Best Water Ionizers

A water ionizer is a water-enhancing device that applies the electrochemical process of electrolysis to increase the alkalinity of water. Through the process of electrolysis, the main products are alkaline water which has an increased pH that can be used for drinking or cooking and also oxidized or acidic water with a lower pH that can be used for household sterilization or disinfection purposes like washing of hands or dishes.

Water ionizers are unique in the sense that they are able to separate an incoming stream of water into the alkaline and acidic streams of water. Thus, users are able to fruitfully utilize both the alkaline and acidic water streams because of their unique benefits. The water stream that is of major interest is the alkaline water because higher levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium have health and cosmetic advantages compared to normal tap water. At this point, it is important to know the advantages and health benefits of using ionized water, some of the best water ionizers as well as their specifications and features, and the factors that one can take into account when buying water ionizers.

Some of the most popular brands of water ionizers include Aqua, Tyent, Bawell, ionHealth, Kangen, and AlkaViva. In identifying and evaluating the best water ionizers, the main attributes that were used include the price, type of ionizer (countertop or under-counter), range of options of ionized water, potential health benefits of ionized water (negative ORP), maintenance requirements, speed of ionization and the flow rate ionized water. 

The best water ionizers are listed below:

• Tyent ACE-13 Plus Water Ionizer
• Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0
• Tyent UCE-11 Water Ionizer
• Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 7.0
• Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine
• ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer
• Kangen Water Machine Ionizer
• Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer
• AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer
• Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 5.0

Best Water Ionizers Comparison Table

PRODUCT	DETAILS
	Tyent UCE-13 Plus Water Ionizer	Price: $$$$$ Dimensions: ‎18 x 14.1 x 7.6 Weight: 15.67 pounds pH levels: 1.7-12.5 ORP value: Up to -1150 ORP	View On Tyent
	Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0	Price: $$ Dimensions: ‎16.61 x 12.4 x 8.7 Weight: 12.03 pounds pH levels: 3.0 to 11.5 ORP value: -860	View On Amazon
	Tyent UCE-11 Water Ionizer	Price: $$$ Dimensions: 18.5 x 18 x 9 Weight: 18 pounds pH levels: 1.7-12.0 ORP value: -1050	View On Tyent
	Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 7.0	Price: $$ Dimensions: 5.25 x 4.3 x 13 Weight: 11.35 Pounds pH levels: 4.5 to 11 ORP value: -840	View On Amazon
	Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine	Price: $$ Dimensions: 11.8 x 6.2 x 15.2 Weight: 11.02 pounds pH levels: 3.0 to 12.0 ORP value: -800	View On Amazon
	ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer	Price: $$$$ Dimensions: 15 x 11 x 5 Weight: 4 pounds pH levels: 2.7 – 11.5 ORP value: -950	View On Amazon
	AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer	Price: $$$ Dimensions: 12.5 x 14.5 x 5.5 Weight: 12.75 Pounds pH levels: 13 – 11 ORP value: -800	View On Amazon
	Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0	Price: $ Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 12 Weight: 10.2 Pounds pH levels: 4.5 – 10.0 ORP value: -600	View On Amazon
	Kangen Water Machine Ionizer (LeveLuk SD 501)	Price: $$$$ Dimensions: 10 x 6.7 x 13.3 Weight: 11 pounds pH levels: 2.5 to 11 ORP value: -800	View On Enagic
	Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer	Price: $$$ Dimensions: 12.5 x 6.25 x 15 Weight: ‎15.15 pounds pH levels: 2.0- 11.5 ORP value: -800	View On Amazon

1. Tyent UCE-13 Plus Water Ionizer

The Tyent ACE-13 Plus Water Ionizer is an above-the-counter ionizer that is manufactured by the American company Tyent. This water ionizer is slim and is rich in terms of its specifications for the water ionization process. The Tyent ACE-13 Water Ionizer has 13 platinum-coated titanium solid mesh / hybrid electrolysis plates meaning it is very powerful and faster during the ionization process. The Tyent ACE-13 Water Ionizer has solid and meshes hybrid plates which are not only strong but their hybrid nature increases the surface area and effectiveness over which electrolysis takes place.

The Tyent ACE-13 Plus Water Ionizer has 8 settings that produce water of different pH characteristics ranging between 1.7 and 12.5 depending on the intended use. The different options include 3 for alkaline water products, 1 for purified (neutral) water, and 3 for acidic water and a turbo function that produces strong alkaline or strongly acidic water that is only meant for cleaning (disinfection for acidic and stain for alkaline) and not for consumption. Each of the different settings can be customized and produces water with different pH value ranges.

The Tyent ACE-13 Water Ionizer comes at a cost of $3,500. The chamber is made of metal whereas the plates are made of titanium and coated with platinum, faucets are made of metal and the hoses are made of rubber. The ionizer uses dual filters, namely the Dual 0.01 Micron Dialapure Filters that offer excellent filtration as the one used in kidney dialysis.

The main maintenance requirements of Tyent ACE-13 are the replacement of the 2 filters either through the filter usage and replacement recommendation on the LCD of the ionizer or every 6 months. The Tyent ACE-13 Water Ionizer is capable of ionizing water at a rate of 2.5 liters per minute.

The main advantages of the Tyent ACE-13 Water Ionizer include the following:

• The Tyent ACE-13 water ionizer has a hybrid design of solid and meshes huge platinum plates that promote high efficiency and effectiveness in the process of ionization.
• The Tyent ACE-13 water ionizer has double filters that cater to the removal of other constituents from the water to make it safer for consumption prior to ionization.
• The Tyent ACE-13 water ionizer has a modern, smartphone inspired and preset full-touch screen LCD that is easy to use.
• The LCD of the Tyent ACE-13 water ionizer shows the filter usage and recommends when the filters need to be replaced.
• The turbo mode of the Tyent ACE-13 water ionizer not only provides very alkaline/acidic water but also automatically cleans the ionizer.
• The Tyent ACE-13 water ionizer has an impressive negative ORP potential of -1150 indicating that the resulting alkaline water has very strong antioxidant potential.

Some of the disadvantages of the Tyent ACE-13 Water Ionizer include:

• The Tyent ACE-13 water ionizer is expensive to buy.
• The 2 filters of the Tyent ACE-13 water ionizer need to be changed regularly after about 6 months. The ionizer does not have a lifetime warranty that other manufacturers offer.
• The Tyent ACE-13 water ionizer is quite difficult to install.

2. Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0

The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 is a water ionizer that is manufactured by the company Aqua-Ionizer Pro. The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe has 9 platinum-coated titanium plates meaning it is more powerful, faster, and produces water with a wider range of pH values.  The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 has 7 settings that produce different water products, namely 4 options for alkaline water, 1 for purified water, and 2 for acidic water. The different settings each produce water with different pH value ranges.

The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 costs $1,500. The chamber of the unit is made of metal whereas the plates are made of titanium and coated with platinum and the spouts and faucets are made of metal. The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 is capable of ionizing water at a rate of 4 liters per minute. The main maintenance requirements of Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe are the replacement of the inner filter after the treatment of every 4,000 liters of water. Additionally, after every year of use, the ionizer needs to be manually cleaned and descaled which involves dissolving the supplied descaling agent in hot water and letting it soak in the filter chamber for at least 30 minutes before rinsing with clean water. The same descaling exercise should be done when white particles (normally calcium and magnesium) start accumulating in the filter chamber.

The advantages of the Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 are:

• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0  can be used as either an over-counter or an under-counter ionizer. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 has 7 customized pre-set options for everyday and household uses of water that the user can choose from. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 has many titanium electrolysis plates (9) so that it is more powerful and faster during ionization.
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 can produce ionized water with wider pH ranges (3 to 11.5).
• With the Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0, the water can achieve a negative ORP value of -860 meaning that the ionized water has strong antioxidant potential.
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 is easy to install. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 has a lifetime warranty.

The disadvantages of the Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 are:

• The filter needs to be changed regularly after the filtration of every 4,000 liters of water. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 needs a lithium-ion battery to operate. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 can only work on a 110 volts electrical current system hence cannot be used in countries that use the 240 volts current system.  

3. Tyent UCE-11 Water Ionizer

The Tyent UCE-11 Water Ionizer is an under-counter water ionizer that is manufactured by the American company Tyent. The Tyent UCE-11 has 11 platinum-coated titanium plates meaning it is more powerful, faster, and produces water with a wider range of pH values. The Tyent UCE-11 Water Ionizer has solid and meshes hybrid plates which are not only strong but their hybrid nature increases the surface area over which hydrolysis can take place. The Tyent UCE-11 Water Ionizer has 8 settings that produce water of different pH characteristics depending on the intended use. The different options include 3 for alkaline water products, 1 for purified (neutral) water, and 3 for acidic water and a turbo function that produces strong alkaline or strongly acidic water that is only meant for cleaning (disinfection for acidic and stain for alkaline) and not for consumption. Each of the different settings can be customized and produces water with different pH value ranges.

The Tyent UCE-11 Water Ionizer comes at a cost of $3,500. The chamber is made of metal whereas the plates are made of titanium and coated with platinum, faucets are made of metal and the hoses are made of rubber. The ionizer uses dual filters, namely the activated carbon filter as the primary filter and the ceramic filter as the secondary filter.

The main maintenance requirements of Tyent UCE-11 are the replacement of the 2 filters either through the filter usage and replacement recommendation on the LCD of the ionizer or every 6 months. Although the ionizer cleans itself after use, the user is also encouraged to operate it using the strong acidic mode at least twice a week to keep the chamber clean. The Tyent UCE-11 Water Ionizer is capable of ionizing water at a rate of 4 liters per minute.

The main advantages of the Tyent UCE-11 Water Ionizer include the following:

• The Tyent UCE-11 water ionizer has a hybrid design of solid and meshes huge platinum plates that promote high efficiency in the process of ionization. 
• The Tyent UCE-11 water ionizer has double filters that cater to the removal of other constituents from the water to make it safer for consumption. 
• The Tyent UCE-11 water ionizer has a modern and preset full touch screen LCD that is easy to use. 
• The LCD of the Tyent UCE-11 water ionizer shows the filter usage and recommends when the filters need to be replaced. 
• The turbo mode of the Tyent UCE-11 water ionizer not only provides very alkaline/acidic water but also automatically cleans the ionizer. 
• The Tyent UCE-11 water ionizer has a negative ORP potential of -1050 indicating that the resulting alkaline water has strong antioxidant potential.

Some of the disadvantages of the Tyent UCE-11 Water Ionizer include: 

• The Tyent UCE-11 water ionizer is expensive to buy. 
• The 2 filters of the Tyent UCE-11 water ionizer need to be changed regularly after about 6 months. The ionizer does not have a lifetime warranty that other manufacturers offer. 
• The Tyent UCE-11 water ionizer is quite difficult to install

4. Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 7.0

The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 is a water ionizer that is manufactured by the United States company Aqua-Ionizer Pro. The ionizer has 7 plates made of titanium and coated with platinum.  The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 has 7 water settings resulting in the water of different quality and uses namely 4 options for alkaline water, 1 for purified water (non-ionized), and options 2 for acidic water. The preset options each produce water with different pH value ranges and recommendations of use from cooking, drinking, or disinfection.

The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 costs $1,000. The chamber is made of metal whereas the plates are made of titanium and coated with platinum and the spouts and faucets are made of metal. The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 is capable of ionizing water at a rate of 3 liters per minute. The main maintenance requirements of Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 are the replacement of the carbon filter after the treatment of every 6,000 liters of water. Also, at least once every year, the ionizer needs to be manually cleaned and descaled to remove the accumulated minerals particles in the chamber which adversely affects the process of electrolysis.

The advantages of the Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 are:

• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 can be used either as a countertop or under-counter system.
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 has 7 customized pre-set everyday and household uses of water that the user can choose from. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 has many titanium electrolysis plates that are durable.
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 has a wider pH range (4.5 to 11) over which it is able to produce water for different uses. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 has a negative antioxidant potential of -840 ORP meaning the resultant alkaline water has strong antioxidant potential. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 has an activated carbon water filter for extra filtration of water. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 is easy to install.
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 is has a lifetime warranty.

The disadvantages of the Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 include:

• The filter of the Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 needs to be changed regularly after the filtration of every 6,000 liters of water. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 can only work on a 110 volts electrical current system unlike in countries that use the 240 volts current system. 

5. Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine

The Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine is one of the top-of-the-range water ionizers from the manufacturer Bawell. This ionizer has 7 medical-grade plates made of titanium and coated with platinum with an impressive 144 square inches for ionizing water. Additionally, the Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine is equipped with 2 water filters i.e. a Granular Activated Carbon Filter and a Pre-Activated Carbon Filter for eliminating any microbiological organisms and any unwanted minerals.

The Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine offers the user 8 water settings to choose from when ionizing water. The preset options include 4 for alkaline water, 1 for neutral water, and 3 for acidic water each producing water with different pH value ranges for different alkaline and acidic uses. As such it offers ionized water with pH ranges between 3 (acidic) and 12 (alkaline). The ionizer gives negative ORP values of -800 showing the strong antioxidant capabilities in the ionized water. The Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine costs $1,500 and is capable of delivering an impressive 1 gallon of ionized water every 30 seconds. The main maintenance requirements of the Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer are the replacement of the 2 carbon filters after the treatment of every 5,000 liters of water.

The advantages of the Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine are:

• The Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine offers good antioxidants benefits in the alkaline water that it ionizes because of its high negative ORP value of -800. 
• The Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine offers extra water filtration mechanisms through the 2 built-in activated carbon filters. 
• The Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine also offers a good range of alternatives of alkaline water to water users. 
• The Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty to the users.

The disadvantages of the Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine are:

• The filter of the Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine needs to be changed regularly after the filtration of every 5,000 liters of water. 
• The Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine can only work on a 110 volts electrical current system thus cannot be used in countries that use the 240 volts current system. 
• The Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine can only be used as a countertop unit thus a disadvantage where space is a challenge.  

6. ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer

The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer is one of the ionizers manufactured in Korea under the Real Spirit USA banner. This ionizer is stylish and has excellent performance specifications and quite distinct alkaline water quality. ionHealth Premium is an under-counter ionizer with the main controls on the chamber. However, there is an option of having a smart faucet that also has its own controls on its body such that the user can avoid changing the controls on the chamber under the counter. The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer has 9 titanium solid plates coated with platinum. This ionizer is equipped with dual water filters that use a combination of Carbon block, Activated Carbon Granular, Sediment, Calcium Sulfite, Antibacterial Ceramic, Anion Ceramic, and boast of eliminating 99% of all the contaminants and 99% of Escherichia Coli and Salmonella bacteria.

The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer has 7 water settings to choose from. These include 4 options for alkaline water, 1 for neutral water, and 2 for acidic water each producing water with different pH value ranges for different alkaline and acidic uses. The different functionalities of the ionizer are capable of delivering ionized water within the pH ranges of between 2.7 (acidic) and 11.5 (alkaline). The ionizer provides water with excellent negative ORP values of -950 showing the strong antioxidant capabilities of the ionized water. The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer costs $3,000 and is capable of achieving a maximum flow rate of 3 liters per minute. The main maintenance requirements of the ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer is the replacement of the 2 filters i.e. filter 1 needs to be replaced every 4 months and filter 2 needs to be replaced every 8 months.

The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer offers the following advantages:

• The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer can handle all kinds of water from water with microbes, well water with some impurities to reverse osmosis water due to its powerful dual filters. 
• The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer offers good antioxidants benefits in the alkaline water that it ionizes because of the high ORP value of -950. 
• The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer is compatible with both the 110 and 240 volts electric current systems so it can be used the world over. 
• Although the ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer is an under-counter type, the user has an option of installing a stylish countertop faucet with its own controls thus is able to conveniently change the controls from the faucet. 
• The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer offers a good range of options of alkaline water to users. 
• The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer comes with a lifetime warranty to the users.

The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer has the following disadvantages:

• The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer is quite expensive to buy. 
• The ionHealth Premium Alkaline Water Ionizer is expensive to run because of the short frequency of replacing the filters, especially filter number 1 that needs to be replaced every 4 months. 

7. AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer

The AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer is one of the several ionizers from the manufacturer AlkaViva. The Vesta H2 Water Ionizer is a countertop ionizer that can also be installed as an under-counter system. This ionizer has 9 smart plates made of titanium and platinum. Additionally, the AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer is equipped with 2 cartridge-type water filters that offer the extra elimination of a whole range of 249 contaminants from the water.

The AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer offers the user 8 water settings such that 5 of the options are for alkaline water, 2 for acidic water, and 1 option for neutral water. The Vesta H2 Water Ionizer offers ionized water with pH ranges between 3 (acidic) and 11 (alkaline). Depending on the quality of the water, the ionizer is able to achieve negative ORP values of -800 showing the strong antioxidant capabilities in the ionized water. The Vesta H2 Water Ionizer is quite expensive and costs $3,000. The replacement of the dual ultra-water filters forms the main maintenance requirements of the Vesta H2 Water Ionizer. 

The advantages of the AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer are:

• The AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer offers the water user a good number of alternatives of alkaline water to choose from. 
• The AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer offers good antioxidants benefits in alkaline water because of the high ORP value of -800. 
• The dual ultra-water filters of the AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer offer an extra and excellent form of protection to the water users by eliminating a wide range of contaminants that might be in the water.

The The AlkaViva Water Ionizer has the following disadvantages:

• The water filters of the AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer need to be changed regularly. 
• The AlkaViva Vesta H2 Water Ionizer is quite expensive to buy compared to a lot of the alternatives on the market. 

 8. Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0

Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 is one of the most affordable water ionizers that offers good performance. This is a 5 plate water ionizer that is manufactured by the United States company Aqua-Ionizer Pro. Although the Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 is designed and manufactured as a countertop system, it has an optional kit for installing and using it as an under-counter ionizer. The plates of the ionizer are made of titanium and coated with platinum.  Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 has 7 water settings resulting in the water of different quality and uses; namely 4 options for alkaline water, 1 for purified water (non-ionized), and options 2 for acidic water.

The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 costs $800. Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 is capable of ionizing water at a rate of 3 litres per minute. The main maintenance requirements of the Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 are the replacement of the active carbon filter after the treatment of every 6,000 liters of water, or annually. Also, at least once every year, the ionizer needs to be manually cleaned and descaled. The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 has a negative antioxidant potential of -600 ORP.

The advantages of the Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 include:

• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 can be used either as a countertop or under-counter system although the latter comes with an additional kit for the installation. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 has 7 customized pre-set water uses with different pH that the user can choose from. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 is easy to install.

The disadvantages of the Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 include:

• The filter needs to be changed regularly after the filtration of every 6,000 liters of treated water. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 has limited pH and ORP ranges thus limited antioxidant capabilities. 
• The Aqua-Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 can only work on a 110 volts electrical current system thus cannot be used in countries that use the 240 volts electrical current system. 

9. Kangen Water Machine Ionizer (LeveLuk SD 501)

The Kangen Water Machine Ionizer (LeveLuk SD 501) is a flagship ionizer model for the manufacturer Enagic based in Japan.  This is an under-counter ionizer that has 7 titanium plates that are coated with platinum. The Kangen Water Machine Ionizer is equipped with a granulated antibacterial activated charcoal filter and Calcium Sulfite that are able to remove the residual chlorine, bad odor, and red rust.

The LeveLuk SD 501 ionizer has 5 water settings to choose from, comprising 2 options for alkaline water, 1 for neutral water, and 2 for acidic water each producing water with different pH value ranges for different alkaline and acidic uses. The different functionalities of the ionizer are capable of delivering ionized water within the pH ranges of between 2.5 (acidic) and 11 (alkaline). The ionizer provides water with excellent negative ORP values of -800 showing the strong antioxidant capabilities of the ionized water. The LeveLuk SD 501 ionizer comes at a hefty price tag of $4,000 and is capable of achieving a maximum flow rate of 7.5 liters per minute. The main maintenance requirement of the LeveLuk SD 501 Ionizer is the replacement of the filter.

The Kangen Water Machine Ionizer offers the following advantages:

•  The Kangen Water Machine Ionizer offers good antioxidants benefits in the alkaline water that it ionizes because of the high ORP value of -800.
•  The Kangen Water Machine Ionizer offers a good range of alternatives of alkaline water to water users.

The Kangen Water Machine Ionizer has the following disadvantages:

• The Kangen Water Machine Ionizer is quite expensive to buy.
• The Kangen Water Machine Ionizer is quite difficult to install.

10. Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer

The Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer dubbed the Next Generation Ionizer is an ionizer that is rich in terms of specifications for water ionization. This ionizer is designed and manufactured by the American company Life Ionizers is a countertop unit that can be easily and fully converted to become an undercover ionizer. The Life MXL-9 ionizer has 9 extra-large, matrix grid industrial titanium plates that are coated with platinum for the ionization process. The Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer has 8 settings that offer 4 alkaline water options, 1 for purified (neutral) water, and 3 for acidic water. The ionizer is able to produce water whose pH ranges between 2 (acidic) and 12 (alkaline) and during ionization can achieve high  ORP levels of -800.

The Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer comes at a cost of $2,500. The ionizer uses dual internal custom prefilters that should be selected after the analysis of the water to be treated. The main maintenance requirements of the Life MXL-9 are the replacement of the 2 custom prefilters.

The advantages of the Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer include the following:

• The Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer can attain high negative ORP levels thus producing ionized water that is rich in antioxidants.
• The Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer has double prefilters that cater to the removal of other contaminants from the water to make it safer for consumption.
• The Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer can be used in any country because of its compatibility with the dual 110 or 240 volts systems.
• The Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer has a lifetime warranty of parts and labor.
• The Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer can be used either as a countertop or as an under-counter ionizer.

The disadvantages of the Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer include:

• The Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer is expensive to buy.
• The Life MXL-9 Counter Top Ionizer is a bit expensive to operate because of the high frequency of replacing the dual filters.
• The Life MXL-9 Water Ionizer is quite difficult to install.

What is a Water Ionizer?

A Water Ionizer is a water enhancing and treatment device that applies an electrochemical process of electrolysis to split the water ions and therefore increase the alkalinity of water. Through the process of electrolysis, the main products are alkaline water which has an increased pH of between 8 and 11 that can be used for drinking, cooking, or making tea/coffee, and also oxidized or acidic water with a lower pH that can be used for household sterilization or disinfection purposes like washing of hands or dishes. Although water ionization results in 2 streams of water with contrasting water qualities, much of the attention is towards alkaline water because of the health benefits associated with the direct consumption of the water or through other indirect consumption like using the ionized water for cooking.

There is a wide range of water ionizers on the market with different capabilities but the most basic use is to enhance water so as to end up having alkaline and acidic water. However, some ionizers get fitted with other water filtration accessories like activated carbon filters such that the water has more minerals from ionization and is safer for consumption after the removal of bacteria using installed filters.

What are the Advantages of Using Water Ionizers?

The advantages of using water ionizers are as follows:

• Higher essential minerals concentrations: Water ionizers are able to increase the concentrations of healthy minerals needed by human bodies like calcium and magnesium that are essential for healthy bones.
• Increased hydration: Ionized water is easier to hydrate for bodies than normal tap water. This is because its minerals make it much easier for water to be absorbed. This is because of the gradient created by the high concentrations of the minerals thus promoting the absorption of water.
• Better taste: Ionized water has a better taste that is sweeter than normal tap water. Most people like the sweeter taste of ionized water.
• Detoxification purposes: Ionized water is strongly linked with detoxification properties among its users.

Things to Consider When Buying a Water Ionizer

There are a number of water ionizer manufacturers the world over thus offering a wide range of ionizers to choose from. It becomes quite critical to know what aspects to look at when making a decision to buy a water ionizer as the different circumstances of the different water users help to choose the ionizer to buy. Some of the important considerations are discussed below:

• Under counter or countertop: The amount of free space a prospective ionizer user has in the kitchen can help to choose the ionizer because some are exclusively countertop whereas others are totally under-counter units and some can be installed under either condition. Some kitchens might not have a lot of space such that the only option would be to install an under-counter unit. In contrast, where space is not an issue, any ionizer can be installed.
• Filter efficiency: Most ionizers come with additional water filters for the extra purification and removal of contaminants like microbes, sediments, heavy metals, etc. It is critical to look at the extra cost of the filters as some have dual filters and others have one filter, the frequency of replacing the filters because some need to be replaced as frequently as 4 months, and others can be replaced annually.
• Water quality: The quality of the water to be ionized has a huge bearing on the ionizer to be used. Where the water has higher concentrations of sediments, then ionizers that have filters that are able to remove sediments are ideal whilst water with microbiological organisms need ionizers that can eliminate those microbes. In instances where municipal potable water is used, ionizers with less sophisticated filtration systems can be selected.
• pH range of water: Different water ionizers have different pH ranges of ionized water. The user’s intended use of the ionized water can help to decide which ionizer to settle for. In instances where very alkaline water is needed for stain removal during washing or where very acidic water is needed for disinfecting water then ionizers that can attain the desired pH can be bought.
• Oxygen-Reduction Potential (ORP) range: The ORP range of the ionized water is a great benefit that health-conscious people always watch for. This is because the lower (more negative) the ORP values, the healthier the ionized water is because of its anti-oxidizing effects.
• The number of plates: Water ionizers use titanium plates that are coated with platinum for undertaking electrolysis. The higher the number of plates, the greater the surface area for electrolysis to occur and the faster the ionization process becomes. An ionizer with 11 plates is more powerful and faster during ionization than one with 5 plates. Furthermore, the ionizers with more plates use more electricity than the ones with fewer plates.  
• The simplicity of installation: Generally, countertop ionizers are much simpler to install as they normally come assembled than under-counter units that are a bit complex as they normally need the user/installer to assemble on his/her own. Such under-counter ionizers might need someone with mechanical skills and the right tools for installation.
• Budget: The issue of one’s budget is one of the main considerations that someone can look at before buying an ionizer. Simpler and lower-cost ionizers cost around $800 whilst the more sophisticated ionizers come at a price tag of around $4,000. This has a huge bearing on the choice of the ionizer as some become less affordable for some potential buyers.
• Manufacturer support: Most ionizers are designed and manufactured in such a way that they can be installed as DIY units. However, under such circumstances, an installer might encounter challenges. One might also encounter technical problems in the day-to-day operation of the water ionizer. It becomes critical that the manufacturer is able to seamlessly assist the ionizer customers. Manufacturers that are easy to reach and assist become more attractive to potential water ionizer buyers than those that are difficult to reach and offer technical assistance.
• Warranty: The length and nature of the ionizer warranty is an important consideration to buyers. Some ionizers have a 1-year warranty whilst in contrast, some carry a lifetime warranty on labor and parts. The lifetime warranty ionizers are attractive as they indicate the confidence that the manufacturer has in their products and their readiness to fix manufacturer and parts-related defects without any hassles.

What are the Similar Water Filters to Water Ionizers?

The purpose of the water use helps to identify the potential similar water filter to use in place of a water ionizer. If one is looking for healthy and pure water for consumption like drinking and cooking, then the person can consider reverse osmosis water filters. Although reverse osmosis water is devoid of any minerals, yet ionized water has minerals, one can purchase a remineralization filter to add back the critical minerals like calcium and magnesium needed by a human body.

In instances where the cost of the water is a consideration, then a person can consider activated carbon water filters which are effective in the removal of residual chlorine and some heavy metals like lead. However, activated carbon cannot remove some minerals and salts.

When one is looking for water that is devoid of minerals for the iron or cleaning and maintenance of assets like the car, then the user can consider distilled water that is totally pure such that it will not leave any residues or deposits in the appliances.

What are the Health Benefits of Water Ionizers?

The use of water ionizers is mostly associated with the health benefits of those who consume the ionized water. The use of ionized water is associated with helping those suffering from acid reflux symptoms like heartburn or nausea. The consumption of alkaline water like ionized water with a pH of 8.8 was found to stop pepsin, an enzyme that causes acid reflux. Ionized water is strongly linked with offering benefits to people suffering from high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. This is because consumers of high alkaline water like ionized water had a difference in blood viscosity after consuming such water as compared to those who consumed normal water. This is a health benefit in that viscosity is a measurement of the efficiency of the flow of blood in blood vessels such that in those cases where the viscosity improved after consuming alkaline water, blood flowed faster and more efficiently thereby increasing the delivery of oxygen throughout the human body. Health benefits of ionized water also include colon cleansing properties, cancer resistance traits, weight loss, immune system support, and has anti-aging properties that are promoted by the antioxidants characteristics of the ionized water.