Anyone had Aquatec install a household filter system? Opinions?

[fuddam]

Just had one of their salespeople around, and if one simply believed everything they said, one would sign on the spot. Prefer to hear from people who've had it a while and can give feedback.

sooooooo, was it worth it?

www.purewaterconsultants.co.uk for those who've never heard of it. They say our water is so recycled and filled with nasties, we will all suffer from terrible lurgies if we continue to use it, etc etc.

[Andeh13]

Looks interesting, how much is the system?

[fuddam]

they have 3 plans
8 yr - £3,987
10 yr - £4,397
lifetime - £4,897

also yearly filter replacement about £160 and salt over the year approx £50

also possible to just filter drinking water (rather than entire house) = apprx £1000

they calculate average house spends approx £20,000 over 10 years paying for the consequences of poor (normal) water - all broken down etc, of course

[Lucio]

Ummm, are you crazy??

You're believing them when they tell you "this'll save you £20,000 worth of damages", it's complete and utter bollocks and is pandering to the same kind of mentality that tells you organic food *must* be better.

Even if you're in a hard water area and expect to replace your boiler and washing machine every 5-10 years as a result of calcium buildup, you'd struggle to make the cost of the system worthwhile!

[peterb]

I use an iopn exchange water softener (aboput stage 3 on the diagram on theuor site. And if you live in a hard water area, it is well worth wile, less detergent ion the washing machine, less soap in the shower etc.

However it is recommended that ion exchange treatyed water isn't used for drinking as the sodium levels are higher, so one tap is left untreated. So I suppose if I was that bothered I could add a disposable cartridge filter at that tap, or a feed off it. You can buy those at B&Q etc for considerably less than aquatec charge. Or use a jug filter, like a Brita filter. (Remember the running costs, the filters are disposable and need replacing every six to twelve months)

Fitting a water softener isn't particularly difficult either, and again much less than the package they offer.

Bottom line - do you think your water tastes odd? Does using a jug filter improve it? If the answer to both those is 'yes' - look at a cartridge filter, that you can install yourself.

second question - do you live in a hard water area, and if so, does it bother you? Again, if the answer ito both those is yes, then fit an ion exchange resin water softener. Again think of the running costs. I use about £40 of salt a year (salt regenerates the resin)

I have little doubt that the aquatec system does what it says, but it seems a little expensive to my mind - especially if you can do a little plumbing yourself.

[Agent]

They say our water is so recycled and filled with nasties, we will all suffer from terrible lurgies if we continue to use it, etc etc.

they calculate average house spends approx £20,000 over 10 years paying for the consequences of poor (normal) water - all broken down etc, of course

So that's 2 grand per year on the consequences of "poor water"
An entire new central heating boiler can be had for cheaper, so goodness knows what they are on about.

The UK has some of the best drinking water in the world. Period. The regulations covering the supply and use of tap water are huge. You can find a very brief overview here and far more with other Google searches.
The water companies will test water from your tap free of charge if you simply ask them to. I'm not sure if this is a legal requirement, but I know a few people that have had it done with a simple phone-call.

You're talking figures in the region of 5 grand here. FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS.

If you have that kind of money to spend on a system, I suggest you:

1)Buy a Brita. They cost next to nothing and the filters are cheap on Ebay.

2) http://www.charitywater.org/donate/

A water project costs an average of $5,000 and can serve a community of 250 people.

Congrats. You just gave 250 people clean water. And you have change. God will be proud

[TheAnimus]

Wow, I know you don't believe in Darwinian evolution but there are limits.

[finlay666]

They say our water is so recycled and filled with nasties, we will all suffer from terrible lurgies if we continue to use it, etc etc.

As is 99% of water. Getting lurgies is a fact of life, it's not like the water will give you cancerous aids more than background radiation, exposure to car fumes etc

There is a reason there is water fit for consumption and water that isn't, the 'nasties' are killed by the purification process and chemical levels checked on a regular basis

It's probably cheaper to just buy bottled water in bulk

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

UK tap water is fine as others have said unless you have lead pipes in your house.

If you are worried about your water you could either boil it and/or use something like a Brita filter.

[aidanjt]

Mineral content is also a problem, especially around the Isles since we're extremely calcium rich. It's great for our body's, but it's hell on systems which require water to operate.

[Funkstar]

Wow, that's pretty OTT.

Worth it? No, not even close.

[TheAnimus]

Worth it? No, not even close.

Not even the resident plumber/material scientist thinks its good value.

[fuddam]

hehehe, despite what some of you may think, I have a brain. Am not about to just believe what I'm told (gasp!).

was interesting how they 'proved' my existing water to be impure:

1) took 4 water samples in front of my eyes
- from my cold water direct
- from the Brita jug
- from water that had been boiled after going through the Brita
- from water passed first through their resin filter

2) added a colourant to all 4 samples (quiniline? something like that. Yellow food dye)

3) added potassium hydroxide (?) to all 4 samples

The first three samples turned murky once shaken and stayed that way.
The 4th sample became clear again, almost immediately.

Now, of course there must be many ways to crook the testing (contaminated test tubes, contaminated lids for the tubes, filter added a chemical to neutralise the potassium hydroxide etc.) The question is whether the business is crooked or not. Is a big company, established in the US many years, suppliers to many big names if they are to believed - NASA, US military, Dennys, etc, and locally to Subway, Pizza Hut, Sainsburys, etc

They also did other tests:
1) 2 clear beakers. Added water to both, one from their filtered setup, one from my hot water tap.
2) added 3 drops of liquid soap to each beaker and shook them
3) filtered beaker was noticeably clearer and huge amounts more foam -of course, since is softer water
4) added another 30 drops to 2nd beaker, and still didn't match in terms of lather, and also far less clarity

Did another hand test: 2 dishes, same water idea. Wash hands in each. Of course the filtered will feel better.

They aren't hard sell at all. Is their MO apparently.

Also, they claim their system removes, amongst others, hormones in the water supply, various toxic chemicals, blah blah blah. That's the important part for me - and contrary to what some of you are claiming, the UK does not have the cleanest water in the world. Germany, Switzerland etc - far more stringent legislation about particular chemicals in the water supply.

Their figure of 20k in 10 years is derived from a detailed breakdown. Not simply broad claim. They take it down to one's weekly expenditure on soaps, creams, toiletries of all kinds, floor/toilet/window cleaners, etc - saving 75% monthly

Of course they also talk about the usual consequences of hard vs soft water on appliances / boiler etc. They claim an average energy saving of 40% monthly.

What I'm planning to do is visit the Home Expo thing in Earl's Court in Easter. Will be a good few of these types of systems on offer, so will be able to look for show specials, to compare and quiz the sellers etc. My sister's setup cost about £1000 for filtered drinking water and softening of the rest. I want to find out how effective her filtration is compared to that claimed by Aquatec.

[TheAnimus]

hehehe, despite what some of you may think, I have a brain. Am not about to just believe what I'm told (gasp!).

I'm sorry, but your been conned.

1) 2 clear beakers. Added water to both, one from their filtered setup, one from my hot water tap.

There is a reason why you don't drink from the hot water tap, even if your on a condensing setup.

Also, they claim their system removes, amongst others, hormones in the water supply, various toxic chemicals, blah blah blah. That's the important part for me - and contrary to what some of you are claiming, the UK does not have the cleanest water in the world. Germany, Switzerland etc - far more stringent legislation about particular chemicals in the water supply.

Just think we've evolved over such a long peroid of time to coupe with incredibly dirty water, even if you believe that peroid to be only 6,000 years, we've had really quite dirty water 100 years ago, we're not going to have changed so swiftly to be so sensative to a little bit of hard water.

[Funkstar]

It's a bit like those adverts for cleaning products that say there are more germs on chopping boards than toilet seats. Clearly this is fine as we aren't all dropping dead with horrible diseases, so even if this stuff is amazing at killing 99% of those perfectly acceptable bacteria, they have already said their product is pointless

[jim]

I've just done a quick survey of my family, and none of us have died from tapwater.

If you've got issues with hard water, then it probably makes sense to get a softener, but the idea of filtering every bit of of water that comes into the house? I can't believe it's going to change your life that dramatically. The most likely 'benefit' is that you'd get used to water being a bit different out the tap, and then find water in every location except your own house odd to wash in or drink.