First, know the basics about water types

What are Alkaline, Reverse Osmosis, and Ionized Waters?
Alkaline water has a pH above 7.0 and is relatively easy to come by these days. Some bottled waters are labeled and marketed as alkaline. Some of these are bottled from a naturally alkaline spring source but that doesn’t mean it’s 100% alkaline spring water. The bottled water industry is not regulated and the water does not have to be tested. Not only that, but bottled water labeled and sold as spring water is only required to have 20% of the water be spring water. Alkalinity can be created by adding chemicals such as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), lye (as is done in many municipal water supplies to bring the pH to neutral), and even potassium cyanide. So, obviously, testing alkalinity in and of itself is not necessarily the best way to determine if a water is good for you or not.Reverse osmosis (RO) is a process that removes all the impurities from water. It eliminates the nasty chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia, fluoride, etc. and heavy metals which we don’t want to consume AND also removes the alkalizing minerals naturally present in water that our bodies need for optimum health. Most all water labeled as “pure” has been through a reverse osmosis or distillation process. RO water is very acidic unless alkalizing minerals have been added back into it afterwards.

Ionized water has been run through an electrolysis chamber in which electrodes separate the positive and negative ions present in [by means of the mineral content of] the water. Two separate streams of water exit the chamber, one alkaline (referred to in the diagram below as Kangen) and the other acidic. The alkaline water created through electrolysis is primarily hydroxyl (OH–) atoms and the acidic water created is primarily hydrogen (H+) atoms.

 

 

The negative charge of the hydroxyl atoms found in ionized water act as antioxidants and neutralize the positively charged free radical atoms which do damage to the body and create the decay associated with aging. Not all alkaline water contains these negative ions and some may even have positive ions — the oxidizing free radical atoms.

What to look for in an lonizer and manufacturer

The quality of the source water matters but…
Since ionization requires minerals to be present in the water it will not work on reverse osmosis (RO) water. If an ionizer specifically requires RO water you can be assured that it is relying less upon the quality of the materials and power of its electrolysis chamber, which is the key element (and major cost factor) of a high quality ionizer, and more upon a remineralizing filter to do the work. You will also need to test the Oxidation/Reduction Potential (ORP) of the water produced to be sure that it is in fact ionized (contains the negative ions) and is not just alkaline.There are some areas in the United States such as West Texas where the water is so hard (meaning heavy in salts and other minerals) that it could require the water to be purified and then remineralized before going through the ionizer. This is a case by case situation, however, as opposed to an across the board requirement.

Purchase from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
When you purchase a machine from the original manufacturer of the equipment you know who you are dealing with and eliminate the confusion and cost associated with a middleman. Should you ever have a problem with the machine you will know whom to contact and how to go about getting it either repaired or replaced.

The majority of ionizers sold over the internet are manufactured in China, Korea, and Taiwan at factories that manufacture all kinds of kitchen and other appliances. They do not specialize in ionizers and look at the bottom line cost of manufacturing as their number one priority. Quality and longevity of the equipment is not important, nor is the health of the consumer. They rely on resellers, who develop their own brand name and marketing methods, to sell their equipment. The manufacturer’s responsibility ends with the sale to the reseller. Your relationship is with the reseller who will often say whatever they believe you need to hear in order to make the sale. Determining who is the original manufacturer and verifying facts is not easy in these cases. These machines don’t work well or last long and its these manufacturers and resellers with their unethical marketing and sales practices that undermine the reputation of true Kangen Water® and quality ionizers. Read a case study of a major internet reseller.

Check the Warranty and Return Policy
Don’t make any assumptions! Always verify all the details of a warranty and the return policy. There are some ionizers on the market whose warranty is void if you use any water other than RO water. A detail like this tells you all you need to know about the quality of the equipment and the type of company you are dealing with. Make it imperative that you can return the machine and receive a full refund within a reasonable amount of time.

Try Before You Buy! Know for certain what you are buying and why. Enagic®, through its direct sales marketing and distribution method, is the only ionizer manufacturer that allows you, the consumer, to try before you buy. Enagic® wants you to know what you are purchasing from it and why. That’s why its distributors provide a free 30 day trial period during which you get to sample the water, see how it works for you, and understand fully what you are purchasing and why. Enagic® leaves the sales and marketing aspect of its business up to its distributors and uses the money saved here to compensate its distributors through its unique and patented compensation program. Its machines never go on sale because they are already offering the best price possible.

Enagic®'s lonizers

Enagic® manufacturers several ionizers with varying levels of power and water types produced. Each machine:

  1. Uses solid electrode plates made of medical grade titanium which have been double coated in medical grade platinum;
  2. Is a counter top appliance which attaches to a standard faucet and water is diverted to the machine when desired. The machine can be installed under the counter though some plumbing and a specialized faucet is required;
  3. Has an automatic self cleaning cycle; and
  4. Is backed by Enagic®’s full warranty.

What’s the difference between Enagic®’s various ionizers?

  1. The number of the plates in the electrolysis chamber;
  2. The sizes of the plates in the electrolysis chamber;
  3. The wattage of power supplied to the machine;
  4. The negative ORP value (antioxidants) produced by the machine;
  5. The types of water produced (Kangen®, beauty, & extreme pH waters);
  6. Need for the electrolysis enhancement tank and fluid;
  7. Size and weight;
  8. Power system; and
  9. Price and warranty.

What should you consider as you make your decision?
You will need to know what your priorities are:

  • For maximum amount of antioxidants, check the Negative ORP Value produced.
  • For cleaning purposes around the home, check the Water Types (eliminate the LEVELUK R).
  • For longevity, check the number of Plates and Warranty.
  • For usability in many countries, purchase the KANGEN 8.
  • For just the drinking or Kangen Water®, purchase the LEVELUK R.
  • For overall value, check the Price, Warranty and factor in all of the above.

Click on the button below to see a side-by-side comparison of each machine listing every aspect of Enagic®’s ionizers.

Enagic® Ionizer Chart

Click on the buttons below for Enagic®’s Order, Return Policy, and Distributor Application Forms and have the distributor you are working with confirm all the details.

Enagic® Order Form

Enagic® Return Policy

Enagic® Distributor Form