I’ve bought the cheap third-party version of this filter, and I’ve bought the genuine Frigidaire ULTRAWF, and I’m done with the cheap version. This is drinking water — it’s the one place where saving $20 a year doesn’t feel like saving anything. Here’s what the genuine cartridge actually costs you and why I keep re-buying it.
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Quick verdict
The genuine Frigidaire ULTRAWF is the OEM replacement for fridges with the PureSource Ultra system, and it’s NSF/ANSI certified for 42, 53 and 401. It’s more expensive than the compatible knockoffs, and it’s worth it — the aftermarket cartridges I tried didn’t last the rated interval and the water stopped tasting right well before the reminder light came on. check current price on Amazon
Why I bought it
The cheaper route is genuinely tempting with these. A compatible cartridge can cost a fraction of the OEM one, and they all claim to fit the same models. I tried that route, and the result was water that tasted fine for a couple of months and then started tasting like the fridge again. That’s the tell — when chlorine taste and odor come back before the filter is due, the carbon is spent.
The other thing is certification. The genuine Frigidaire cartridge is tested and certified by NSF International against NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401, and it’s certified by the Water Quality Association for WQA/ASPE/ANSI S 803. Those standards are what back up the claims about reducing lead, nitrates, pesticides and mercury. A cheap compatible cartridge may say “compatible” and “fits ULTRAWF” on the box without holding any of those certifications, and there’s no way for me to verify what’s inside the plastic.
So my rule now is simple: genuine cartridge for anything the family drinks. The couple of dollars a month I’m not saving is worth not wondering what’s in the water.
What it’s like to use
Installation is a 30-second job. You push the old cartridge to release it, pull it out, and push the new one in until it clicks. Then run water through the dispenser for about three minutes to prime it and dump that first batch — it comes out cloudy and sputtery from dissolved air and loose carbon particles, which Frigidaire says is harmless and normal. After the prime, it runs clear.
Then you reset the reminder. Most Frigidaire models with the built-in 6-month timer don’t clear themselves — you hold the Water Filter button on the dispenser panel for about 3 seconds until the display goes from red to green. If you skip that, the light just stays on and you stop trusting it.
Once it’s in, the difference is obvious. The water tastes clean, no chlorine edge, no fridge smell, and it holds that for the full six months. That’s the part the knockoffs failed at. The OEM cartridge has a carbon block that’s still working when the light comes on, which is exactly what you’re paying for.
Key specs
| Brand | Frigidaire |
| Model | ULTRAWF (PureSource Ultra) |
| Type | Extruded carbon block, polyethylene plastic housing |
| Fits | Frigidaire refrigerators with the PureSource Ultra filter system |
| Certification | NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 (NSF International); 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 |
| Replacement interval | 6 months (6-month reminder on most models) |
| ASIN | B002JAKRAM |
Who should skip it
Skip it if your Frigidaire doesn’t use the PureSource Ultra system — this cartridge only fits those, and there are several other Frigidaire filter lines that look similar in photos. Skip it if you already run an under-sink or reverse-osmosis system and only use the dispenser for cold water, since you’re filtering twice. And if you’re determined to buy third-party cartridges, understand you’re trading certification and real service life for the lower price — I’ve done it, and I went back.
FAQ
How often should you replace the Frigidaire ULTRAWF filter?
Frigidaire rates it for 6 months, and most fridges with the PureSource Ultra system have a reminder light that counts that interval for you. Replace when the light comes on, or after six months of use, whichever comes first. If your water starts tasting like plain tap water earlier than that, replace it early.
Are knockoff ULTRAWF filters worth it?
In my experience, no. The compatible cartridges I tried cost less, but they stopped filtering properly long before six months — the chlorine taste came back and the water smelled like the fridge again. The genuine cartridge is NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 certified, and I couldn’t confirm any equivalent certification on the cheap ones.
How do you install and prime the ULTRAWF filter?
Push the old cartridge inward to release it and pull it out. Push the new one in until it clicks into place. Then run about three minutes of water through the dispenser and throw that first batch away — it may look cloudy from dissolved air and carbon dust, which is expected. Reset the water filter light afterward.
Bottom line
Buy the genuine Frigidaire ULTRAWF and stop thinking about it for six months. It costs more than the compatible cartridges, and it’s the one purchase in the fridge where I don’t shop on price. Knockoffs didn’t last and didn’t filter as well, and this is drinking water — that’s the whole argument. check current price on Amazon