H2O Concepts Vs. Kinetico: The Best Water Treatment System

Clean, healthy water is essential for our homes. But many homeowners struggle with issues like hard water buildup, contaminants, and poor taste/odor from their taps. Water treatment systems from H2O Concepts and Kinetico offer solutions, but have key differences.

This guide examines the pros, cons, features, and costs of these two popular brands. Read on to learn which may be best for your home.

A Brief Comparison Table

Feature	H2O Concepts	Kinetico
Filtration Type	Multi-stage with sediment, KDF, carbon block	Upflow regenerating with resin, carbon
Softening Method	Template assisted crystallization	Ion exchange resin
Contaminant Removal	Basic filtration for chlorine and particulates	Thorough removal for wide range of contaminants
Reverse Osmosis	Optional add-on RO system	Optional integrated RO on some systems
Installation	Expert installation required	Certified dealer installation required
Maintenance	Filter changes every 6-12 months	Media replacement every 5-10 years
Cost	Starts around $2000	Starts around $2500

Overview Of H2O Concepts

H2O Concepts provides whole house water filtration systems to condition and purify water. Their systems use a multi-stage filtration process to remove contaminants and prevent scale buildup.

Some key things to know:

• Based in Arizona and family owned since 2002
• Offers whole house systems and drinking water systems
• Uses multi-stage filtration process combining sediment filters, KDF filters, and carbon block filters
• Can integrate UV sterilization and reverse osmosis
• Provides primarily chlorine taste/odor reduction and water softening
• Estimated costs of $2000-$4000 installed

Overview Of Kinetico

Kinetico is one of the most recognized water treatment brands. Their systems offer patented filtration technology for whole home water conditioning.

Key facts about Kinetico:

• Founded in 1970 in Ohio
• Leading water treatment brand used worldwide
• Uses patented Kinetico filtration technology
• Offers combinations of water softening, RO, and carbon filtration
• Flagship systems are the Kinetico Premier and Kinetico K5 systems
• Estimated costs of $2000-$5000 installed

Comparing Key Features

Now let’s compare some of the key features between H2O Concepts and Kinetico systems:

Water Softening

• H2O Concepts uses template assisted crystallization (TAC) to condition hard water. This reduces buildup but isn’t a true ion exchange softener.
• Kinetico uses patented resin beads for ion exchange softening. Provides true water softening by removing calcium and magnesium.

Filtration Technology

• H2O Concepts uses multi-stage filtration combining sediment filters, KDF, and carbon block. Offers basic filtration for particles and chlorine.
• Kinetico systems use specialized upflow regeneration and media-layering technology for high performance filtration. Offers very thorough contaminant removal.

Reverse Osmosis

• H2O Concepts has optional integrated reverse osmosis for removing contaminants. Produces cleaner drinking water.
• Kinetico also offers optional reverse osmosis integration. The Kinetico K5 system includes RO filtration.

Installation & Maintenance

• H2O Concepts systems require expert installation. Ongoing filter changes needed every 6-12 months.
• Kinetico systems require certified installation and servicing. Media tanks can last 5-10 years before regeneration needed.

Water Capacity

• H2O Concepts supports homes up to 4 bathrooms. Good for average households.
• Kinetico systems can handle large homes up to 6 bathrooms. Ideal for larger water demands.

Costs

• H2O Concepts pricing starts around $2000. Ongoing costs for regular filter changes.
• Kinetico systems start around $2500. Media tanks last longer before replacement needed.

H2O Concepts Pros & Cons

Let’s summarize the key pros and cons of choosing an H2O Concepts water system:

Pros

• Reduces chlorine taste and odor
• Made in the USA
• Good value for the performance
• NSF certified filtration systems
• Good contaminant and chlorine reduction
• Soften hard water and prevent scale

Cons

• Not a true water softener
• Limited contamination removal
• Requires expert installation
• Limited to some basic filtration types
• Ongoing filter replacement costs

Also watch the video!

Kinetico Pros & Cons

Here are the notable pros and cons for Kinetico systems:

Pros

• Provides true water softening
• Removes wide range of contaminants
• Long-lasting filter media
• Innovative, patented filtration technology
• High performance water softening

Cons

• On the expensive end
• Complex media replacement
• Requires certified installation/service
• May be overkill for some homes

Recommendations

So which brand comes out on top? Here are our recommendations:

For basic water conditioning – H2O Concepts provides an affordable scale control and chlorine reduction solution. It’s a good option if you mainly want to prevent buildup and improve taste/odor.

For high performance treatment – Kinetico is ideal if you want the best water softening and filtration. It’s a premium system made for superior contaminant removal and whole home treatment.

For larger homes – Kinetico is better suited for homes with higher water demands. Its systems can handle up to 6 bathrooms.

For smaller budgets – An H2O Concepts system can provide satisfactory conditioning at a lower upfront cost. Just factor in ongoing filter replacements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The Bottom Line

In summary, Kinetico and H2O Concept offer two quality options for improving your home’s water. Kinetico provides the most complete treatment capabilities for a premium price. H2O Concepts systems effectively handle basic conditioning and softening for smaller budgets.

Consider your unique needs, water issues, and budget to decide which brand is right for your home. Proper installation and maintenance are also key to getting the best performance from your system. But with the right water treatment, you can enjoy cleaner, healthier water from every tap.