About WaterFilterGeek
Our Mission
WaterFilterGeek exists because we were tired of water softener "review" sites that are really just advertisements. Too many sites rank products by commission rate, not quality. Too many "best of" lists recommend whatever pays the most. And too many homeowners end up with the wrong system because they trusted biased information.
We take a different approach: research first, recommendations second.
How We Review Products
Every review and comparison on WaterFilterGeek follows a rigorous methodology:
- Specification Analysis — We dig into the technical details: grain capacity, flow rates, resin type, certifications, and construction quality.
- Customer Review Research — We read hundreds of verified customer reviews across Amazon, manufacturer sites, Consumer Affairs, BBB, and plumber forums. We look for patterns, not outliers.
- Expert Consultation — We consult with licensed plumbers and water treatment professionals for real-world performance insights.
- Cost of Ownership Calculation — Purchase price is just the beginning. We calculate true cost including installation, salt, filter replacements, and maintenance over 5 and 10 year periods.
- Certification Verification — We verify NSF/ANSI certifications, WQA Gold Seal status, and other third-party testing claims directly with the certifying bodies.
Our Standards
- We never recommend products we wouldn't install in our own homes. Period.
- Every product gets honest pros AND cons. No product is perfect, and we say so.
- We match products to situations. There's no single "best" system — it depends on your water, household, and budget.
- We call out industry problems. Opaque pricing, misleading marketing, and overhyped products all get addressed directly.
- We update our content. When products change, prices shift, or we learn new information, we update our articles.
How We Make Money
Transparency matters. Here's how WaterFilterGeek is funded:
- Affiliate commissions — When you click a link on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We participate in the Amazon Associates program and select manufacturer affiliate programs.
- We do NOT accept payment for reviews or rankings. No brand can pay to be our #1 pick.
- Affiliate relationships never influence our recommendations. We recommend the best products regardless of commission rates. If the best product doesn't have an affiliate program, we still recommend it.
Trusted Resources We Reference
Our research draws from authoritative sources including:
- EPA Drinking Water Standards
- Water Quality Association (WQA)
- NSF International
- Consumer Reports
- USGS Water Science School
Contact Us
Have questions, feedback, or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@waterfiltergeek.com.