For decades, water ionizers have been used in Asia to help treat conditions including arthritis, weight problems, cancer, inflammation, digestive issues, skin disorders, acid reflux, allergies, fatigue, gout, and even chronic pain. Alkaline water works by restoring the body’s natural pH balance, acting as a potent antioxidant and stimulating cellular hydration and detoxification. Achieving these health benefits is as easy as choosing the right water ionizer to suit your needs – and then drinking water!
You can obtain a water report from your municipality, or if you have well water, you can have your local health department to have your water analyzed. Tap water is generally preferred for ionization, since the acidity and pollutants of some well water can make the process more difficult. However, it is possible, and knowing the current state of your water can give you a better idea of what kind of ionizer to purchase.
Two popular types of water ionizers are made by AlkaViva and Yi-Shan, and both products are on the cutting edge of water ionizing technology.
Alka-Viva Water Ionizers
The AlkaViva Vesta H2, Athena H2 and Melody II water ionizers feature the latest in technological advances with impressive filtration capabilities, using a duel filtration system with a power-boost that helps regulate a consistent pH output.
AlkaViva’s Ultra-Water filter is the BEST on the market, even removing pharmaceutical drugs. The AlkaViva line uses 2 filters, one a pre-filter and the other the ULTRA-filter. In the future AlkaViva expects to include a fluoride filter with the ULTRA-filter.
These models automatically clean themselves during operation, switching polarity with each use, while ionizing. You never have to wait to use the water. It’s a brilliant solution to electrode maintenance. There is a flow control knob eliminating the need to manually adjust the faucet. Not only does this ionizer increase the pH of your water to a high pH with increased oxygen and hydrogen, it also removes the majority of the other impurities in your water – including pharmaceutical drugs and heavy metals.
The AlkaViva line comes in 5, 7 and 9 plate water ionizers:
Melody II (5 electrodes)
Athena H2 (7 electrodes)
Vesta H2 (9 electrodes)
Easy to install (click here for installation video)
Under Sink Conversion Kit is available (click here for Installation video)
Video about AlkaViva’s Unique ULTRA-Filter
Yi-Shan Water Ionizers
Yi-Shan’s Water Ionizer line has the advantage of having the lowest priced ionizer on the market, but still offers great value for the investment. Using three large electrodes, the lowest priced ionizer produces alkaline water with a very high pH, usually 9.5, sometimes even a 10 pH. It’s a great choice for an economical “no frills” water ionizer if you have municipal water. It might work with well water, but well water is a “wild-card” and may require more ionization power.
The YiShan models reduce electrode mineralization by fully draining the electrode chamber between each use, and running a cleaning cycle approximately twice a day. During this cycle you let it clean and do not use the water. It comes in 3, 5 and 7 ionizer plate models.
The Yi-Shan replacement filters are now ECO-conscious in that after you purchase the first one, the replacements are simply 2 cartridges that fit in the reusable filter housing, eliminating throwing away the plastic filter holder. These are great filters. Click here to learn more about YiShan filters.
Things to Remember:
The majority of ionizers use between three to seven platinum-dipped titanium electrode plates. Generally, you can assume that the more surface area the water flows over, the stronger the ionization. Only buy an ionizer with platinum-dipped titanium electrodes, which all of ours have, and we only carry solid electrode plates for longevity. More electrodes generally mean the ionizer will have a longer life-span, but it is dependent on family size, usage and care.
High-alkaline water produced by an ionizer with three to seven electrodes will produce water within the drinkable range of 9.5 to 10, but some of the models containing seven to nine electrodes can produce water with a pH of 11 or higher, which is not recommended for drinking. Super high pH water (over 10 pH) can be used as a disinfectant cleaning solution. The pH range for drinking water should generally be between 7.5 and 10 pH. Your skin and hair usually show a pH balance of 5.5, and a low acidic pH of 2-4 can be used as a disinfectant for cleaning or wound healing. Many house plants prefer a slightly acidic pH.
Most ionizers on the market will show an “ORP Range,” which gives the consumer an idea of the model’s Oxidation Reduction Potential. This refers to the negative charge the resulting alkaline water will show. The negative charge means negative ions, and they scavenge up the positive ions that we know as free radicals in our body. Tap water is usually at +250 to +350, and a good ionizer will be able to reduce that millivoltage charge to -350 or lower. Keep in mind that this charge will depend on the related charge and mineral composition of the source water. The negative ions are the most important feature of ionized water and are usually equated with an alkaline pH. *
Ionizers can usually be installed a number of ways. Frequently, these systems are installed at the sink with a diverter from the faucet, easily attached directly to your kitchen faucet’s aerator with hoses attaching to the ionizer that sits on the counter. Or, using a Water Ionizer Conversion Kit, the ionizer installs under the sink, out of sight in the cabinet, with a small dedicated double faucet for both the alkaline and acidic waters.
When shopping for a water ionizer, look for the warranty. Ionizers are expected to last at least ten years, with an average longevity of closer to 15-20 years. This, of course, assumes the system is being routinely cared for, with filters changed as needed and with an annual deep cleaning. Most ionizers offer at least a three year warranty – if it doesn’t, it’s probably not a solid investment. Ours have 3 year, 5 year or lifetime warranties. Avoid water ionizers from China as it’s crucial that you can buy filters for many years – and we get calls all the time from folks looking for obscure water ionizer filters. Our two brands, Alka-Viva and YiShan, are made in Taiwan and Korea respectively, and have each been in business for a long, long time. They were some of the first companies selling ionizers. They are both high-quality brands you can trust. And we’ve been selling water ionizers for over 12 years!
Other things to think about are design, easy of cleaning, and the size of your household to help you determine what size ionizer you will need. Once you’ve figured out which is the best ionizer for you (feel free to email us) and get it hooked up you’ll see how alkaline water can help improve your health and well-being.
Click here to learn how much and when to drink ionized water.
* NOTE ABOUT THE NEGATIVE CHARGE: AlkaViva H2 Series ionizers, with the newest, cutting-edge proprietary hydrogen technology, produce MORE negatively charged hydrogen at a given pH level than other ionizers on the market. These state-of-the-art ionizers give you more bang for your buck, in that they provide you with more negative ions to counter the positive ions, known as disease causing free radicals. Powerful antioxidant tool for your health arsenal!
Learn more in our Articles Section and/or write us or call! We’re happy to help!
Thank you to Nina Wells who wrote this article. Nina is a guest author from Steam Shower Store and is a respected and expert voice in a plethora of health related subjects with over 10 years of writing under her belt.