The water in Lindon, Utah, has about 15 grains per gallon, making it considered “very hard water.”
Hard water is the bane of my existence. It leaves spots, ruins pipes, shortens the lives of appliances, and makes bathrooms and kitchens look terrible — on the faucets, in the sinks, on glass, on everything it touches.
Chemically softened water isn’t much better. It leaves you slimy, kills plants, adds sodium, and tastes worse than nasty. And the traditional systems require owners to lug enormous bags of salt to remote locations in the basement once or twice per month. And then you forget. And then the hard water builds up anyway. And they you’re hosed.
Living in a hard water state means softening or otherwise conditioning the water is a necessity. But choosing the best system for your home isn’t easy. For some months now we have been researching various water conditioning systems. The main issues were:
- No unsightly hard water stains on showers, sinks, faucets, dishes, glass
- No salt to add
- Whole house system
- No special faucets
- No required segregated plumbing
After looking at the options, we narrowed down our choices to two different systems.
EasyWater
EasyWater is a water conditioner that physically changes the minerals in water to prevent them from forming scale. It doesn’t chemically change the water — it doesn’t “soften” it at all. It uses electronic frequencies to change the shape and charge of the minerals in water to prevent scale build-up.
While some claim this is voodoo science, I see most of the skeptics coming from the traditional water softening industry. It’s not a fly-by-night company. Their clients include: Walmart, Arby’s, McDonalds, Motel 6, KFC, Holiday Inn, Frito Lay, Taco Bell, Quaker Oats, and lots more. You’ve probably heard of a couple of those.
Company reps were more than willing to answer my questions. More importantly, they didn’t oversell. They were completely up-front with what the system would do and what it would not do.
In a nutshell, it prevents scale from building up in appliances and pipes and it eliminates any existing scale (which, obviously, isn’t an issue in a new home). It also reduces need for soaps and cleaners and leaves your body and hair feeling clean, not slippery and slimy. While it does not prevent hard water spotting and staining, the spots are easy to clean off.
Because we have a large home and are using a hot water recirculation line for the radiant heat, we would need the EasyWater 3500. This retails for $1979.00. The representative I spoke with said we could get a $100 discount.
This is a whole-house system that requires no special faucets and no special plumbing lines, because you don’t need any water off-system. There is no salt to fill and no annual maintenance of any kind. It does run on electricity.
The EasyWater system has a three-year warranty and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Total installed cost: $1879.00. Total annual maintenance: $0.00 plus cost of electricity.
NuvoH2O
NuvoH2O is an actual water softening system. But unlike the old-style, salt-based systems, the NuvoH2O system uses the process of chelation. The metal ions causing hard water are bound to the chelating agent which keeps the minerals soluble.
The system prevents scale from building up in appliances and pipes and it eliminates any existing scale (which, again, isn’t an issue in a new home). It also reduces need for soaps and cleaners. It keeps hard water stains from appearing on your dishes, shower doors, sinks, and faucets.
Because we have a large home a we would need the Manor System. (Using a hot water recirculation line for the radiant heat made no difference in the systems because reheating the water does not break down the chelation process.)Â This retails for $999.00.
After signing up for information from this company at a home show a few months ago, we got an email last month offering a very short-term 40% discount. I immediately wrote back — explaining that we were building a home and not yet ready to make a water conditioner selection. The representative offered to extend the discount for us. The total discount is $399.60.
This is a whole-house system that requires no special faucets and no special plumbing lines, because you don’t need any water off-system. There is no salt to fill, but $89.99 cartridges must be replaced about every six months.
The EasyWater system has a lifetime warranty and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Total installed cost: $599.40. Total annual maintenance: $179.98.
Water Conditioning Selection
After reviewing these two options carefully, we chose the NuvoH2O system. Obviously it’s less expensive to start, but it also has the huge advantage of eliminating the hard-water spotting and discoloration. It also uses no electricity.
While it does require twice per year cartridge replacement, it will take over seven years for the cartridge purchases to equal the higher price point of the EasyWater system. And NuvoH2O has an auto-ship, cartridge recycling service that makes this less inconvenient and also provides a cost savings.
Ultimately, since both systems have similar plumbing setups, we can easily either replace the NuvoH2O system with the EasyWater system — or add the EasyWater system to it — if it’s something we decide to do later.
In both cases, however, we were pleased with the honesty we received from the customer service representatives. Both companies seemed more concerned with accurately explaining what their system offered — and seeing that our expectations were met — than in making a quick sale.
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
We’ve been looking for something to solve our hard water problems. It can really cause a mess with the faucets and shower heads. The water flow is really low because of build up.
I appreciate this info because it looks like both of these products will actually help get rid of the problem we already have.
How do these compare to the old salt water softeners?
Good question, LauraLoula.
We had one in the last house, but I didn’t research them for this house because we knew that we didn’t want one. But pulling a few numbers off the web, I found:
Kenmore Elite 450 – $750
North Star North Star NST45UD1 – $824
Culligan Platinum – $700
GE GNSH45E – $719
Morton MSD34C – $583
Kinetico Mach 2025 – $1500
Pelican Ns6 – $1495
I also found an interesting company that offers all sorts of water conditioners and good prices. They might be worth checking out if you’re in the market.
When we moved into our house, the previous owners had installed that big old salt water softener thing in the garage and swore by it. Um, OK. We didn’t really “get” it and even though we replaced the salt and did whatever else you were supposed to do to that huge tank taking up valuable real estate in the corner of our garage, it sprung a leak and I don’t know what else (this was about 8 years ago and my memories dim). I do remember that I was FURIOUS with Sears who made the water softener. They had NO ONE who knew how to service it (I don’t think they were making them, anymore (gee, I wonder why)) and not only did they give me incorrect info during repeated service calls, they tended not to even show up. After about 6 weeks of this (and calls to other water softener companies who would not work on it because it wasn’t their brand) I called a plumber and told him to ‘just rip the damn thing out of my house.’ I guess I’ve been washing with ‘hard’ water ever since, but the smell of coconut body lotion doesn’t make it seem like a problem.
I love these new water systems you’ve introduced us to Alison. Much more affordable, and they look way less problematic.
We have had the Nuvo for a number of months and LOVE it. I bet you will love it, too! (And it tastes good!)
Kelly, the need for such systems really depends on the water where you live. If you’re getting along fine, then it’s probably just fine. My biggest issue is hard water deposits on everything: dishes, appliances, fixtures, and pipe buildup. We have very hard water here, so they really help.
Funny about Sears. I was talking to a friend just a couple of days ago who also had a Sears repair nightmare story. Seems they may have forgotten the value of customer service.
TerryT, that’s good to hear. I hope we have the same experience!
When you’ve used it for a while, could you write again. I’d like to know how it really works from a reliable, unbiased source.
These “new” systems never seem to really work. If this one really works, I’d like to hear about it. Will you update after you move in?
You bet, Cory. Once we are in and have used it for a while, I’ll write another post giving a review of how it works. Thanks for stopping by.
Does this really work? I’ve heard pros and cons and it seems only salt systems really do any good.
Let me know what you think of the system. I’ve been looking at options for our really hard water, but it’s pretty confusing. Everyone says they have the solution. :/
Just an update. We have been using the NuvoH2O system for a couple of months. I’m working with the manufacturer to work out a few kinks and then I’ll post a full review. Thanks for your patience!
I have lived in Utah all my life so you get used to the hard water and it’s not a problem.
Scott, are you really a plumber?
I’m very surprised to hear you say that hard water isn’t a problem. Yes, you can get used to a particular feel, etc. But there are lots of issues beyond that.
So many issues that can be readily solved by softening or conditioning the water.
It’s not a problem for a plumber in Utah because who do you think gets called to come REPLACE all the damaged appliances and pipes in houses with EXCESSIVE levels of hardness…?
I’m in the process of choosing a whole house water softener and came across your blog while researching the NuvoH20. I live in Utah as well and I’m curious to hear your final thoughts on the Nuvo. I’m really hoping to make the right choice the first time so your input is priceless. The Nuvo is an appealing solution but does it work?
I’m a new visitor to your blog and love what your doing. keep it up =)
LOL Robbie! You have a great point!
ViralSky, glad to have you here!
I’m not quite ready to write the final blog on the Nuvo. The guys are coming to my house this week to bring a more powerful cartridge to accommodate our really hard water and large water volume. When I see how it goes, I will be posting.
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I like this site and saw it on AOL search. I thought your thoughts on EasyWater and NuvoH2O Water Conditioners Evaluated Pix2Brix are right on. Thanks for blogging about this and looking forward to reading more on your site.
We are looking at purchasing the H2O Nuvo also. What are you impressions of the system now that you’ve had it in for several months? I also would like to hear an un-biased review.
Todd, that is way too coincidental. Exactly NINE MINUTES before you left this comment, I got an email from Justin at Nuvo to see if the system is working for us now. To make a long story short, it’s not. The customer service has been great, but the system doesn’t seem to have helped at all.
I’ve been meaning to contact them, but they contacted me. So I’ll follow up with them, again, to see if anything can be done. I’ll be contacting them tomorrow. I’ve wanted to wait until they have done all they can before I do a full write up. But I will add it to the blog. I sincerely hope it does, because we (obviously) have already spent the construction budget (and then some).
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I have a good friend who bought this and she calls it “voodoo water science.” She said it doesn’t work and that she can’t get her money back.
To be fair, they have cent us citrine crystal packets to put in our dishwashers a few times. As I understand it, the packets use the same technology as the units themselves. When we use the packets, the dishes come out fine. So it’s kind of baffling.
An update: Got a call from Tyman at NuvoH2O today. (Actually two calls.) They are really working to get this solved. They are sending out another water test kit to see if the unit is lowing PH levels appropriately and then are sending a plumber to install a carbon filter to see if there are minerals in this particular area that are causing the problems.
If they can’t get it working, he offered our money back. So, again, I have to reiterate that they are trying to find out what the problem is and have been very responsive.
We do not want a salt water system, so I sincerely hope we can resolve it!
Alison Moore Smith hopes you will read What is WordPress Jetpack
Dear Alison Moore Smith
How doe’s the water taste coming out of the nuvo filter ? Do you think there is a possibilty of bacteria ? I use a multipure filter right now, and the water is perfect, taste better then bottled water, cheap, and very clear, but not softened, I want to use both filters, but the multipure only for the kitchen. I worked in a laundry, and a softener was about as important as water for cleaning, but we used an ion exchange system (salt) so I would like to know if the Nuvo system really works, I’m very skeptical. Sounds like in your area you will need a salt softener
Hi, Paul. The water tastes fine. I really HATE softened water taste — to the point that is literally nauseates me. But I like the NuvoH2O water taste so far. The only problem is that I’m not sure if the filter is doing anything, so I don’t know if it’s just regular city water or water through their system.
By the way, I think Orem city (right next door) has great tasting water — at least in the neighborhood I grew up in. This water is not as good, IMO.
Have no idea about bacteria.
We were supposed to get the carbon filter yesterday, but the plumber’s wife got sick. He’s coming Monday to install and NuvoH2O is going to retest our water. I will report what happens.
I’ve been watching this post before buying. What happened with the filter?
I don’t believe such systems really work. I looked at the Amazon reviews and I think they’re stacked. Just paying off a bunch of people to write good stuff about them.
I looked into this at a home show, but I just don’t understand how oranges or citrus can really work this way. They guys didn’t really seem to understand (or be able to explain) the science of it.
Sigh. This still isn’t resolved and, to be honest, I’m sick of dealing with the whole thing.
My dishes look absolutely awful. I have some pictures of clear glasses that are opaque with white film deposits I can post. My granite and tile and glass and fixtures all have residue that I can’t get off even with chemicals.
They did send a plumber (as per above) to install a carbon filter, but no one ever sent a water test kit or followed up about it.
Finally, I just send an email a few minutes ago requesting the water test and a bunch of citrine packets to wash and rewash EVERYTHING in my kitchen until it comes clean and to run a final test to see if new deposits form.
So, last ditch effort before I write my review and get a refund. Ugh. I like plug and play. I don’t like eight months of futzing just to get a decent result.
P.S. A June 16, 2011, response to a question posted on the nuvoH2O Facebook page, said this:
I’ll have to see what the difference is between this “carbon filter installed after [a] nuvoH2O system” and the carbon system they had installed after our nuvoH2O system…
We have a park model in an RV resort in Arizona. It’s technically a tied-down trailer. It is about 400 sq. ft. Would the Nuvo system work for us? I’m sure there are more folks in the park that would follow us if this was a viable system for the desert environment.
Lynn, right now I’m not too pleased with my system. This past week I’ve been running a massive test using Citricharge (and a couple of other products) to try to get my dishes, dishwashers, tile, granite, and every other mucked up surface clean — just so I can test the waters again, so to speak.
Today while at Home Depot, I also ordered a water test from Superior Water.
I’ll be reporting my results. Until then, I’d hold off on getting a Nuvo system. If I ask for my money back, you’ll know that I can’t recommend the product.
I’ve been emailed a few more times about this system. I will file a full report soon, but I cannot recommend this system at this point. Even after a great deal of time and expense to clean the buildup off everything (for the sake of fair testing), the buildup is coming back.
The system does not seem to be working at all. I am checking into other soft water systems and no-salt systems at this time. I’ll leave a link to the full post here when it is posted.
I am willing to bet that a good quality water softner (traditional) like kinetico, from a reputable water conditioning /softening company who knows your water/area and tests, would definitely take care of your waters problems. Minute Residual salt is not a health problem ( also Potassium free available), just as much as you could say minumum solubule citrate is aproblem with stomach acid or teeth/enamal etching. Lugging and paying for salt is the only drawback. I am not a plumber, just a consumer like you that would love to eliminate lugging down to the basement with my aching back. I had it delivered once, but got sick of the mess the delivery guy made trampling in mud/dirt at certain toimes of the year, as some houses prior to ours they have to go through wet (snow/rasin) dirt/grass,etc. I finaly got one who would take off all shoes but his hand dolly ( they won’t deliver any other way-can’t say I blame them since they may do 20 deliveries a day) which was dirty and rusty left a mess and stains as it heavily slid down our carpeted steps. Unlike myself that brings the bags in first to laundry room then I kick off my shoes and brimng then down to our walkout basement stairs aand then to the backroom. I know- I may be picky. but if it can be avoided then why not.
PS. the citric/citriine acid stuff works fine with dishes/dishwasher etc. because its high concentration. Yes it is safe, its in a lot of things we eat and drink , in a higher concentration or when placed in a small area of our tissue it can cause irritation,what can give us that acid like burn on our toungues, expecially if it’s in something like lozenge or candy that we are sucking on.
Sorry to hear Allison, I hope ypour issues will be resolved, but I too can’t see any alternative to a good water softner. Mine has been running flawlessly and working for almost 167 years now. But I paid a lot in Salt aprox. (2) 80lbs 160lbs . a month ( $ 20 ) diamond crystal or $ 17 ( walmart -Morton Pellets 4-40lbs.). and water cycle use. The good part is the unit knows when to regenerate so the hardness/softness stays pretty consistent. A SincereThanks for being the guinea pig for all of us. I also heard bya few others that easy water doen’t seem to help spots and film but pehaps some scale build-up. So if you are luck and water hardness is considerably mild ( obviously not in Allison’s case), you may be ok with it, and supposedly the stains and fuilm will easily clean away on fixtures,etc. and jet rinse will take care of dishwasher spots. Good Luck, Keep Blogging.
Wow. Thanks for taking the time to document your experience. I’m looking for a new softener (don’t have one yet), and stumbled on this. My first impression is that it is a gimmick. I was under the impression that Chelation worked with metal ions (in other words, metal that is already in solution) and binds those ions so that that can’t bind with anything else – essentially making them electrically neutral. But the calcium deposits that precipitate out in water is not ionized calcium, is not in solution, and is not prone to chelation.
But, it has been many years since I studied chemistry, and was seriously thinking my memory was just flawed. Gratefully, I stumbled across your blog while trying to satiate my skepticism. Now I believe this is just too good to be true – modern snake oil.
We really appreciate your willingness to jump bravely into the unknown and report back to the more reticent of us. You save me about $1000.
Kirt, we are trying out a new system next week. I’ll be posting as soon as I have some info.
We are planning for the restoration of a 200 year old home in Virginia. Both sound like a good system. I think this topic needs more research.
So, have you used the system now? Is it living up to your expectations?
Alison, can you share the name of the new system you are trying out? I was about to get a Nuvo, but the comments on this post are making me reconsider. I was hoping to do some advance research on your next system so I can be a little informed by the time you post again on this subject.
Beckie, with all the schedules, we were only able to install the first unit last Monday. (We are installing a second unit to run on the radiant floor heating piping.) I sincerely hope it works! The hard water everywhere is a mess!
Lynn, the system we are trying right now is EasyWater. I’ll post about it as soon as possible and, of course, report on the results.
Thanks for dropping by!
Alison,
I’ve done much more research since initially dialoguing with you here. My advice, if you haven’t paid EasyWater – DON’T! Instead, get a old fashion, BUT EFFECTIVE, ion-exchage softener that uses NaCl or KCl.
The mechanism described by these snake oil salesmen sounds high tech; but is really pseudo-science. While I’m not a chemist, I am a mechanical engineer who has worked almost exclusive high-tech labs for the last 25+ years. These companies offer nothing more than verbal smoke and mirrors. They haven’t published in any refereed scientific journals, they refuse to give more than a qualitative, “Magic happens” kind of explanation of the reactions supposedly induced by their devices. I’m unable to find any certified independent reproduction of the effect they claim – and in fact, where third party testing (e.g., testing by scientists at Pennsylvania State University) has been done, no measurable change in scale buildup was observed in these devices. Even if electromagnetic fields could do what they claim, metal tubing’s conductivity is orders of magnitude higher than the materials in your water, or in pipe scaling. In other words, the electron flux induced by easywater’s small oscillating magnetic field would be trapped (shorted) by the metal tubing and the ionized particles in your water supply wouldn’t even “know” the device was there.
EasyWater claims they will refund your money if you don’t like their product within 30 days – you really should tell them you are dissatisfied and ask for a refund. Then, I bet, you will quickly discover that their guarantee is about as trusty as their product.
Sorry to convey news that you probably don’t want to hear, but the only scientifically valid water conditioning systems are salt/resin cycle softeners, or reverse osmosis systems.
FWIW: here is a summary of one of the studies I came across:
http://resources.cas.psu.edu/WaterResources/pdfs/magnetic.pdf
You’ll find that as early as the late 1970′s, scientific studies had disproven claims that permanent magnets could mitigate scale buildup. Later studies expanded upon this.
Another consideration is who can service the system. We bought and H2O Pro System which has worked very well, although it was pretty darned expensive. The nightmare is having to deal with the one company in town that sells and services them. The system needs to be reset if the power goes out or if you have air in the water pipes from a water outage. The service folks charge us NINETY-NINE DOLLARS just to come to our house. The repairs or maintenance is on top of that!
In these instances the system shows an error code and the fix seems very simple — just press a couple of buttons, but we can get neither the sales company nor the manufacturer to send us an owners manual so we could do these simple things ourselves.