Which Doctor?
Back on the subject of salt-less water softeners or salt-free water conditioners, Rick Rhodes wrote:
Hmmm, here you say that the DVGW-512 standard is of no value, yet in 2007 you wrote: The German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) has developed protocol for testing scale prevention properties of these types of devices. This testing protocol is called DVGW Standard W 512. In order to be certified by this agency, a device must reach the threshold of being at least 80% efficient. There are several devices throughout the world which are certified as being at least 80% efficient, but to my knowledge, there is only one such device in the USA that achieves this level of efficiency, that being nextScaleStop manufactured by next Filtration Technologies, Inc. of Incline Village, Nevada and that is the product we handle. We sell it under the brand name
5 Comments
Hi Mark,
I live in California and will be moving to a new house next week. I’ve been reading a lot about saltless conditioners and is leaning towards buying a system from Advancedwaterfiltration.net. They claim a 99.6% effectiveness against scaling which is my main reason for wanting a conditioner.
Are you aware of this company? I appreciate your response.
Also, if I purchase green wave 12 gpm system, what is the cost of the replacement media? And how often is it generally replaced?
Tony,
The Water Doctor Replied:
99.6%? Pretty good! Why not 107.3%? The only company who claims 99.6% effectiveness is nextScaleStop and they no longer use that media which as “allegedly” validated at 99.6% effectiveness by DVGW-512. In fact, I believe they now use the same media we have been using.
The advanced water filters site is very devoid of any information as to how it works. Frankly, the lack of information on their site make me very suspicious of the product.
There is very little information.
Check them out with the BBB as you would any company.
The GreenWave media needs replaced very 4-6 years. If it needs replaced in years 4 or 5, it will be $189.00. After year 5, it would be $356.00.
Be careful! Things that sound too good to be true, might be!
Hi Mark,
Man there is alot of info here I am a little overwhelmed!!! My situation I live in rural Nova Scotia Canada and have a well. The worst of my issue is the rotten egg smell, I also get some red/brown coloring near drain and on shower heads,
A person representing http://www.envirowatertec.com stating he can eliminate this and also offer a saltfree conditioning system I think called Watch Dosing Softener with Filtersorb SP3
Your thoughts appreciated
Andrew,
The system will probably work to remove scale, but some of their claims are dubious, at best. The Dosing Softener adds a chemical to your water to make it feel “slick” like soft water.
Hello ‘Water Doctor’ Mark,
I have spent a long time over the past couple of days doing what research I can on these saltless water conditioner. The whole issue has become confusing…but I’m trying desperately to properly evaluate my options.
We have a nasty problem with scale and yet I DO NOT like soft water via typical sodium or phosphorus softening systems…I can’t stand that damned ‘greasy/soap ain’t gone’ feeling. That I’ve gotten this far in the Google list (think you’re on about page five of my search) is a testament to how concerned I am.
I’ve noted that numerous companies hawking the ‘next-stop media’ type systems use the same justifications for their worth…many even using the exact same textual references. This strikes me a bogus. Also, one article I read mentioned that only ONE salt-free conditioning system had ever met the German test criteria/certification, and that was a cathotic system…not these ‘next-stop’ or ‘SP3’ crystallization systems.
Now I read above that you’ve found fault with some of these companies as marketing ineffective media. I’m glad to avoid an expensive mistake. However the media you DO recommend; what are its ‘certification’ credentials? Does it meet the…perhaps fancy but non-applicable…German DVGW standards?
More importantly, if the crystallization-suspension of the calcium only lasts for a short period of time…what happens to water that passes through the unit, on to a hot water heater and then remains static for hours or, perhaps, days? In those length time periods would the calcium not move out of suspension and back into dilution?
If the GreenWave system can be verified as effective I’m very much interested in learning that.
Thank you,
NJR
THE WATER DOCTOR RESPONDED HERE:
https://blog.uswatersystems.com/2011/01/saltfree-water-conditioners-boom-or-bane/