[roadrnnr]

Originally Posted by Travelhunter123

Same high pressure tactics they used on me

who are you talking about?

[roadrnnr]

Originally Posted by virtualcynthia

Wow, I just got a quote, not Nova, for $5,500 for filter plus softener. What is average cost?

WHAT

I thought it was $695!!!

[virtue51]

After reviewing the various companies and options, I installed the Kinetico reverse osmosis water filter. Some of the other companies made claims that did not make any sense or they were untrue in their statements.

I am pleased with the system -- no longer purchase bottles of water.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by roadrnnr

WHAT

I thought it was $695!!!

He was referring to another company not Nova!

It is $695
if you add softener $1095



Bob (owner of Nova)

.

[Notsocrates]

Pentair makes several including Fleck and Amtrol
Both are excellent.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by srswans

We have a Nova system, softener and filter, and are very unhappy with the performance. The water is barely soft, we have mineral stains on our fixtures and get water spots when washing the car. The softener has failed more than once and we have had several service calls just to get back to barely soft performance. The filters need to be changed every four months based on our volume usage.

We will probably swap to a new system should the Nova fail again.

Can you tell us what Village you live in or if you live in the Villages? Do you have well water?

Based on helping my friends and neighbors change their filters in several different Villages, I'm shocked that you would have enough sediment to have to change the filters every 4 months. I was changing mine every year and decided to go to 18 months because the filters were still good at the 1 year mark. I know Nova recommends changing the filters every 9-12 months or 26,000 gallons but based on the data of equivalent filters, some are usually good for 100,000 gallons. I personally wouldn't let the filters go that long but how much water do you use each month? Do you live up North where the domestic water is used for irregation and using 5,000 gallons per month?

As far as the softener is concerned, make sure the filter is installed before the softener. This will make sure no sediment and chlorine enters the softener then there should be no need to clean the filter in the softener. I find it hard to believe the softener isn't working unless the resin is bad and that can be replaced. Or you are using so much water that the softener regeneration cycle needs to run more often.

I don't wan to be rude, but I believe there is more to the story because what you are saying doesn't make sense if your domestic water feed is from the Villages and you are not using domestic water for irregation. If you are using domestic water for irregation and can't put the filter and softener after the irregation feed, then you probably need a higher capacity softener but the filters shouldn't be clogging.

I've seen well water that has a huge amount of sediment and clogs these filters but in those cases you can install a spin-down filter in front of the three stage water filter to manage the sediment. There are also other systems that may need to be used with well water. Beyond that, if you have high sediment in your water and you are using a lot of water, there is really no majic filter from any company that's going to fix your problem. You will need to change the sediment filters more often.

[ScopeMan]

We have the Pentair Pelican System for 3 years now. Low salt usage and change the sediment filter every 6months.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by jrref

I know Nova recommends changing the filters every 9-12 months or 26,000 gallons but based on the data of equivalent filters, some are usually good for 100,000 gallons.

Our filters are our proprietary design made for us, I've been doing water filtration for many years, there is no way the claims of 100,000 gallons is possible nor can it be substantiated.

Just like changing your air con in your home or oil filter on your car, all filters reach a saturation point.
We use 26,000 based on history and results.

Also be aware you can't clean or backwash carbon.

.

[RustyN]

Originally Posted by dori2002

Stay away from NOVA. You have been warned.

Your statement really has no worth. Why not show the facts so people can look up you statement.

[Janie123]

Originally Posted by BubblesandPat

Nova is what everyone recommended to us... I was wondering if people recommended them because its just who everyone uses... would love to hear more. Feel free to PM..

I put in Nova, nothing mechanical just 3 stages of filters I change myself annually for a little less than $100. I’ve had no issues with the system. Water tastes great. Actually removed my refrigerator filter permanently.

[lawgolfer]

Of course I mean well, as do you. However, you are wrong about capacity. The brine tank in the Nova system is at least twice the size it needs to be. There is minimal, if any, difference in the quantity of water delivered to the inside of the house whether it is run through a 10" filter or a 20" filter. This is easily confirmed by having pressure gauges both before and after the filter system.

The only advantage in using 20" filters vs. 10" ones, is that the filters will not need to be replaced as often, i.e. a 20" filter will last twice as long as a 10" filter. We have 20" filters which I used to change once/year. However, for two years running, the sediment filter was nearly pure white in color and did not need to be changed. From now on, I will wait two years before changing it. The reason that I recommend 10" filters is that changing a 20" filter is a PIA(pain in the ---).


As to the water softener, the only difference between a large exchange tank such as sold by Nova and a smaller tank used in the "all in one" softeners I recommend is the frequency with which the matrix (plastic beads) in the exchange tank is "washed" by the salty water from the brine tank. That frequency is adjusted by the controller which is, essentially, a clock. There is no discernible difference in the quantity of water sent to the inside of the house from a softener with a large exchange tank vs. a small tank. If your household uses an enormous quantity of water, the matrix in the exchange tank will have to be "flushed" more often then with a large tank.

Home Depot sells a Rheem 32K grain softener for $399, which is plenty for a Villages household of 2 people. If you want the Rheem 42K grain model it is $499. HD sells the iSpring 10" two stage filter set (one sediment, one activated charcoal) for $150. Estimated time for installation is 2 hours.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by lawgolfer

Of course I mean well, as do you. However, you are wrong about capacity. The brine tank in the Nova system is at least twice the size it needs to be. There is minimal, if any, difference in the quantity of water delivered to the inside of the house whether it is run through a 10" filter or a 20" filter. This is easily confirmed by having pressure gauges both before and after the filter system.

The only advantage in using 20" filters vs. 10" ones, is that the filters will not need to be replaced as often, i.e. a 20" filter will last twice as long as a 10" filter. We have 20" filters which I used to change once/year. However, for two years running, the sediment filter was nearly pure white in color and did not need to be changed. From now on, I will wait two years before changing it. The reason that I recommend 10" filters is that changing a 20" filter is a PIA(pain in the ---).


As to the water softener, the only difference between a large exchange tank such as sold by Nova and a smaller tank used in the "all in one" softeners I recommend is the frequency with which the matrix (plastic beads) in the exchange tank is "washed" by the salty water from the brine tank. That frequency is adjusted by the controller which is, essentially, a clock. There is no discernible difference in the quantity of water sent to the inside of the house from a softener with a large exchange tank vs. a small tank. If your household uses an enormous quantity of water, the matrix in the exchange tank will have to be "flushed" more often then with a large tank.

Home Depot sells a Rheem 32K grain softener for $399, which is plenty for a Villages household of 2 people. If you want the Rheem 42K grain model it is $499. HD sells the iSpring 10" two stage filter set (one sediment, one activated charcoal) for $150. Estimated time for installation is 2 hours.

As far as water softeners are concerned, you are correct in that the flow rate should not change given the size of the tank but as also mentioned, depending on the water softener size and flow rate through the softener, these variables will determine how efficiently the water will be softened by the softener and how many times the tank needs to be cleaned with the brine solution. Do you realize you can use as much as 50 gallons of water when the softener is in it's regeneration cycle? So more cycles is not better. It's also possible to have too much water flow where the softener is not be able to "keep-up" and the water not softened the desired amount. The chemical reaction in the softener tank has to have enough time to complete so the softener has to be sized to the anticipated water flow rate through it. Finally, the size of the brine tank is only as large as the amount of brine needed to clean the resin in the softener. The Nova brine tank may be physically larger than the tank in the All-in-one units but the volume of brine is similar.

As far as the flow rate and pressure drop when installing water filters, according to my research, 20 inch filters will have more surface area for the water to flow. So 20 inch water filters should be able to run at twice the flow rate for the same pressure drop as a 10 inch water filter with the same filtration technology. That said, if you want to change the filters less often and guarantee better water flow rate throughout the life of the filter, then it's best to go with the 20 inch cannister.
Here is one reference:
Most Common Water Filter and Water Treatment Questions - WaterFilters.NET.

At the end of the day, you are comparing a do-it-yourself option to a non-do-it-yourself option. There is no right or wrong. All companies have there "complaints and problem installs". I can tell you stories I've heard about most systems installed here in the Villages. There is no perfect company.

I believe the Nova filter and softener is specifically designed for the typical water usage of homes here in the Villages. Given the number of systems installed and the length of time here in the Villages, and the convenience they offer, gives a lot of credibility to the integrity of the company.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Our filters are our proprietary design made for us, I've been doing water filtration for many years, there is no way the claims of 100,000 gallons is possible nor can it be substantiated.

Just like changing your air con in your home or oil filter on your car, all filters reach a saturation point.
We use 26,000 based on history and results.

Also be aware you can't clean or backwash carbon.

.

I agree 100%. As I said, although similar filters claim longer life, I would never leave filters in that long. I was just pointing out that although Nova has a recommended filter change cycle, the filters can last longer depending on how clean your water is coming from the utility and even then, there is no guarantee that your water quality will be consistent throughout the year so having a replacement cycle based on actual experience is the best way to go.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I do not understand the dog and your wife's problems. I periodically check our system, and I have never found salt in the house water, I am guessing that your system is malfunctioning. You can get a simple test kit from the pet store in the fish section.

Nope, the system was checked by Pegasus. Once we switched to NaCL, everything was fine. It was the increase in Potassium that was the issue. Increased Potassium can cause diarrhea...

For some reason, it didn't bother me at all. But there are very few food that I cannot eat...

[Relivgal]

Try Nova whole house water filter solutions in Wildwood.