Review: Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact Reverse Osmosis System
Written by: Alexandra Uta // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Jan 19, 2024
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In this review, we’re exploring the Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact Reverse Osmosis System – a 7-stage RO system that removes sediment, chlorine/chloramines, heavy metals and other dissolved solids, and more.
In addition to that, the Home Master TMAFC also remineralizes the water – twice!
Sounds like a system you want to buy? Here’s everything else you must know.
Contents
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Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact Reverse Osmosis System |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Stages: | 7 |
| Water Flow: | Not Specified |
| NSF Certifications: | 58 |
| Annual Cost: | ~$100 |
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Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact Reverse Osmosis System – All Specs
- Model: TMAFC Artesian Full Contact
- Last Price: $329.95
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$100
- Filter Media/Process: Sediment Pre, Catalytic Carbon, RO, Remineralization
- Filter Stages: 7
- Membrane Rating: 50 gpd
- Recovery Rate: 20-25%
- Filtering Capacity: 1-5 Years
- WxHxD: 5″x16″x15″
- Tank: 11″x15″x11″, 3.2 gal
- Water Temperature: 40-100 °F
- Water Pressure: 40-95 psi
- Water pH: 4-10
- Fitting: 3/8”
- NSF Certifications: Standard 58 (Material Safety and Structural Integrity Only)
- Warranty: 5 Years (Limited)
Home Master – Discount Code
You can use our code “BOSFREERO“ to get free shipping on any reverse osmosis system you purchase theperfectwater.com.
Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact – Key Features
The Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact Reverse Osmosis System uses seven filter stages. There’s the 5-micron sediment pre-filter, a 5-micron coconut shell granular catalytic carbon pre-filter, the DOW FILMTEC reverse osmosis membrane, and a 5-micron coconut shell granular activated carbon + remineralization post-filter.
All stages work together to remove up to 99% of sediment, dirt, taste and odor, chlorine, chloramine, organic chemicals, lead and other heavy metals, microplastics, fluoride, and dissolved solids in general (plus more).
Still, your water won’t get a “0” TDS reading after filtration. That’s because the remineralization post-filter adds 30-60 ppm of calcium and magnesium into the water before and after storage. It gives your water a little alkalinity, better taste, and prevents the storage tank from deteriorating.
The system also features a fast flow kit that uses bigger tubing and other elements to nearly double the water flow rate from the RO faucet. The result? You can fill one glass in only 4.5 seconds. What about wastewater? The system has a 1:3 to 1:4 ratio, meaning you waste 3 or 4 water gallons for every gallon of filtered water which is pretty standard.
The RO membrane lasts about three to five years, while the other filter stages work for a year or 2,000 gallons (whichever comes first).
You also get different optional upgrades with the Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact:
- Several faucets to choose from (you pay extra for most of them)
- Bigger/smaller reserve tank
- 75 gpd membrane
- Antimicrobial tubing
- Refrigerator connection kit
- Garbage disposal drain adapter
- And the big deal: a permeate pump. This upgrade reduces wastewater by 80% and boosts water production.
You get all these features for $329.95. It’s costlier than most competing systems, but it’s still okay.
Home Master Reverse Osmosis Pros
What are some of the benefits you get from the Home Master TMAFC RO system? For one, the design is BPA and lead-free. So you don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals leaching into your water, and that’s a big plus. The filters are also made in America, which is exactly what most people prefer.
And as long as you’re handy with tools, you can install the system yourself. It’s DIY-install ready. You have push fittings, color-coded tubing, professional live support, comprehensive installation instructions, and video — everything you need to get you through the installation process.
Maintenance is also a breeze. You only need to replace filters once a year, and the cost fits within the average maintenance cost of RO filters (~$100). You don’t even need tools. The system uses push fittings and modular filters to make installation and replacements easy and fast.
Speaking of, you dispose of the entire filters including their housings, so germs have no chance of accumulating and you can prevent long-term leakage.
Finally, the Home Master TMAFC comes with what every buyer loves — a 5-year limited warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
This Home Master reverse osmosis system removes sediments, dirt, foul taste and odor, chlorine, chloramines, organic chemicals, lead and other heavy metals, microplastics, dissolved solids like fluoride, and more.
The Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact – learn more on Theperfectwater.com
Installation
Are you handy with tools? You’ll have no issues installing this water filter. It uses modular filters and push fittings to makes things faster. Also: Color-coded connections (makes it easier to understand installation instructions), detailed installation instructions, and professional live support — everything you need to DIY!
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
You’ll need these few tools to get started:
- Protective glasses
- Philips screwdriver
- Marker
- 1″ diamond hole saw
- Medium crescent wrench
- Variable speed corded power drill
- ¼” metal drill bit w/ cobalt tip
- Scissors
- Average-sized pliers
- Household bleach
- Towels
And here’s how you can install the system:
- Fix the RO faucet to the existing hole on your sink (or drill one).
- Connect the EZ adapter to the cold water supply.
- Install the garbage disposal drain adapter (or drain saddle).
- Fix the mounting clip and hang the Home Master RO.
- Install the optional permeate pump beside the Home Master RO.
- If you have a refrigerator kit, install it at this point.
- Place the product label on the reserve tank.
- Now, connect the reserve tank. Remember to prime the water nipple on the tank with regular bleach.
- Install the system tubing. Connect the orange, red, black, and blue tubing to the IN line, drain, reserve tank, and RO faucet, respectively.
- Pressurize the RO system, dry the unit carefully, and examine it for leaks.
- Fill and empty the tank at least twice to flush out any remnant fines.
Video
The Package (Parts)
- Assembled RO filter cluster
- Filter elements
- Fast flow RO! kit
- Full contact hardware
- Holding tank, 3.2 gallons
- Tank stand
- Tank ball valve
- Lead-free chrome faucet
- Drain saddle assembly
- Fittings, adapters, connection hardware
- Teflon tape
- User manual
- Mounting clip + screw
Maintenance
Pre and post-filter life is 1 year or 2,000 gallons, and the RO membrane lasts 3 to 5 years. Basically, you only need to maintain the system once a year. You’ll spend about $100 on annual filter replacements, which is still within average.
You have modular filters and push fittings, so you don’t struggle much with components during replacement. Filter replacements are so easy that you don’t even need tools. You discard the whole filter with the housing and any germs that may have built up there. Plus, all the system parts are exposed and easily accessible.
Here’s how to replace the filters:
- Switch off the feed water and the reserve tank valve.
- Release pressure from the system.
- Slowly unmount the Home Master RO.
- Remove the old filters one after the other and detach the tubing.
- Connect the tubing to the new filter and discard the old filter.
- Return the Home Master RO to position and gently turn on the main water line.
- Turn on the reserve tank valve and let the water flow until it’s a trickle.
- Turn off the RO sink faucet and wait for three hours.
- When the system goes off, examine it for leaks.
- Drain the tank completely.
- Refill the tank and flush once more before you resume use.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
https://www.theperfectwater.com/downloadable/download/attachment/id/428/
NSF and Other Certifications
This system has an NSF 58 certification, but not for contaminant reduction. It’s only certified to meet the material and structural integrity requirements for water filters.
Earlier Product Versions
To our knowledge, there are no earlier versions of this filter.
Home Master Artesian Cons
The Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact comes at a $329.95 price tag which is kind of high (higher than similar systems) but still acceptable in our opinion.
Our major issue is the lack of NSF testing and certifications. True, it has one certification. But that one only covers material and structural integrity; nothing about contaminant reduction. NSF testing/certification would have been an excellent way to back up this system’s filtration performance.
Also, we mentioned that the system components are exposed for easy accessibility. But this setting also means it’ll clutter your kitchen under sink a bit more than single-module RO systems.
Some buyers had issues installing the system; they had to call a plumber and spend extra funds. We also found complaints about leaks from the system and tubing. And some users didn’t like the taste of the filtered water, saying it was a bit off.
Finally, remember that without a permeate pump, the Home Master TMAFC will waste around 3 to 4 gallons of water for every gallon purified. This is the standard ratio for systems of this type, but it’s still a lot.
Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact Reverse Osmosis System offers a solid filtration process including remineralization, straightforward installation and maintenance, and a 5-year manufacturer warranty. These are fine reasons to give it a shot. However, there is no NSF testing or certification for contaminant reduction, and the system’s price is a bit high. Our verdict? 4 out of 5 stars!
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 5.0/5.0
- Purchase Price: 4.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 4.0/5.0
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Comparison to Other Reverse Osmosis Systems
Let’s see how the Home Master TMAFC stacks against the AquaTru RO system as well as the Waterdrop G3.
AquaTru |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Water: | 1 Gallon in 10-15 Minutes |
| NSF: | 42, 53, 58, 401, P473 |
| Annually: | ~$100-120 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Waterdrop G3 |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Stages: | 4 |
| Flow Rate: | 0.42 gpm |
| NSF: | 58, 372 |
| Annually: | ~$145 |
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Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Home Master TMAFC |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Stages: | 7 |
| Flow Rate: | Not Specified |
| NSF: | 58 |
| Annually: | ~$100 |
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Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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We really like the AquaTru and it’s easy to see why: The system is a countertop, so it saves space and requires zero installation. You can set it up in ten minutes! Its 4-stage filtration media has been tested and certified against NSF standards covering about 80 pollutants. It has certifications against 5 NSF/ANSI standards (42, 53, 58, 401, and P473), which is not only amazing but also ensures clean drinking water and good health. In comparison, Home Master has zero certifications for filtration performance. The AquaTru has these reduction rates:
- Chlorine (96.6%)
- VOCs (95% to over 99%)
- Chromium-6 (97.2%)
- TDS (87.1%)
- Cyst (99.99%)
- Fluoride (93.5%)
- Lead (99.1%)
- Radium 226/228 (96.4%)
- BPA (99%)
- PFOA, PFOS (97.5%)
- Several trace pharmaceuticals and pesticides (86.7%-96.6%)
You’ll have no trouble learning to use this system; it’s super-easy. Water filtration is also fast. What’s more? It has an 80% recovery rate, which means that only ⅕ of the feed water goes to waste. It beats both the Home Master and Waterdrop here, all thanks to the internal pump. The system’s design is safe and durable, featuring only BPA and BPS-free Tritan plastic.
On the downside, the AquaTru costs more than the Home Master to buy but roughly the same to maintain (about $100-$120 annually). We also found complaints about system leaks and units that went bad after a few months. We didn’t experience any of these issues, though.
The Waterdrop G3 is an under-the-sink model but has no storage tank like the Home Master – it filters water on-demand. With no bulky tank to sit in your kitchen, this system saves space. It features four filter stages and has what Home Master lacks — NSF certifications and testing supporting its filtration performance. There’s the NSF 58 certification (covering TDS reduction) and testing against NSF standards 42, 53, 58, and 401. The tests have shown these reduction rates:
- Up to 99% VOCs
- 99% chlorine
- 98% nitrate
- 99% fluoride
- 99% arsenic
- 99% chromium-6
- 99% lead
- 99% PFOA/PFOS and other contaminants.
The Waterdrop G3 also features an in-built pump that boosts water pressure. It leaves the flow rate at a rapid 0.42 gallons per minute, meaning you’ll always have water running. It also means you can fill a glass in about 8 seconds. The internal pump also reduces wastewater to 33%, beating Home Master, which wastes about 75%-80%.
Installing and maintaining Waterdrop G3 is easy. You have a smart faucet and system module that use LED lights and sound to remind you of filter replacements. The filters have an average lifespan of 6 to 24 months or 550 to 2,200 gallons, and you don’t stress much when it’s time to replace them. It only takes a single turn to remove and install each cartridge. You need no tools, disconnections, or turning off the feed water valve. By the way, there’s also a TDS monitoring panel on the faucet and system that displays how effective the filters (especially the RO membrane) are.
Did we mention that the design is BPA-free? Also, there’s a money-back guarantee: You get a full refund if you return your unit 30 days or less after buying (in case you’re unsatisfied with it). There’s a 1-year manufacturer warranty, too, but you can only access it if you use municipal water. Home Master offers a 5-year unconditional warranty, so it’s better here.
Are there any drawbacks? Yeah. The Waterdrop has user-friendly features, but customers have reported that it produces noises even when not releasing water. That can be annoying. Also, it is more expensive than the Home Master for both purchase and maintenance. You’ll spend about $145 replacing filters each year.
In summary: In our opinion, AquaTru is the best pick because it offers NSF-backed filtration, zero installation stress, very little wastewater, affordable maintenance, and a fine price. Waterdrop comes next because of its effectiveness, easy installation, comparably less wastewater, tankless design, and fast filtration. The Home Master is also fine, but we wished it had contaminant reduction rates.
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This completes our review of the Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact Reverse Osmosis System. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
Information provided on BOS is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.
We adhere to strict editorial guidelines. Rest assured, the opinions expressed have not been provided, reviewed, or otherwise endorsed by our partners – they are unbiased, independent, and the author’s alone. Our licensed experts fact-check all content for accuracy. It is accurate as of the date posted and to the best of our knowledge.