EDITOR'S CHOICE
pros
- High-performance multi-stage filtration.
- Full contact remineralization results in healthier and tastier water.
- High daily production capacity.
- Long lasting filters make maintenance easier and cheaper.
- Integrated permeate pump reduces water wastage and increases flow rate.
- Wide fittings also increase flow rate.
cons
- More expensive than most under-sink RO systems.
- Takes up a lot of space under the sink.
Product Specifications
SPECIFICATIONS
- Filtration: 7-stage
- Production Capacity: 75 GPD
- Wastewater to pure water ratio: 1:1
- Reserve tank capacity: 3.2 gallons
- Pump: yes, a non-electric permeate pump
- Remineralization stage: yes
- Filter lifespan: 1 year
- Membrane lifespan: 3-5 years
- Dimensions: 12 x 16 x 20 inches
Filtration System Design
All Home Master RO filters have a modular design where the filter cartridge and filter housing are one. When it’s time to replace the filters, you replace the entire filter rather than just the cartridge.
This prevents leaks since the filter canister never has time to get worn down. It also reduces the buildup of microorganisms in the filter housing.
Another advantage of the modular design is that it makes filter replacement easier and faster.
You don’t have to touch a wet and messy filter cartridge or sanitize the filter housing. Just remove the entire filter and put in a new one.
The Home Master TMAFC-ERP filter system has three distinct sections, with 7 stages in total.
Pre-filters
Pre-filters remove contaminants that could clog or damage the RO membrane. These include sediment, rust, chlorine, chloramines, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals.
The TMAFC-ERP uses catalytic carbon pre-filters instead of the more common active carbon filters. Catalytic carbon is much more effective at removing chloramine and other stubborn chemicals.
Semi-permeable Membrane
The RO membrane deals with the toughest contaminants including microorganisms, fluoride, arsenic, heavy metals, and other dissolved solids
2-point Remineralization
The TMAFC-ERP remineralizes water at two points.
First, when it travels to the tank. This reduces the water’s acidity, preventing tank degradation, something that can affect the taste of water and minimize tank lifespan.
Second, when water travels to the faucet.
The added calcium and magnesium give water a more natural spring-like taste.
You may have noticed that the Home Master TMAFC-ERP lacks a post-filter, which is present in virtually all other RO systems.
The system’s design makes post-filtration unnecessary.
The de-mineralized acidic water is remineralized before it gets into the tank, which ensures it doesn’t eat into the rubber bladder.
Since the water in the tank doesn’t have any dissolved rubber, there’s no need to filter it again.
It just passes through a final remineralization filter before coming out of the faucet.
Filtering Performance
Reverse osmosis filters are pretty good at cleaning up drinking water. The Home Master TMAFC-ERP is better than most.
One reason for this is their modular filter design.
Because the filter cartridge is never exposed, there is minimal risk of contamination.
Another reason is the use of catalytic carbon instead of activated carbon for the pre-filters. This makes a big difference when it comes to filtering chloramine and other chemicals.
If your city water is disinfected using chloramine instead of chlorine, the Home Master TMAFC-ERP is the best RO system for your home.
Overall, the TMAFC-ERP removes a wide range of contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, cysts, heavy metals, and hardness minerals.
You can see a more comprehensive list of the contaminants it removes on their website.
But the TMAFC-ERP doesn’t just remove stuff from water.
Using two remineralization filters placed before and after the reserve tank, it adds small amounts of calcium and magnesium back into the water.
If you love the taste of mineral bottled water, the water from the TMAFC-ERP tastes the same or even better.
One thing you’ll notice about the Home Master TMAFC-ERP is that the water comes out fairly fast, unlike most RO systems.
That’s because Home Master made a tweak to the system’s design to boost performance and flow rate.
Instead of using the thin tubes most RO systems use, the TMAFC-ERP has wider fittings.
Thus, water flows faster through the system and out of the faucet. You don’t have to stand there forever, filling a water bottle.
Efficiency
The Home Master TMAFC-ERP comes with a built-in permeate pump. The pump is non-electric, so you don’t have to worry about plugging it in.
The pump helps with one of the main limitations of RO systems – back pressure.
Back pressure occurs when the pressurized tank makes it harder for purified water to get in, resulting in most of it getting flushed down the drain.
A permeate pump increases the pressure of water, making it easier for it to pass through the filters and into the tank.
This results in less water wasted.
While most RO systems drain 3-4 gallons of water for every gallon of purified water, the TMAFC-ERP wastes only 1 gallon.
This 1:1 ratio is the best any RO system can achieve.
So if you are worried about wasting a lot of water, and paying more in water bills, we highly recommend the Home Master TMAFC-ERP.
The permeate pump also has a small positive effect on the water’s flow rate, allowing you to fill water bottles in less time.
Installation and Maintenance
Setup
It takes about a couple of hours to install the system under your sink, less if you have some experience with plumbing DIY projects.
It’s not difficult at all – just many steps to follow.
The instructions are obvious, with plenty of diagrams to guide you. The only part you’ll find a bit challenging is drilling a hole in the sink for the faucet and another in the drain line for draining.
But it’s something you can do on your own as long as you have a variable power drill and the right drill bits.
The tubes are color-coded to make installation easier, so you know where each goes.
The orange tubing connects to the RO unit from the feed valve, black takes water to the storage tank, red is for the drain water, and blue leads to the dedicated RO faucet.
All the fittings are the push-in style, meaning you don’t need any tools to attach tubes to connectors and valves.
A fair warning before you order this system – it’s quite big. The main unit and the reserve tank take up a lot of space under the sink.
Fortunately, you have another option if you don’t have space under the sink. You can set up the system in the basement but make sure it is no further than 10 feet from the faucet to maintain water pressure
Maintenance
The Home Master TMAFC-ERP has some of the longest-lasting filters of any RO system.
The filters last twice as long as other RO filters – 12 months (or 2,000 gallons).
The RO membrane lasts 3-5 years, instead of the usual 2-3 years of standard RO membranes.
While the TMAFC-ERP may be pricier than other RO systems, you save money when it comes to maintenance.
Filter replacement is a breeze – takes no more than 10 minutes. You don’t have to open any filter housings or sanitize the canisters.
The modular all-in-one filter design means you replace the entire filter – housing + cartridge.
What We Like the Most About the Home Master TMAFC-ERP Reverse Osmosis System
- Excellent filtration performance– the TMAFC-ERP provides the best protection against impurities and waterborne microorganisms.
- Excellent build quality– everything from the filters to the fittings is very well made. This ensures the best performance and durability. Home Master stands behind their product with a 5-year warranty.
- Fast flow rate– it takes less time compared to other RO systems to fill a bottle of water or pitcher.
- Efficient– the TMAFC-ERP wastes very little water compared to other filters thanks to the built-in permeate pump.
- Easy to set up and maintain– while it takes some time to install, the setup process is relatively easy and straightforward. If you have the time, there’s no need to call a pro. Maintenance is easy too.
What We Don’t Like
- It’s a tight fit under the sink. Make sure you have enough space under the sink before ordering the TMAFC-ERP. If you don’t, find another location like the basement to install it.
- Its large size also makes it tedious to position it properly under the sink among the pipes.
- It’s more expensive than most other RO systems. But it’s easy to see why. It has excellent filtration performance, the build quality is great not to mention extras like the permeate pump and remineralization filters.
The Home Master TMAFC-ERP Is Perfect For You If...
You are looking for the best under-sink reverse osmosis water filter you can get with a high flow rate, minimal water wastage, and easy maintenance.
It’s also an excellent choice for those who want an RO system that produces natural-tasting mineral water.
Our Bottom Line
The Home Master TMAFC-ERP is one of the most popular RO water filters in the market and for good reasons.
It provides the best protection against chemicals, heavy metals, and germs while also providing great tasting water.
The easy installation and maintenance also have something to do with why people love it, and why you’ll likely love it as well.
