Thanks jake. I believe I’ve narrowed it down to The reionator or Kinetico. The sales pitches from both were very informative. The reionator does not use carbon at all. They use some kind of additional resin that filters like a carbon and doesn’t need replacing because it cleans it self when it goes through regeneration. The Kinetico does use a two tank system where the resin and carbon are in separate tanks. I did have the water tested and looked up saws quality water output. I do have extremely hard water and chlorine levels within acceptable standards. One is priced about 2k cheaper with install. I definitely am trying to find out more about this no carbon and just a improved resin the reionator uses compared to the Kinetico. I am looking for a whole home filtration system with the reverse osmosis system in the kitchen.

"The sales pitches from both were very informative."

Yes, indeed. These folks are very good at getting homeowners to part with $6-7000. They have honed it to a fine art.

Have you ever heard of a water filtration that doesn’t use carbon? The reionator cost about 5k with the reverse osmosis system. They said it waste the least amount of water during the regeneration process. So how much should a whole home system cost me? I asked the difference between their systems and ones that can be bought at Home Depot or Lowe’s. They said quality and reliability. Related it to buying a tv. Would u buy from one that ha been in the business for decades? Or one that just started to mass produce them? home Depot and Lowe’s sub contract their installation and their modes have been around the last 10-15 years if that. while the small Businesses have been selling and installing since the 80s. I’ve read that most systems from Home Depot or Lowe’s last 3-5 years. I’m looking for one that can last like they are intended for. 10-15 years With proper maintenance

Paul Acovio

I've repeatedly said the same thing:

1. beyond a water softener ($600-1000 for a good unit) people rarely need whole house water filtration. My toilets, my washing machine, etc. don't need filtered water.

2. A very good water softer with a Fleck digital control valve and 10% cross-linked resin is available on Amazon for $600. If you want to buy something like that locally it would cost more... so perhaps $1000. The above unit will last 10-15 years before needing the resin replaced (that's about the lifespan of resin) and the control valve is industry standard - it can either be rebuilt (common) or replaced for about $250. If the entire unit only lasted 10 years, you could buy 4 of them and still be less than what you are paying.

3. An under the sink R/O unit is $500-800. An under the sink carbon filter is less than $200 and $30 a year for a replacement cartridge.

4. Believe me when I tell you that the sales people are very good at their job. Much of what they are selling is truly snake oil. Most people do not need much beyond a water softener - and possibly a carbon filter for drinking water.

5. There is no "special sauce". To answer your question... there are many types of water filters such as paper, sand, etc... but removing chlorine taste and odor is almost always a carbon filter of some kind - and I think that's what is in the Reionator as well. The fact that they aren't being transparent about it tells me a lot.

6. There are all kinds of claims made that either aren't true - or don't matter. The biggest "doesn't matter" is the whole nonsense about Kinetico not using electricity. Saving 50 cents worth of electricity a year is meaningless. "Least amount of water to regenerate" is a really debatable claim - and within a certain range -- it probably doesn't matter. You want a softener that regens based on water usage - almost all do now.

7. Kinetico is super expensive to maintain. All work has to be done by their rep. Usually labor isn't included in the warranty and that is typically very high. A standard water softener with a Fleck or Clack valve can be serviced by anyone.

Here's how much my water softener costs me in electricity. It costs 87 cents a year (at 10 cents per kwh) (and I stand corrected, it's not 50 cents... it's slightly more)

This is why Kinetico's claims about not using electricity are so ridiculous. They are selling you things that don't matter.

Thanks jake. You have really helped in me deciding to ignore the sales pitch and be more economical. what are your thoughts on the systems sold in Home Depot and Lowe’s? Or should I just purchase one through amazon?