5 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Master Water Filter

Most people shopping for a master water filter compare price first and everything else second. That's backwards — price alone tells you nothing about what's actually inside the tank. Ask these five questions before you commit to anyone.

1. What's the media, specifically? "Sand and gravel" or "filter media" isn't an answer — ask for the grain size and source. Finer media traps more sediment and flushes cleaner.

2. Is the media the same across your price tiers? A lot of sellers quietly downgrade the media inside a cheaper unit while keeping the tank and pipework looking identical from the outside.

3. What's the warranty, in writing? "Warranty" without a stated number of years and what it actually covers isn't a warranty — it's a sales line.

4. Who handles after-sales, and what does it cost? Get a real answer on travel fees and response time before you buy, not after something breaks.

5. Can I see what's inside a real filter before I decide? Any installer confident in their media should be willing to show you a cross-section or sample. If they won't, that's the answer to question 1.