Ecowater ERR3500 vs. Kinetico 4040

Re: Ecowater ERR3500 vs. Kinetico 4040


WOW!!!! $6200

Seek out an EcoWater dealer and see how they compare.

Re: Ecowater ERR3500 vs. Kinetico 4040
I've got EcoWater and Kinetico scheduled for their water analysis and product demos. That's why I was inquiring about these 2 products.
Both seem like really solid products. Wanted to get an idea of price and product insight (durability, warranty, etc.) before going into the demos.

Thanks!

You can easily become more handy or consider a plumber a "pro" as you say and buy online paying a plumber $200-400 to install it and have the Fleck 2510SE. That will save you a $1000-2000+ dollars.

BTW, I have no trouble finding an independent dealer selling Fleck anywhere in TX.

Gary,

Thanks for the response. How do I find Fleck independent dealers? I've trolled online with no luck(?). Short of cold calling some local outfits, I don't know what to do.

Thanks!

The vast majority of local dealers do not have a web site. You find them under the heading Water whatever in the local (online too) yellow pages. They may or may not say Autotrol, Clack, Erie or Fleck in their adds so yes, you call'em or stop by their store (at an appropriate time).

Or go here http://www.aquacosm.com/ and click Water Treatment and a window pops up and you enter your town and State and then scroll to yer heart's content.

Or become the DIYer ya wannabe by learning to solder in about 30 minutes of practice (you reuse the parts you practice with) and watching this http://tinyurl.com/c3agr... The tools are usually $55 at a big box store and the plumbing materials to install a softener are usually $35-$55. And when yer done installing your softener ya git ta keep the tools! If you don't want to solder, use compression fittings that only require a couple wrenchs or a wrench and pair of channel lock pliers.

H2OMan,
What do you think of $4000 for the Ecowater ERR3500 and ERO375 units including installation and sales tax? Some trench digging will be required as the main line is at the front of the house (no basement in my house) where they will be tying into.

Thanks!

That price sounds fair to me. If a soap pkg. is involved in the deal consider deleting it for a discount.

That's with the soap package excluded. What's a typical soap package worth?
Price wise, they are pretty much the same -- I'm leaning towards the Ecowater because of the added features (e.g. remote display, integrated unit) but, am also impressed with the Kinetico (e.g. non-electrical, twin tanks). Guess I'll flip a coin and see what happens.

Any last words of advice for me to sleep on?

Thanks!

Sleep well, you are leaning in the right direction

Man, $4000 for a glorified Kenmore!! Of course an Ecowater dealer is going to think it's a good buy...

pssst... guys, you're becoming obvious.

Yes, EcoWater does make equipment that wears the Kenmore brand name, but this big
box equipment is not comparable to the tier 1 systems you get from an EcoWater dealer.

"Tier 1 system". I disagree. A softener is a softener is a softener.

Not comparable! It shares some of the same parts as the Kenmore, GE, Whirlpool, North Star and mortonsalt.com softeners; especially the rotary disc control valve!

The small difference in the circuit board's features does not justify a price tag of $2500-$3000 higher than the big box store prices for basically the same softener.

The majority of the difference in price is going into the dealers' pocket as profit and the consumer gets a "tier 1" big box store softener.

I disagree.

I would too if I was selling a "tier 1" big box store softener for $3500.

This is a common response from 2nd and 3rd tier sellers.

Recall that online guys sell Autotrol, Clack and Fleck and you don't find that equipment sold in big box stores. So I'd say there is none of your Ecowater or other "tier" involved. Like I said, a glorified Kenmore.

h799396

I assume your water is city water and that you are looking to remove the chlorine. Would that be right?

The Kinetico MACH 4040s OD would be a good choice. If you are not familiar with the technology, it is a non-electric, automatic alternating softener. This provides ceaseless water treatment even during regeneration.

The 4040 also uses four tank (2+2) with two tanks containing carbon for chlorine treatment and two tanks for softening. It is a very efficient unit and has one of the longest, most comprehensive warranties available.

It should cost you less than the Ecowater system and way less than the Rainsoft.

I can give you more detail on this if you'd like.

Andy Christensen, CWS

There is a good reason you don't find these items being sold in big box stores, they are incomplete.

Autotrol, Clack and Fleck make control valves that are intended for the assemblers that sell to end users.
You and I buy these control valves and resell them with whatever is needed to do the job.
We install them on existing tanks as upgrade valves, we install them on generic tanks with
whatever media is needed and sell them as complete water systems.

Some companies assemble complete systems with these same control valves, re badge them with a specific "brand name" and sell them as something special.
Others contract with the big 3 valve makers for something a little different, slap a known brand name on the system and sell it at an extra high price. RainSoft does this.
You and I can sell all three brands if we choose to. You have chosen Clack and I have chosen Fleck.

EcoWater makes complete systems that are intended for end users. These are sold by dealers within EcoWater dealer network.
You and I can't order these from a supply house for resale. EcoWater will not sell to us, they sell to EcoWater dealers only.

EcoWater does make lesser copies of the original to be sold in big box stores and one brand (NorthStar) is made for plumbing supply house sales.
You and I could possibly become NorthStar dealers - I hope that clears things up a bit.

I live for these water softener threads