Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - Ionics IQ water softener/filter question

Hello, We are due for our yearly filtration maintenance on our Ionics IQ system. To our regret, we were caught by the fine print after purchasing the system that it was going to require yearly maintenance which costs hundreds of dollars (and rises considerably each year). Not to mention the system itself is still being paid for.

Since my husband is now retired from work with disability we have a very tight budget and need to eliminate this charge (which is $260 this year).

My question is, will the water softener still work if we do not replace the filter and just add salt? Also, if we leave the old filter in the system and don't replace it, will it pollute the water by backwashing the contaminants the old filter held in the tap water? If so should we have the system disconnected?

Thanks for any help/information that anyone can provide. It is much appreciated.

Cheri

Cheri,

I am having a hard time understanding why a company, and how a company can require a yearly maintenance service.

What is the 'filter' you are talikg about? A cartridge type or tank type?

What exactly do they do for thew $260 besides driving there? This is very strange for me because we have never done that.

I can understand for a UV light or public water system, but not for a normal residential water softner. What happens if you refues. Do you still have the original document? Can you quote what it says?

I mean, what would happen if you got rid of it, or the house sold? Didn't the salesman explain this to you?

Sorry.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II

What I think you are referring to Cheri, is they come out to replace the carbon in the unit. They have a habit of getting unspected people to give them money each year for a service that is not needed. Yes the carbon may have to be changed, but every year is too often. No, the contaminates will not get into your drinking water. You just tell them thanks, but no thanks and save your money. Are you on city water?

Thank you for both responses. I initially felt that leaving the old filter would not affect the water, but they definitely make you feel like you may be allowing contaminants in. But now I realize it is just the hook, line and sinker they throw.:wall:

I read your replies this morning and jumped right on calling the company to cancel the service scheduled for today. I had to go out this morning and I left my "dear" husband to do that job. When I got home I was seeing red when he told me that they charged him/us a $50 cancellation fee. Smoke started coming out of my ears when he told me he paid the cancellation via credit card over the phone! :madhell:

I suppose it was our fault for cancelling only a few hours before the service...but $50!?!?!?:eek: I called them up to talk to them personally to ask them how they justified their costs. Even doctors only ask for half that for cancellation.:NO NO NO:

I am considering sending in a report to The State of Florida's consumer bureau.Not only are they misrepresenting their product by not revealing hidden costs for "yearly" maintenance service (they say is required for warranty on the system) but, they price gouge this yearly maintenance service at their discretion. The first year it cost us just under a hundred dollars and has considerable risen each year (like I said, it is now $260). They could easily raise that cost to any amount they wished and to put the consumer on the hook for and if the consumer can no longer pay the amount they charge then their warranty becomes worthless.

Not very honorable to say the least. I did check BBB out on them and not surprisingly they will not renew their membership (due to the number of reports). All I pray for now is that people looking to buy a water system run across threads like this that alert them before they are deceived.:(

Thanks again for your time and advice,
Cheri

Cheri, what part of Fla are you from?

Deltona.
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I used to work for an Ionics dealer here in Fla. One of the reasons I quite is because they were taking advanage of my customers.

That's very honorable and I am certain you will reap blessings for for wanting to what is right.

Thank you all for your comments about this.
I just had a representative here at my home today and I was considering one of these systems for my home.
I declined to purchase today because I wanted to research this a little more.
After finding them on the BBB website (with an "F" rating) and this, I'm glad I declined.

There prices are outragious. Then they nickel and dime you with service calls that are not needed. I quite selling for they and opened my own business.

Ionics is now now Puronics, i got a quote from them for IQ 1030B for $2300, and they told the carbon needs to be changed once in 3 to 4 years. I don't know if the yearly maintenance is depend on the dealer, You can call and find about those directly to the manufacture.

I am still evaluating them, my only concern now is about the EPA guideline on their carbon.

I live in Deltona as well and can not believe that I have to pay 225.00 to have my unit serviced. There has to be a better way. I was curious if any of the posters have another option instead of Puronics?

We were given an ionics water system. It has an iron filter tank, 2 tanks with timers, 1 short fat tank (salt?), and a little white container (chlorine?). No paperwork of any kind to explain the set up, etc. It's about 2 years old. We have well water, we understand about the iron filter tank. We would like to connect this system but cannot afford a service call/installation. Where can I find a diagram, etc for this system?

Thanks.............Anne

The little white container is a chlorinator. It is installed before a retention tank. You did not mention one so it should go between the check valve and the pressure tank. After the pressure tank, the iron filter is next followed by the softener. What part of Fl?

Citrus County............................

You can install the chlorinator without a retention tank if the pressure is big enough. Why you think you need a chlorinator? They are used to kill bacteria, oxidze high iron or get rid of sulfer smell. If all you have is iron, depending on the amount, a softener will remove the iron. Do you have water test results?

Hello, We are due for our yearly filtration maintenance on our Ionics IQ system. To our regret, we were caught by the fine print after purchasing the system that it was going to require yearly maintenance which costs hundreds of dollars (and rises considerably each year). Not to mention the system itself is still being paid for.

My question is, will the water softener still work if we do not replace the filter and just add salt?
Cheri

A few months late here to this conversation but the first thing that came to my mind when you said 'yearly filtration maintenance' is a drinking water system. Did you have Ionics also install a Reverse Osmosis system for drinking water? If so, then YES, those should have their filters replaced yearly. They may also conduct a quick look at the softener in the fee, but again, my first thought would be an RO system not a yearly change out of the softeners carbon.

Chris