Image Credit: westofenglandwatersofteners.co.uk

Hi readers! We hope you were able to enjoy our last feature regarding Pelican water softeners. For today, we are going to tackle all the things you need to know about Kinetico systems and why you might want to consider a water softener system under this brand. So be sure to continue reading as we have gathered all the facts you need to know before buying a Kinetico softener model for your home.

h2odoctors.com

Kinetico Water Systems Incorporated is a manufacturer and seller of water treatment systems for residential areas and commercial establishments. The company was founded by engineers Jim Kewley and Bill Prior in Newbury, Ohio in the 1970’s and they have been producing top of the line water filtration systems, reverse osmosis devices, and water softeners ever since.

The company’s mission was to invent a kind of water softening device that is better in performance and more efficient compared to the existing softening models of that time. And through their efforts, Kinetico is renowned for being the first water treatment company to manufacture a twin-tank demand operated water softener which operates without the need of electricity. This development was significant to the softening industry since this technology revolutionized the way water is being softened nowadays.

The company got its name “Kinetico” from the kinetic process their water softeners are using in regenerating soft water (relying on the natural motion of water than using other energy sources).

In April of 2006, the company was acquired by Axel Johnson Inc. and in the process becoming one of their subsidiaries. Even so, Kinetico continues to follow the same principles in creating the best and innovative water treatment product they have been known for.

Kinetico brand offers several water softeners with various functionalities from the traditional salt-based softeners to reverse osmosis devices. And these systems are certified by the (WQA) Water Quality Association and the (NSF) National Sanitary Foundation which are 2 of the most reputable independent organizations in testing the safety of water and other consumer products. But for the sake of this article, we are going to concentrate only on reviewing their top selling water softener devices.

Kinetico water softener systems are categorized according to the type of water softeners and the technologies they are using. And these categories are commonly referred to as the Kinetico Water Softener Series:

• Kinetico Series
• PRICE: $$$$
• No. of Tanks: 2
• Technology Used: Makes use of the natural motion of water to process soft water. No electricity required.
• Advantage: On-demand regeneration

• Premier Series
• PRICE: $$$$
• No. of Tanks: 2
• Technology Used: Makes use of the natural motion of water to process soft water. No electricity required.
• Advantage: Modified system for higher flow of water.

• Signature Series
• PRICE: $$$
• No. of Tanks: 2
• Technology Used: Makes use of the natural motion of water to process soft water. No electricity required.
• Advantage: Saves of water and salt.

• Essential Series
• PRICE: $$$
• No. of Tanks: 2
• Technology Used: Makes use of the natural motion of water to process soft water. No electricity required.
• Advantage: Enviroment-friendly device

Image Credit: www.432water.com

Kinetico Series – This type of water comes with the standard twin tank system which the brand has been known for and operates without the use of electricity. The device is powered by the natural flow of water and regenerates soft water only when need through its on-demand regeneration feature.

Image Credit: qcsoftwater.com

Premier Series – Basically, this series includes the standard Kinetico twin tank system and tweaked these components so every unit can produce a higher flow of water for maximum efficiency. To be more specific, each Kinetico Premier water softener device has a fine mesh resin instead of having the conventional resin beads. And aside from that, each tank is powered with an upflow instead of a downflow to increase the flow rate as compared to the other softeners from the other series. Many experts say that The Premier Series is closely related to the Kinetico Series (1) in terms of efficiency measures. According to reports, the modifications being done in the Premier Series don’t bear any significant difference as compared to the Kinetico Series. Therefore, you should carefully assess all the benefits you can get from this series if it’s really appropriate to your present water condition.

Image Credit: performancewatersystems.ca

Signature Series – This type of water softeners are powered by the natural flow of water instead of electrical power. These devices have a dual tank system which maximizes the production of soft water while also providing the user the benefits of on-demand regeneration to minimize the use of water and softening salt.

Image Credit: mypremiumwater.com

Essential Series – Basically, this type of water softener has all the same features of the Signature Series but with the inclusion of the eco-friendly and rapid regeneration feature to minimize the carbon footprint and to prevent system regeneration downtime.

Image Credit: commonwealthwatertreatment.com

Powerline Series – This type of water softener requires electrical power to operate and has only 1 tank to work with. In other words, this is one of their budget-friendly models for those who are looking cheap and almost traditional ways of water softening. The Powerline Series also includes an integrated Iron Filter to eliminate all those nasty iron deposits in the water.

Image Credit: www.kinetico.ca

Aquakinetic Series – This type of water softener is ideal for smaller applications where soft water treatment is not usually required for the whole residence. In effect, this model is a great option for homes where soft water is usually going to one small appliance to eliminate the effects of hard water. The advantage you can get while having this water softener is the super compact design, the small-sized twin tank for high-efficiency regeneration, and the natural flow of water supplied at your home.

Image Credit: www.clearwatersystemsmichigan.com

Scale Reduction System or SRS – This type of softener makes use of proven technology to get rid of one of the most prevailing effects of hard water: scale build-up. Once, installed the SRS system will immediately work through all the hard minerals in the water without using any salt so they won’t able to cause scale in your kitchens and bathrooms anymore.

Image Credit: www.kineticoofmagicvalley.com

RO Whole House Membrane System – This system includes an RX (semi-permeable) membrane/reverse osmosis filter which sorts out any contaminants in the water such as iron and other impurities that affects the purity of the water being supplied to you. Once the water is softened and treated, the only thing that’s left is clean and softened liquid that is totally safe for human consumption.

• Powerline Series
• PRICE: $$$$
• No. of Tanks: 1
• Technology Used: Makes use of the natural motion of water to process soft water. No electricity required.
• Advantage: Integrated Iron Filter

• Aquakinetic Series
• PRICE: $$$
• No. of Tanks: 2
• Technology Used: Makes use of the natural motion of water to process soft water. No electricity required.
• Advantage: Compact design

• Scale Reduction System
• PRICE: $$$
• No. of Tanks: 2
• Technology Used: Makes use of the natural motion of water to process soft water. No electricity required.
• Advantage: Produces soft water without using softening salt

• RO Whole House Membrane
• PRICE: $$$
• No. of Tanks: 2
• Technology Used: Makes use of the natural motion of water to process soft water. No electricity required.
• Advantage: RX (semi-permeable) membrane/reverse osmosis filter

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Based on our research and careful analysis, most reports don’t point out a specific Kenetico water softener model that is favored by the general public. And this makes sense since the company has an extensive line of units to choose from and all of these devices are very efficient according to their purpose. Since each of these devices is carefully designed to meet the demand of every water condition, consumers are drawn in buying the best softening system to meet their water softening needs rather than going for the popular choice.

But if we are going to pick the BEST among the water softener systems they are offering today, we choose the Kinetico Series because of the following reasons:

• Practical features (on-demand regeneration, no electricity required)
• Dual tanked system (which means more efficient in producing soft water)
• Impressive warranty coverage
• Fairly priced
• Cost of operation is fairly cheap
• Is often considered as their “go-to” product in dealing with high level of hardness in water that also includes iron deposits.

When we talk of the product’s reliability, we can say that Kinetico water softener is one of the most dependable products in the water softening industry today because their technology relies on the power of gravity and the natural flow of water for operation. And if we try to look at this from the technical perspective, this means you don’t have to worry about the maintenance (except the fact that you have to replenish the salt supply from time to time) as there would be fewer parts moving around and virtually fewer repairs to be experienced. Aside from that, their softening systems are non-electric, which means you can save on your electric bills as the system runs without the use of electrical power.

Image Credit: www.easywaystogogreen.com

The downside, however, is that these devices are not for DIY enthusiasts since the company requires you to contact them first (see our feature on Kinetico brand in this article) so their representatives can visit your place and assess your home if it’s appropriate for the type water softener you wish to install. So goes without saying that you cannot touch the device manually as there is a possibility that the warranty coverage will be void. Other than that, the price ranges of their softeners seem to be an issue for some consumers since their water softener systems are usually priced around the $500-$1500 dollar range. No wonder why some experts label Kinetico as the “Cadillac of water softening systems” as they also come with a hefty price tag.

Overall, their water softeners are very efficient and cost-effective. So if you’re looking for a solid company (especially, if you have the money) that produces a kind of water softener that does all the things you need to eliminate all your hard water problems, YOU CAN DEFINITELY RELY ON KINETICO.

Kinetico’s official website does not offer any customer reviews for you to read. However, you can tap into other sources with reports ranging from the outstanding to the useless, but this will be a risk since there is no assurance that these reports are written by verified customers. In short, these testimonies may not help you in your decision-making.

So in order help you in your assessment, we have gathered all the unbiased reports we can find from all the different review sites to sum up what most people say about Kinetico water softeners.

They love the Twin tank feature – Most customers are very happy with this feature and that’s why it is also considered as one of the company’s main selling point. The two tanks working together does make a difference in producing soft water as the downtime is significantly lessened.

Image Credit: article.wn.com

Third Party certified – Some reports mentioned that Kinetico water softeners are also tested by the Ontario Region Of Waterloo in Canada and the results verifying their product’s overall efficiency as previously advertised.

Prices are “upfront” – Kinetico has earned a reputation for being a high-level product for its much higher and upfront costs to the softener market. And because of this, some prospective buyers are already intimidated by the price that they often shy away from checking their products immediately and move to other brands. Even so, other clients don’t seem to mind about this fact as long as they can enjoy their product’s superb quality and durability.

Water softener parts are overpriced – Some reports point out the expensive prices of Kinetico components. For instance, a certain customer from the state of Arizona stated that the brine tank float cost about $250 plus shipping fee and that he had to pay extra just to get the system fixed when he could have done the work on his own (as the company does not advice DIY repairs). In addition to this, another report stressed out that the pre-filters costs 3 times more than the usual. It’s so expensive that he could already buy a GE water softener from Home Depot with the same money he is going to spend on this part after 3 years.

Overall, about 70 percent of the customers are delighted about the product’s performance and effectiveness based on the reviews we have gathered while 30 percent of the consumers are somewhat pissed off about the price of the units and the parts.

Here is a youtube video you can watch to help you explain the advantages of using Kinetico water softeners compared to other brands:

And one thing we have to mention also is the fact that some experts and consumers tend to compare Kinetico systems to Culligan water softeners more often because of their similarities in terms of the price, certain features, installation requirements, and warranty coverages (both brands covers 1-year warranties for labor). One aspect tends to concentrate on the fact that Culligan is still patronized by a lot of homeowners despite having a lot of bad reviews while the other tends to look into the issue of removing bacteria in the water. In the end, Kinetico still remains on top as Culligan proved to be inferior water softener brand in certain departments. It’s kind of like you’re comparing Cadillac vs. Ford. And obviously, there’s no way the latter brand can beat the former (at least for now).

Image Credit: watersoftenernews.blogspot.com

Wrong quotation of products (?) – Some customers are having doubts whether or not the devices being installed (as recommended by the representative) in their homes are ones they really need. They think that having a twin tank that produces a continuous supply of soft water is not really a necessity since there are single tanked units from other brands which can produce the same amount of water they need. This gives them an idea that having a twin tank is not really necessary and that the representative is just trying to upsell them.

Iron Filter doesn’t fit well into the system – Some customers who have high levels of iron in their water supply are having issues about the integrated iron filter in the Kinetico water softeners. They say this component is not really effective since metallic smell and taste still remains even after regeneration and that the device is in good condition. When they call up the company to ask for help, the representative would give another quotation and eventually recommend them to purchase another type of filter instead.

Image Credit: www.davenicol.com

Salty taste in soft water – A lot of reports often complain about the occasional salty taste that is produced by the water softener after regeneration. But the good thing is this issue is only common to the brand’s older units of water softeners and it rarely happens to their recently manufactured models.

Reps are so “technical” – One of the prerequisites of having a Kinetico water softener is the in-house evaluation, but some clients are also having complaints about this because the representatives don’t speak plainly at times and were often caught using non-conversational terms and in the process letting the client purchase a product that they don’t really want. This problem is often experienced by their elder customers as well as certain guys who are not that technically savvy.

Reverse Osmosis related – Some consumers are having concerns about the quality of ice being produced by their icemakers if a Kinetico softener model with RO feature is feeding soft water into it. Aside from that, some folks also have certain issues with the RO filter membrane and other hitches which are often associated with the RO system.

In general, most of the problems cited are pointing towards certain performance issues and the lack of information given (or possible confusion) during the evaluation process.

Image Credit: save2givedeals.blogspot.com

With all the choices they have to offer, it actually depends upon the kind of water treatments system you want to use as well as all the features that come with it. And while you prefer a certain model over the other, the actual price is actually determined by the company’s representative after evaluation. But you can expect to pay at least five hundred bucks ($500) for a decent water softener and as much as five thousand dollars ($5000) for their premier units with reverse osmosis system as a supplement device (somewhat similar to a Pelican water softener system).

Again, this price range is quite high for an average American to afford. But rest assured that their softeners will last virtually a lifetime of use and rest assured they are all covered under warranty from the tanks to the internal parts (conditions apply).

Image Credit: galleryhip.com

You can buy genuine parts from the company’s official website, but the thing is we cannot find a webpage that is dedicated to displaying their available water softener parts. So we suggest you go to their customer support page so they guide you on how to purchase a Kinetico water softener parts from them.

Of course, you can also find some online stores and auction sites selling their parts occasionally like eBay. But be sure to verify their products first before making an actual purchase.

Image Credit: www.manualsdrive.com

Service manuals are usually provided free of charge. But in case you lost your copy of the manual, you can also check their website as you can download a replacement copy in .pdf format. Aside from that, you can also check merchant stores selling their water softeners as they will be more than happy to provide a replacement copy for you (certain conditions may apply before securing a copy of the owner’s manual).

As mentioned in one of the previous sections in this guide, all Kinetico water softener parts and devices are covered by warranties. Please check out the company’s warranty page for more information.

Image Credit: www.vizimac.com

All Kinetico water softeners are sold directly from their online store and authorized resellers. Normally, you won’t be able to find any of their products anywhere if the retailer is not certified by the company. So don’t expect to find these products on Amazon, eBay, and any other retail websites. If you would prefer to not deal with a rep, you can find some excellent water softener systems online for direct purchase.

Do check out our blog for more interesting and informative topics on water softener systems.