What you need to know about water softeners Hard water contains calcium, magnesium, and other dissolved minerals. The water is safe to drink, but it can leave a residue on showers and dishes, and deposits inside appliances that use hot water. Over time, that buildup can affect performance and efficiency. Hard water can quickly clog a point-of-use filter, so you’ll need to use a whole-house water softener. Ion exchange systems, the most common, work by replacing water hardening minerals with soft sodium ions. The systems can cost several thousand dollars installed, though companies also lease them for $40 to $100 per month. Even if your water is very hard, the amount of sodium left behind in softened water should be low. But if you’re concerned, consider choosing a system that uses potassium chloride. They’re usually just as effective at softening water, though potassium chloride costs several times more than sodium chloride to replenish. Other “no salt” water softeners are claimed to use magnetic force to change minerals’ molecular structure so that they don’t turn into scale buildup.

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), with help from National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International and other stakeholders, is developing a standard to measure the efficacy of magnetic softeners. Culligan and Kinetico, two softener manufacturers, have experimented with no-salt softeners but told us that they haven’t yet found one that softens water as well as an ion exchanger. Although Consumer Reports does not test whole-house water softeners, we do have new Ratings of water filters.Sustainable Solutions for Hard Water Problems ScaleBlaster® is the #1 selling water conditioner in the world today. ScaleBlaster is revolutionizing the way homeowners, businesses and industry solve lime scale and hard water issues.  Water softeners discharge brine and waste a lot of water, causing environmental concerns.  Less than 2.59% of the water left on earth is considered “fresh” –  and most of that is trapped in icecaps and glaciers.

Since 1995, ScaleBlaster has been a worldwide success with its non-intrusive approach to solving hard water problems.   There is no maintenance, chemicals or salt required.  There are no filters to change.  It can’t get any easier.  With countless applications and virtually any size pipe, ScaleBlaster is your most trusted and cost-effective solution. Sustainable, salt and chemical-free water conditioner saves water and won’t pollute our precious water supplyhoneywell air purifier model 16200 manual Substantial savings on labor, salt and repairs associated with water softenershoneywell electronic air cleaner f50e manual Designed, engineered and manufactured in the USAreme by rgf air purification system

The industry leader serving residential, commercial and industrial markets for over two decades. Retail partners include The Home Depot and thousands of plumbers and contractors in the USA and Canada.  In addition, we have hundreds of dealers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Proudly Made in the USA / Satisfaction GuaranteedBig Berkey black ceramic elements with arsenic / fluoride add-on elements Zen Water Systems Alkaline Water Filter ProPur Water Filter with All-in-One Filter Elements Crystal Drop Water Filter WaterMan Mini water filter All tests conducted by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, via ICP-MS instrumentation with parts per billion sensitivity using methodologies based on EPA 200.8, using nitric acid digestion, sample normalization, 4-point external standards calibration and in-run calibration checks. The Natural News Forensic Food Lab is pending ISO 17025 certification.A $3000+ Envirotect vacuum has come bottom in our test of top-end vacuum cleaners.

This high-priced model – advertised as a "World Class Indoor Environment Management System" – scored no better for carpet cleaning than a vacuum you can buy for less than $100. Envirotect vacuum cleaners are made by a Korean company called Conet Industries and imported here by Carmen and Brenda Glenn. The vacuums have been sold door-to-door by various companies and we've been writing articles for years about the hard-sell methods used to flog them. Despite warnings from the Commerce Commission, sales tactics haven't changed. Our test shows claims this cleaner is a top performer don't stack up. This vacuum is grossly overpriced and we think consumers are being ripped off. Claim #1: The Envirotect website claims the vac is of "superior design", "outstanding quality" and will give you "the Cleanest Healthiest Home". Far from being superior, the Envirotect is among the lowest-scoring of the 50+ cleaners in our test database. It managed just 5.9 out of a possible 10 points for dirt removal from carpet.

A top-rated cleaner scores 8.3 out of 10 – and sells for less than a quarter of the price of the Envirotect. Glenn told us that the company's own independent test shows "quite a different result". We asked to see the results but nothing was provided. Claim #2: The Envirotect website also makes various claims about the alleged health benefits of the vacuum, listing as potential effects "Less Asthma and Allergy attacks", "Fewer illnesses" and "Fewer Doctors visits". It's hard to see how a vacuum that does a mediocre job at picking up dirt is a good choice for asthma or allergy sufferers – or for anyone else. Our test shows this vacuum is worse than most others we've tested at sucking up dirt and at cleaning in corners and along edges where dirt and dust collect. The only thing this vac performed well at was picking up pet hair. But that's little consolation given its less-than-impressive ratings in other areas. Claim #3: According to the Envirotect website, the vacuum cleaner has two ISO certifications: "ISO9001 for Quality in Manufacturing and ISO14001 for Design of Environmental Systems".

The vacuum also has stickers on it claiming certification to these standards. These claims are misleading. ISO9001 and ISO14001 certifications can't be given to a specific product. They're certifications for business processes, not products. Conet Industries, Envirotect's Korean manufacturer, has been certified to ISO9001 Quality Management Systems and ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems. But all this tells you is that Conet's management processes meet ISO standards. It doesn't reveal anything about the quality or environmental attributes of the vacuum itself. We checked with the UK company that issued Conet's certification and it confirmed ISO logos should not be used on the vacuum cleaners at all. It's an offence under the Fair Trading Act to make a misleading claim that goods are of a particular quality or have any approval, performance characteristics, or benefits. We believe the claims being made for Envirotect vacuum cleaners breach the Act – and we've made a complaint to the Commerce Commission.

There are plenty of good vacuums available. Envirotect isn't one of them. Envirotech warned by the Commerce Commission that their promotional claims risk breaching the Fair Trading Act. How to choose the right model, test results and recommendations. Our guide to your rights. Thanks for requesting to reset your password. We've sent you an email with instructions on what you need to do. If you haven't received the email within the next five minutes please call us on 0800 266 786. Sorry, the information you are trying to access is available to paying members only. Your membership helps us deliver our services and advocate for a fair deal for all New Zealand consumers. Not a member yet? Avoid expensive mistakes and join more than 80,000 other savvy consumers making smart decisions. Up to date expert test reports and research on a wide range of products. Expert advisors to assist with any consumer-related issues. Deals from Consumer Trusted Businesses to help you save.