts getting past the wrap, and on some models flow rate drops. Replace the cartridge, flush 10 to 15 litres through the dispenser, then reset the indicator.
Where Samsung puts the filter housing
Samsung is consistent about cartridge placement. On every RS side-by-side made since 2005, the twist-in cartridge sits in the top right corner of the main fridge compartment, recessed into a small ceiling housing. You see the end cap, the LED light reflecting off it, and sometimes a reset button next to it.
On RF French Door models from 2017 onwards, Samsung moved the cartridge into the inside of the left door. A push-fit door housing holds the HAF-QIN cylinder. The benefit is more usable shelf space. The trade-off is that dispensing stops briefly while the door is open.
The first install is always the longest. Once you know where your model puts the housing, the replacement is a 90 second job for the cartridge itself, plus a flush and an indicator reset.
- RS side-by-side: ceiling corner, top right, main compartment
- RF French Door (2013 to 2017): same top right ceiling corner
- RF French Door (2017 onwards): inside left door, push-fit housing
- External inline: behind or under the fridge, on the water feed line
Genuine Samsung or certified compatible?
Both fit the housing, both carry certification, both deliver filtered water. The difference is the name on the box and the price. We quote both on every Samsung enquiry.
Samsung branded OEM
The cartridge is made or licensed by Samsung and carries the original part number on the label. HAF-CIN/EXP, HAF-QIN/EXP, DA29-00020B, DA97-17376B. Our default where the fridge is under manufacturer warranty, or where the customer wants the name on the box.
- Guaranteed compliance with Samsung's original spec sheet
- Maintains Samsung manufacturer warranty
- Rated lifespan of 6 months / 1 890 L
- Premium price point, genuine packaging
Reputable NSF-certified compatible
Manufactured by established filter companies to match Samsung's housing, flow rate, micron rating and NSF certification. We only stock compatibles with independent NSF-42 (or 42 plus 53) certification on the part number, not the cheapest option on the listing.
- Same physical fit, same flow rate
- NSF-42 and often NSF-53 certified independently
- Rated lifespan matches the Samsung OEM
- 30 to 40 percent lower unit cost
Supplied and installed across the northern suburbs
We run Samsung replacements in Sandton, Bryanston, Fourways, Hyde Park, Morningside, Rosebank, Randburg, Fairland, Northcliff, Linden and Parkhurst. Same-week bookings are the default, and same-day visits happen when our route has capacity.
The installation visit covers three things:
- Shutting the water line down safely and swapping the cartridge without mess
- Flushing the new filter for 10 to 15 litres until the water runs clear
- Resetting the Samsung indicator and confirming dispenser plus ice maker flow
If your Samsung is on a weeping saddle valve behind the fridge, or the plastic inlet hose has kinked, we quote you on those issues honestly before we leave. A new filter is not a fix for a leaking coupling.
Based in Sandton? See our suburb-specific Samsung fridge filter install page for Sandton with street-level references and access notes for Sandhurst, Morningside, Benmore Gardens and the surrounding estates.
Why Samsung owners book us
Samsung is the fridge we install most often in the northern suburbs. Our van carries HAF-CIN, HAF-QIN and HAFCU1 stock at all times, so same-week fitting is the baseline rather than the exception.
In-stock cartridges
HAF-CIN, HAF-QIN and HAFCU1 on the van. Same-week installation is the default in Fairland and the surrounding suburbs.
Model matched, not guessed
We match by model prefix against a real installation database. No buying the wrong cartridge and finding out at the fridge.
Plumbers, not couriers
We spot the failing saddle valve, kinked inlet or collapsed couple that a DIY swap cannot see. Fix it once properly.
Human answer
Samsung not in the finder? WhatsApp us a photo of the model sticker, we identify it during business hours and come back with a quote.
Samsung fridge filter FAQ
The questions Samsung owners ask most often when they contact us for a replacement. If yours is not covered, the WhatsApp link in the closing block goes straight to the office.
The filter is decided by your fridge model, not the year. Post-2015 RS side-by-sides (RS50, RS52, RS68, RS8) use HAF-CIN / DA29-00020B. Pre-2015 RS side-by-sides (RSG5, RSH1, RS21) use HAFCU1 / DA29-00003G. Post-2017 RF French Door models (RF28R, RF23R, RF28K, RF22R) use HAF-QIN / DA97-17376B. Older RF French Doors (RF28H, RF23H, RF263) use HAF-CIN as well. Send us the first six characters of your model number and we confirm the exact cartridge.
Open the main fridge compartment and look on the left wall near the top, above the first shelf. Samsung prints a rectangular label with the model number (starts with RS, RF, RB or SR in South Africa), the serial number and the manufacture date. If the label is faded or hidden, check the back of the unit or send us a photo via WhatsApp and we read it for you.
HAFCU1 (DA29-00003G) is the older generation, used in Samsung RS side-by-sides built before 2015. HAF-CIN (DA29-00020B) is the newer generation with tighter filtration (NSF-42 and NSF-53 certified versus HAFCU1's NSF-42 only) and became the standard from 2015 onwards. Both are twist-in cartridges and both seat in the top right interior. They are not cross-compatible, so identifying the correct one from your model number matters.
No. HAF-QIN / DA97-17376B is a push-fit cylindrical cartridge used in Samsung French Door models built from 2017 onwards. HAF-CIN / DA29-00020B is a twist-in cartridge used in side-by-sides and older French Doors. The housings are physically different, so the two are not interchangeable despite the similar name.
We supply both. Genuine OEM cartridges carry the original Samsung part number (HAF-CIN/EXP, HAF-QIN/EXP, DA29-00020B, DA97-17376B) and are our default for fridges still under the manufacturer warranty. Reputable NSF-certified compatibles match the same housing, flow rate, micron rating and certification at a lower unit cost. Both options appear in every quote, and you choose based on warranty and budget.
Every six months is the guideline Samsung prints on the indicator reset sequence. In Joburg municipal water the cartridge typically reaches its rated flow of around 1 890 litres within that window. The filter indicator on the door changes from blue to red when the timer trips. If the water starts tasting off, ice smells stale or dispenser flow slows before six months, replace earlier.
On most RS and RF models with a control panel, hold the Ice Type and Child Lock buttons together for three seconds. Older RS models use Power Cool and Power Freeze held together. RF French Door models with touch panels usually have a dedicated Filter button, held for three seconds. The panel beeps and the light cycles back to blue. We reset the indicator on every install visit as part of the service.
Most Samsung cartridges are designed for homeowner replacement. Twist-in HAF-CIN and HAFCU1 take about three minutes. Push-fit HAF-QIN takes about two. We supply with a printed instruction sheet if you prefer DIY. For external inline filters, first time installs where a saddle valve has to be fitted to the water line, or any install on a fridge with a weeping connector behind it, we recommend the service visit. Getting the installation wrong leads to leaks that damage cabinetry.
Yes. We supply and fit across Sandton, Bryanston, Fourways, Hyde Park, Morningside, Rosebank, Randburg, Fairland, Northcliff, Linden, Parkhurst and the surrounding northern Johannesburg suburbs. A typical cartridge swap is a 20 to 30 minute visit including flushing the new filter and resetting the indicator. First time inline installs take a bit longer because we tap the water line in properly and test for leaks.
The figure depends on which cartridge your fridge takes, whether you choose genuine OEM or a certified compatible, and whether it is a simple swap or a first time inline install. Use the finder to identify your exact part, then hit Get a Quote and we come back with a straight written figure for supply plus installation. No surprise fees, no upselling.
Ready for a Samsung filter swap?
Open the finder to match your exact cartridge in under a minute, or WhatsApp us a photo of the model sticker and we take it from there. We reply during business hours with the correct Samsung part and a written quote for supply plus installation.
Own an LG fridge instead? See our dedicated LG fridge filter guide, or head back to the fridge filters hub for all brands and types.