This Water Softener Blew Me Away! SO Much Better!

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[@nathanwforrest]

I was duped into getting one of these. It sucks - don't waste your money. The water isn't any softer, it has just as much mineral in the 'treated' water and just as much scaling too. The cartridges are like $90 each and, the icing on the cake, the housing cracked after 5 years, rendering the whole thing useless. Don't do it.

[@interestingamerican3100]

Thanks for sharing that good info.

[@steed262]

Thank you and sorry for your loss

[@sparks6666]

Wait... they didn't give you one free to push on your youtube channel?

[@nathanwforrest]

@@sparks6666 Not enough subscribers I guess

[@nhbilly]

Only true water softener use salt.

[@michaelduggin3565]

Im a builder also and most of the stuff you like or recommend is good stuff and I agree with most of your ideas.. However this one is a pig with lipstick. I took out a salt system and replaced it with this about a year ago. Six months later I was putting in a new salt system. To call it JUNK is kind. It only sort of works. And you have to change the cartridges ALL the time. I tested the water a lot and found that I got about 7500 gallons before the cartridge was used up. Other issues, if you dont tighten them enough they leak and if you over tighten they crack.. If you want the darn thing to unscrew you need to put food grade grease on the threads. Water on the floor at every change is annoying. You get air in the plumbing at every change. Not a big deal but annoying.

[@jordanwalker1184]

The reason this nuvo system us junk is because the company doesn't tell you it doesn't take calcium or magnesium out of the water supply. The nuvo will scale in any tank because the scale comes out in "suspension" depositing in the tank. Also calcium dissociates faster in hot water.

[@jose9153]

Thanks for the comment. Very helpful. In your opinion, what is a good value system to go with for someone on well water?

[@apock6115]

Thanks for info don't need to look this further.. 👍

[@j.r.arnolli9734]

You're right and this system cost You $30~$50 a month on cartridges!!

[@xoulsinz]

agreed, salt less system cannot be called a softener because it does NOT actually remove any mineral from your water source.

[@wadewoodard9805]

Love 99.9% of your stuff but this is a gimmick and expensive one at that.

[@buildshow]

Thanks for the kind disagreement comment Wade. Hope you’ll come back for more of my videos in the future! Best, Matt

[@IamDog0]

@@buildshow Keeping with the building science theme I would love to see you bring on a water treatment expert and discuss this system. I too agree with 99.9% of your recommendations, but this one left me scratching my head.

[@DouglasGross6022]

@@buildshow Please do have a water treatment tech or chemist on to address this.

[@jolo4036]

@@DouglasGross6022 All Matt has to do is see if it actually works in 6 months.

[@stevencooper5302]

@@buildshow My plumber said these are awful I would love to see if it works for you though. He said he has torn out hundreds of these.

[@ganjalogic]

I've enjoyed your videos in the past, but I think you're smart and informed enough to know that this product is a dumb scam. When you use your platform to promote stuff like this you lose a lot of credibility, and I really doubt this company paid you enough for it to be worth it.

[@mybellyisapinata]

I know this product/endorsement is getting a lot of negative feedback in the comments (all at least arguably warranted and legitimate from what I can see), but I'd enjoy seeing a followup video in 6-12 months after you've lived with the system and rotated the filters once or twice to get a better idea how you think it performs over time 👍

[@IamDog0]

Keeping with the build science theme, I’d like to see him bring on an actual water treatment expert to evaluate the claims made by this product.

[@yehudagoldberg6400]

You probably should expect that from a sponsored video (especially if the results are subpar)

[@MrThisIsMeToo]

This is like some scammy late night TV infomercial. All snake oil. I do not watch them on TV, do not watch them here. Unsubscribed.

[@jessewood3999]

I wonder what kind of hardness it's good for?

[@ericwilliams4465]

He has kind of painted himself into a corner with this one. Not only is the room not set up for a traditional softener, he presents this as THE solution. Also, as a sponsored segment, they expect good vibes from him going forward. I don’t see any follow up segment unless it is a totally glowing review.

[@donaldbuhl9601]

I’ve had nuvoh2o for 4 years. We hate it. Doesn’t work. We still get so much scale and the water isn’t “soft”. Will get rid of it at some point and go to a salt water softener.

[@neckofthewoods24]

not surprised!! i just did testing on my water and we went from a hardness of 480 down to under 5 and thats all they can test down to! its a real system though! if youre curious...kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5WleYGIj9OnY8k

[@Beniamin6665]

As a plumber I have not ever seen one in action.

[@xxlionzonlyxx2099]

Yea it's garbage. Watersoftener is king. If you don't want to use salt you can use potassium cost a lil more

[@VinnieChenzo]

Unfortunately i feel that Matt has turned into a stealth infomercial man. Not saying he does not know what he is talking about but he is being paid to promote stuff.

[@nickaroni87]

That's because it's not a softener. In order to have true, soft water, you need an ion exchange with the sodium and hard mineral ions. Everything else will be a conditioner, or simply a whole house filtration. This, and many others out there are nothing but scams and misleads people into thinking they'll get soft water without the use of salt.

[@336699334]

So it costs $300/year to operate and it leaves your water feeling hard? We use about 4 bags of salt a year. That's less than $30/year. And personally I'm a big fan of the feeling of softened water. Hard water feels like it leaves a film all over me. It's not often I disagree with what you say in your videos but this product seems off the mark. If someone really needed that space, maybe. A tiny home or an off grid home/cabin might benefit from that. But otherwise I don't see the use case. Sorry man. Typically I love your videos and learn a lot from them.

[@briandenisefarmer333]

Agree. I don’t have the most efficient softener but I only spend about 12-15 bags per year. $6 a bag. $90 a year is much better than $300 a year for cartridges

[@daveklein2826]

LMAO

[@conradrichard1492]

Yep.

[@chuckley54494]

i used to use 6 bags a month at my old place. nasty water

[@augustreil]

''Hard'' water feels like it leaves a film, you mean ''Soft'' water right ? Hard water makes you squeak after a shower.

[@briandenisefarmer333]

I’m a bit confused on this product. The reason the shower water feels ‘slimy’ when trying to remove the soap is because there are no minerals in the water because the ‘Resin’ in a traditional water softener has removed it. Has nothing to do with any ‘salt’ in the water. Salt is used to only backwash the resin bed to remove the collected buildup of minerals in the resin. So if the minerals are truly removed from the water by the citrus filter, wouldn’t it give you the same slippery feeling in the shower? If it doesn’t, then what is the true water hardness level at the shower with the citrus filter? I don’t see how it can be true low to zero hardness and not have same water attributes as a traditional softener. Simple matter of hardness levels in the water.

[@tjam4229]

You know more than the video host on this topic!! He really should do some research before throwing false info out there. Misinformation is worse than no information.

[@andrewhirsch6089]

This product is literally dosing a mild amount of citric acid into your water system. That's why the company claims that it can remove existing scale. It's not filtering or softening anything. There is no softening occurring. Imagine you had a scaled appliance. The cleaning cycle would have you add a citric acid solution for cleaning/dissolving the scale.

[@briandenisefarmer333]

@@andrewhirsch6089 good point. I guess that’s the only way the claim of ‘removes scale’ would work. It isn’t about water hardness level at all. I’ll have to watch the video again because I thought he said it’s called a ‘softener’ or a ‘conditioner’. If in fact there is actually enough ‘citric’ to eliminate and clean the scale from faucets and fixtures and keep them clean, then you’re right, wouldn’t you think you would smell or taste some citric flavors in the water?? Just feels too sketchy to me to believe their claims. Water chemistry is fundamental and basic physics. This doesn’t smell right to me

[@capybarahat]

Resin based softeners take calcium and magnesium ions out of the water and replace it with sodium ions. The sodium ions comes from the resin, and the backwash and regeneration cycle flushes the calcium and magnesium that was captured from the water out of the resin and replaces it with sodium, so it can do it again for the water flowing through. OP is right that the system shown in the video is not a softener though, since it doesn’t remove the minerals from the water. This is why they are properly called “water conditioners” rather than “water softeners”, since they are doing something to prevent scale build up, but not removing the minerals that causes scale to form.

[@chaseoes]

That's not what the internet says: Soft water replaces those magnesium and calcium ions with sodium ions. The result is soft water, loaded with salt. The salt is what makes the water feel slimy. After you buy a water softener, you might feel slimy and slippery after you take a shower, like you haven't gotten all the soap off of you.

[@ptester1]

Have to agree with the other comments here - You really failed to do your homework on this one, Matt. In addition to all the points already made I have to wonder about the long term effects of this system. It works by acidifying the water to increase the solubility of the dissolved minerals. What are the long term effects on your plumbing and fixtures of more acidic water? Remember what happened in Flint Michigan? That was caused by a pH shift.

[@neckofthewoods24]

shameless plug but i think i did my research...kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5WleYGIj9OnY8k

[@breaking963]

He didn't fail to do his research. athey offered him a product discount code and his job was just to sell it to y'all.

[@sntruck]

Matt was getting pressure from the wife

[@KidsandKittens217]

@@sntruck Really? You blame the woman if Matt does the wrong thing?

[@xxwookey]

The pH is shifted to 7 (from 8.something) so that's pretty much dead neutral. I'd be surprised if that was dissolving your plumbing.

[@simpletim]

I have a salt system that I installed over twenty years ago when we did a major bathroom remodel. Now I wouldn't be without a softener. The clear glass shower doors are just left to air dry, no wiping ever, and they look like new. I also have an on demand water heater of the same vintage. The plumber installed all the back flush connections, claiming I would need to call him every year to do an over $100 service. I called once, decided to take my chances after that. It is still working like a champ, no buildup yet. Get a salt system, if you want real soft water.

[@ColeSpolaric]

I had a water heater last over 20 years being in softened water. It stopped heating the water consistently which is why it was replaced. Hard water and you're looking at a leak in 5 to 10 years.

[@squirrelmaster1225]

im on a well, and dont have any system..... just a filter, everything works just fine? maybe its where i live, i take a test sample once a year and its good old fashioned healthy water...

[@ItsCarlnotCarla]

So true I never have to clean my shower full glass sheet it just dries with no spots

[@bradley3549]

@@squirrelmaster1225 Same here, just had things tested too after replacing my well pump too. I don't get mineral build up in my water heater, in my dishwasher, or around my faucets, shower or clothes washer. The sediment filter removes a bit of sand and rust particles from my steel casing and that's it. So it very much depends on the quality of your local water. Around here, it's literally award winning well water.

[@MyTrevonne]

@@squirrelmaster1225 Wells are affected by so many factors that every well is different. i know some wells, the water comes out brown, then even in the same neighborhood, water is cleaner than bottled

[@jerrysmith3515]

Matt, I always enjoy your videos. But I think there is a lot of misinformation being tossed around about water treatment. First I want to mention the filter company has infomercials on TV from time to time selling their system for lots of money. (+/-$2000.00). (Water conditioners). The salt in a water softening system does not add salt. It uses the salt to clean the resin of minerals that give you hard water. Thank you

[@Ilove3SGTE]

Thank you, came down to here to say just that!

[@Ilove3SGTE]

Also it isn't truly soft if it's doesn't make your skin feel "slimy" and tast plain. It might... prevent scale build up but it's not true soft water.

[@RisingTidesAtlas]

Water tastes salty after softening, so how does it not "add" salt? (e.g sodium).

[@RisingTidesAtlas]

@@Ampacityelectric wouldn't that leave salty residue on the resin, and thus get into the water after a backwash?

[@Lolatyou332]

It technically adds sodium, but only based on how hard the water is.

[@jonkirkwood469]

An ion exchanger (water softener) uses cation resin saturated with sodium (Na+) ions to exchange with the cations (Mg+, Mn+, Ca+) ions in the supply water. The salt (NaCl) is just a vehicle to provide the sodium cation to remove the Mg, Mn, Ca ions from the cation resin during regeneration. The anions and the chloride ions flush to waste during regeneration. You can use potassium chloride (KCl) instead of NaCl if you're concerned about sodium. My ion exchange system (water softener) uses ~120 pounds of rock salt ($18.00) in a year. The slimy feel is simply perception, not the presence of a soap residue. Hard water and soap form a curd on your skin. The feel is the minerals in the curd, which gives it a more rough feel. That squeaky-clean feeling is actually soap residue. I bypass the ion exchanger when I water plants or top-off my pool.

[@PhatBoyiee]

so if you have a salt water softer and you need to water you plants lets say water sprinklers is the main water line split

[@Moondoggy1941]

Who makes a good system? I am familiar with RO/DI machines ( aquariums)

[@IronMountainPlumbing]

This.

[@MrJramirex]

Tried the Nuvo Manor H2O back when they first came out. They were offering cashback rebates to plumbers so I installed it in my own house for extra savings. It honestly didn't work as well as I had hoped, the scale was reduced but not nearly enough.

[@jose9153]

Did you end up going to a new system? If so, what did you select instead?

[@MrJramirex]

@jimmy I sold my home but the only other option would be a "salt free water conditioner" because in that area you are not allowed to dump the brine from salt based softeners into the sewer or drainage.

[@jefferystensland1304]

I just bought the dishwasher specific one, guess I should have checked the reviews first. Guess if it doesn"t help with hard water I'll install a whole house softner

[@glenquarrie3414]

I love your channel, Matt. Just a minor correction that the salt in a traditionsl water softener is only used to flush the tank that contains the resin beads, which do the actual work of softening the water. The incomming mineral ions in your water supply stick to the resin beads to soften it before continuing into your house's plumbing and a salty water solution periodically flushes (wrinses) away the minerals, which accumulate on the resin beads in your softener. The briny wrinse water then drains directly into the waste pipe. The salt never enters your fresh water supply.

[@Rick-the-Swift]

I was going to point this out as well. There is no sodium is softened water that comes out of the taps. Imagine not wanting to feed your plants salty water, but having no issues giving your kids and guests salty water! Great explanation, better than I could've done it.

[@joshuavermillion]

Not quite. There is a substantial amount of salt that comes through after softening.

[@Rick-the-Swift]

@@joshuavermillion Hi Joshua. Could you explain a little how the sodium or "salt' gets into the water? Trying to get my head wrapped around this enigma wrapped up in a puzzle. Thanks

[@joshuavermillion]

@@Rick-the-Swift it's the excess of the brine tank. The ionization is not 100% and this you will still have salt in the water. Albeit small a small amount, but to say none is inaccurate.

[@fgsharp3863]

There is some added sodium to the water. Sodium ions that are stuck to the resin beads are exchanged for calcium and magnesium ions as the water passes through. The harder the incoming water, the saltier the softened water will be

[@BretBerger]

Hawking the freebies without having testing them for a reasonable amount of time. Nice. Household water treatment universe is rife with nonsense.

[@GoldyMcGoldface]

Exactly. I don't mind sponsored videos, I trust his judgement. But given how controversial this company/tech is, you need to have a lot more than passing knowledge to recommend it. Pretty sad.

[@ColeSpolaric]

I have a water softener. I do not have the slimy feeling when showering. You should also not be getting a whole lot of sodium in your water. The salt is only to flush the resin beads in the softener tanks. The captured minerals transfer from the resin beads to the salt. If you have a lot of sodium in your water with a softener, the backwash is probably running for too long. Some salt is unavoidable, but it shouldn't be terribly noticable.

[@ColeSpolaric]

@@BartmanMi I own mine and it was sold by a company that I don't believe sells salt for them. Maybe that's why I don't have the too much salt issue...

[@TdrSld]

Same, I had a softener in my house for 12 years before it died (Power company fried it) and at the time didn't have $$ to replace so I removed it. Before when taking a bath it felt great after washing off the soap, now it's like I have been slimed by something and takes about 40 minutes after drying off to feel clean. I'm looking reinstall one in the future to get back the clean feeling and not have my toilets and shower look dirty 90% of the times.

[@TerraFirmaX]

@@TdrSld LOL. It's not that you can't get the soap off. It's the lack of gritty minerals that make you feel that way.

[@gtpcruiser02]

Dude, What are Resin Beads? My softener uses Salt only.

[@ColeSpolaric]

@@gtpcruiser02 they are inside the black cylinder. You never see them.

[@float6969]

I know this video is a bit old, but I thought I'd give some feedback from the one that I purchased and recently installed. First, I want to say that while I am NOT a drinking water professional, I AM a pool and spa professional, so water chemistry is familiar territory for me, but I'm by no means an expert in drinking water. Secondly, I did research for a while before I decided to use one of these. Where I live (NE Kansas) we get our water from the Kansas river, so it's essentially surface water. While we have some hardness in our water, it's not THAT high, usually around 200ppm as calcium. The other minerals that cause harness in my area aren't high enough to worry about dealing with. I would NOT say I had sever scale issues. The main scale we see is needing to clean the heavily used hot water fixtures once a year or so by soaking in vinegar. Mainly the kitchen faucet and the master bath shower head. None of the other faucets (I have 3 bathrooms) have any issues in the 3 years we've lived here. Being familiar with water chemistry, I did before and after testing when I installed the system. For the things that I'm able to test for with "pool guy" testing equipment, what I was able to see was a significant drop in pH (it went from 8.2 -7.0), removal of all chloramines (that's what our local treatment plant uses for residual sanitation in the water), a slight increase in TDS (190-210), and a significant change in taste. I haven't had the system long enough to say if it removes scale, but based purely on the change in pH, and the chelating nature of citric acid, IN MY PARTICULAR SITUATION, I could see it at least preventing the creation of more scale. My home is older, but I JUST replaced all of the pluming with PEX less than a year ago. There's 4 pieces of copper pipe left going to the hall bath and master shower. I also removed the tanked water heater and replaced it with a tankless at the same time. I did my first cleaning on the tankless yesterday. I had VERY little scale in the heater. So. I'm saying all of this because, in my particular situation, so far, this seems like it will work well. I did NOT want to deal with a water softener if I didn't have to. My mechanical/laundry room is cramped already and making room for a softener was going to require moving the softener tanks every time the HVAC filter needed changed. I think, that like many things in life, there's not a one-size-fits-all solution to things. For me, and my particular incoming water conditions, and my installation limitations, this system was a good fit for me. The improvement in taste alone was enough for me. If it prevents me from having to soak the shower head and kitchen faucet once a year, then I've gotten everything I wanted from it... But that being said, if I had TRUELY hard water, I don't see this unit doing much to help.

[@thebigdoghimself]

Size wise these look to be 4.5"x20" filter cartridges. Too bad they claim it won't fit into regular Big Blue filter housings. They want $1649 for the two filter unit. That's absolutly ridiculous when you consider that the cartridges themselves are only $150 for the pair. In other words they are charging you $1500 for a $200 filter housing.

[@duanehundley]

Do you know of any good 4x20 filters that don’t say prop 65(cancer) on them?

[@thebigdoghimself]

@@duanehundley I use the pentair pentek dgd-5005-20, the dgd-2501-20 and for carbon filters I use the express water acb 20 inch. I have not seen any warnings on them but will take a closer look.

[@jon4231748]

@@duanehundley I thought anything with plastic has that in California

[@thebigdoghimself]

@@duanehundley the ispiring filters don't seem to have the warning, but they are twice the cost of every other filter $50 per filter.

[@thebigdoghimself]

@@duanehundley check out the tier 1 filters on Amazon

[@gigemgreg]

Matt, I love your discovery of new construction technology and products on this channel. But this one won't replace water softerners for hard surface and sub-subsurface in central texas. Water drying in showers, sinks, plumbing fixtures and dishwasher dishes will have tell tale mineral deposits from Calcium or Magnesium remaining in the water after treatment from NuvoH20 filters. Only ion exchange through a recharged softerner media will stop that.

[@danielmachado6104]

Matt, If ur body feels like u can't get the soap Off! U have ur water softener turned up Too high! U need to test the water to see how hard it is, then..adjust ur softner accordingly. U have it fighting to much hardness!

[@davemeiser521]

The slimy feeling is the lack of Calcium and magnesium ions binding with the surfactants (soap) There is NO salt in your water with a softener it is exchanging the calcium magnesium and iron ions with sodium (or potassium) Those of us on a private well also have issues with particulates, typically iron precipitates and I wonder how this would work in areas with high amounts of hardness minerals The citrate only chelates the hardness ions and if there is not enough citrate soap scum and hard water stains will still occure

[@AndyFromm]

👍

[@dak3845]

I was wondering the same thing since we are on well water.

[@toomars1301]

Thanks Dave…we’re also on a well!

[@azrwilkinson]

Yes no salt or salt taste. All done with the ionic exchange.

[@dannycampbell8876]

I’m a subscriber to this show and the video content is excellent, but I’m surprised by this one. I’ve been the water treatment industry for 15 years and the company I work has been doing this for 50 years and I don’t believe you can promote a new product you’ve only tested in your home for a few weeks. The fact of the matter, these solutions don’t condition or soften the water, as most of these products are advertised. They only effect the way calcium and magnesium react keeping them in solution. It’s still there in the water. I wouldn’t be surprised after a couple of months they notice some scale. Most of these products have a disclaimer that if the scale remains, you will need to add a conventional water conditioning system, I.e. Ion Exchange resin. These types of solutions work fine on public water where typically mineral content is low, but well water? Higher levels of hardness, manganese and ferrous iron will only work with more conventional and proven water treatment solutions. Though he didn’t mention what type, but the other cartridge is an Activated Carbon cartridge for Chlorine and for other harmful chemicals. That one is proven.

[@TheSteelArmadillo]

I’m disappointed. You recommend some great products and I generally appreciate your take. But some of the things you said in this video are somewhere between misinformed and flat untrue. There should be no more salt in your water after a resin softener than you might find in any other natural water source. Softened water IS easier on your appliances long term and drastically increases the effectiveness of detergents that you use on a daily basis. A resin system is a savings to the homeowner from installation, to maintenance, to soap usage, and as a byproduct, it’s more environmentally sound. I get you gotta rep your sponsors but come on man…my wife didn’t like the “slippery” feeling at first but now she’s the first to let me know if the soap “isn’t working right.”

[@timmersoft]

This guy is turning into a joke. It's all about sponsored crap, miss his old videos.

[@ernestgalvan9037]

I can attest to the fact that some wives are more, erm, uhm, Hard-Headed about certain beliefs. ‘Slimy Water Bad’ is one of those….

[@jons7054]

It's kind of crazy the plastic housing and bracket cost $1500 (!!!). Those pieces seem like they would cost at most $50 to manufacture. Compared to that craziness, the $150 filter pack seems super reasonable. I can't fathom how they get to $1500 for the plastic header and container for the filters, it's insane.

[@davidamoritz]

Yeah if you find the tech pages for this you can build one in a day from parts pipe, valves, connectors in a big box store and a part or 2 made with a printer if you want. All under 100 bucks

[@tonyhwang3888]

For $1,500 one can get a tier one water softener.

[@xxwookey]

They seem to have got a hell of a lot cheaper recently. The dual-filter is now "$750, was $1100". Which is still pretty expensive for a couple of housings and filter/cartridge. Those housings are industry-standard items, available for about $60 each. I guess ones with relief valves on top are a bit more.

[@comingtofull-ageinchrist6736]

this is definitely the first time I've heard of this system, but I have a Whirlpool water softener, and I use salt pellets as the crystals are known to making a clumpy mess of the salt in the water softener, and I can set the level of hardness for my water, and it has helped me a lot. I installed a filter as it enters my trailer, and goes into the water softener before going to my water heater and the rest of the house, and the problem with water softeners that leave you feeling like you can't rinse the soap off is because the water is too soft. I've been using mine for 4 going on 5 years now. I run the primer drain to my washing machine drain; I installed a fitting that sweeps up and pokes out the sheet rock a little below my regular drain, and every time it charges the system it pumps that water in with no problems, but I've never had any negative effects from my whirlpool system. every 3 months I put a cleanser in to help keep it up to health, and I love my water softener; I have nothing negative to say about it, and I have been in places where the water is too soft to rinse the soap off, so I know exactly what you mean by that. I paid around 800.00 dollars for my Whirlpool system, and I'm glad I went with it! It's a great system. I don't know what the cost of this system is, but it sounds like a great system. I could tell the water was very clear in your glass. Technology is really expanding. I'm sure it will turn out great for your family!

[@ravens.u.a.sflightservices]

yeah this system is about $1700 to buy. plus $300 a year for filters. So $2,000 for the first year of costs. I have a 64,000 grain fine mesh water softener from Aquasure (Home Depot) with a high flow whole house pre filter for sediment for $650 black Friday sale. the pre filter is $16 from GE every 3 months, so $45 a year for pre filter. Salt is $4-6 a bag. i have a family of 5 people in a 5 bed 5 bath house. i get 2 bags every 3 months or so. so about 8 bags a year? so $32 - $48 dollars in salt. so for the first year the costs are $743. doesn't use much energy, maybe as much as a 40 watt bulb. but it does water to back flush the brine tank. so their is the cost of the water if your on city water. I rather use a real softener than this system. But the way Matt builds houses is amazing and i love this channel. just not this product.

[@kevinduong771]

Thank you! I have exact same set up n it works great n happy with it so far

[@joelm7660]

The slimy feeling is what clean actually feels like! Under a blue light there is more soap off your body with softened water, vs the citric acid.

[@xRadio2006x]

I remember that first time i experienced soft water, but didn't know it at the time. I was taking longer showers to "get the soap off"! 🤣

[@Moondoggy1941]

@@xRadio2006x Exactly the something happened to me.

[@ericwilliams4465]

Granted, $300 a year isn’t the end of the world. But in comparison, I spend about $80 a year for my softener salt. Granted they take up more space but they make REAL soft water, not just adding citric acid to dissolve hard water crusts on faucets and water appliances.

[@frostman9661]

True, but the convenience of not having to haul 50lb bags of salt in throughout the year would be pretty big for a lot of people. Softened water also tastes terrible... I just would be concerned that this system wouldn't be able to handle really hard well water vs city water.

[@godzilla2k26]

@@frostman9661 Glad the bags are 15 pounds but I guess taste is subjective.

[@robertrusso877]

@@frostman9661 I keep reading on here a lot of people are tasting the salt in the water. My system specifically said to ONLY plum the softener to the hot water side so your drinking water isn’t affected. I also have my softener installed after my water lines go to my hose bibs to prevent the salted water going to my lawn and plants. Even with only the hot water conditioned my water feels great and appliances have lasted at least twice as long as others in my neighborhood.

[@frostman9661]

@@robertrusso877 I think the difference here is that my experience has been very hard well water, not already half decent city water.

[@ericwilliams4465]

Just for clarification. If you TASTE salt in your traditional water softener, then it is malfunctioning. Contact your service person. On the other hand, softened water does has a different taste than non softened. This is subjective. I personally don’t have any problem with it, but understand some might. In my home we have a separate cold water circuit for cold drinking water to a separate faucet. Also to the outside hose bibs. We did this when we built the house.

[@Ramdodge582]

Here's an idea: that bottom loop that drops under your filters, install a T there with a shut off, only 1/2" with a small bit of line. Then when you go to service the filters you can shut off the supply, place a bowl and open the drain valve, crack open the filter housing and not make a huge mess. i have 2 of these 4x20 filter housings in my pump house and they do make a mess when changing filters if you don't drain some water out.

[@xoxo2008oxox]

I would also put a sediment with reverse flush ahead of the filters but after the main detector.

[@zachowens1412]

I have one of these and I love it. It was super simple to install. I’m waiting on my auto ship to show up for my first filter and cartridge change. I’m on city water and after six months the filter is completely black. This will help everything in your house that uses water last longer.

[@tjam4229]

#2…are you taking their word as “gospel”…. Has their claims been tested by an independent, non-bias laboratory?

[@skimbulshanks]

Sounds like a sales pitch. Making the salt system sound like a monster. I own a resin style softener. It DOES NOT flush nightly. A family of me wife and two girls, 3 bathrooms. One bag of salt cost 4.00 Cdn. and lasts a bit longer than four months before it is empty. I keep track of when and how long it lasts. I never add more than two bags of salt at a time. Why? Because the reservoir water can only dissolve so much before it is saturated. So what’s the point to add more. And less likely that the salt will bridge over the water. My style is the cheaper version which uses a flow meter that turns on the recharge cycle after so many gallons of use. No computer. Separate salt container. Not the built in salt container style. Cost was $700. I own it. Our town has the ugliest hardest water. I have this softener working since 1997. Only replaced the timer motor once. If I remember my science correctly, the resin swaps out the magnesium ion with a chloride ion. Sodium is left behind. The recharge flush is to “repack” the resin beads with chloride ions and wash away the magnesium ion. The final rinse in the recharge cycle flushes out the salty water so you have clean fresh water in the system. This all happens at 2:00 am. So the most a person needs to do is set the time dial to correct the time after a power failure or two. Not withstanding a refill of 2 salt bags every 4 months. Honestly no bs.

[@shauncoyne4949]

I have never heard of someone liking hard water. How crazy (to me). I can't stand showering with water that hasn't had minerals removed. And it's so much harder to clean with hard water (currently in an apartment with hard water), dishes, dish washer, and laundry take more soap/detergent cause the hard water. If I am in the shower here in my apartment my hand feels sticky on my body, especially the hair on my head. I much prefer the smooth experience of a soft shower. Interesting product, but super weird 'problem' it's solving. Glad it works for y'all...

[@guerinwoodgate]

This was a sponsored video so you are watching a sales presentation aka commercial.

[@daveklein2826]

Liar

[@Foche_T._Schitt]

@@daveklein2826 I've seen at least three comments from you, none of them productive or refuting anything people have stated. Sounds like you're a butthurt salesman.

[@daveklein2826]

@@Foche_T._Schitt boo hoo Skippy.

[@inspectr1949]

Actually minerals add taste to the water and body to ones hair after washing.

[@brians8664]

Let’s get this straight now. The system you installed is not a softener, it’s strictly a de-scaler. In no way shape or form do you have “soft water”. The system you installed works by binding to magnesium & calcium. It does not remove iron at all & technically it does not break down or remove magnesium or calcium at all. Clear water iron, even low concentrations is very damaging to appliances such as hot water heaters and dishwashers. Iron is what causes staining. Iron also causes that brown buildup in hot water heaters. As you well know, that brown buildup damages appliances. That “slimy feeling” your wife is talking about is actually the soap working to remove dirt and excess oil from her skin. It’s the soap doing it’s job. That “slimy feeling” is actually CLEAN skin. Magnesium & calcium actually clog our pores and damage our hair follicles. If anyone in your house has acne, dry skin or frizzy hair adding a water softener will improve those conditions. Water softeners work using ion exchange. The resin in the cylinder actually attracts magnesium, calcium and iron then exchange those ions for sodium ions. The unwanted minerals then accumulate on the resin. The salt (or Potassium Chloride) backwash then rinses clean the media and allows the media to work like-new. Water softeners actually remove the unwanted minerals. Yes, drinking traditionally softened water tastes funny. You built a brand new house and didn’t run a dedicated water filtering system for the drinking water 🤦‍♂️. I’m not even talking an RO system, just a nice sediment and carbon filter is nice for drinking water.

[@ericwilliams4465]

Brian, spot on! 👍

[@the74impala]

The "slimy" comment is just ignorance, no offense to the good doctor. Once you understand what it really is, it is gross when you feel the sticky feeling of hard water.

[@jasonsstratton]

As the Cleveland clinic trained dermatopathologist in the comment thread I feel duty bound to point out that metal ions are not clogging pores or significantly building up on our skin. Our skin cells are constantly turning over and sloughing off dead cells on a hourly basis, our pores are filled with sebum, essentially an oil, bacteria, fungal yeast, and mites. Metal from the water wouldn't make a dent in the ecosystem that exists in a person's pores. Choose the water you want, just use soap, to emulsify oils.

[@papr4upapr4u68]

Would like to see an update on this in about eight months thank you to see what you’re thinking what you were feeling

[@IamDog0]

I am shocked. I generally give a lot of weight to Matt’s recommendations but he is dead wrong on this one. I’ve never heard of anyone wanting hard water.

[@IamDog0]

@@highball7347 cool story smarty. Please enlighten me on “normal” water.

[@phxees]

@@highball7347 what is "normal water"?

[@augustreil]

@@highball7347, I agree. I would rather have hard water than soft slimy water.

[@Recovering_Californian]

Well, since you haven't heard about it must not be true.... 🙄

[@IamDog0]

@@Recovering_Californian there’s nothing slimier than snake oil.

[@kdogbigdog]

So glad you are few months ahead of my build. I am on a well. Based on what you said, I could put this in my well house and have this run to all my water needs. (internal and irrigation) Does it remove sulfur smell/taste too? I will check their website but thought I would ask.

[@billk8780]

My house is in NW corner of Michigan's lower peninsula with lots of dissolved iron and high hardness. Installed both an air-injection system to remove iron and a salt-based softener. Took care while programming to NOT over-condition the water and am very, very pleased with the system performance. Surprised with others in Matt's endorsement, especially since it's really in the trial phase. Like to hear from him after a year with some cost analysis thrown in.

[@WSnaden2626]

air injection system...? manufacturer? Also in TC Area... well water, Thanks

[@anthonymanelis7781]

Check out the Watts One Flow Plus system. The anti-scale cartridge only needs to be replaced every three years. Like the system being showcased, no electricity or drain is needed. We use the commercial version in the facilities at the company I work for and it works great.

[@royfigueroa9210]

What model is the commercial version please?

[@colescarkingdom]

Does this system make the water slightly acidic due to the citric acid? Would be interested in seeing a PH test.

[@whummer98]

That will be unique to everyone as pH is not dthe only factor, for example, my water is in a highly buffered state at 8.5 and this would probably not even move the needle. But they state on their site if you are at 7.2 (or lower), don't use.

[@donaldcampbell7755]

It would be nice if he would've mentioned the requirements to even use the system. In our area the PH is around 7.0

[@scottpercival172]

@@whummer98 Where on their site did you see that? I can't find it. My well water is acidic but we have a limestone neutralizer and a traditional salt softener. Does the softener change the Ph?

[@Foche_T._Schitt]

How well does it work on well water? Do you have to use more soap when showering? Because that's the main difference to me between hard and soft water.

[@johndoe9157]

Love your videos. How does your system compare against a whole house reverse osmosis system (both in functionality and long term and upfront costs)?

[@SamuelBiller]

Going with a traditional Kinetico water softener in my new build. No electricity required and it uses the lowest amount of salt of any system on the market.

[@masterblasterssoftwash]

I just ordered mine today. I hope I like it!!

[@wampler11]

If that decision isn't set in stone, I'd reconsider. Yes, you might save a few dollars from less salt and electric usage, but their proprietary valves cost a lot to repair and their systems are WAY more expensive to begin with. Clack valves are considered the best available right now and are completely rebuildable and affordable.

[@tomerickson3215]

Kinetico is definitely the best of the best. My well had an iron problem that my dual tank Kinetico softener has removed and provided soft water for 30 years now. Fantastic service and I would recommend these systems all day long. They're pricey initially but over the service life they're the most inexpensive to operate, especially considering the first rate job that they do.

[@neckofthewoods24]

@@wampler11 i have a water right impression plus, whats this system use?

[@chuckgibson7026]

I installed a similar water conditioner system from AO Smith ($329 at Lowes). It is rated for 6 years / 600,000 gallons and has greatly reduced the scale buildup on our glass shower doors in our Phoenix, AZ home.

[@MrLike2surf]

We bought one like that too in Florida. There is so much improvement over non treated water, that It is like the difference between night and day. We highly recommend it.

[@royfigueroa9210]

Does it work? does it takes the scale out? I am looking for something that will not scale up. Please....

[@chuckgibson7026]

@@royfigueroa9210 Our house was only a few months old when I installed the AO Smith water conditioner. At that time, the scale build up was not too bad but I did not want it to get worse. It did stop any additional buildup, but did not remove what was there. Effect is subtle, not dramatic.

[@jrscott5827]

whats up matt love it so far......but let me ask you is it a filter that is B>P>A free ..and no forever chemicals ...found in the filters and end result drinking water...i would like to see a water test done after water is filtered..great coverage as usual thanks

[@JamesSimmons-gv4ow]

Back in 1972 I bought a new house and installed my own water softener system. It was great. I knew about the requirement that garden faucets not be softened but I had a house with a concrete slab floor. What to do? Easy. I got the idea to simply connect the softener equipment to the hot water side. The water heater was in the garage. I mounted the unit next to it using copper piping and a cut off valve. My system came from the Montgomery Ward catalog sales. No electrical connection required. It was the manual type. The end result was that hot and cold mixed at the point of usage. Baths, showers, dish washer, sinks and so on all were perfectly softened. Outside faucets remained as they should have been. I got the idea myself. What a money saver it was. Now I'm in my middle eighties and live in a house with terrible hard water. I'm going to do the same thing as soon as I find the right system to buy. The only down side to soft water is the possibility of slipping in the bath or shower. Surfaces do get slick sometimes. Putting the little anti slip pads in strategic places prevents this. I'm not a plumber. I'm an electrician by trade but I took a semester of metal shop in junior high school back in 1956 where I learned all I needed to know about DIY.

[@panchitox8875]

Hi Matt, been watching your videos for years. Looking at on-line reviews for NuVo systems there seems to be a LOT of negative comments when this system is used with COPPER pipes, as in people getting "blue-green water". On one hand, "maybe" this is the "de-scaling action" of EXISTING pipes that you mention.........but many of the reviewers indicated this was not a "temporary" situation. Another line of complaints seemed to be from people living in HOT climates (like Texas/Arizona) where the filters had to be installed in "unconditioned space". Seems the blue plastic header starts to deform in the heat, and the company replied that the header is "not warrantied" for temps above 90, and no "metal header option" was offered. Just thought I'd point these out, since you were demonstrating it on a "PEX" system, and "brand new plumbing".

[@MorryB]

I was going to ask what is the compatibility with all those brass valves on his water line. Any corrosion tables I can find on line for citric acid and brass show it as Poor.

[@jimyeats]

C’mon Matt, you’ve used this for two weeks and pronounce it works since you and your spouse report that your water still feels hard? There are literally 10’s of 100’s of products that claim the same sort of thing; that their product “binds” to, or “changes” the minerals and keeps them from “sticking” to your piping, and all of these products, including Nuvo, get very poor or highly inconsistent reviews. I feel like you generally review good products and promote good products, but this seems….premature.

[@dougc78]

Interesting concept. Would definitely like to see a follow up (unbiased if possible) at the filter change.

[@tedthoroman8176]

Matt, I used one of the Manor size units in my last house. The system was basically useless. At least once a year it was necessary to soak faucet ends in vinegar to remove the mineral buildup. I replaced the unit with a salt type system when I sold the house so the new owners wouldn't continue to have the same issues.

[@AndyFromm]

I'm just fine with a resin softener...

[@inspiringbuilds]

Curious on your feedback after 6 months and a year. If it works it’s a game changer for sure. Nice work and you have a new subscriber. 👍🏼

[@rick5908]

You do need a drain but you don't need electricity. When I built my last home I had a Culligan system but when I built this one I did the double tank kinetico and it flushes each tank when it's required not on a schedule because it only does one tank at a time and there is no electricity involved at all. Very happy.

[@GoCoyote]

I would strongly recommend a backflow preventer with the pressure regulator. Many jurisdictions require them when installing pressure regulators, and the pressure regulator manufacturer usually recommends one, as backflow can destroy the regulators. Installing a backflow preventer also requires installing an expansion tank to absorb volume changes in the water as it is heated and cooled from use and the water heater heating the incoming cold water. While pex can handle the pressure changes better, it is not worth having leaks in the wall. The copper pipes and the pressure regulator were destroyed in my house because of the lack of a check valve and an expansion tank.

[@avieux2012]

Tried this on a farm/ well water. Doesn’t do anything really there. Just isn’t designed for that type of water. If you were on city water or in a different location than southwest kansas. Then mabey it would work.

[@roneilken6668]

Tell your wife that feeling of not getting the soap off is actually the feeling of your own skin when it doesn’t have soap residue on it thanks to soft water!

[@hansangb]

@3:15, but it's the oil on your skin that makes it "slimy" And the soap has nothing to bind to because it's softened water. Once you get used to it - granted, it does take a week or two - you can't go back.

[@neckofthewoods24]

at about 2 weeks myself and i am doing testing instead of just believing something will work. hope my hard earned money pays off!

[@stevez7198]

Hi, just bought house with water softener (very new to me). I believe it goes through cycle every 14 days. I was wondering what the gallons remaining refers to and where all that water ends up (all that water running at 2am for almost 2 hrs)? How much water does a water softener use and how it will affect my water utility bill? I'm contemplating either turning it off or using the bypass valve

[@624USA]

Lack of specs on their website is a big red flag to me. $1,000+ for a glorified filter housing doesn’t pass the sniff test

[@MorryB]

yep, absolutely no mention of how much volume of water volume it will effectively treat (or grains of hardness). Just "replace the filters every 6 months", lol

[@vikramparmar8093]

This, is a legitimate criticism. I totally agree. I am sure because they feel like their stuff is patent protected but they really need to inform their customers better

[@upsd402]

Quick question, did you have a bypass that goes outside. So you aren’t watering the yard with this filter water.

[@mrsoccergod5001]

I just installed an ispring 3 stage filter. Huge difference. Well worth the investment

[@royfigueroa9210]

What model please?

[@paulduchsherer87]

Great Review Matt, just purchased one under your link. I'm building a new custom home and this video came just in time.

[@project.jericho]

This is a commercial.

[@Vaticider69]

As a plumber, I HATE where you put that heater....what were you thinking.... you can have a whole show on stupid places and the cost involved with removing and replacing it....ugh

[@ZAPATTUBE]

You are SO right.

[@littlerhino2006]

Well timed Matt. I've been considering a system for Mom's house. I'm a truck driver, it seems like no matter where I go the city water is only good enough to not ruin the pipes. It's terrible for showering our laundry.

[@littlerhino2006]

Hadn't watched before commenting... That "can't get the soap off" feeling, is actually all of the soap coming off... 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@rj.parker]

I agree that "some" salt based softeners feel slimy but modern demand based resin softeners, properly adjusted for your water hardness, do not feel slimy and do eliminate scale. We have been satisfied with ours in central Texas with the same alkaline surface water for the last 15 years. We use potassium because we have an orchid greenhouse fed by it in addition to the house.

[@chutch332]

U feed the softener's waste water to the greenhouse? I also prefer potassium over salt.

[@rj.parker]

@@chutch332 No, soft water to the greenhouse because the softener uses potassium to recharge the resin. Waste water is minimal, only a few gallons once or twice a month since the softener is demand (volume) based rather than timer driven.

[@markhavener1800]

Oops. hope that H2o heater can come out past the softener if it ever fails...

[@ericwilliams4465]

Mark, I thought exactly the same thing many episodes ago when he was describing that install. He was pretty proud of himself for how that worked. As you said, hope it never fails because getting it out will be a “challenge “….!!

[@kevindoyle4521]

The new salt softeners use so little salt that I only fill the tank every 16 months. The water is soft and there is no salt taste to the water.

[@mel1654]

which one do you have?

[@kevindoyle4521]

@@mel1654 GE.

[@carolinaslinger7333]

I have been looking for a house filter system. Would this system be good with well water? And now our well is about the medium high side of the hardness. Thanks for this video

[@charlesjohnson7222]

Would this be something you would install in a high iron content well in a rural area?

[@tjam4229]

Anybody who gets used to a water softener, won’t have a house without it. That “slime“ you feel, like you can’t get the soap off, it’s just the soap working extremely well. You need 1/10 amount of soap to do the same amount of work. That slippery feeling, is actually the natural feeling of your skin, when it’s void of all the hard minerals. Unfortunately, water softeners have a negative environmental impact. For THAT Reason, I hope no more people use them. But as far as the slipperiness. Once you get used to it, having your skin, extremely soft after taking a shower, and for the rest of the day, you’ll never go back to anything else

[@jimmyteter]

How is it bad for the environment?

[@BillJBrasky]

@@jimmyteter they use a lot of water to recharge the system and produce brine waste.

[@tjam4229]

@@jimmyteter, lots of heavily salted water is dumped into environment when it rinses

[@briandenisefarmer333]

Not sure that salt is an environmental issue. We get salt naturally from the environment in the first place. Matt also mentions the softener regenerating ‘daily’. I don’t even have a modern efficient softener and my unit regenerates every 3-5 days depending on how much water I use. I usually love Matt’s reviews but this one I can poke so many holes in his softener it’s not even funny. I know I won’t have to spend over $300 on salt bags that I would for citrus cartridges. Secondly, where is the before and after water hardness results. Proof is in the pudding but he doesn’t mention any performance data on this unit. Without it… I’m not buying the sales pitch

[@user-lp7ts8ob1d]

So basically you are saying, that you have a water softener and can't live without it; but hope nobody else installs one because it is bad for the environment?? Hypocrite much?

[@davidhorsley1149]

I used to hate that, "can't rinse the soap off feeling", associated with traditional softening systems, when I first encountered them. That was until I had the occasion to stay in a house that had a "resin" style softener to remove Iron from the water. It didn't take long to realize that my clothes got cleaner when I washed them with softened water, they smelled better and retained the fragrance of the detergent longer. And as for showers, it's more difficult to spot, going from a house with hard water to softened but move from a home with softened water to a home with untreated tap water and you begin to realize that slimy feeling is what it feels like to be clean.

[@dan51588]

Matt, you pointed out your Phyn Plus in passing during this video and I recall from another that you installed a hot water recirculation loop in your home. Do you know how those two will interact? I am considering adding a Phyn Plus myself but I was thinking that a recirculation loop might introduce too much 'noise' into the pipes and result in false positives. Phyn does address booster pumps on their website and says that Phyn should be installed downstream of those, but they don't appear to address recirc loops. I would appreciate you sharing your real-world experience with the Phyn Plus and recirculation pumps. Thanks!

[@nathanmuoio690]

It's important to have the water tested prior to selecting a softener/conditioner. Saltless conditioners are only effective if the hardness is below a certain level, and if the water is free of certain metals. For water with a high hardness level, and for most wells that contain metals, a traditional salt based softener is required.

[@jerrymcintire7902]

"a traditional salt based softener is [preferred by me]." Not required. We had extremely hard water in SW Wisconsin, and an electronic water conditioner did the job. Hardly any scale, good tasting water, and no salt to buy/replenish/drink.

[@nunyabusiness1499]

My wife travels all over the country several times a year. Anytime she mentions how she can hardly wait to get back home, it's not for missing me, it's because she misses the soft water from our water softener. Easy lather with a fraction of the soap, shampoo and conditioner. Skin after the shower feels smoother and any amount of lotion goes a long way. Clothes from the washer are noticeably softer and glassware from the dishwasher is crystal clear. The electricity used is less than a 10 watt light bulb and the salt at $5 per bag is dirt cheap. With all of these pros at $50 annual cost to run, how does that compare to this $900 system using 20" cartridges that must be replaced every 90 days at a staggering $170 expense? Last but not least, copper does not fare well when on the acidic/corrosive side. I read horror stories of copper toxicity after installing this system. Scary shit, but you're pushing it like it's easy, inexpensive and safe. This can't compete with a salt system by any stretch of marketing imagination.

[@rick5908]

That "slippery" feeling is because you're not taking the natural moisture out of your skin and hair with the excess minerals. You'll get the same feeling from RO water. It's also why you need less soap, coffee, etc because there is less already in suspension

[@jameschupp2230]

Hey Matt, Awesome Conditioner.... I was surprised to see you had plastic fittings on your PEX... Are those better than the average plastic PEX fittings?

[@mygoogleaccount9990]

So does this offer the same benefits as less soap needed for laundry & extended clothes life with a traditional salt/resin softener? I know my razors last way longer with a softener vs without. And my wife loves it because it's not harsh on her hair. The "buildup" is only one take away. Also if you don't like the sodium you can use potassium I believe & get similar results & is safe for plants, etc. I think this is just another cheap plug for a vendor product.

[@Lolatyou332]

Yeah. Water conditioners aren't good for much of anything except preventing scaled pipes. Imagine spending 300$/year just so your pipes won't clog up from scale.

[@tjam4229]

You installed a bypass system. You forgot to mention that a bypass is very handy to use when you are changing the filters. It shuts off water from running through the filters.

[@ttuck9603]

Good luck - this is no way close to a water softener. Please stop with the “feels like” nonsense. Anyone who knows anything about softening water would reference a hardness test before and compare what it is after. I wouldn’t take one of these if you gave it to me.

[@tavarisjones551]

theres a lot of hard water conditioners on the market. many of them do not cut it for very hard water (such as those of us on a well system). I can't find the flow rating of the nuvo h2o filters on their website. That is a another thing to keep an eye on. Also looks like you can save a ton of money by just buying their filter and a generic 4.5x20 housing. I'm a big fan of see through housings. Much easier to visually inspect things on a regular basis. You might also want to consider installing a pressure gauge before and after the filters. If you start to see a big pressure drop across the filters, its an indicator that they are clogging up.

[@Cundiffhomestead]

How well would this work on well water

[@brianptomey7366]

Snake oil

[@daveklein2826]

Yes you are

[@brianptomey7366]

@@daveklein2826These are old scams, just re-branded over the years. I'm a licensed plumber . I have seen these do millions of dollars of damage over the years . Learn your chemistry.

[@Scotty_in_Ohio]

Just wondering: How are you planning on replacing that water heater in the future? Looks like there's little to no clearance for removal after the filter/softener is in place. I can't comment on the performance of that type of conditioner but there's a lot of misconceptions around water softeners especially around the use of salt and overall costs - I do know that if you go "cheap" in terms of the initial expense of equipment you'll likely not be happy with the results. I can buy a crap ton of salt (at about $5.50 a 40lb bag) and pre or sediment filters are about $8-$15 for two of them and even with those teens taking long showers I'm under $100 a year for salt and filters (my softener doesn't use electric but that shouldn't be much cost as it generally only runs a timer and a valve every day or every couple days depending on your water's hardness) To be honest I didn't know a thing about water softeners (had never had one) before I moved into my current home about 4 years ago and now think they save a lot in equipment repairs/replacements and in better water quality. One thing is for sure - do your research - listen to what the "experts" say but take that advice with a grain (or bag) of salt and save your money until you can do your project the way you want (don't be "sold" into a system that sounds good but doesn't work for your situation).

[@firstdown80]

I have this system as well. I used this in my previous home and now have it in my current home. The only thing I don't like is that it the blue tint and this last for a few weeks. It is to me a conditional because the hardness is still there although it is a lot less.

[@FrankRizzo804]

Matt, a traditional softener does not add salt to the water. There is a problem if it is doing that. The salt and water solution (brine) is used to recharge the resin during the regeneration cycle. Love your channel.

[@xxwookey]

It adds sodium ions is what he means (half of salt). The ion exchange removes the calcium and magnesium ions by replacing them with sodium ions (at twice the concentration because you get two sodium ions or each calcium or magnesium ion (to match the valencies).

[@mrhis2ry]

What can you suggest to deal with soft water from a well?

[@neckofthewoods24]

huh? your well water is to soft and you want to harden it up?

[@curtharris7426]

Traditional softeners release very small amounts of sodium, not salt. The bags of salt added are only used to back flush the resin bed during regeneration. I never build or live in homes without a softener. The quality of everything you do with running water is improved.

[@neckofthewoods24]

My system states if your hardness is here, your sodium is there. For me about 900mg per gallon now added to my diet. Not great but an RO system will remove it for our cooking and water bottles.

[@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

Er, sodium is a salt...

[@gregorsmith8541]

I actually was thinking about this type of system, but I contact Matt's website to see if they ever did follow ups on what they're showing (recommending). Never got an answer. Also did they ever do a before and after water test ? 1:30 into the video you're saying a traditional system has to do a brine flush nightly. That would imply that you're system was under sized for your water use or water hardness. Regeneration of the media should be based on actual water hardness (grains per gallon), the volume of water being used and the volume of the media in the tank to deal with it.

[@IFlyHeliz]

How do these work if you are on septic like up at my cabin?

[@SuWoopSparrow]

Does it also keep your skin from drying out like a salt water softener? Less soap/shampoo needed etc?

[@timothykeith1367]

I would like to build a rainwater harvesting system. I would build a tank of concrete blocks lined with a plastic liner.

[@neckofthewoods24]

id still do treatment, specially UV light since you can harbor some bacterial or other things that come from the sky or leaves, trees etc.

[@brumaaron]

I have had my Nuvo for 5 years works great. But you may want to look at your elbow coming out of your system looks like a sprinkler pvc fitting. Is that rated to be installed in your house for potable water under pressure?

[@PlasmPlayer]

how would this compare to the Watts OFPSYS oneflow+ all in one water filter and conditioner?

[@davidstuart4489]

Update to my post 5 days ago: I ordered the product, and it arrived quickly. I read the installation manual, and can't meet the installation requirements (PH, specifically. My PH is well below 7.2.) So I called Nuvoh2o for an RMA, and they were fast and accomodating. So I'll be returning the unit as soon as UPS comes and picks it up.

[@davidblalock9945]

For my home build, I’ll be installing a large capacity RO system, because where I live we have some of the hardest water in the nation. Those filters would have to be replaced about once a month here. That’s how hard the water is here. The system is capable of purifying 1.5k gallons of water per day. And I’ll have a reserve tank of 6k gallons.

[@gregorysmith9158]

if hardness is your only problem, ditch the RO and just install an actual water softener. RO units generally require soft water as the input source anyway so it is extremely likely you would need a water softener in front of the RO system regardless. If you have other problems besides hardness, then RO is certainly an option among many others

[@davidblalock9945]

@@gregorysmith9158 The system was designed by an engineer that is local to my area.

[@gregorysmith9158]

@@davidblalock9945 I suggest you google "can RO units remove hardness" and read any of the first page of results. Like I said, RO units are great at removing almost all dissolved minerals but hardness really fouls up their membrane quickly. Water softeners are really good at removing hardness and as such are near universally placed in front of RO units to protect the RO membrane. If hardness is your problem, you want a water softener. An RO unit is probably the second worst solution to a hardness problem (Matt's citric acid system being the absolute worst). Good luck with your system.

[@neckofthewoods24]

i have to agree with Gregory, an RO system can do it but i think it'll be useless real quick!! just installed a Water Right Impressions plus system and i 100% removed the hardness and with a timed back wash system there is nothing to gum up and foul out. im not sure how hard your water is but mines 5x the norm and my water is now 100% free. heres my results...kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5WleYGIj9OnY8k

[@Nikolaorange]

I had my pressure regulator valve leak at my house. Any sensors to monitor that potential fail point?

[@neckofthewoods24]

simply safe home security has a water alarm sensor.

[@industrialnerd5535]

Pentech makes a similar filter for their big blue 20 inch water filters it's a WS cartridge I had that along with four other cartridges to filter well water Plus a UV pasteurization system I could just about filter urine and make it drinkable

[@WoodGuy]

Matt, tell your wife to buy Neutogena bar soap and she won't have to worry about soap scum plugging up her pours, really great soap with no residue left behind. Also, this system you're talking about stops the scale from clinging to your pipes, but it's still there, so when you wash your clothes you end up with dingy colored clothes because that scale will end up in your clothes, no so with soft water. I went with actual soft water. Your plumbing set up is done right, nice job. Our water here is so hard that I'd be changing those filters every 3 months, so $600.00 annually versus the $250.00 I spend on salt would make that system a no-go. Not to mention I like the feel of soft water versus hard water.

[@christdied4us]

My question is how much water pressure are you loosing when going through those filters??

[@AsHellBored]

My water is okay, but I love distilled water, just for drink. I'm curious if propex is known for scale up. My water heater is a tank, but it's computerized so I think it reminds me to drain it periodically

[@TrovaoAzul999]

Hello, this is my system, would it work with well water? Thanks