Samsung HAF-QIN Replacement Filter (2026): Which One to Buy
Guide
Your Samsung’s filter light is on, the cartridge between the crisper drawers says HAF-QIN — and the replacement search answers with five part numbers and prices from $11 to $55 for what all look like the same white cylinder. Is the HAF-QIN the same as the DA29-00020B? And does the $50 genuine cartridge do anything a $13 compatible does not?
Here is the short answer: HAF-QIN is Samsung’s retail code for the same cartridge whose part number is DA29-00020B — one filter, two labels. Per Samsung’s own product manual it carries NSF/ANSI 42 certification for chlorine, taste and odor, and particulate, rated at 6 months or 300 gallons. Genuine runs roughly $80–110 a year; a decent compatible runs $25–35 a year with the same 42 ceiling. Because the certification does not change between tiers, this is one of the Samsung models where a good compatible genuinely competes.
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Quick verdict
For most HAF-QIN owners, a listed compatible is the sensible buy — the genuine cartridge’s own manual states NSF/ANSI 42, and certified compatibles match that listing, so the savings (roughly $55–75 a year) do not cost you a certification tier. Buy genuine if your current cartridge leaks, seats poorly, or you simply want zero fit risk: Samsung’s tolerances are tight and the genuine quarter-turn fit is the surest. Either way, buy against the part printed on your cartridge. Our HAF-QIN fit, reset and cost guide and the twin DA29-00020B replacement guide cover the same cartridge family from both search directions.
First, confirm the HAF-QIN is your filter
On most Samsung French-door models the cartridge lies horizontally between the two crisper drawers, behind a small cover, and feeds both the dispenser and the ice maker. (If your Samsung runs an external filter on the back wall or in the base grille instead, you need a different part entirely.) The naming maze resolves like this:
| Label | What it means |
|---|---|
| HAF-QIN / HAF-QIN/EXP | Samsung’s retail model code |
| DA29-00020B | The part number printed on the cartridge itself — same filter |
| DA29-00020A / DA29-00019A | Earlier numbers in the same cartridge family |
| DA97-08006A | Assembly number that includes this cartridge |
| Kenmore 46-9101 | The Sears label for Samsung-built fridges |
What does not belong here: the HAF-QIN’s tall slim sibling DA97-17376B (a different housing entirely) and the older DA29-00003G family. Match the cartridge in your hand, not the fridge’s marketing name.
Your replacement options, compared
| Option | Price per filter | Price per year | Certification | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genuine Samsung (HAF-QIN / DA29-00020B) | ~$40–55 | ~$80–110 | NSF/ANSI 42 — per Samsung’s manual and the NSF database | Guaranteed seat, zero fuss |
| Listed compatible (Waterdrop, ICEPURE, PUREPLUS) | ~$12–17 | ~$25–35 | NSF/ANSI 42 listings on the better brands | Same tier, a third of the cost |
| No-name multipack | ~$11 | ~$22 | Seller’s own claims only | Absolute lowest cost, claims unverified |
The honest framing for this model: there is no 53 or 401 claim at any price — Samsung’s own manual states 42 — so no tier buys you a lead claim here. If lead is your concern, the answer is a different filter type on a different line, which our NSF 53 certified fridge filter roundup explains.
Genuine HAF-QIN — pros
- The surest fit — Samsung’s quarter-turn bayonet tolerances are tight; genuine seats and seals first try.
- Verified paperwork — NSF/ANSI 42 confirmed for the genuine cartridge in the NSF database.
- One part number ends the search — DA29-00020B covers the whole alias family.
Genuine HAF-QIN — cons
- No extra certification for the premium — the manual states 42, the same ceiling listed compatibles reach.
- Roughly 3x the compatible’s yearly cost — $80–110 against $25–35.
- A counterfeiting magnet — cheap “genuine” listings for this family are common; seller-check every time.
The yearly math
Two changes a year govern everything. Genuine at $40–55 per cartridge: $80–110 a year, roughly $450 over five years. Listed compatible at $12–17: $25–35 a year, $125–175 over five. The genuine premium here buys fit certainty and verified paperwork rather than stronger filtration — judge it on that basis. Skipping changes to close the gap backfires: an exhausted cartridge sheds carbon fines and throttles the dispenser long before it saves real money. And as with any fridge cartridge, a compatible does not void the warranty under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Check Current PriceFitting your replacement
About a minute: open the cover between the crispers, turn the old cartridge counterclockwise a quarter-turn (some models use an eject grip), pull it out, push the new one in and turn until it locks. Flush 2–4 gallons, then reset: hold the Filter Reset button about 3 seconds on standard panels (on some models it shares a button — Ice Type plus Child Lock), or use Fridge Manager → Fridge Settings → Water Filter on a Family Hub screen. If flow drops or the cartridge drips after a swap, reseat it — a quarter-turn that stopped short is the usual cause. Our Samsung reset walkthrough covers each panel style.
Conclusion
The HAF-QIN is the friendliest Samsung cartridge to shop for: one filter behind the DA29-00020B number, an honest NSF/ANSI 42 ceiling at every tier, and a swap that takes a minute. Buy genuine (roughly $40–55) for the guaranteed seat, or a listed compatible (roughly $12–17) and keep the $55–75 a year — on this model, the second choice is a rational one, not a compromise. Just buy from a seller you can verify, and change it every 6 months or 300 gallons.
Update log
October 2026: Guide published with specifications checked against Samsung’s HAF-QIN product manual and the NSF certification database, prices from current retailer listings.
FAQs
Is the HAF-QIN the same filter as the DA29-00020B?
Yes — they are two labels for one cartridge. HAF-QIN is Samsung’s retail model code; DA29-00020B is the part number printed on the cartridge itself. A listing under either name, or under the family numbers DA29-00020A, DA29-00019A or Kenmore 46-9101, describes this same filter.
Where is the HAF-QIN located in the fridge?
On most Samsung French-door models it lies horizontally between the two crisper drawers at the bottom of the fresh-food compartment, behind a small cover, and it feeds both the water dispenser and the ice maker. Some Samsung models use an external or base-grille filter instead — those take different part numbers.
Does the HAF-QIN remove lead?
Samsung’s manual states NSF/ANSI 42 certification for the HAF-QIN — chlorine, taste and odor, and particulate. Lead reduction is an NSF/ANSI 53 claim, and no tier of this cartridge carries it. If lead is your concern, you need a 53-certified filter, which for Samsung fridges means a different setup than this cartridge.
How often should I replace the HAF-QIN?
Every 6 months or 300 gallons, whichever comes first. The red light is a timer tracking that interval. Slow dispenser flow or stale-tasting ice before the light usually means the cartridge is exhausting early — heavy use and sediment-rich water shorten its real life.
How do I reset the filter light after changing the HAF-QIN?
On standard panels, press and hold the Filter Reset button for about 3 seconds; on some models that function shares a button (Ice Type plus Child Lock held together). On Family Hub models, use Fridge Manager, then Fridge Settings, then Water Filter. Changing the cartridge alone does not reset the timer on most models.
Genuine or compatible HAF-QIN — which is actually worth it?
On this model the case for a listed compatible is unusually strong: the genuine cartridge’s stated certification is NSF/ANSI 42, the better compatibles carry the same listing, and the yearly cost drops from $80–110 to $25–35. Genuine still wins on fit certainty. What neither tier provides is a certified lead claim — that needs an NSF/ANSI 53 filter.
