How we research
Plainly: we do not test products. Nobody at Well Almanac has installed, run or measured the softeners, filters, pumps or test kits on this site. Every buying guide says so at the top, in its note on how the picks were chosen.
What we use instead
- Manufacturer specifications and manuals. Grain capacity, flow rate, maximum iron, micron rating, UV dose, horsepower and the rest come from the maker’s own spec page or installation manual. The URL is recorded for each product, and if a figure appears only in a reseller’s listing, we leave it out.
- Third-party certifications. Where a product claims NSF/ANSI or WQA Gold Seal certification, we record the standard the maker names and check the certifier’s public listing where one is available. Certified claims and uncertified marketing claims are kept separate.
- Public agency guidance. Health thresholds (for example, the EPA’s 10 mg/L limit for nitrate as nitrogen, or the 0.3 mg/L secondary standard for iron), testing schedules and treatment recommendations come from the EPA, CDC, USGS, state health departments and university extension services.
- Service documentation. Troubleshooting steps follow the published manuals for the control valves and pumps they cover (for example Fleck and Clack softener valves, or Franklin Electric pump guides).
How picks are ranked
A product earns a place in a buying guide when its published specifications fit the problem the page is about: a softener rated for the iron level the page discusses, a UV unit whose rated flow matches a whole house, a pump whose curve reaches the stated depth. Ranking reflects fit for the stated buyer, the cost of ownership we can document (cartridge and lamp intervals, salt use), and warranty terms. Commission rates play no part.
What we don’t do
No invented measurements, no “we tried it for six weeks”, no ratings that imply hands-on use, and no product prices, which go stale within days. Health information is limited to what the cited agency states; for anything medical, ask your doctor or your state health department.
When something changes
Spec pages change and products get discontinued. Pages are rechecked against their sources, and the updated date changes when they are. If you spot a mismatch, tell us.