Frigidaire Refrigerator FRSS26L3AF0 Water Filter Guide

Quick Answer

The frss26l3afo water filter, specifically the PureAir Ultra II, removes lead and chlorine to ensure your water is safe and tastes great. Nine times out of ten, if your water dispenser is slow or your ice cubes are small, this filter is simply clogged and needs a quick swap.

Look, ignoring a clogged filter does more than make your water taste like you're drinking from a pool. Over time, reduced pressure puts real strain on the inlet valve, and I've seen that cause leaks behind the fridge. Worst case, your ice maker just stops producing entirely. This is genuinely a 5-minute job that any homeowner can knock out without calling me.

FrigidaireRefrigeratorSeverity: lowDifficulty: easy98% DIY Success

Time to Fix

2–5 min

Difficulty

easy

Parts Cost

$45 – $55

Tools Needed

Towel or a few paper towels to catch drips, Small bowl or cup to catch water when removing the old filter

What Does the FRSS26L3AF0-WATER-FILTER Code Mean?

OK so here's my standard speech to every customer: swap these out every six months, no excuses. Even if your water still tastes fine, the carbon inside is slowly losing its ability to grab lead and chlorine. I've replaced probably 40 of these filters just this year, and honestly the number one reason people call me is tiny ice cubes. That's your first real-world sign the filter's choking out the whole system.

Most Likely Causes

Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:

Sediment Clogging65%

Chemical Saturation (Time)25%

Air Lock or Poor Seating10%

Symptoms You May Notice

You hold a glass under the dispenser and it takes 10-15 seconds to fill 8 ounces when it used to take 3 or 4.
Ice cubes are coming out half-sized, hollow in the middle, or you're getting way fewer of them than normal.
Tiny black flecks floating in your water or sitting in the bottom of the ice cube tray. That's carbon fines coming off a worn-out filter.
Your water tastes metallic or has a faint chlorine smell, basically like straight tap water, because the carbon's exhausted and not filtering anything anymore.
The filter status light on the control panel is solid orange or red.

Can you reset a Frigidaire refrigerator to clear the FRSS26L3AF0-WATER-FILTER code?

Press and hold the Water Filter button on the control panel for a full 3 seconds. You'll see the indicator switch from red or orange to green, or the display will change from 'Replace' to 'Good.' If you let go too early it won't register, so give it the full 3 seconds. The timer resets to zero and the fridge starts counting toward the next 6-month interval from right now.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

Towel or a few paper towels to catch dripsSmall bowl or cup to catch water when removing the old filterPhone stopwatch for the flow rate test8 oz measuring cup for the flow rate testLarge pitcher or container to hold 2 gallons during purge

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

Replacement Parts

If your diagnostic testing proves the component has failed, you will need a replacement. We recommend OEM parts over aftermarket for water-handling components.

Part Name	OEM Number	Estimated Price
Frigidaire PureAir Ultra II Water FilterEPTWFU01 · $45–$55	EPTWFU01	$45 – $55

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I really replace my water filter?

Every six months, and I'd stick to it even if you barely use the dispenser. Once the carbon block gets wet, it can start harboring bacteria over time, and that's the last thing you want. If you're on well water or your area has older pipes, bump that up to every 4 months. I have a customer on well water who has to do hers every 3 months because her sediment load is so high. Set a calendar reminder right now before you forget. Seriously, right now.

Why is my water cloudy right after changing the filter?

That's just air bubbles, millions of tiny ones trapped inside the new carbon block. Completely harmless. Set the glass on the counter and watch it for 30 seconds. You'll see it clear from the bottom up as the bubbles rise out. Running 2 gallons through the dispenser right after install flushes most of this out before it ever hits your glass. If cloudiness is still there after 2 gallons, double-check that the filter actually clicked fully into place.

Can I use a generic filter instead of the Frigidaire OEM?

I get this question constantly and my honest answer is stick with the OEM. The Frigidaire part number is EPTWFU01 and it runs about $40-50. Aftermarket filters are usually $15-25 and they seem like a deal, but I've personally seen a dozen cases where they caused slow flow or drips from the housing because the O-ring dimensions were just a hair off. Some won't fully trip the bypass valve either. The OEM fits right, seals right, and it actually carries NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 certification. Worth the extra $20 every time.

How do I reset the filter light on my FRSS26L3AF0?

Press and hold the Water Filter button on the touchpad for 3 seconds. That's it. The display should change from 'Replace' or the red light should flip to green. If you hold it and nothing happens, try pressing a slightly different spot on the touchpad since these can get finicky with age. Don't do the power cycle trick some YouTube videos show. That resets other settings you don't want messed with. Just the Water Filter button, 3 full seconds, done.

What actually happens if I don't change the filter?

Short term, your water tastes worse and the dispenser slows to a trickle. Long term, the carbon completely stops filtering lead and chlorine, so you're drinking straight tap water through a $50 paperweight. But here's something most people don't think about: a clogged filter increases back-pressure on the water inlet valve, which costs $60-80 to replace and means pulling the fridge out from the wall. So it's a $40 filter now versus a $40 part plus a service call later. Pretty easy math.

My new filter is installed but I'm still getting no water. What now?

First thing to check: did it actually click in? Pull it out and reinsert it, listening specifically for that click. If it clicked but still no water, look at the filter bypass cap. Some people accidentally install the bypass cap instead of the filter. Also check that your water shutoff valve behind or under the fridge is fully open. If all that checks out and you're still getting nothing, the water inlet valve itself might be the issue, not the filter.

Models Known to Experience FRSS26L3AF0-WATER-FILTER Errors

This repair applies to most Frigidaire refrigerators with this error code. Common model numbers include:

FRSS26L3AF0, FRSS2623AS0, FRSS2623AF0, FRSS2623AW0, FRSS2623AB0, FRSS26L3AF5, FRSS2323AS0, FRSS2623AS2

Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on March 17, 2026