Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian Full Contact Reverse Osmosis System, 7-Stages, Patented 2-Pass Alkaline Remineralization, Fast 4.5s Fill Rate, 1:1 Waste Ratio, 8.5” Catalytic Carbon, 5-Yr Limited Parts

I will give you the bottom line up front - WE LOVE IT!Although I live in an area of Michigan with pretty good water quality, after the Flint Water Crisis, we became more cognizant that things can go wrong without anyone realizing it for quite some time - with the damage done. So began our journey to the Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact Filter.My Girl is always reading up on the latest health news and trends. And while a lot of it is helpful, sometimes she gets to thinking about things that I am not sold on: Fluoride.She has become one of those that believes Fluoride is bad for you, that it acts as a poison, and hampers proper function of something called the Pineal Gland. I will spare you all the rest of the discussion, let me just say that at this stage of life, I find it easier to just give in some times and not fight it. So, even though I am one of those that believe Fluoride has done immense good for America's kids by reducing cavities, I am at the age where my teeth are fully developed and I am not worried about cavities anymore. So she began to buy and drink ONLY bottled water.After her first month of spending a King's ransom on bottled water, I decided to investigate to see if I could bring some better solution to the table. At my local Better Health food store, I discovered that the latest trend was not only bottled water, but PH water. I researched the issue, and understood the logic behind it. So I told her if we are going to spend a fortune on bottled water, we might as well do the PH positive thing and gain the health benefits of that as well. So over the course of three days I purchased 28 various brands of bottles water - from local grocery store brands, to the very high end waters. Then I performed a PH strip test on them all. I was shocked to find out that nearly every water that advertised itself as PH high (with a few exceptions) was lying. The brands that rated the highest numbers were Perrier and Crystal Mountain (from Michigan). To ensure that I was correct in my thinking, my ex father in law, the former Head of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota, said that any water should be testable with test strips - to within a half PH number or so. That was good enough for me. Yet, I knew that paying for these would still be a costly and cumbersome solution. So nearby, I found a store that sold purified water. Sort of like a Deer Park, but one that you bring your containers there and pick up the new ones yourself. The savings over a home delivered one was huge, and would have been much better than buying bottled water by the liter or less. Guess what, his PH water tested the same as tap (7)- after he had assured me that he had tested that morning with a PH of 9. I figured that if I couldn't trust him with that, that I couldn't trust him on any claim of additional purity over tap.So then we began our research into Under Sink Water Filters. Because of my experience with the famous brand waters, as well as the local water business guy, my trust in any company's claims was shot. So I researched numerous third party sites that tested various filter's water, and narrowed it down to three - which included this one. One was much more expensive, and one about half. I read EVERY Amazon Review, Question, and Answer for each of the three. I was pleasantly surprised to read that the data on Amazon coincided with the data from the third party sites; and that all three finalists seemed to be good honest solutions.In the end, we chose Home Master because we wanted a Mineral Water not just Purified Water. We also a positive PH level. And finally, the under sink set up seemed to look ideal for our existing under sink world. I figure the money I spent on the Water Filter system would pay for itself in a year or so, instead of buying bottled water.Although we already had a hole drilled in the counter top, where we had removed a failed hot water tap for tea/coffee, I had the wisdom to not try to install it myself and had my plumber brother in law do it. Excellent move on my part. Although I had measured the space for the water tank properly, I had failed to account for it slipping under the existing disposal and its plumbing. In short, the tank wouldn't fit, nor would the filter assembly in the place it really needed to go. So my plumber took out the disposal, put the tank in, and re-routed the existing plumbing so that our Home Master could fit. Perhaps many homes don't have this problem, but I did, and am so glad to have had a plumber do it. It took him around two and a half hours to install. Afterwards, I read the directions and ran the system flushing operations three times to get the water quality where it needed to be. I measured that it took an hour and half to refill my tank, and it would take six minutes at filter tap full on to drain it. Good to know for future reference. Your numbers may be different though.So, since then my girl and I love the water, it tastes great - as good as any bottled water out there. And I am confident that it is filtering out the stuff we don't want while providing the minerals and PH we do. My cats seem to love it too, although i do plan to conduct a test with them, where I put regular tap water next to the Home Master water and see if they really do prefer the filtered.One final thing. My gal did not like the faucet style that came with the unit. So we found another on the company web site she did like. We ordered it from the company and it arrived and looks great. During the whole process - just before Christmas - we spoke on the phone about three times with Customer Service and found them to be absolutely professional, knowledgeable and friendly as can be. I could not have asked for a better experience.So, if you want my recommendation. For a reasonably affordable unit for a couple this unit is a no-brainer. Yes, you can cut corners and get something about half price - but that won't give you the mineral water element, and in fact will raise your acidity. And Yes, you can spend over a thousand bucks more and get a very nice filter, but why do it you can get the same quality here?

Fits under my sink perfectly. Simple enough to put together. Feels sturdy. The water is pristine and taste delicious. Better than Crystal Geyser to give you a measuring stick (and no micro plastics). My family (kids) have doubled their water consumption overnight without me having to monitor just cause it tastes great and it’s easy to fill their own cups and bottles. Would absolutely buy again. My only feedback would be to have a smaller spout. The one it comes with is pretty big. For some people that might work like for a stand alone bar sink but for me it almost competes with the main kitchen sink. I already had a smaller spout which I used instead so it didn’t really matter but worth noting if you care about that. Like I said though, would 100% buy again.

The Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian Full Contact Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System is exactly as advertised. I finally gathered the gumption to replace our old system due to (1) the need to change the filters every six months (which was always an ordeal), (2) the annual cost of said filters, (3) a slightly off-taste (the tank needed replacement—cleaning it did not help), (4) the ridiculous amount of waste-water it produced (originally 3:1, but definitely worsened over time).The Home Master resolved each of these issues: (1) an annual filter change with easy quick disconnect/connect fittings, (2) less expensive filters per year, (3) excellent tasting water (the old system was not artesian, so the Home Master was an upgrade), a 1:1 ratio for waste-water (with a passive pump). Additional plusses: the Home Master’s reservoir fills quickly, and in my case the output pressure is solid.I highly recommend going to Home Master’s home web-site for full details and lots of additional information, as well as a link to their short installation videos. I would supply that here, but want to remain friends with Amazon ♥. The install booklet that came with the unit is also very clear, albeit it could be improved with the addition of better pictures: some of us are visual learners who appreciate diagrams more than videos (even short ones). As for the install videos, they are also clear enough but are definitely not professional (I’m a bit of a production nerd).In my case the install was plagued with old-house plumbing gremlins. Once these little guys were pacified with a trip to the hardware store for adapter fittings, and another hardware run for a new faucet hose (yep, I broke it *sigh*), installation was indeed a breeze. Those pesky gremlins.In the past I had avoided adding a pump for efficiency since they were electric. The Home Master TMAFC-ERP resolved this with a no-brainer passive pump: no electricity hookup required! No need to worry about power-outages, running conduit, etc. As long as I have water pressure, I have artesian water.The primary complaint that consumers have frequently reported has to do with the noise said pump produces. There are two models that I am aware of: the ERP 500 and the ERP 1000. Both units “click” regularly as water passes through them, and the latter model is apparently worse than the former with an added “swooshing” sound. I made sure to get a system with the ERP 500, and it does indeed click in the 50+dB level (i.e., loud enough for most humans to plainly hear). In our case this clicking is amplified due to the pump’s need to be installed in a bracket anchored to a wooden panel within an enclosed cabinet space. Not ideal. Others have attempted to resolve the issue by padding the unit with t-shirts or towels, or avoiding Home Master’s mounting solution altogether (apparently using Velcro to attach the pump to a pipe works ;-). My solution involved a layer of old memory foam between the installation bracket and the cabinet wall to dull vibration transfer, and additional memory foam installed with packing tape around the pump as a muffle (pictured). Not pretty, but it essentially works (hence five stars). Even so, I can still plainly hear it clicking if I am in the same room. It is also occasionally audible in adjacent rooms if the doors are open, but not enough to distract (so far).At an additional cost the manufacturer offers a muffling material to add between the pump’s bracket and wall. While it would be helpful if they just included it with the unit in the first place, I suspect than anyone who relied on this bit of rubber (or whatever it is made of) would be disappointed by the results. In our case, dulling the vibration transfer was simply not enough to dampen the pump’s clicking to a tolerable level. The whole thing needed to be shrouded. IMHO the manufacturer would significantly increase their fan base (with higher reviews) if they included a full shroud with their whole systems, and as a paid option for those who just need the pump. Surely Home Master could come up with something better than old t-shirts or towels (or a rubber sheet), as well as an improved mounting system, without breaking the bank. Such an addition would make a great system just plain fantastic.UPDATE: A year has passed and I still love this system! I encountered one snafoo so far: the faucet became loose over time. I contacted the company directly via their customer-service system on the web site, and *the same day* they contacted me for an address and sent a replacement faucet--no questions and absolutely no hassles. This was hands-down the best customer service experience I have ever had, period. After watching one of their videos and how to adjust the faucet, I was able to fix the existing faucet without using the replacement (see pics). I was going to try doing this before ordering a replacement, but they contacted me before I had a chance to test my theory 😇.I changed out the filters with the yearly replacements while I was at it. The directions were crystal clear, and the process was painless and fast 😀. I look forward to years of service from this unit.❤️ Kudos to Home Master for a great product and for fabulous customer service! ❤️I bought my Home Master fair-and-square, and did not participate in the dubious activity of a paid review.