Pelican Water Softener Systems manufactured by Pentair are fairly popular. Of course, this is because people tend to think that the quality of a product is somehow directly related to its price—and Pelican products come with a rather hefty price tag.
While we don’t disagree that Pelican makes a decent water softener system we do digress. Not all that glitters is gold, so if you’re thinking about handing over your hard-earned cash to Pentair, there are a few things you should know about their products first.
Here’s the Hard Truth About Pelican Water Softeners:
1. They’re Made from Cheap Materials
One of the biggest issues and most common complaints among consumers when it comes to Pelican water softeners is the materials they use. For the steep pricing of the various water softeners that Pelican offers, the materials that make up the product in question are the last thing a manufacturer should skimp on.
However, in almost all the water softener systems that Pelican offers, plastic fittings are used rather than metal fittings. Understandably this is likely because water tends to be corrosive to most metals. Of course, unless you’re using cheaper metals, you shouldn’t have to worry about corrosion, i.e., rust. There’s also no mention of what type of plastic is used or whether it’s BPA free.
Stainless steel is an example of a metal that doesn’t rust unless it’s consistently exposed to high salinity environments or chemicals. The purpose of a water softener is to remove the very things that cause corrosion through water, therefore there’s no reason not to be using top-level materials.
Additionally, there have also been complaints about the carbon media used within the product in terms of pre-soaking. Pre-soaking should be done a minimum of 48 hours prior to water softener installation. You also need to flush your tanks before installation, otherwise you run the risk of carbon entering your water system.
The Puronics Water Softener by the GoodFor Company is made of only high-grade and sustainable materials right here in the USA to ensure that it withstands the tests of time, delivering the best performance for a lifetime.
2. They Only Have One Certification
Pentair prides itself on the fact that they put their products through DVGW 9191- Anti Scale Standard testing for their certification. While DVGW 9191 uses some of the world’s most strict guidelines, putting products through four separate tests, their standards are primarily a measure of a water softener’s performance level in preventing limescale.
Limescale build up is definitely a concern, but it’s not the biggest concern. That’s why you shouldn’t purchase a water softener that hasn’t been certified by the following three independent organizations that certify water softener products to ensure they meet specific standards: The Water Quality Association (WQA), NSF International, and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).
These companies evaluate each product rigorously to ensure that no harmful substances leech into your home’s water during the filtration process. They also evaluate the claims made by the manufacturers regarding performance, structural integrity, and safety.
The Puronics Water Softener by the GoodFor Company, on the other hand, is tested and certified by all three organizations to ensure their customers’ health and safety—not just how well their product can prevent limescale build up.
3. They’re Expensive to Purchase and Maintain
Pelican water softener systems range well in the thousands for the full kit and kaboodle. While the company claims installation is quick and easy with no need for a plumber, it still doesn’t mitigate the pricing—especially if they’re using cheaper materials as mentioned above.
While maintenance for these water softeners is fairly simple, replacement filter cartridges range from $40 all the way to $210 depending on the type of system you have. According to the owner’s manual listed on the Pelican website (you’ll have to do some digging to find it), those water filter cartridges need to be replaced every six to nine months, depending on how much sediment has built up for that time frame.
So, if your water softener system’s replacement filter cartridges cost $210 and you have to change them twice a year, that’s an extra $420 per year.
Puronics offers its water softening system and accessories at half that price, because there’s no reason families should have to empty their pockets just to have safe and clean water.
4. Salt Free Water Softeners Technically Don’t Exist
One of the “superior” products that Pelican offers are salt free water softeners which they refer to as the NaturSoft Water Softener Alternative. The claim is that no salt or potassium is used in the filtration process. Traditionally, water softeners depend on salt and potassium to enable the ion exchange (you can read more about the science here).
The reason this “salt-free” claim is so off putting is because scientifically, salt-free water softeners don’t exist. Well, they exist, however, the “salt-free” brigade isn’t exactly forth-coming about the science behind their anti-scale media. In other words, what you’re getting isn’t a water softener but a water conditioner. That’s why while using Pelican’s water softening products, consumers still experience water-related and plumbing issues—which we’ll address in the next point.
Puronics doesn’t make any “salt-free” claims, nor do we believe in simply conditioning your water. Our water softening systems are backed by hard science and aim to soften your water in the safest and most natural way possible.
5. They Contribute to Several Plumbing and Water-Related Issues
After investing in Pelican water softening systems for the home, many consumers are still grappling with plumbing issues, water stains, and scale build up—which is one of the primary things a water softener is supposed to help prevent.
This is largely attributed to Pelican’s “salt-free” water softening system, and following up the complaints about the water softener not getting the job done, there have also been complaints about the company’s customer service and reluctance to address the issue. You can read what customers have had to say about it right here.
The point of a water softening system is to improve your household water as well as the longevity of your plumbing. Puronics water softeners are tried and true, end of story.
Choose Puronics for Your Water Softening System
It’s always the same story—the most expensive products on the market never live up to the hype. What makes a product like a water softener system worth the investment is the quality of the materials used, its efficacy, its certifications, the science behind it, and the integrity of the company behind it.
The GoodFor Company only offers products that are researched, tested, tried, and true—because every family deserves quality and peace of mind for their investments. At GoodFor, We ensure our products have the backing of reputable organizations because we believe in backing up our work with science.