This section will help you become an expert on all the terms used regarding water ionizers.
Active (activated) CarbonActive carbon - We know this is the age old standard for removing chlorine. It is a good idea to have at least some acive carbon in your filter.
Adaptability – One of the things that boggles our mind is how a machine with a button that says 9.5 is going to be able to get 9.5 in areas that have varying source water. If you press 9.5, do you have to live in California or North Carolina to get 9.5? The solution to this problem is adjustable ph levels. We only know of one company that has addressed this challenge, but it seems like it can’t be long before others have to follow suit. It is next to impossible to get accurate ph settings without adjustable ph levels.
Biostone - This is the brain child of Jupiter and Ionways. We think it might be made up. If you do search on the internet for biostone, the only thing you will find is from water ionizer dealers. What is Biostone? We can’t find any supporting evidence that is does anything. We can’t even find evidence that it exist.
Calcium Sulphite (Sulfite) - Enagic's filter is filled with calcium sulphite (sulfite). This stuff is extremely toxic. Do some research and see what we mean. Avoid at all cost.
Chemical Injectors – A chemical injector is a compartment inside the water ionizer that injects a chemical into the water to enhance the electrolysis of the water. Only one machine has a chemical injector. The Enagic™ machine has a chemical injector. This is the secret that Enagic doesn’t talk about. The only reason Enagic can get PH levels under 3 and over 12 is because they inject a chemical into the water. At that point its not just water anymore. We are not quite sure what exactly is in the chemical, but the bottle says “Not for Drinking” on it, so we figured that was all of the research we needed to do.
Ease of Use - We set a rating system for ease of use. The system is the same one used in high school. F being the least user friendly and A+ being the most user friendly. Look for an A or an A+, you will be glad that you did.
Filter Life – This is the amount of use that you can expect to get from a set of filters. Be careful with this one, because it is going to vary based on how many people are using it. We laugh when we see companies mention an amount of time for filter life, because it is a variable measurement based on usage, not time. Certainly go for a dual filter machine.
Filter Material – The is the material that is inside the filters. Many companies preach about their number of stages, but the real test comes from what the machines will actually remove from your water. We like filters with at least some ceramic in them . Ceramic from our research has the best performance. Most companies do not want to pay for the high cost of ceramic, but it is a great option when available. See other types of filter material below.
Flow Control – Flow control refers to the speed at which the water passes across the plates. Flow control can be either manual or electronic. With manual flow control, You must adjust the rate of water flow by hand. We found that it is nearly impossible to get consistent ph levels out of a machine with a manual flow control. Electronic flow control means that the ionizer adjusts the speed for you. Since this is done electronically, you never have to guess what PH level water you are getting. Consistent water everytime. What a great idea!
Flow Rate – Flow rate refers to the speed at which the water comes out of the machine. Flow rates ranges from ¾ of a gallon per minute to over 1 gallon per minute. Some companies make it a big selling point, but we found that the extra few seconds it takes to fill up a glass is a negligible concern (to us anyway).
ORP Ratings – This is the biggest benefit to a water ionizer. ORP stands for Oxidation Reduction Potential . ORP is the measure of the machines ability to create anti oxidant properties in the water. In general, the lower the negative number, the better. Depending on your source water, your ORP ratings will vary. We have seen better than -600 in some circumstances, but it is not necessary or common. If you are getting better than -200, you are doing well.
PH Ratings – Source water plays a huge part here. The recommended drinking level is approximately 9.5. Depending on the minerals in your water, you may find that you struggle to get low acid water from your machine. This will likely be the case with any water ionizer, so don’t panic, its your source waters fault.
Plate Size – Plate size is extremely important. The longer the water stays in contact with the surface area of the plate, the more affect the plate will have on the water. This is a simple scientific fact with no explanation needed, and no room for debate. That being said, you will get the old “Our machine is more powerful so it doesn’t need large plates” along with “Technology gets smaller as time goes on” and the infamous “Our plates are superior to other plates so size isn’t important”. Don’t buy into any of it. It is simple science.
Plate Design – Mesh, Mesh, Mesh! We can’t say it enough. Mesh plates are the future of water ionizers. A solid plate will never be as good of a conductor of electricity as a plate that uses mesh technology. So many companies won’t spring for the mesh technology and tried to convince us that solid plates are better. We passed 9th grade science buddy! Again, be ready for tons of jargon as the manufacturers that don’t have mesh plates try to justify it. The latest from Enagic (Kangen) is that mesh plates can't handle heat and that they will melt an deteriate over time. This is complete baloney!
Plate Quantity – Most machines on the market have 5 plates. There are some machines with 7 plates as well, so what does it all mean? Of course, a machine with 7 plates is a huge step above a machine with 5 plates, but it goes further than that. 7 mesh plates are proven (over and over again) to outperform 7 solid plates by about 25%, but it doesn’t stop there. Once you confirm that a machine has mesh plates, be SURE to ask about plate size. The size of the plates are extremely important. Just because a machine has 7 plates, doesn’t mean it is a good machine. We want to see good surface area, and even 1 inch when measuring plate size can play a huge role. Ask how big the plates are in the machine of your choice. It’s very important and you deserve to know what you are buying.
Power – This is a big deal! Why? Well, water ionizers do not like heat. If they get hot, they get angry. There are only two types of power sources available today. The first one is the age old transformer. It is a time tested power source, but it gets hot, and it does it fast. This means you can only use machines with transformers for a limited time before you need to give them a rest. The other method of power is called an SMPS. This is the wave of the future. More and more manufacturers are going this way, because it provides clean, cool power and it doesn’t get hot. This means no unnecessary wear the is the same power method used in high definition televisions, and no time limit on usage. One of the coolest things about the SMPS power is that it gives you the ability to adjust the power based on your soucre water. NOTE: Some higher end machines give you lots of power settings, so keep an eye out for this benefit.
Polyethylene – Some ionizer manufacturers used to put polyethylene in their filters and we were not sure what they were thinking. Do a search on google.com™ for “Polyethylene Toxic” and you will see what we mean. This link sums up why we think you should steer clear of anything with polyethylene in it.
http://www.citizeninsane.eu/polyethylene.html
Source Water - Source water is the water that comes out of your faucet. Source water has a great impact on your water ionzers ability to alkalize the water. A machine that puts out a 9.5 in California may only put out an 8.5 in North Carolina. This is because of the minerals that are in the source water before it even hits the machine. This is important to remember. Your water will effect your results in a big way.
The truth about trials – Go for a machine that has at least a 60 day trial. 2 months is a good amount of time to start noticing wonderful results. Enagic only offers a 3 day trial. Hmmmm!
Warranty – We have 3 words for you. “Read the warranty”. Most companies are going for the “5 year warranty” pitch, but they are not all created equal. Some are 5 years parts and service, while most are 2 or 3 years parts with a couple extra years for service. If you can find a machine that you like with a full 5 year parts and service warranty, then by all means go for it. Warranty is an important consideration and should not be taken lightly. Back to top
Active (activated) CarbonActive carbon - We know this is the age old standard for removing chlorine. It is a good idea to have at least some acive carbon in your filter.
Adaptability – One of the things that boggles our mind is how a machine with a button that says 9.5 is going to be able to get 9.5 in areas that have varying source water. If you press 9.5, do you have to live in California or North Carolina to get 9.5? The solution to this problem is adjustable ph levels. We only know of one company that has addressed this challenge, but it seems like it can’t be long before others have to follow suit. It is next to impossible to get accurate ph settings without adjustable ph levels.
Biostone - This is the brain child of Jupiter and Ionways. We think it might be made up. If you do search on the internet for biostone, the only thing you will find is from water ionizer dealers. What is Biostone? We can’t find any supporting evidence that is does anything. We can’t even find evidence that it exist.
Calcium Sulphite (Sulfite) - Enagic's filter is filled with calcium sulphite (sulfite). This stuff is extremely toxic. Do some research and see what we mean. Avoid at all cost.
Chemical Injectors – A chemical injector is a compartment inside the water ionizer that injects a chemical into the water to enhance the electrolysis of the water. Only one machine has a chemical injector. The Enagic™ machine has a chemical injector. This is the secret that Enagic doesn’t talk about. The only reason Enagic can get PH levels under 3 and over 12 is because they inject a chemical into the water. At that point its not just water anymore. We are not quite sure what exactly is in the chemical, but the bottle says “Not for Drinking” on it, so we figured that was all of the research we needed to do.
Ease of Use - We set a rating system for ease of use. The system is the same one used in high school. F being the least user friendly and A+ being the most user friendly. Look for an A or an A+, you will be glad that you did.
Filter Life – This is the amount of use that you can expect to get from a set of filters. Be careful with this one, because it is going to vary based on how many people are using it. We laugh when we see companies mention an amount of time for filter life, because it is a variable measurement based on usage, not time. Certainly go for a dual filter machine.
Filter Material – The is the material that is inside the filters. Many companies preach about their number of stages, but the real test comes from what the machines will actually remove from your water. We like filters with at least some ceramic in them . Ceramic from our research has the best performance. Most companies do not want to pay for the high cost of ceramic, but it is a great option when available. See other types of filter material below.
Flow Control – Flow control refers to the speed at which the water passes across the plates. Flow control can be either manual or electronic. With manual flow control, You must adjust the rate of water flow by hand. We found that it is nearly impossible to get consistent ph levels out of a machine with a manual flow control. Electronic flow control means that the ionizer adjusts the speed for you. Since this is done electronically, you never have to guess what PH level water you are getting. Consistent water everytime. What a great idea!
Flow Rate – Flow rate refers to the speed at which the water comes out of the machine. Flow rates ranges from ¾ of a gallon per minute to over 1 gallon per minute. Some companies make it a big selling point, but we found that the extra few seconds it takes to fill up a glass is a negligible concern (to us anyway).
ORP Ratings – This is the biggest benefit to a water ionizer. ORP stands for Oxidation Reduction Potential . ORP is the measure of the machines ability to create anti oxidant properties in the water. In general, the lower the negative number, the better. Depending on your source water, your ORP ratings will vary. We have seen better than -600 in some circumstances, but it is not necessary or common. If you are getting better than -200, you are doing well.
PH Ratings – Source water plays a huge part here. The recommended drinking level is approximately 9.5. Depending on the minerals in your water, you may find that you struggle to get low acid water from your machine. This will likely be the case with any water ionizer, so don’t panic, its your source waters fault.
Plate Size – Plate size is extremely important. The longer the water stays in contact with the surface area of the plate, the more affect the plate will have on the water. This is a simple scientific fact with no explanation needed, and no room for debate. That being said, you will get the old “Our machine is more powerful so it doesn’t need large plates” along with “Technology gets smaller as time goes on” and the infamous “Our plates are superior to other plates so size isn’t important”. Don’t buy into any of it. It is simple science.
Plate Design – Mesh, Mesh, Mesh! We can’t say it enough. Mesh plates are the future of water ionizers. A solid plate will never be as good of a conductor of electricity as a plate that uses mesh technology. So many companies won’t spring for the mesh technology and tried to convince us that solid plates are better. We passed 9th grade science buddy! Again, be ready for tons of jargon as the manufacturers that don’t have mesh plates try to justify it. The latest from Enagic (Kangen) is that mesh plates can't handle heat and that they will melt an deteriate over time. This is complete baloney!
Plate Quantity – Most machines on the market have 5 plates. There are some machines with 7 plates as well, so what does it all mean? Of course, a machine with 7 plates is a huge step above a machine with 5 plates, but it goes further than that. 7 mesh plates are proven (over and over again) to outperform 7 solid plates by about 25%, but it doesn’t stop there. Once you confirm that a machine has mesh plates, be SURE to ask about plate size. The size of the plates are extremely important. Just because a machine has 7 plates, doesn’t mean it is a good machine. We want to see good surface area, and even 1 inch when measuring plate size can play a huge role. Ask how big the plates are in the machine of your choice. It’s very important and you deserve to know what you are buying.
Power – This is a big deal! Why? Well, water ionizers do not like heat. If they get hot, they get angry. There are only two types of power sources available today. The first one is the age old transformer. It is a time tested power source, but it gets hot, and it does it fast. This means you can only use machines with transformers for a limited time before you need to give them a rest. The other method of power is called an SMPS. This is the wave of the future. More and more manufacturers are going this way, because it provides clean, cool power and it doesn’t get hot. This means no unnecessary wear the is the same power method used in high definition televisions, and no time limit on usage. One of the coolest things about the SMPS power is that it gives you the ability to adjust the power based on your soucre water. NOTE: Some higher end machines give you lots of power settings, so keep an eye out for this benefit.
Polyethylene – Some ionizer manufacturers used to put polyethylene in their filters and we were not sure what they were thinking. Do a search on google.com™ for “Polyethylene Toxic” and you will see what we mean. This link sums up why we think you should steer clear of anything with polyethylene in it.
http://www.citizeninsane.eu/polyethylene.html
Source Water - Source water is the water that comes out of your faucet. Source water has a great impact on your water ionzers ability to alkalize the water. A machine that puts out a 9.5 in California may only put out an 8.5 in North Carolina. This is because of the minerals that are in the source water before it even hits the machine. This is important to remember. Your water will effect your results in a big way.
The truth about trials – Go for a machine that has at least a 60 day trial. 2 months is a good amount of time to start noticing wonderful results. Enagic only offers a 3 day trial. Hmmmm!
Warranty – We have 3 words for you. “Read the warranty”. Most companies are going for the “5 year warranty” pitch, but they are not all created equal. Some are 5 years parts and service, while most are 2 or 3 years parts with a couple extra years for service. If you can find a machine that you like with a full 5 year parts and service warranty, then by all means go for it. Warranty is an important consideration and should not be taken lightly. Back to top
When you see this stamp, it means that all of our research led us to believe that it is a true statement.
When you see this stamp, it means we aren’t do not believe that it is a true statement.. Our tests did not substantiate the claim.
1. It is better to be Alkaline or Acidic.
We set out to answer this question by doing our do diligence on the internet to see what the medical profession had to say. After that, we spoke to some real doctors and received confirmation that disease thrives in an acidic environment. Pretty much across the board, medical professionals agree that it is better to be slightly alkaline than acidic.
We set out to answer this question by doing our do diligence on the internet to see what the medical profession had to say. After that, we spoke to some real doctors and received confirmation that disease thrives in an acidic environment. Pretty much across the board, medical professionals agree that it is better to be slightly alkaline than acidic.
2. We struggle to maintain an alkaline state.
Our researched led us to understand that just about every food and drink that you put in your mouth is acidic. There are a few exceptions such as raw vegetables and certain fish, but besides that almost everything else is acidic. We were shocked to find that even bottled water, distilled water and reverse osmosis water is acidic. The real kicker is that stress also makes us acidic, as well as the pollution in the air we breathe.
Our researched led us to understand that just about every food and drink that you put in your mouth is acidic. There are a few exceptions such as raw vegetables and certain fish, but besides that almost everything else is acidic. We were shocked to find that even bottled water, distilled water and reverse osmosis water is acidic. The real kicker is that stress also makes us acidic, as well as the pollution in the air we breathe.
3. We can alter our PH levels.
By changing our diets and practicing stress management techniques, we really can alter our PH levels. The challenge has been that up to now, only raw vegetables and certain fish could be eaten to maintain alkalinity. Normally we would wash that down with some supposedly healthy bottled water which would only drag us back into the acidic state. Our bodies are about 80% water, so modifying that water seems to be the most likely way to modify our PH levels.
By changing our diets and practicing stress management techniques, we really can alter our PH levels. The challenge has been that up to now, only raw vegetables and certain fish could be eaten to maintain alkalinity. Normally we would wash that down with some supposedly healthy bottled water which would only drag us back into the acidic state. Our bodies are about 80% water, so modifying that water seems to be the most likely way to modify our PH levels.
4. We can modify our PH levels very quickly in order to cure diseases.
We did not find any information to prove this to be true. There is much research about the role that PH plays in sickness and disease, but none validating that it can happen quickly. Simply stated, don’t expect changes overnight. Give it some time and you should start to notice differences. It is our opinion that this water can do amazing things to keep you healthy. There is some interesting information on this topic which we will cover later. Because of the implication by some companies that health improvements can happen overnight, this one is denied.
We did not find any information to prove this to be true. There is much research about the role that PH plays in sickness and disease, but none validating that it can happen quickly. Simply stated, don’t expect changes overnight. Give it some time and you should start to notice differences. It is our opinion that this water can do amazing things to keep you healthy. There is some interesting information on this topic which we will cover later. Because of the implication by some companies that health improvements can happen overnight, this one is denied.
5. There are many benefits of maintaining proper PH levels.
Without beating a dead horse, the validation for this statement is in place. As the pieces come together you will see why this is actually a very true statement.
Without beating a dead horse, the validation for this statement is in place. As the pieces come together you will see why this is actually a very true statement.
6. A water ionizer change the PH of water?
This was an easy one to validate. We put some ordinary tap water through a few machines, and “voila” instant high PH water. Amazing!
This was an easy one to validate. We put some ordinary tap water through a few machines, and “voila” instant high PH water. Amazing!
7. Drinking water with a modified PH level from a water ionizer can modify
Drinking water with a modified PH level from a water ionizer can modify our internal PH levels : This was a bit tricky because of all of the confusion with stomach acid. The argument was that once the alkaline water hits the acid in your stomach it was going to become acidic and lose any potential benefits. We spent many hours sorting through this, and we learned that there is something called “buffers” in your stomach that regulate all of the acid in your stomach. It is because of these buffers that everything is handled properly with regards to digestion. Because of the other benefits to alkalized water, there is plenty to be gain from it even with stomach acid coming into play.
Drinking water with a modified PH level from a water ionizer can modify our internal PH levels : This was a bit tricky because of all of the confusion with stomach acid. The argument was that once the alkaline water hits the acid in your stomach it was going to become acidic and lose any potential benefits. We spent many hours sorting through this, and we learned that there is something called “buffers” in your stomach that regulate all of the acid in your stomach. It is because of these buffers that everything is handled properly with regards to digestion. Because of the other benefits to alkalized water, there is plenty to be gain from it even with stomach acid coming into play.
8. There are many other benefits of water that is put through a water ionizer
There are many other benefits of water that is put through a water ionizer besides PH modification : WOW! That is the only word we could think of when we dug into the science of ionized water. PH modification is just the beginning. Visit our Glossary of Terms section to learn more.
There are many other benefits of water that is put through a water ionizer besides PH modification : WOW! That is the only word we could think of when we dug into the science of ionized water. PH modification is just the beginning. Visit our Glossary of Terms section to learn more.
9. Alkalized water can have quite a positive impact on our bodies.
Once again, wow! We couldn’t get enough of the medical communities’ opinions on this statement. Lets just say “impact” is not a strong enough word. Once again visit the Glossary of Terms section to learn more.
Once again, wow! We couldn’t get enough of the medical communities’ opinions on this statement. Lets just say “impact” is not a strong enough word. Once again visit the Glossary of Terms section to learn more.
10. All water ionizers are created equal.
Ionized water is ionized water, right? So who cares which one I buy? Nothing could be further than the truth. There is much to learn about various machines and how they compare to each other. Visit the Buyers Guide section of this site for more info.
Ionized water is ionized water, right? So who cares which one I buy? Nothing could be further than the truth. There is much to learn about various machines and how they compare to each other. Visit the Buyers Guide section of this site for more info.
11. We should be concerned about having certain features in a water ionizer.
There are many choices, and many great machines out there. Some of them took shortcuts in some areas, and some of them can’t even be categorized with others. Figure out what your needs are and make a decision on that instead of all of the smoke and mirrors that are being thrown at you.
There are many choices, and many great machines out there. Some of them took shortcuts in some areas, and some of them can’t even be categorized with others. Figure out what your needs are and make a decision on that instead of all of the smoke and mirrors that are being thrown at you.
We found one what appears to be a very crazy, semi mad scientist that is calling ionized water “snake oil on tap” . It is our firm belief that he is funded by several pharmaceutical companies that are determined to undermine this technology. Those companies stand to lose billions from the good that ionized water can bring.Back to top
RATINGS
When you settle for nothing less than the best, a 5 star machine is for you. Currently, the machine with the only 5 star rating is the Tyent MMP-9090. Tyent continues to set the pace for the entire industry.
These are the machines that I recommend for those that are buying a water ionizer for the claimed health benefits. If you are serious about health and that is why you are looking for a machine, then a four star machine is for you.
These are good performing machines at fair prices. I may have given them a 3 star rating because of some of their features or lack there of.
These machines are slightly better than the machines with only one star, but if you review the buyers guide (link this) then you should see why they only received 2 stars.
These are the machines that I dislike.
STAMPS
VALIDATED:
When you see this stamp, it means that all of my research led me to believe that it is a true statement.
DISPUTED:
When you see this stamp, it means I do not believe that it is a true statement. My tests did not substantiate the claim.
