Compare five-year water-filter costs before you buy

Create a like-for-like worksheet

Use one row for each exact model and columns for installed price, cartridges, membranes or media, service and other recurring costs. Record what each system is intended to accomplish. A simple taste filter and a whole-house package should not be compared as interchangeable purchases.

Ask for the service assumptions

Request the manufacturer’s schedule, then ask how water conditions and usage may affect it. CDC emphasizes selecting treatment for the actual concern and maintaining it appropriately. A price comparison that assumes filters are never changed is not useful.

Reference: CDC choosing and caring for filters

Try a transparent example

Suppose a hypothetical installation costs $900, annual consumables cost $120 and one additional replacement costs $180 during five years. The subtotal is $1,680 before water, electricity, taxes or unplanned service. These are invented figures to show the calculation, not Pure Harbor prices. Replace every number with a written quote.

Track uncertainty separately

Show optional maintenance plans and unexpected repairs as separate items instead of hiding them in a false precise total. Confirm warranty labor, trip fees and exclusions. If comparing refill water, use your own gallons and actual receipts; count travel as a personal convenience factor. Keep both the expected total and the unanswered questions visible before choosing.