Hydroviv Vs Aquasana: Which Brand is Better for Survivalists?

Survivalists are people who are all about surviving. That sounds obvious, but these are the sort of people who want to be prepared for whatever life throws at them. Sometimes this expresses itself in disaster-preparedness, and other times it is the kind of person who wants to safely travel the world. One thing every survivalist looks into is how to get clean, safe water, and two well-known, high-quality brands are Hydroviv and Aquasana.

It depends on the individual needs of the survivalist for which brand of water filter is better for them. Aquasana offers many different options including some that are portable and TSA-approved, while Hydroviv focuses on a few quality in-home options that are backed by a team of scientists.

Water is essential for life, and despite being everywhere, it isn’t always safe for consumption. Therefore, survivalists almost always want to ensure they have the best filtration possible to stay safe and survive with their families. Keep reading for an in-depth comparison between both brands of filters, so that an informed decision can be made before purchasing either.

Hydroviv Water Filters

Hydroviv has only three categories for filtration products; under sink, shower, and refrigerator/ice maker. This makes their options extremely limited but does allow them to focus on providing quality over quantity. In order to provide such quality measures, Hydroviv has rigorous standards backed by a team of scientists for all of their products.

What Contaminates Do Hydroviv Water Filters Remove?

The company itself does not offer a blanket list with generic removal percentages as they feel that it is misleading to do so. They say that this is due to test conditions not likely to be the exact same as those in their customers’ homes. However, they have been NSF certified to Standards 42 and 53, as well as being independently tested and shown to remove hundreds of individual contaminants from the water.

Despite not providing a full blanket list with percentages, the company’s FAQ page does offer this list of common contaminants that their filters remove:

• Lead
• Chromium 6
• Arsenic
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• PCBs
• MTBE
• Mercury
• Cysts
• Pesticides
• Pharmaceuticals
• Petroleum-based chemicals
• Clorine
• Chloramine
• Disinfection byproducts
• PFOA
• PFOS
• PFAS

Additionally, Hydroviv can be reached out to via their support email where they will provide entire lists and 3^rd party test results upon request. All they need is a zip code and they are willing to provide a data sheet with what they have for that area. This allows customers to obtain filters and media tailored to their specific needs and location, which is something most other filter companies do not provide.

Are Hydroviv Water Filters Portable?

Hydroviv water filters are only for the home and are not portable. This means that while they have great filtration for water coming through the plumbing, they can’t be taken around for travel. These filters are great options for having good quality water from the start for the three major sources of water in the home, which is also appealing to survivalists looking to enhance all aspects of their lives and the lives of their families.

Unfortunately, that means that they won’t fit into any sort of survival kits themselves. Water can be filtered and stored however, which can be appealing to survivalists looking for emergency preparedness or to bring clean, safe drinking water with them while camping, hiking, or other outings.

Do You Need a Professional to Install a Hydroviv Water Filter?

The company markets themselves as having products which are extremely simple to install without the need for a professional. They advertise that each of their products should only take a few minutes from start to finish to install, even without experience. Therefore, they do not offer a professional installation service themselves.

However, as with any sort of home improvement, if you are uncomfortable doing it yourself, consider contracting a professional. Plumbing can be finicky, so sometimes the extra cost of having someone else come in and make sure it’s done right is worth it to prevent an issue down the line.

What Maintenance is Required for a Hydroviv Water Filter?

These water filters have long-lasting filter media that can easily be replaced. In certain circumstances, this can even for free just by contacting Hydroviv directly and requesting a replacement. All that needs to be done when replacing a cartridge is to clean it with plain dish soap and rinse it thoroughly. Additionally, it is recommended to clean faucets occasionally in order to prevent built up contaminants on the aerator to get into the water.

These cartridges are said to last around six months, but this time may be variable depending on use. Frequently used filters and those in areas with many contaminants may need to be replaced more frequently, while those in areas with less of this and fresh piping may be able to squeeze out more time.

Hydroviv will reach out via the email provided upon purchase (if done through their website) to inform customers that their filter will probably need to be changed soon. They will also provide the options to purchase a new one for their specific filter, or give the option to sign up for auto-shipping services.

Does Hydroviv Accept Returns?

Hydroviv does accept returns within 30 days of arrival. Their FAQ page states that they will accept all returns no questions asked, even if the system has been used.

This means that it’s totally fine to try out the product and see if it is going to work out without worry that it will trigger some random clause that exempts them from trying out something else from another company instead.

Aquasana Water Filters

Aquasana has a large selection of various water filters and water purifiers to suit an individual’s needs. Some of them are carbon-based filtration, whereas others are reverse osmosis. These options can sometimes lead to them being overwhelming to sort through, but does allow for a stronger chance of finding something that suits an individual’s needs the best.

What Contaminates Do Aquasana Water Filters Remove?

Aquasana water filters are NSF certified to remove over 77 contaminants from water, though this can be slightly different based on the individual filter. The larger, in-home filters tend to remove more contaminants than their portable counterparts, but their smaller ones still offer solid filtration for safety on-the-go.

Some of the removed contaminants include:

• Chlorine
• Chloramines
• Pharmaceuticals
• Herbicides
• Pesticides
• Industrial Solvents
• Lead
• Asbestos
• Mercury
• Copper
• Organic Compounds
• Cysts
• PFOA
• PFAS
• Arsenic
• Cyanide
• Fluoride
• Sodium
• Sulfate
• Nitrate
• Iron
• Zinc

It also depends on if one of their water filters or water purifiers are purchased, as they often use different methods of filtering the water. There is a significant difference between how these filters function, and thus are capable of removing different types of contaminants.

Additionally, some of their home purifiers come with an optional UV filtration system which filters out various viruses, bacteria, and chlorine-resistant cysts.

Are Aquasana Water Filters Portable?

Not all of the water filters offered by Aquasana are portable, but they do have some TSA approved portable options they advertise on their website.

These include:

• Insulated Steel Clean Water Bottle
• Borosilicate Glass Bottle
• Clean Water Bottle Filter Replacements
• Stainless Steel Insulated Bottle
• Countertop Water Filter
• The Clean Water Machine

The latter two options are large enough that they need to be put into checked luggage, but the other options can be emptied out and taken through carry on to refill later.

Do You Need a Professional to Install an Aquasana Water Filter?

There are so many different kinds of water filters that Aquasana offers. Some of them are portable devices that do not require any sort of installation or are already built into a container. Those of them that do need to be installed such as an under-sink water filter are marketed as being simple to install.

For those models, it is totally fine to ask for help with the installation process. Plumbing can be daunting to some and the risks of doing it poorly can come with disastrous results. Contacting a professional to install one of these filters may at least give the peace of mind that it was done properly, which can outweigh the cost of labor.

What Maintenance is Required for an Aquasana Water Filter?

All filters are going to need to be replaced from time to time, regardless of which kind of filter is used. Some of Aquasana’s portable filters have activated carbon which just needs to be replaced once every few months, while some others may be able to be used for years at a time.

Aquasana offers a subscription-based service called Water for Life which will ship replacement filters at a 15% discount with free shipping and an extended warranty, all without a contract. This can be purchased immediately with the filter or tacked on by reaching out to their customer support channels.

Does Aquasana Accept Returns?

Aquasana does have a 90-day no questions asked return policy that begins on the date of purchase rather than the date of arrival. They will give a full refund if completed within this timeframe, but prior authorization is required and only applicable for products purchased directly from them.

However, customers are expected to pay for return shipping costs, which has been a point of contention from previous owners. With the uptick in shipping costs, some of Aquasana’s larger filters may end up costing more to return than any refund will be.

What is the Difference Between Water Filters and Water Purifiers?

The biggest difference between water filters and water purifiers is how they filter water. This subtle difference in naming seems innocuous and interchangeable but can really make or break the decision for a survivalist in search of the perfect system for themselves and their families.

Water Filters

The simplest way to explain how a water filter works is that they use something physical in order to remove contaminants from the water. Pores of the filters retain contaminants and let only water through, and most water filters use an activated carbon approach to block contaminants. However, not all of them do and some of them use a combination of media in order to filter out more contaminants. Chances are that anything portable is going to be a water filter, not a water purifier.

These tend to be highly customizable and come with numerous add-ons in order to suit any and all needs required of them. However, they tend to lack being able to filter out biological contaminants unless they are pathogenic bacteria. If there is a physical filter or cartridge that needs to be exchanged every few months, it is probably a water filter.

Water Purifiers

Water purifiers are also devices that are made to remove contaminants from the water supply. However, unlike water filters, they do so by complex means and treatments rather than by physical blocks. These also tend to be on the pricier side and are usually not all that portable. The positive is that a water purifier is the most extensive water treatment available, allowing for definitely cleaned water.

Here are some processes that a water purifier might be able to do unlike a water filter:

• UV treatments
• Distillation
• Deionization
• Reverse Osmosis

These methods are so intense that quality systems can purify even the poorest of water by destroying contaminants based on various attributes. From a survivalist’s standpoint, these are the ideal systems to ensure the cleanest and safest water possible.

Final Thoughts

Both Hydroviv and Aquasana are well-regarded, high-quality brands for water filtration. That means that a lot of survivalists have their eye on them, trying to make the best decision for their needs. While some might need intensive, whole-home filtration for their emergency-preparedness, others might just need a little bit to bring along with them on their travels.

Each brand has its own pros and cons, but so does everything in life. Hydroviv only has a few products for in-home, while Aquasana has a huge selection of products to choose from including some for travel. Whatever a survivalist needs, one of these brands is sure to offer it in an easy-to-install package and top-tier customer service.