Nobody tells you about the “oops” factor. You know, like when you forget to change the filter and the water starts tasting like a wet sock. That’s a hidden cost of your own dignity.
Or when you buy a fancy system but realize your fridge’s ice maker is still spitting out unfiltered cubes. Congratulations, you now have premium filtered water and bargain-basement ice. You’ll need a separate filter for that, adding another $50 to $200 to the tab.