| Water ionizers have been all the rage in the past | | | | away by the increased sodium content. Special |
| several years. These units, primarily sold in countertop | | | | attention should be given to making sure an alkalizing |
| versions through network or MLM marketing, have | | | | system is not fed with softened water. So why |
| been promised to provide beneficial and healing | | | | aren't people who market the ionizers asking the |
| properties due to their process that generates high | | | | customer the simple question: "Do you have a water |
| pH (alkaline) water. Additional purported benefits are | | | | softener"? |
| available through the low pH (acidic) water thrown | | | | Further, chemicals pass directly through an ionizing |
| off in the process. While I haven't found any scientific | | | | water system, unless there is additional filtration |
| reports substantiating these benefits, I have heard | | | | included with the unit. Most high-end ionizing water |
| countless clients swear by their ionizing water filters. | | | | products do combine some filtration to remove |
| But this article is not about the benefits of ionizers | | | | chlorine and basic chemicals, but proper use requires |
| themselves, but about the importance of providing | | | | regular monitoring and maintenance. Only a handful of |
| compatible water quality to the ionizer so that it can | | | | ionizers include a combination of carbon filtration and |
| perform properly and generate the water within the | | | | sediment removal that is effective for a reasonable |
| proper pH ranges. Unfortunately, people who become | | | | time. And it is a sure bet that the consumer is not |
| involved in the business side of the water ionizer | | | | receiving the required follow-up to insure proper |
| market are not experts in water treatment, | | | | filtration maintenance cycles. |
| purification, filtration or conditioning. Too often | | | | So what is the best answer? |
| important questions go unasked regarding existing | | | | 1) Train the ionizer sales people about the |
| water filters and softeners in homes where the | | | | incompatibility of the systems to operate with |
| ionizing machine are installed. It seems the drive to | | | | salt-based water softeners; 2) Educate the sales |
| make money leads to a half-baked training program, | | | | people about what filtration is need to protect the |
| and an impression that the ionizers can simply be | | | | consumer from chemicals like chlorine and fluoride; |
| plugged on to any faucet and fed with any type of | | | | and |
| water. | | | | 3) Tell the ionizer sales people to ASK QUESTIONS |
| His impression couldn't be further from the truth. The | | | | about existing water systems in a home before they |
| first issue occurs when a client has a traditional | | | | connect there product. |
| salt-based water softener in the home. This is | | | | So what is the "right stuff" to achieve optimum |
| completely incompatible with the ionizers, and the | | | | quality from a water ionizer? A quality whole-house |
| logic is simple: Water softeners remove all calcium | | | | water filtration and salt-free conditioning system is |
| from the water and replace it with a larger volume | | | | the perfect match (100% compatible) with any |
| of salt. Ionizing water systems do not remove | | | | Ionizer on the market today. Chemicals are gone, |
| minerals, so the elevated sodium content is | | | | calcium remains intact, the internal plates of the |
| consumed after the ionizer. Calcium is considered a | | | | ionizer are protected from deposits, and most |
| valuable mineral that would normally be left in the | | | | importantly, there is no elevated sodium content. |
| water through the ionizing process, but it is no longer | | | | Check with a high-quality whole-house water system |
| present due to the water softening system. And, in | | | | expert - be sure the system has a self-cleaning |
| some cases, the plates that perform the process of | | | | feature and is Green or environmentally friendly |
| making the alkaline water are damaged or eaten | | | | (salt-free). |