For those that follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you’ve likely heard the word, NuvoH2O, tossed around from time to time. Furthermore, we even had a jobsite video this past summer that captured an installation of a NuvoH2O system we installed in Kearney, MO. NuvoH2O essentially sells a handful of different water softeners that are a little bit different from your traditional water softener! Here’s a hint: they don’t require any salt to work.
This week on the blog, I would like to walk you through what exactly Nuvo is. I’ll give you an inside look at how Nuvo’s products approach the issue of hard water in a different manner than your average salt-based water softeners, as well as how they affect the pH level of your home’s water! Without further ado, I introduce you to NuvoH2O!
Kansas City is home to above-average levels of hard water
No matter where you’re at in the United States, chances are you’ll run into some hard water issues! There’s no denying that statement. In case you’re new to our blog or unfamiliar with hard water in general, it is simply water that possesses a higher concentration of hard minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. It’s safe to drink and wash with, but creates negative side effects like scale build-up, drying out of skin/hair, increased utility bills, and so on! That’s where water softeners, such as NuvoH2O, come into play, as they take care of the adverse effects of hard water by either removing the hard minerals or changing their form!
In terms of us living here in Kansas City, just about any hard water map you see online will categorize KC as either having “very hard water” or “extremely hard water.” With that being said, nearly all of our past homeowners (who had a softener installed) would agree that water softeners made a noticeable difference right away after installation.
What is NuvoH2O?
Traditionally speaking, the classic way of removing hard water is through ion-exchange with salt-based water softeners. There’s nothing wrong with this system, as it works perfectly fine, and is a product we feel confident in recommending to any of our clients. However, NuvoH2O looks to eliminate hard water through a slightly-different process. Rather than working with salt, Nuvo systems do so with citrus! Here’s a few reasons why homeowners throughout Kansas City have become increasingly interested in what Nuvo systems have to offer:
Proven to Get the Job Done!
Any type of water softener system or filtration system should be viewed as an investment. Both from a financial standpoint and personal enjoyment, this is going to be a purchase that will certainly pay off over time. With the NuvoH2O systems, you can have faith that their technology works. In fact, they hired a third-party research firm to conduct studies on whether or not they really got the job done. In short, the results found their CitraCharge® technology is capable of doing just that.
As quoted from the research firm, Battelle Memorial Institute, “The use of the NuvoH2O system will (1) prevent scale and protect the appliance from the corrosive and destructive power of scale; (2) prevent scale and produce energy and potentially a water savings for the consumer, and (3) remove existing scale and in most cases return appliances to a more efficient state of operation.” While that was simply a synopsis of the study, you’re more than welcome to check out the complete report HERE.
Easy to Maintain!
Perhaps the most attractive piece to a NuvoH2O system is the fact that it’s about as simple as can be to operate and maintain. In fact, maintenance-wise, all you have to do is replace the cartridge every 4-6 months. As simple as that! To make this happen, you can either hire us and one of our trained plumbing technicians can knock out in an instant or you can sign up for their Auto-Ship Membership program and make the exchange yourself. In either case, it’s undoubtedly a quick and easy replacement.
Pictured below is one of our plumbers, Bill, installing the original cartridge for the project we had in Kearney, MO:
Removes Scale Build-Up!
Another benefit homeowners notice quickly after having a Nuvo unit installed is the removal of scale build-up. Ever look at your faucets or showerheads and see a crusty-type build-up on them? With a Nuvo system installed, you’ll notice their existing scale build-up to gradually diminish after installation and continue to be that way in the future. Keep reading to learn how their CitraCharge formula helps make this possible.
What is CitraCharge?
In some of the previous sections, we mentioned how NuvoH2O softeners use a proprietary formula known as CitraCharge. While there is certainly plenty of science behind this, I’ll try to keep it fairly simple for the purposes of this blog. As stated on the Nuvo website, CitraCharge “uses a process known as chelation to binding and stabilize mineral ions naturally found in hard water. The chelant in CitraCharge creates a ring structure to bind the ions to the CitraCharge instead of to your faucets, pipes, and appliances.”
Through CitraCharge, those mineral ions (that are always causing the hard water issues mentioned above) remain suspended in the water, rather than being completely removed. With this the case, the water is able to pass through freely and the minerals won’t form scale.
Implications on pH Levels
Another major benefit of Nuvo systems is the fact that they lower the pH level of water. No matter if you’ve done further research or not, you’ve likely heard someone mention the “pH level of water” at one point or another. Essentially, a pH of 7 is considered to be neutral. Water above that is considered to be alkaline, while water below that is acidic. According to El Dorado Springs, “a diet high in acidity will lead to weight gain, slower immune response, and susceptibility to disease, while a diet too alkaline will lead to inability to metabolize key nutrients.”
While a number of factors contribute to this pH level, one of the determinants is the liquids we drink. For the sake of this blog post, CitraCharge is responsible for decreasing the pH level of hard water. In almost all instances, hard water is high in pH, while soft water is low in pH. CitraCharge is built with an “FDA approved citric acid” and through its efforts of reducing the pH closer to neutral, it also reduces the odds of minerals forming scale.
Water Softener or Water Filtration?
One popular debate that tends to confuse people is the difference between a water softener system and a water filtration system. As seen throughout this blog, there’s a few different water softener systems out there, with the primary differentiating factor being whether it’s salt-based or citrus-based. A traditional, salt-based softener will eliminate the hard minerals, while the citrus-based Nuvo will change the mineral’s form so they don’t scale.
On the flipside, a water filter is going to remove all of those unwanted compounds from your water. Think of stuff like dirt, sediments, sand or anything other contaminants you wouldn’t ever want in your drinking water! With water filtration systems, you can choose from whole-house filters, reverse osmosis systems, filters on specific faucets and so on. In the end, you could technically think of all water softeners as a form of filters, but not every filter is going to be a softener. Furthermore, it’s important to recognize that water softeners DO NOT purify the water either! Yes, softeners are amazing at what they’re designed to do, but you shouldn’t expect a water purification system when having one installed.
Get Your NuvoH2O System Installed Today!
There’s a reason why I chose to write an entire blog post featuring one specific product and that’s because it really does work! Our team at Stine-Nichols Plumbing are actually approved installers for NuvoH2O products. Hopefully this blog post helped teach you about a few of the many amazing benefits they provide to Kansas City homeowners! From their ease of use to the proven results, we feel confident in recommending their products as a way to fight against the adverse effects of hard water!
If you would like to receive a free quote or simply talk to someone from our residential team about the benefits provided by NuvoH2O, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 or fill out the form HERE. You’ll be connected to our operations manager, Jim, who can walk you through pricing, scheduling and answer any questions related to Nuvo products.
If you’re interested in doing a little bit of research on your own and would like to browse through the NuvoH2O products currently available, check out their products page here. You’ll notice their units aren’t very big, thus not taking up a lot of space, and that they have a few different systems available. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about the units themselves.