There are a lot of ways you can treat household water depending on your needs and what’s coming out of the tap. If you want to alter your pH levels, an alkaline pitcher can raise them, but the best water ionizer can take your water in either direction.
Whether you need acidic water for cleaning or alkaline water to drink, ionizing machines are the only way to go. Our water ionizer reviews touch on some of the top models available, and we’ve also put together a buying guide that explains what these machines can do along with what you’ll want to look for.
Water Ionization
A water ionizer uses electrolysis and a series of plates to change the pH of your water. This separates water passing through the machine into two streams, one acidic and one alkaline. Ionizers have a set operating range, and those numbers will vary from one machine to the next.
That also means you will need to know the pH scale to determine the range you need. If you want water to clean things around the house, you will want to drop the level of your pH. A pH level of 3 is around the level of vinegar while a 2 is closer to lemon juice and acid rain clocks in at around a 4. Obviously, you don’t want to drink anything at these levels as acidic water is used for cleaning or disinfecting.
On the other end of the spectrum, you have alkaline water which is healthy to drink and mineralized to a degree. While a pH of 7 is considered neutral, it’s not uncommon for people to drink water in the high 9’s although milk of magnesia is comparable to a 10 on the scale. Go any higher, and it’s more like ammonia or bleach. While there are machines capable of that, not many people want to make hardy cleaning agents in their water dispenser – separate streams or not.
A great water ionizer system will provide you with a wide pH range, but there are limits to consumer models so you can’t crank out the equivalent of battery acid from your countertop. It’s also an area where price comes into play, as machines with medical-grade plates that produces water in the 2’s is not going to be cheap.
What to look for in a Water Ionizer
A water ionizer is a pretty high-tech machine even if the process itself is fairly simple. That means there are a few terms you will need to familiarize yourself, and you will need to consider the size and style of the machine as well.
There are two types of water ionizers for home use with under sink options and countertop ionizers. Anything that comes with a faucet is going to be more expensive, and a bit harder to install unless you’re good with plumbing and hole saws in some cases. Alternatively, many countertop water ionizers have faucet add-ons or kits in case you decide to upgrade and want to move your unit below the sink.
Regardless of which style you choose, keep the size and style in mind. Most units are around 20 pounds, and some have a modern look while others may clash with your kitchen. Build quality is crucial as well although generally not a major concern if the machine has a solid warranty and metal chassis. All the top models will use BPA-free, and FDA approved materials with platinum coated titanium plates, but a plastic case can crack while metal merely dents.
There are several tech specs to keep an eye out for things like flow rate and wattage, but the ORP range is something manufacturers like to use as a selling point. It’s measured in millivolts or mV and tells you the oxidation-reduction potential of your water. On that note, when it comes to pH, every system’s range should consider a “potential” one as things like your source water and pressure also factor into the equation.
Ease of Use
Water Ionizers aren’t hard to use due to the way they are designed. Most will have a simple series of flush buttons and an on-screen panel to let you check and set levels. Some may even have handy touchscreen displays, but filters are the main area where consumers have difficult with water filtration devices.
While you may not have to change filters often, you want to make sure they are easy to access. If you choose a model that sits on your counter, it is easier to get to things although maintenance is low with either style. Unless you’re buying a multistage system, most ionizers have will clean themselves to a degree and the best ionizers have built-in measures to keep your machine running smooth and safe as well.
Water Ionizer Reviews
Image Product
Bawell Platinum
- PH Levels: 2.0-12.0
- Warranty: Lifetime
- 1 gallon every 30 seconds
Best Budget
Tyent UCE-11 Under Counter
- PH Levels: 1.7-12.0
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Touchscreen controls
Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 7.0
- PH Levels: 4.5-11.0
- Warranty: 5 Years
- Self-cleaning
Life Ionizer MXL-7 Under Counter
- PH Levels: 2.5-11.0
- Warranty: 10 Years
- One-touch faucet
Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 5.0
- PH Levels: 5.0-11.0
- Warranty: 5 Years
- Portable design
1. Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine
The Best Water Ionizer for the Money
Ionizers aren’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for the best, Bawell has a machine you will want to consider seriously. It’s the Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer, and while it isn’t cheap, consumers have been blown away by its performance.
We’re going to start with the design as the Bagwell Platinum has a clean look with a metal shell and large colorful display. The spout comes down from the top, and you have two lines coming from the back. Despite its high-tech nature, anyone can use this alkaline water machine as long as you have room for it. The 2195 is a beast compared to similar other water filters measuring around 11.8”L x 6.2”W x 15.2”H with a weight of 11 pounds.
This machine lets you choose the type of water you want from the touch panel with buttons for purified water, alkaline and acidic. Four settings allow you to adjust the alkaline content and three for acidic. Both have “strong” modes, and the PH range is capable of going from 2.0 to 12.0. It has over 30 presets and is proficient with a flow rate of 1 gallon every 30 seconds.
While we aren’t going to delve into how this one works, we will tell you what makes it tick. There are dual filters to keep your water clean while 7 medical grade titanium platinum coated plates handle the electrolysis. The ORP range is +600 to -800, and it has an automatic reverse cleaning system that fires up every time you start the unit or shut it down.
As for cleaning, one filter cartridge contains GAC carbon and is rated for around a year give or take a few months. The second stage is filled with pre-activated carbon otherwise known as PAC. It has a lifetime of around 1500 gallons or 15 months. In either case, this talkative machine will tell you when that time is almost up. There is an optional 3-stage pre-filter you can attach as well, but it’s as big as the system which isn’t ideal if space is a concern.
If you want a water ionizer, the Bagwell 2195 is one we recommend, and plenty of folks agree considering it always gets high marks in any water ionizer reviews. It lives up to the hype, but you will want to keep the cost of filters in mind along with the size of your countertop. It comes with the external pre-filter and a Forever Lifetime Warranty along with a 60-day 100% money back guarantee.
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2. Tyent UCE-11 Under Counter Water Ionizer
The Best Under Sink Water Ionizer
If you prefer to keep your water systems under the counter instead of sitting on top of it, Tyent has something for you. The UCE-11 is a high-end ionizer that provides consumers with a wide range of options along with several features only found on flagship filtration devices.
The UCE-11 lives up to its moniker as it has 11 titanium plates which is impressive. When combined with a 10 amps of power, it’s considerably more powerful than a standard system. They are also hybrid plates that use medical-grade mesh, so they will outlast and outperform others and that you’ll get an outstanding pH range for this machine.
The levels are listed at 1.7 – 12.0 while the negative oxidation-reduction potential is up to -1050 depending on your water source. Having a huge plate surfaces and a wide scale isn’t the only thing that makes the Tyent water ionizer special. The system has dual filters with ultra-filtration down to .01 microns, so it will take care of most contaminants commonly found in your tap water. It’s FDA approved and BPA-free so nothing will alter the quality of your water between the chamber and spout.
Build quality isn’t a concern with this water ionizer as Tyent spared no expense in that department. The ionizer unit itself measures 14”H x 5 3/8”D x 14”W and weighs around 12 pounds, so it’s tall but not heavy. The faucet is taller than a typical spout, but there’s a good reason for that considering there’s a color touchscreen display on the front and two swiveling dispensers. Needless to say, ease of use is very high with the UCE-11.
From the touchscreen panel, you can access 55 presets or adjust the chemistry to suit your needs. There are three power settings with 3 alkaline, 3 acidic, along with turbo and neutral models. Each level is adjustable as well with 99 presets per level. There’s even a multi-lingual voice concierge and cleanup is minimal as well with a polarity anti-scale system. It also has a flood prevention system to ensure your floors stay dry in case of a mishap.
This is a machine for consumers that have a big budget for water filtration systems. It may be overkill unless you have specific needs, but if you need a water ionizer that can dip under 2.0 on the pH scale, it’s hard to beat the UCE-11. While we feel it’s easy to install, you may need a professional depending on your current faucet and filtration system. The Tyent UCE-11 comes with a Forever Warranty as well which covers both parts and labor.
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3. Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 7.0
A Great Mid-Range Water Ionizer
While most water ionizers are over a thousand bucks, you can save some serious cash if you don’t need your water pH in the 2’s. The Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 from Aqua-Ionizer Pro is an affordable option built for the countertop, and we’re pleased to say it provides quite a bit of bang for your buck.
At the heart of this ionizer is a system consisting of 7 platinum coated titanium plates and an active carbon water filter. The latter is self-explanatory, but the plates are where the magic happens. Some details were a bit hard to come by for this model, but it has an effective pH range of 4.5 – 11 which makes it suitable for most consumers’ needs on both ends of the scale. The ORP is around -800 to +1000, but we couldn’t find reliable information on the wattage or flow rate.
The filters on this machine are good for around 4000 liters and are not expensive to replace. It’s also easy to maintain thanks to the fact it reverses polarity each cycle and a self-cleaning system that washes the plates every 10.5 gallons. The build quality is solid, but not on the level of high-end systems although it’s made with FDA approved plastics and certified by all the proper authorities.
The Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 weighs around 11 pounds and won’t take up much space on your countertop, but another reason we chose this model is ease of use. The ionizer can hook to most sinks in under 10 minutes, and the control panel certainly simplifies things. A backlit LCD gives you all the important information you need in an instant, while the tiered scale has seven buttons for specific needs including cooking, purified, regular drinking water, and household cleaning.
This water ionizer is a workhorse that will produce acidic or alkaline water on demand and you have to like the price tag if you’re budget is tight. Most consumers didn’t have any issues with performance or installation, so the only real downside is the fact it doesn’t offer the same degree of “overall” filtration as other machines on our list. The Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 7.0 is backed by a 5-year warranty.
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4. Life Ionizer MXL-7 Under Counter Water Ionizer
A Machine with Excellent Overall Filtration
Our second under the counter option is different from our first from a design standpoint, but both excel when it comes to altering the properties of your H20. The Line Ionizer MXL-7 is a sleek machine that’s easy to use with a potential pH range of 2.5 – 11.0 depending on your source water.
This ionizer has an oversized chamber to increase contact time and give you excellent ORP and pH levels. A series of 7 XL Matrix GRID plates also improves the efficiency of this system, and they have a platinum core with 8 layers of titanium coating. That gives the MXL-7 a potential pH range of 2.5 – 11.0 while the oxidation-reduction potential maxes out at around -705 ORP.
You will be able to find a pH level to suit your needs with this ionizer and will be pleased to know there’s some additional filtration as well. Life Ionizer used their customized pre-filter system along with extras like a Vitamin C ceramic block filter to keep your water fresh and clean. Are you worried about bacteria? It won’t be an issue considering their XL lineup has an Ultraviolet sterilization system which handles paracytic cysts, mold, and bacteria.
The flow rate for this machine is 3 liters per minute and the power as adjustable up to 450 watts. Build quality is top-tier, and most consumers found the MXL-7 fairly easy to install. The faucet is made from stainless steel with a spout for each stream. They swivel just like the UCE-11, but the real draw is the one-touch LED display. From here, you can see and set your levels through a simple set of controls that lets you choose between acid, alkaline, power and purify.
While controls at the tap are essential for any under sink ionizer, the unit itself also has a series of onboard controls and a small multicolor display which is nice if you want to switch it to another location on the fly. Other features of interest include an advanced RADC self-cleaning setup and a top-loading filter change system – something we’d like to see from more manufacturers.
The Life Ionizer MXL-7 measures 12.5”W x 6.25”D x 15”H, so it’s in line with the rest of the best when it comes to size. The only knock on this alkaline water ionizer machine is the price as it’s more expensive than similar models with a higher range. Aside from that, it’s an ideal machine if you’re in the market for a reliable ionizer that sits under your sink and the brand is well thought of in other water ionizer reviews as well. You will get lifetime parts warranty with this model and 10 years on labor.
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5. Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 Water Filtration System
The Best Portable Water Ionizer Machine
If there’s one thing that all the best water ionizers have in common, it’s the fact that none are exactly cheap. Some are quite affordable, however, like the Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 which is the smallest and lightest machine on our list.
While not as feature-packed as our top pick, this ionizer caught our eye for two reasons. The price tag and size as it only weighs around 10 pounds and measures 8.3”L x 4.3”W x 13”H. That’s small enough to take on the road or use in places like motorhome or cabins. It’s a capable little machine as well with a flow rate of 3 liters per minute, and a varying voltage between 5 – 150w. It’s a light-duty in that regard compared to others, but it will definitely get the job done.
This system has 5 titanium plates with 81.8 square inches of surface area. Those plates have been coated in layers of platinum, and the range on this one is 5.0 to 11. It’s not the best option if you need an extremely acidic solution although the ORP range is better at -600 to +600. Filters are rated for around 1,500 gallons.
Ease of use is always critical with electrical filtration systems, and you won’t need a degree to operate this machine. A series of buttons along the front help you set levels quickly, while the LED display is bright and easy to read. The build quality is underwhelming, but it’s a reliable machine all-around and certified by all the proper agencies.
We feel this water ionizer is best suited for consumers that need to raise their pH, but want something more than an alkaline pitcher. While we wish the low end of the pH scale were lower, it’s hard to argue with the price given its performance. The Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 comes with a limited lifetime warranty which gives you full coverage for 5 years before you will need to come out of pocket.
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Conclusion
We hope you found a system to suit your needs in our water ionizer reviews. There aren’t as many quality options to choose from compared to alkaline pitchers, and as they are expensive, it pays to look before you leap. Also keep the condition if your source water in mind beforehand, as you may need a whole house filter if you’re dealing will well water or pesky contaminants.