Kinetico
Reviews and Complaints
Harvard, Massachusetts
Filters are ridiculously prices
After paying a premium price for the system, you are only allowed to buy the filters from their dealers. They are literally 10 times the price of comparable water system filters but are almost identical and obviously cost no more for them to make than these other items.
They charge $35 for a $4 item because they can.
It is an absolute rip off and one reason I will never buy Kinetico again. I also share this bad experience with anyone who is ever discussing water systems and it seems it really dissuades potential buyers - the short term profit is really bad for your business Kinetico!
Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution
Henderson, Nevada
Showed up without parts
On December 6, I made an appointment for someone to come out to my house to do a repair. I described to the lady I spoke with the part I needed.
On December 9, I called back and informed your Kinetico service department that I needed a salt grid. I was told that would be taken care of. On December 17, 8 AM, I received a call from repairman John informing me that he would be out to my house between 1-3 pm to do my repair. At 1 o’clock pm, I received a call from John stating that he would be at my house in 20 minutes.
One hour later, at about 2:00 pm (a full hour later) John shows up and informs me that he doesn’t have my salt grid, that it was still on order. After he left, I tried to reach the office After numerous attempts, John picked up the phone telling me that no one was in the office. I asked him to tel me whose fault it was. His reply was that it was no ones fault.
He added that he had to use my grid at the previous customer’s residence. So let me see. Which was it, John? Was my part on order like you just had told me an hour before, or did you use it at your previous customer’s house?
If it was on order, then why didn’t he inform me ahead of time rather than make me wait all day on my repair. If he had used it at the last customer’s house then why had he not told me when he was at his last customer’s house. Not only that, but why did he give my part to the previous customer? John asked me when he left if I wanted to reschedule.
My response was, “Do I have a choice?” His reply was: “No.” If I did reschedule, and it was not any one’s fault, what is keeping him or any of the other Kinetico repairmen from using my part again before they get out to my house next time? In summary, someone from Kinetico needs to acknowledge that they made a mistake, and they need to make it right with me.
Kinetico charges $109 for a half an hour for labor charges. My time is valuable too.
Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution
Kinetico---a bad choice all the way around
We purchased a whole house water softener and an under the counter RO system about 4 years ago. Expensive YES, worth it, NO.
I thought I had made a good choice but after multiple service calls due to the "automatic" system jamming and our service technician blaming everything; tubing, installation (they did), water pressure (they installed regulator, that I paid for), we finally gave up and purchased a new Pelican water softener. Problem now is finding the replacement filter cartridges for the RO system. ONLY Kinetico sells them with their "authorized" horrible dealer system and they are VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.
Will remove it next week and replace it with another RO that has filters at a decent price and they are available via Amazon, Home Depot or anywhere else! Due yourself a favor and stay away from Kinetico!
- Repair service
- Product performance
Preferred solution: purchase new system
Where was this?
Caledon, Ontario
Very expensive product, prone to failure, disingenuous sales tactics, terrible and expensive service, and a warranty that is completely forgotten after the sale
The Kinetico water softener that the Kinetico authorized dealer, J&S Plumbing Services, installed for us back in 2011 is constantly getting stuck either on or off. When it's stuck off, it doesn't work at all.
When it's stuck on, it wastes tonnes of water and salt (more than tripling our monthly water bill). J&S Plumbing Services does not return my calls or my emails. I have used social media to reach out to Kinetico Corporate, but still no response. My experience with this softener is that it is very susceptible to small particles of debris.
Usually, if the unit is permanently running water out the drain hose it's because something has become stuck in the gears and thus will not allow the unit to finish its cycle. I bought my unit in 2011, and easily paid twice as much as I would have for the most expensive competitor's water softener. Moreover, I was told by the sales representative that the Kinetico water softener is the "only softener that has resin beads that can handle rust." However, when J&S Services showed up to install the Kinetico unit, they very quietly added a "free" rust filter that I have had to constantly buy and change ever since. The filters are expensive, and very difficult to change.
Even with that filter, the unit still gets jammed and requires me to pay hundreds of dollars just to get the head cleaned and unjammed. All-in-all, my experience with Kinetico has revealed nothing other than a very expensive product with a terrible design that is quite prone to failure, disingenuous sales tactics, absolutely terrible and expensive service, and a warranty that is completely forgotten as soon as the unit is installed.
Kinetico Filtration System Review
How can Water filter go from $40 to $60 in 1 year have always bought your products salt included for 20 years plus
Love my Kinetico Water Softener!!
No complaints at all; this is the finest water I've ever experienced. I got one when I moved to Florida in an area where the water is known to need treatment.
Kinetico cost a bit more to install than some other systems but was well worth it; it does not use electricity and that will be a cost savings over time. Not to mention that I will always have good water through storms or hurricanes where I may lose power. Reps are very helpful and knowledgeable and great with any service questions.
Many in my neighborhood did their research and chose the same system. Keeping the minerals and rust out of sinks, toilets, washing machine and the shower (and my hair) also makes cleaning so much easier.
- Water
- Quality of the system
- Efficiency of the unit
This is a sham review, darn near quotes the adds.
Replying to
Ocala, Florida
Kinetico - The best there is
I reviewed this web site before I bought my water treatment system for our home in Ocala, FL. I was pissed just looking at the reviews for ALL the water treatment companies. If we din't have so many iron issues with our water I would have just left it alone, but we NEEDED it.
I called out three companies including Kinetico. All were semi local and all did water treatment. Here's how it went.
Company A (electric) came out and tested the water and pretty much threatened me, my wife and our 6 year old with the water. Saying it was "infectious" and that we needed to get a treatment system on it today! They had a truck finishing up down the street and could come install right away...when we told him we needed to think about it and have other companies test our water, he dropped the price by thousands and then got really upset when when we still wouldn't buy. Ended up leaving really frustrated.
Company B (electric) was...less then enthusiastic. They sent out a guy that from the moment he walked in, he wanted to leave. He tested the water so fast I couldn't see what he was doing. Then he gave me to options and left. His price was higher than Company A and we din't even understand the system except that it was a single tank electric iron filter.
Company C (non-electric) was Kinetico. Let me just say, they blew A & B out of the water from the moment we called and the sales woman arrived. She was 10 minutes early, offered to put on shoe covers, she was thorough in her check around and she was nothing but polite and respectful. She did her water test and showed us every thing. Din't try and scare us or pressure us at all. By the time she got to the price we were already sold. It's the only system that was non-electric, backed with a manufacturer warranty, assembled and made here in the US and that required less maintenance than the other systems. She offered us a few options and we bought the package for the whole house and the drinking. They give you a 30 day money back guarantee which really put us at ease.
It's been installed for about 4 months and the system has been nothing but great. The guys who installed the system were clean and professional. The office called the day after install to make sure we were happy. And then the original sales lady came back by and re-tested the water to show us that the system was working.
I'm happy not only with the system, but with the company and service we have received. My wife is happy with the water and even my 6 year old has noticed a difference in the taste. I'm not pissed. I would recommend this company and their product to any one. I think before you search through all these reviews, you need to talk with you local office first. It seems like a lot of these reviews are over petty things that could have been solved easily.
- System
- Efficiency of the unit
- Water
Clermont, Florida
Kinetico - best system by far for us.
So I accidentally found this website when looking for a phone number. Of course I started going through different things I have bought looking for reviews and saw the Kinetico name. I got to be honest, I was surprised to see all the negative reviews on Kinetico. Looks like it's mainly issues with people's local company, but non the less I was surprised. Glad to see they have half as many as the other water companies .
I have had the Kinetico for over 30 years and had just a handful of service. Our first system lasted almost 25 years and now we are onto the second. The only major issue we had was that the system wouldn't shut off so it was constantly going through salt. I called our local office they came out, thought it was fixed but wasn't. I called in maybe about three days later when I heard it stuck again, and they came out the same day. This time they removed the bottom part of the valve and replaced it on the spot. It was under warranty and since it was the second call, they dint charge me for anything! No *** footing around like I've been seeing with this other reviews.
A little background on our water. We live in Clermont Florida. We have rust and calcium BAD. We previously had a system...lets call it a call-again electric system, that WOULD NOT fix our water. We tried for three years with countless service, and ended up spending about $4500 when it was all over. That's when I was recommended by my own son to get Kinetico! Considering he lives across the street from me, not sure how it got passed me that he had it installed but it did.
Since then, we have had a Kinetico. Back in 1995? I think it was, we payed about $3000 for the whole house filtration system and drinking water system. When we replaced it about 12 years ago it was only about $600 dollars more, partially due to the repeat customer discount. I think retail is closer to $5000 (in my experience its worth it)
Any ways I'm babbling. My Kinetico system has outlasted every appliance in my home, and its the least maintenance. The guys come out twice a year and add salt, however much we need and they check the system. Bada Bing bada boom. Never had an issue really except for once or twice. And over the years all the people I have recommended have loved the Kinetico too. They wouldn't install anything else, nor would I. I will and have recommended the Kinetico. Happy, satisfied customer.
- Customer service
- System
- Packages
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Kinetico Repairs and Service
Found a useful site for Kinetico repairs and parts DIY help DVD
Kinetico spares can only be purchased through a registered Kinetico dealer. This does represent a problem inasmuch that sometimes you are at the mercy of your local supplier. Kinetico have a policy of trying to keep everything "in-house", where they are able to try and fix the market prices in not only spares but servicing as well.
However, the niggling thing for many people is that the servicing costs are extremely high and often unnecessary; sometimes these highly robust units need no servicing for many years. (one of the reasons I created the DVD service guide).
In order to provide you with a solution to a faulty Domestic Kinetico often there is a simple solution to the few faults that can develop. These main faults come down to worn internal seals almost 99% of the time.
We had a kinetico water softener but could not afford the 130 monthly service. When we tried to buy a filter and replace it ourselves, the local plumbing outfit that handles kinetico told us suddenly those filters were no longer available, and we would have to pay for a new filter cartridge installation and service fees.
They told us the unit should use only potassium salts, which they had been selling to the previous homeowner. We gave up on the softener and just took it offline. After more than five years, I learned that the filters are still available and the softener could be used with standard sodium chloride salts. I tried to get a filter just to see if by some miracle the unit still works, and was told that I would need to pay them $130, plus the cost of a new filter cartridge and filter, just to "throw in some salts in there and see." Of course there is only one dealer, so you can't try to get another quote.
I am getting rid of the kinetico and will never give them a cent.
I would prefer an inferior softener that has to be replaced more often; at least I can get several quotes and opinions. If I buy a $700 softener once a year, I will come out ahead.
Kinetico K5 Water Filtration System Review
Filters are too expensive and not readily available.
Dunnellon, Florida
Really pissed and frustrated!!!
I spent $3500 + for a Kinetico waer softner. I have never had iron with my other unit, however with this unit everythink that touches water is iron.
I contacted you once before and you sent the same people that installed it in Inverness, FL He tests the water, says it is fine and leaves! It is not fine!! He also said I needed 2 new water heaters so I had my plumber out to verify this and he said "no way"!
I wish Kinetico would stand behind their product. Work of mouth is great advertising and guess what, I'm part owner of a construction company and I will do anything to keep our clients from Kinitico!!
Linda Fagan - 352-256-****
- Customer service
- Product performance
- Price
$3500? Wow, you got screwed royally. No water softener should cost even half that.
Kinetico representative in Anchorage alaska, AK Pure water
I work for the subcontractor whom maintains a radar site/air force base in King Salmon, Alaska which is remote. We have TTHM bi-products in the drinking water and Alaska pure water was the Kinetico representative in Alaska to install water treatment tanks, After wards, we found they punched the manufacture plugs inwards so it plugged our system afterwards, did not connect the MIOX system right, hooked up the water softener to oxidized makeup, screwed up the brine pump and switched out with our back up, left cracked PVC lines, the list goes on, do not trust Alaska pure water out of Anchorage, Alaska. very dishonest but the Government is used to be cheated and will not seek justice.
NOT SURE WHERE YOU GOT YOUR INFO BUT I WORK FOR ALASKA PURE WATER PRODUCTS IN ANCHORAGE AND WE DID NOT INSTALL WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE RADAR SITE/AIR FORCE BASE IN KING SALMON LAST YEAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF WHAT YOU WROTE BUT WE WOULD NOT WORK ON A MIOX SYSTEM.
I BELIEVE MIOX USES KINETICO SOFTENERS BUT LAST I HEARD THE MIOX FACTORY WAS SERVICING ALASKA DIRECT.
AND WE WOULD NEVER LEAVE A JOB WITH CRACKED WATER LINES. THAT WOULD BE *** AND IRRESPONSIBLE.
Sutter Creek, California
I would think thrice before I spent money on a Kinetico system
No contact as of 05/06/2016. I called another Kinetico dealer asking them if they would sell me filters for my K5 reverse osmosis.
They stated they would and quoted me a price over $200.00 for 3 filters. Again, I would think long and hard before I became involved with Kinetico.
Looks like I will selling a K5 and replacing it with a reverse osmosis that has filters I can purchase. Kinetico is a scam!
I contacted Kinetico Inc. about this problem.
this was their reply to me. Notice Kinetico Inc. perceives itself as a, "mediator." The claim that dealers do not have defined service areas is not accurate. Call a dealer out of your service area and they will advise you that you have to deal with the dealer who installed your system.
This is Kinetico Inc's response to me, not my version of their response.
Hello Pete,
In the event of a customer complaint, Kinetico policy is to contact the dealer the complaint is against. Kineticos’ position in these types of situations is one of mediation. They are provided the opportunity to review the complaint. They will provide us their understanding of the situation.
They are then given the opportunity to resolve the issue.
Should the customer choose to not participate in the problem resolution process, the customer is welcome to obtain service from anybody they choose. There are no monopolistic service territories. Being independently owned, the dealer will choose the areas in which they want to service.
You may even find other companies very near you that service Kinetico products. However; if they are not an authorized dealer, they will be directed to a dealer to get parts.
We have initiated the review process with KWS Inc.
We understand that you are not interested in a response from KWS Inc., but we will let you know if they want us to relay a message to you. Kinetico Incorporated Diana Spaliatsos (Kinetico Inc.
divorces itself from "their" dealers when a problem arises. To suggest this is an ethical company is laughable.)
This company is a huge scam They reveal ALL the positives and purposely fail to disclose that every customer is going to be beholden to one dealer as long as they own the equipment. They are engaging in price gouging by making people believe certain filters are proprietary.
They sell said filter for $30.00 when it can be purchased online for $4.00. They will not contact you if you want advice about a problem. This is because there is no money to be made by telling the customer anything about how the equipment works (cycle of operation) I contacted an online chat from a different Kinetico dealer and the spokesperson outright lied to me. The dealer will communicate with a customer if there is money to be made, otherwise they ignore the customer.
None of this is speculation on my part. All of it is factual. It is akin to buying a new car at a dealership, driving it elsewhere and having said vehicle break down. the consumer takes the car to the nearest dealer and they tell them, "We cannot touch that car, you have to take it back to where you purchased it." A Ford dealership is a Ford dealership right?
Why isn't a Kinetico dealer a Kinetico dealer? Answer..this is how they control their region. They create "local monopolies." If the consumer was told this information up front, do you think they would ever buy a Kinetico system? I sincerely doubt it.
They are *** artists who prey on people who want quality equipment. It is wonderful until it is no longer working and suddenly the consumer learns the untold truth about how they operate.
Well, the truth is going to be revealed and I am going to reveal it. There is little worse than greedy *** artists.
My water softener was not regenerating properly, so I sent "Dan the water Man" a series of e-mails at the same e-mail address he responded so rapidly to when I inquired about replacement filters. NOTHING! NADA! NO REPLY, CHANNEL CLEAR!
So, I am left with the following taste in my mouth ( no pun intended). "Dan the Man" replies rapidly when he can make money. He does not reply when he knows the unit he sold is still under warranty. I was even willing to pay for a, "service call" and asked how much that would cost me. NADA! ( Do you see a pattern here?)
In desperation, I contacted another Kinetico dealer in an "online chat." I did not say a word about "Dan.." The female I supposedly chatted with called herself, "Marion." There was a small pic of a pretty female on the chat. Somehow, I doubt Marion was the female in the picture. (DUH!) I wrote to Marion and told her all about my water softener not regenerating properly. Marion finally told me, "OK, A technician will contact you as soon as one is available." That was last Sunday. (It is currently THURSDAY) I guess the technicians are just swamped. Actually, I believe "Marion" was promoting her dealership affiliation and upon learning I was not in her domain, she decided nothing to be gained here, so just lie to get this guy off chat. "Marion" if you read this, "THANKS FOR NOTHING!" ( I also know you are not the lady in the pic, you...."
Well, I think I fixed the problem, but I have to wait and see. Do not forget the word, "I." That means, "ME" "ALONE" "ALL BY MYSELF" Let me ask any prospective purchaser of a Kinetico system this. If you spend 5K and are told the warranty is a 10 year warranty.... We stand behind our product , rah, rah, rah and received NOTHING when you encountered a problem, would you be HAPPY? I think not. So, my advice to anybody considering a Kinetico water softener or reverse osmosis is, "save your time, your money, emotional energy etc. and stay away from businesses like the one described. Oh yes, I must not forget. The sediment filter "Dan" sells for $30.00 can be purchased online for $4.99 at a water store in Canada. The part # for the 20" sediment filter is: 122****-V. ( Oops, Dan left the label on the filter)
Hey Dan, if you read this do not contact me. You had your moment to do the right thing. The train has left the station and you are not on it. Choo-choo!
- Lieing via omissions of known facts
- Repair service
Preferred solution: My trust and respect for Kinetico is GONE! Put yourself in my shoes. Ask yourself, what is the solution to a non-responsive dealer? Thank You!
The best way to determine the business ethics of a given company is via their response when a problem arises. KINETICO is an unethical business.
Once they received my 5K I ultimately received an unintelligible voice message about how their system never breaks down etc.
One can purchase other systems for less money and not have to wade through a school of scam artists who do have monopolies on various regions. You buy replacement filters through "YOUR" dealer or you find another who will hose you good for coming to them for replacement filters or parts, once they learn that they did not install your system.
The response from the Kinetico rep who claims that Kinetico takes on the role of a mediator if a problem erupts is an outright untruthful statement. It, in fact, is laughable.
Kinetico evidently has good water filtration systems as water filtration systems go. Problem is the consumer will never stop paying for proprietary filters and parts, because most of the filters and parts are only sold by Kinetico at a Kinetico dealer. Kinetico was smart to do this, but clearly they created a monopoly in doing what they did.
Enjoy your 5K Kinetico, because nobody I know or speak to about your products will ever purchase one.
To any potential consumer: I don't know how these people sleep at night! You were advised, so all I can leave you with here is: "Buyer Beware."
Loulé, Faro District
Kinetico water softener product and service
I bought a Kinetico water softener in 2014 from my local 'authorised agent' , [who shortly after went out of business]. Once the machine was fitted, the engineer left, and advised that the discharge from the waste pipe would stop once the unit filled up.
It did not. After a couple of 'phone calls 24 h later, I manually advanced the mechanism to stop the discharge. All seemed well, until another contractor on another job pointed out that the softener was only plumbed into the hot water side of the house, had to have this fixed of course. All seemed well.
Until I noticed that the Brine level was up to the overflow. Also noticed that the unit had visible debris in the level one. The unit was fitted with no pre-filter, so I corrected this. I also stripped the unit down to clean it.
All seemed well. Until I noticed last week that the unit is no longer regenerating itself. Took it apart again, and discovered a couple of missing teeth on the meter drive gear.
Currently trying to find some spare parts, but once I get tired of manually regenerating this piece of *** I am probably going to chuck it, and my 'Kinetico experience', in the skip, and look for a better product/backup.
- No information provided about routine maintenance needed
- Repair service
- Product performance
Cocoa, Florida
Emperors Clothes
Kinetico makes great claims and has good sales people but does not back up their claims in any way. No water is tested to see if it's performing by the company.
They put the equipment in and hasta la vista baby. They will never be seen again. If you have a complaint, they will come out but again, you will never know if you have gotten what you paid for unless you pay for independent water testing. I had my equipment moved as they said they would do.
What they didn't say is they charge and arm and a leg and they left *** in the countertop that could easily have been plugged if they were interested in true customer service. They are not. They get your money and could care less about anything after that fact. That's my experience anyway.
I have no idea if the stuff works and was never really told what I needed to do to maintain it. You are on your own after the money changes hands.
Sounds like a dealer issue. Why not contact your dealer and or corporate?
Our system was "double checked" by our sales rep and at the end of first year.
Water was tested. They also left behind a soap testing kit for softness and pool test kit for the chlorine.
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Go *** yourself. You have no idea how often I have to change my filter
kinetico water filtration worth the $7k hefty price?
Ya, but you only have to replace it once a year. $35 once year for the best softner that barely uses salt is whiney. Period
I have to change mine 5-6 months.