Eddy Electronic Water Descaler Review

The Eddy Electronic Water Descaler is a cheaper, and more environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional water softener. See how it checks out in our review.

eddy-electronic-water-descaler

Eddy Electronic Water Descaler

Effectiveness
Maintenance/Installation
Features
Value

A cheaper alternative

The Eddy Electronic Water Descaler represents a much cheaper and environmentally friendly solution to the problem of limescale. It’ll even let you keep those healthy minerals. It can protect your household pipes and appliances at a fraction of the cost of a water softener. However, this is an alternative method and won’t soften your water like a softener will. If you want to rid your home of limescale then this is an excellent choice.

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Eddy Electronic Water Descaler

Cost: $

Suitable Size Home: Small to medium

Warranty: Lifetime. 12-month money back guarantee.

Dimensions: 6.7 x 1.6 x 3.5 inches

Power Usage: 5 Watts


Introduction

Now it’s very important that we clarify something before we continue. This is not a water softener. It solves some of the same problems as a water softener, but it does not actually soften your water. The Eddy Electronic Water Descaler is a salt free solution to limescale problems. This means it will not change the chemical composition of your water, but it will change how your water reacts with pipes and appliances. Phew, now let’s get on with the review.

Eddy Electronic Water Descaler – Water Softener Alternative

  • 12 month 100% “no quibble” Money-Back Guarantee + Lifetime Repair or…
  • Easy customer installation on metal or plastic pipes. Helps prevent…
  • No salt alternative to a water softener. Emulates softened water…

The Eddy Electronic Water Descaler emulates the job of a water softener, but does not actually alter the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of the water. This means the healthy mineral content of the water remains. Minerals like calcium and magnesium which are good for us, but harmful to appliances, remain in the water but are not allowed to cause limescale build up in the home. This is achieved by using electromagnetism. We’ll explain this process further in the ‘Performance” section below.

The Eddy Electronic is a very attractive proposition for two main reasons:

  1. It is much cheaper than a conventional water softener.
  2. It doesn’t use salt.

First, let’s deal with the money. The recommended retail price is minuscule compared to what you might pay for a high end water softener. Add to this the fact that it doesn’t waste water regenerating like a salt based water softener does (lower water bills) and it doesn’t need to be refilled regularly with expensive salt. So, money-wise it trumps water softeners easily.

Not using salt has been touched on as a money saving reason, but there is another reason you might want to use a salt free alternative. Salt is actually regarded as a pollutant when discharged into the environment, and chloride (Cl-) is hazardous to aquatic life and agricultural crops. When water softeners discharge salt water down the drain during their regeneration process, they are adding to the strain on the local environment. For the more environmentally minded, the salt free alternative to limescale problems makes sense.


Performance

The Eddy Electronic Descaler uses electromagnetism to reduce the negative effects that certain elements found in hard water have. Electromagnetic waves are sent through the water, which target calcium, magnesium and manganese salts. These elements form what we know as “limescale”. The electromagnetic waves alter the form of these magnesium and calcium crystals, and turn them into more soluble particles that are much less likely to bind to pipes, taps, boilers and appliances in your home. By stopping these crystals from interacting with their surroundings, the threat of limescale is reduced.

eddy-electronic-water-descaler-in-box

It’s important to note that these minerals (calcium , magnesium etc) are not removed from the water. They are a pest to pipes and appliances by causing limescale, but they are healthy for us to drink. By altering the chemical state of the minerals and not simply eliminating them, the Eddy system does a clever job.

By not removing the minerals, the water does not actually become softer. It has the same property of soft water, in that it won’t cause limescale build up, but if you were to test it with a water hardness kit, it would have exactly the same composition as the incoming water supply.

The system is entirely electronic and runs on a 110 Volt supply. The power usage is minimal and runs at just 5 Watts. If you think about the average light bulb being rated at 40 Watts then you can see the electricity costs are small.


Installation & Maintenance

The installation for the Eddy Electronic Water Descaler is the simplest process I have come across for any device that we have reviewed here at Water Filter Answers. It really will only take 5 minutes. The unit isn’t waterproof so make sure you choose a sheltered location. It must be within touching distance of both the cold water supply pipe, and also a power source.

eddy electronic water descaler-install1

First, wind the wires around your incoming  cold water supply pipes. You should form 2 coils like in the picture above.

 

eddy-electronic-water-descaler-install2

Second, the power unit needs to be mounted on a nearby wall or flat surface. Ideally, this should be near a power source. There are adhesive pads provided to help with this. The red plug needs to be plugged into the red input, and the yellow cable matched to the yellow input.

 

eddy-electronic-water-descaler-install3

Finally, plug it in and do a quick systems check. Are all the lights lit?

This system is pretty much maintenance free. There is nothing to be cleaned or changed, and I would only suggest checking that the lights are on, especially after a power cut.


Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Lifetime warranty Doesn’t make the water softer
Cheaper than a water softener
Kinder to the environment
Keeps healthy minerals in the water


Why the Eddy Electronic Water Descaler Is Better Than a Water Softener

A water descaler doesn’t add any salt to the mix whatsoever. There’s no maintenance to speak of, nor do you need to buy any extra brine, salt packets, etc.

As long as you have electricity, you’re good to go. Plus that a descaler doesn’t remove beneficial hard minerals like calcium and magnesium. It simply makes them less sticky by reshaping said crystals.

In short, you will still get the benefits of drinking hard water, but without any of the downsides such as itchy skin, inefficient soap lather, or limescale buildup.

Furthermore, water softeners have been banned or regulated in several states since their introduction. This is because the salt used by classic softeners has a negative impact on the environment.

For instance, a septic system’s lifespan is greatly reduced by sodium. Sodium reacts with fecal matter and thus causes much higher stress on the entire mechanism. Add that to the list of costs and you will start seeing why a salt-based water softener just isn’t worth it anymore.

Is It Safe to Drink Hard Water?

Yes, drinking hard water is completely safe. Many have had doubts in the past about the safety of drinking hard water, but a lot more studies have either shown beneficial signs or were inconclusive.

For instance, the calcium and magnesium crystals in hard water might prove immensely beneficial to people suffering from diabetes. As for the myth about kidney stones, you can rest assured that no direct connection has been found. You can read more on the topic in this scientific article from NCBI.

Verdict

Overall, we think that the Eddy Electronic Water Descaler is a worthy purchase, especially for the price that it currently retails for. So go ahead and give it a shot. If you’re not happy, you can ask for a refund.

To see how this descaler compares to leading water softeners, check out our ultimate guide.

Here at Water Filter Answers, we specialize in top water filter systems. Check out our popular guide to reverse osmosis to find out more.

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Hi I'm Jamie, teacher and owner/chief contributor at waterfilteranswers.com. We strive to bring you the most informative water filter reviews in the most intuitive and user friendly way. Besides offering advice on the water filter to suit your needs, we also post topical articles on water pollution and the environment. Stay connected and follow us on, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and more!

2 Comments
  1. Are all descalers alike?

  2. Can the red and yellow wires wrap around pvc pipe and get the same good results?

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