Water filter · ro
Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian RO
A 7-stage RO with permeate pump, a 1:1 waste ratio and alkaline remineralization - but the complete system holds no third-party performance certification.
Flags
- · Marketed for lead removal but not NSF/53 certified for lead.
- · No third-party certification on the NSF/WQA/IAPMO database. 'Tested to' is not 'certified to'.
Flags indicate missing certifications or data gaps under our rubric, not a confirmed finding that a product fails to perform.
Total cost of ownership
- Cost / gallon
- $0.038
- ~Annual filters
- $42/yr
- RO waste
- 1:1
Certifications
No third-party certification on an official database. Any performance claims are unverified.
Overview
The Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian RO is a ro water filter. It carries no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications. It is also marketed for chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, lead, fluoride, total dissolved solids (TDS), arsenic, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.038 per gallon.
By the numbers
- Certified to reduce
- nothing certified (claims are 'tested to' only)
- Marketed, no certification found
- chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, lead, fluoride, total dissolved solids (TDS), arsenic, pharmaceuticals, microplastics
- Format
- ro
- Cartridge life
- 27,375 gallons
- Cost per gallon
- $0.038
- Annual filter cost (~1,100 gal)
- $42/yr
- RO wastewater ratio
- 1:1 (reject:produced)
- Install
- under-sink RO with tank, dedicated faucet, non-electric permeate pump
Strengths
- + Total Cost of Ownership: 9.0/10
- + Capacity & Flow Fit: 8.0/10
- + Practical Fit: 8.0/10
Watch-outs
- - Verified Contaminant Reduction: 0.0/10
- - Certification Independence: 0.0/10
- - Marketed for lead removal but not NSF/53 certified for lead.
- - No third-party certification on the NSF/WQA/IAPMO database. 'Tested to' is not 'certified to'.
Who it is for
- · Households needing broad dissolved-contaminant reduction (TDS, etc.)
- · Cost-conscious buyers - very low cost per gallon
Who should skip it
- · Anyone who needs verified contaminant removal - this product is not certified
- · Anyone buying specifically for lead - it is marketed for it but not certified
What to know before buying
- · The annual filter set is the ISetTMA8 (three cartridges); the TFC membrane (Mem-TFC50) is rated for roughly 3 to 5 years.
- · The non-electric permeate pump reduces drain water to about a 1:1 ratio, and the system runs near 50 GPD with a 3.2-gallon tank.
- · Home Master markets that components meet NSF material standards, but the complete TMAFC-ERP system is not itself NSF or WQA performance certified.
How it scored
Verified Contaminant Reduction
0.0/10 · 35%Held NSF/WQA/IAPMO certifications for the contaminants that matter. A claim is not a certification.
- ·No third-party contaminant certification Aclaims only, uncertified - No NSF/WQA/IAPMO certification. Performance claims are unverified.
Total Cost of Ownership
9.0/10 · 25%Computed cost per gallon vs the format-class median. The number nobody surfaces.
- +8Cost per gallon vs class median A$0.038/gal (bottom 20% of class (cheapest to run)) - Computed cost per gallon scored against the format-class median.
- +1Efficient RO wastewater ratio B1:1 reject:produce - Rejects 2 gallons or fewer per gallon produced.
Certification Independence
0.0/10 · 15%Certified on the official database vs self-claimed 'tested to' marketing.
- ·Not verifiable on a certification database Ano database listing - No third-party certification listing. 'Tested to NSF standards' earns no certification credit.
- ·Marketing exceeds certified scope Aclaims beyond certified scope - Marketing emphasizes contaminants the certifications do not cover.
Capacity & Flow Fit
8.0/10 · 15%Cartridge life and flow appropriate to the format.
- +3Cartridge life fits the format B27375 gal (norm 300) - Rated cartridge life is appropriate for this filter format.
- +3Flow / storage disclosed and adequate B3.2 gal tank - Flow rate or RO storage is disclosed and adequate for the format.
- +2Sediment pre-filter present Bsediment pre-filter - Includes a sediment pre-filter for well or hard-water sources.
Practical Fit
8.0/10 · 10%Install, footprint, and source-water readiness.
- +5Install type disclosed Cunder-sink RO with tank, dedicated faucet, non-electric permeate pump - Install method and difficulty are disclosed up front.
- +3Well / hard-water ready Brated for well/hard water - Pre-filtered or rated for well and hard-water sources when marketed for them.
FAQ
- What replacement filters does the TMAFC-ERP use and how often?
- It uses the ISetTMA8 three-cartridge set, replaced about once a year or every 2,000 gallons, plus the Mem-TFC50 membrane replaced roughly every 3 to 5 years.
- Is the Home Master TMAFC-ERP NSF certified?
- The assembled system is not NSF or WQA performance certified; Home Master states only that components meet NSF material-safety standards, a narrower claim.
Related guides
This score is our opinion under our published rubric, not a statement of objective fact or a lab test of this product. We score what third-party certifications prove; absence of a certification means we found no verification, not that a product fails to perform. Last reviewed 2026-05-29. Scored under water-v1.0. Prices and certifications are re-verified on a cadence; see the methodology for how each rule fires.