Kinetico versus Rain Soft

[SFCrameret]

I just brought a house and am having a heck of a time on deciding which water treatment system to get. The water down here in south Texas is rough.
I think I have it narrowed down to Rain Soft and Kinetico. Right now I am leaning towards Kinetico simply because of the cost of the Rain Soft system. I was quoted about $6,000 for the computerized model. The Rain Soft sales person put on a good show, but I think the Kinetico system has a lot going for it. I’ve heard that replacing the filters in the Kinetico system can run into some money compared to the Rain Soft system.
Can anybody give me a review/opinion?
Thanks.

 

[prodeng]

The Kinetico system is a relatively good system. I don't really know much about the Rain Soft system. However, a big factor in cost I looked at for my house (water isn't really that bad, just very hard) is the operational costs. $6k vs. $3k (assumed) takes a long time to make up in operational costs, even if the filters are $50 more. Filters are all very similar in function, but make sure you get the best type for your water or you'll have an expensive repair.

 

We were just quoted, 7995.00 for a rain system, to include a reverse ozmosis under sink unit and the whole house treatment. But by the time the salesmen left we went to 6995 and then 5500 with o interest and 12 months to pay or $5000 cash! I hate the scam approach to selling things! the system sounds good, the water we tried was much improved, What was dthe price of the Kenetico system? Captain don

 

[DeltaCascade]

Gee, guys, after thinking about this one:

The above discussions sound rather subjective. What is good, what is bad. Is there reverse osmosis for drinking water and "zeolite" saot regenerated softener for washing, etc, water? It's hard to compare quotes.

Being engineers and project managers and all, and in any case, perhaps it'd be good to put together a bid package, and just fax it to at least three qualified suppliers?

All you'd need is to specify something like:
- a raw water quality analysis: calcium and magnesium, carbonate and total alkalinity, pH, conductivity, sodium, iron, manganese, turbidity, and perhaps total suspended solids and the like. Water analysis may perhaps obtained free of charge from your local health authority
- water temperature range, perhaps
- estimate of peak and average water flow desired
- water quality desired (eg: for drinking or washing or both)

And asking about:
- size (eg: will it fit in your home), diagrams, specifications, brochures.
- estimated annual maintenance cost (eg: annual usage and cost of regenerant salt or whatever, and filter cartridges, if any, etc).
- installation cost, if applicable
- sketches, brochures or whatever
- other?
- oh yeah, of course, price.
- performance guarantee?

They could just fax, mail or email you quotes, saving a visit to your home and perhaps also thereby getting better price. Keeping the old saying in mind, "buy cheap and pay twice", it is always good to have more than two quotes.

For a five to eight thousand dollar home purchase, sounds like it might be worth it. You could decompress the sales situation, too, make it fairer for all, like that poor young hungry sales guy, as well as yourself, and more easily screen out any "scammers", too. ?? ? Anyhow ...

Good luck.

 

[firefighter]

I just had a "Rain Soft" salesman leave my house. He first quoted me a price of $5,000 for a total house system installed. After I made the monthly payments it would have been a total of $7,500. This is the only product I have seen. My wife and I were impressed with the system, and the knowledge of the young guy doing the presentation. We were not interested in the product because of the high price. The salesman called me that night and told me they had a brand new unit that they used on display at a home show and his manager said we could have it for $2,500 which came to $2.40 a day, and also the $4,000 worth of soap products included. We will still not buy the product eventhough I see the many advantages. It's amazing how prices change from the moment of the presentation to several hours later.

 

[DeltaCascade]

Without good prior, trusting, client-vendor relationships or proven Alliances, always get at least 3 competitive bids!?!

Having folks drive out to your house has gotta cost those folks (time is money). Looks like they are even working on a different market, house calls and pre-sales service, vs just getting you the water treatment you want? Gotta give'm credit for their effort.

Cheers//

 

[feather]

Everyone's got to earn a living, even water treatment salesmen, but....

I've been associated with the industrial water business for many years. When I recommend and buy home water softening/iron removal/RO systems, I go to Lowes, Home Depot, Sears, etc. The cost is about 1/5, less if the unit is last years model. The equipment lasts for around 10 years, has all the similar controls, uses (generally) the same components, same resins. It's tough to justify, for me, spending that kind of money on something this basic.

On the downside, time is money. If you don't know anything about water pretreatment and try to educate yourself, you'll probably spend several manweeks to KNOW what you need, and by then you've wasted thousands of dollars you could have billed.

Generally, if you have municiple water and choose to pretreat, get a simple softner with salt economizer/usage meter control and install it yourself. The dual systems out there are pretty neat, but not worth the money, except to talk to the neighbors about. The "non-electric" units are neat too, but not worth paying extra for. Put an RO under the sink and you're done. If you have well water, a chlorinator and/or iron filter is a possibility, along with a whole house particulate filter.

Just my opinion. Good luck.

 

[DeltaCascade]

Feather... heck, yeah! The "Sear's Catalogue". Why didn't i/we think of that. Cheers

 

[RicD]

Both systems are way over priced. If you ever haqve to have a kinetico softner repaired hang onto your wallet...I'n not sure about rainsoft. A good (computer/gallonage)initiated water softener "Fleck or Autotrol" control valved unit should not run higher than $1500.00. The "best" drinking h2o reverse osmosis unit is manufactured by Hydroteck (it is equipped with a real rejection monitor visable each time you dispence h2o from the faucet. Cost is around $250.00 wholesale; $600-750 retail.