Replacing this cartridge is a five-minute job with one screw-up waiting at the end. I’ve done it often enough to know the swap itself is nothing — it’s the priming and the light reset that people get wrong, and a filter you didn’t prime or a light you didn’t reset leaves you worse off than before. Here’s the whole process, start to finish.
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The short version
The genuine Frigidaire ULTRAWF is the correct cartridge for refrigerators with the PureSource Ultra system. Push the old one to release it, push the new one in until it clicks, run three minutes of water and dump it, then hold the Water Filter button until the light goes from red to green. Genuine is worth the premium here. check current price on Amazon
When to replace it
Frigidaire rates the ULTRAWF for 6 months, and most fridges with this system count that interval for you with a red light on the dispenser. Replace at six months or when the light comes on, whichever happens first.
The light isn’t the only signal, though. A cartridge that’s done will let chlorine taste and odor come back, the water can pick up a fridge smell, and the flow rate through the dispenser often drops as the carbon block loads up. If any of that shows up early, replace early — the filter is rated to reduce lead, nitrates, pesticides and mercury, and that capacity isn’t something you can top back up.
How to replace the Frigidaire ULTRAWF water filter, step by step
1. Confirm which system your fridge uses
This is the step people skip, and it’s the one that costs money. Frigidaire has several filter lines that look similar, and ULTRAWF only fits the PureSource Ultra system. Pull your old cartridge out and read the part number moulded into it — if it says ULTRAWF, you’re in the right place.
2. Pull the old cartridge
Push the old cartridge inward to release it, then pull it straight out. Some models want a slight twist as it comes free; check your fridge’s manual if it resists. Water will drip from the housing, so have a towel under it.
3. Push the new one in until it clicks
Line the new cartridge up and push it in until it locks. You should hear and feel a click. If it doesn’t seat, don’t force it — pull it out and check the alignment, because a cartridge that’s half-seated will leak past the seals.
4. Prime it for three minutes
This is the part worth not rushing. Run water through the dispenser for about three minutes and throw all of it away. The first water out will look cloudy and sputter, and it may carry black flecks — that’s dissolved air and loose carbon dust from a new block, and Frigidaire says it’s harmless. After the prime, it runs clear and tastes clean.
5. Reset the reminder light
Most Frigidaire models with the built-in six-month timer do not clear themselves. Press and hold the Water Filter button on the dispenser control panel for about 3 seconds. When the display flips from red to green, it’s reset. If your model uses a different control layout, the reset sequence is in the Use and Care Manual — and yes, skipping this is why some people’s light stays red for a year.
Key specs
| Brand / model | Frigidaire ULTRAWF (PureSource Ultra) |
| Type | Extruded carbon block, polyethylene housing |
| Fits | Frigidaire refrigerators with the PureSource Ultra system |
| Certification | NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401; WQA/ASPE/ANSI S 803 |
| Reduces | Chlorine taste and odor, lead, nitrates, pesticides, mercury |
| Dimensions | 11″ D × 2.25″ W × 3″ H |
| Weight | 10.08 oz |
| Interval | 6 months |
| ASIN | B002JAKRAM |
Buying note: genuine vs compatible
I’ve tried the cheaper “compatible” cartridges. They fit, they work for a while, and then the water starts tasting like the fridge again well before the six-month mark. The genuine cartridge carries NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 certification and WQA/ASPE/ANSI S 803; the cheap ones I’ve seen advertise fitment without equivalent certification. On drinking water, that’s not a corner I’ll cut again.
Who this guide doesn’t apply to
It only covers refrigerators with the PureSource Ultra system — if your cartridge isn’t an ULTRAWF, this isn’t your procedure. It’s also the wrong guide if you already run an under-sink or reverse-osmosis filter and only use the dispenser for cold water, since you’re already filtering. And if your model’s light won’t clear after a three-second hold, stop here and check your specific manual rather than jabbing the button.
FAQ
How long does replacing an ULTRAWF filter take?
The physical swap is under a minute. Adding the three-minute prime and the light reset, budget about five minutes total, plus a towel and somewhere to dump the priming water. The only part that ever takes longer is getting a stubborn cartridge to release or confirming which filter line your model uses.
Do I need the genuine Frigidaire filter?
You don’t strictly need it to make water come out of the dispenser, but I’d buy genuine. The OEM cartridge is NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 certified and lasted the full interval in my fridge, while the compatible cartridges I tried lost their taste improvement months early. It’s drinking water, so I stopped testing the cheap option.
Why won’t my water filter light reset?
Usually because the button wasn’t held long enough — most models need a steady three-second press until the display goes red to green. If that fails, the reset sequence varies by model and is listed in the Use and Care Manual. Some fridges reset it through a settings menu rather than the dispenser panel.
Bottom line
Buy an ULTRAWF, push it in until it clicks, prime it for three minutes, and hold the button until the light turns green. That’s the whole job, and doing all three parts is what keeps the water tasting right for the full six months. check current price on Amazon