You have finally convinced yourself that it is time to purchase a water ionizer.  Congratulations, you are now part of the less than 1% of people in Canada or the USA that are aware of the benefits that the machines provide. Now it should be easy… Right? …Wrong!

Like many others, you may have been introduced to the water by a Multi Level Marketing representative.  Perhaps you learned about the water from a friend, acquaintance, or family member.  Maybe you started researching online because you or a loved one is dealing with a disease that needs attention.  It doesn’t matter how you got here, as the important thing is that you got to this point. 

Chances are that you have already visited several websites to learn about the water.  The good news is that there is a lot of information available.  The bad news is that virtually all the information available is being brought to you by someone who is trying to sell you something.  There is nothing wrong with people trying to sell you things, as our economy is driven by sales.  However, when you are looking for information, it can be really annoying to be constantly hit with sales pitch after sales pitch.  

So, who do you believe? 

Most people start their research with the review sites.  People start with these sites because intuitively, it makes sense to begin with comparisons.  The review sites are easily accessible because of the huge marketing budgets supporting the sites.   People naturally want to take the shortest path to a solution, and the review sites appear to fit the bill.  Unfortunately, the review sites are likely the source of your confusion.    

The seemingly “independent” review sites are not independent at all.  The sites are carefully scripted marketing tools that direct you in a subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) way towards helping you select a specific product.  As a consumer, it is easy to be fooled by these sites into thinking that a certain brand is the best.  The confusion starts when you investigate more than one of the review sites, as you are left shaking your head and asking yourself “How can the opinions of the different independent sites be so different”.  It would be logical to expect that the “best” machine would win on every review site, but don’t forget that there is nothing independent about the sites at all.  

So, it you can’t trust the review sites, where should you turn?

It would seem logical to contact companies that sell various brands, as you would expect them to have knowledge of various products.  It would also be reasonable to assume that the companies are not biased towards a specific brand because they can make money selling all of the products they carry.  Such companies do exist, but based upon my research, it is more likely that you will be guided by a sales person towards choosing a product that pays the best commissions, or towards a product that the company is trying to clear from its inventory, or trying to meet sales quotas so that they can purchase at lower prices.

Here are 10 Tips to Finding the Right Water Ionizer that I would start with once I have come to the realization that all water ionizers are good for my health, and that there is no such thing as the best water ionizer for all conditions:

1) Decide what factors are most important to you before you begin calling anyone.  Are you simply looking for healthy drinking water?  If so, you don’t need to buy the expensive models.  Do you need your machine to obtain pH values of 11 or more to wash the pesticides off your fruits and vegetables?  Do you need your machine to produce really low pH values so that you can use the acidic water as an environmentally friendly disinfectant?  Would an under-counter unit best suit your needs?  And last but definitely not least, how important is cost?

2) Seek out someone that has experience with testing and using various brands.

3) Search for a person that asks you about your needs rather than telling you about all of the features of the machines they sell.  Anybody can read a promotional card from the company that makes a product.

4) Work with someone who is willing to listen, because it is really hard to listen when you are talking all the time.

5) Find a representative that answers your questions directly, or offers to find out the answer, rather than someone who deflects to another topic or is evasive because they don’t know the answer.

6) Find out about your local source water conditions before calling anyone.  Otherwise, try to find someone that is familiar with your local source water conditions, or is willing to help you find out about your water

7) Make sure you deal with someone who is knowledgeable about proper filtration.  Water ionizers typically don’t provide sufficient filtration for all the chemicals that we find in our water.  Your goal should be to obtain the best possible drinking water, and the first step is to optimize the quality of the water entering your water ionizer.

8) Deal with a reputable company that sells reputable brands.  Warranty and return policies are not important until you need them.

9) You will be using your machine for many years, so it is important to deal with someone that you trust and feel comfortable working with.  While obtaining the best price is important, a good relationship will provide better value over the long term.

10) Once you have determined the right brand for your needs, shop around for the best deal.  The industry is relatively new to North America, and that means that most of the brands are over-priced.  Don’t be afraid to negotiate. 

If you are frustrated by the entire process, you are not alone.  I would be happy to answer your questions if you email me and leave me a telephone number where I can contact you.  I have a telephone plan that offers free calling in the USA and Canada.   I won’t attempt to sell you a water ionizer because I’m not in the business, so all I can offer is free advice.   If you start drinking ionized water and share your story with others, that will be my reward. 

I don’t provide written recommendations by email, because I don’t want people posting my advice in order to create a business opportunity.   Let them do their own research!

As always, the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.  It is advisable to consult your health care provider with any health related issues.

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