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Water Filter for the Samsung RF261BEAESR (DA29-00020B)
✓ 100% compatible — no bypass plug needed
🔧 5-min push-in swap
🇺🇸 Ships from Indiana
Every cartridge that fits this model — pulled live from the catalogue:
✓
RF261BEAESR specifics — where the filter actually lives
The RF261BEAESR carries its water filter in the fresh-food compartment, typically the upper back wall in most French-door layouts, the same estate every French-door multi-door refrigerator in this family uses. Mechanically it is a push-in bay: gravity is the only adversary, and a cupped hand under the bay solves it.
Owners of the RF261BEAESR report the same friction points: a stiff first removal on builds that sat on the same cartridge for years, and an indicator light that wants a manual reset after a non-OEM cartridge is seated. Decode the plate and the parts question answers itself: RF is Samsung’s French-door multi-door designation proper, and the service literature files every one of these under the same cartridge line. SR is finish coding: handles, colors, panel options — none of it reaches the filter bay.
RF vs RS — what the prefix tells you
Two prefixes, two missions: French-door multi-door builds carry RF; side-by-side builds carry RS. Filter-wise the two lines converge on one cartridge family. Size class 26 cubic feet — worth knowing because a full household works a cartridge harder than the rated six months assumes.
Swap it in 5 minutes
- Pull the old cartridge straight out of the header — expect a small spill, not a flood.
- Align the new cartridge with the keyed slot; it only goes in one orientation.
- Push the cartridge home until the retention latch clicks.
- Run two gallons through the dispenser to flush carbon fines, then hold the filter-reset control until the status light clears.
What this filter takes out of your water
| What it targets | Standard that covers it |
|---|---|
| Chlorine taste & odor | NSF/ANSI 42 — aesthetic effects |
| Particulates, Class I | NSF/ANSI 42 — fine sediment |
| Lead | NSF/ANSI 53 — health effects |
| Cysts (cryptosporidium, giardia) | NSF/ANSI 53 — microbial |
| PFOA & PFOS | NSF/ANSI 53 (P473) — varies by cartridge |
Coverage above lists what the standard addresses, not a performance claim for any specific cartridge — removal claims vary by certificate, so check the NSF listing for the exact part number you are buying.
RF261BEAESR filter questions
How do I reset the filter light on the Samsung RF261BEAESR?
Hold the filter-reset control a few seconds after the swap; the status light clears only with a seated cartridge, and the RF261BEAESR manual maps the control by panel type.
RF261BEAESR with no water filter installed — safe, or does it need a bypass?
No — run it empty if you like; the DA2900020B bay needs no bypass plug, it simply passes water through untreated.
Are off-brand filters safe for a Samsung refrigerator?
Certified aftermarket cartridges are built to the same NSF test standards as the OEM part, and federal warranty law (Magnuson-Moss) protects your coverage when you use them.
Why is the OEM DA2900020B cartridge so much more expensive?
Part of the OEM price is the badge and the distribution chain. Certified alternatives meet the same test standards at a lower unit price, especially in multi-packs.
How often should I replace the filter in my RF261BEAESR?
Every six months or at the rated gallon capacity, whichever comes first — the DA2900020B class cartridges all share that service interval.
Do I need to turn off the water supply to change it?
No — the bay is designed for a live swap. Expect a small dribble, keep a towel in reach, and flush a couple of gallons through the new cartridge before the first glass.
Every filter that fits your fridge
This bay takes the OEM DA29-00020B. ClearFit verified-fit alternatives for this exact slot are being staged — every compatible option for your fridge is one lookup away.
Check every filter that fits →This filter expires six months from today
Your HVAC filter is probably on a different cycle. Track them all in one place.
months until this filter should be replaced (200-gal rated life)
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More models using this filter
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