Is Alkaline Water Really Effective?

By Amanda
October 1, 2024

Alkaline water is all the rage in Singapore right now, with homeowners forking out close to $3000 for a water purifier system,

which promises to boost immunity, neutralise acidity in your body, prevent osteoporosis and lower one’s cholesterol, among other benefits.

But does alkaline water really live up to the hype?

Unfortunately, the health claims of alkaline water are not backed up by solid scientific evidence and although some celebrities may swear by the miracle water, it is still important to thoroughly research the products we are buying. We cannot and should not take sales talk at face value.

Debunking the alkaline myth with facts

Our bodies, through the function of our kidneys and lungs constantly maintain a healthy pH level on their own. We do not need to drink alkaline water to do that. In addition, the gastric juices in our stomachs neutralize everything we consume. That means the alkaline water is neutralized even before it can do anything the health claims promise.

It isn’t effective, but is alkaline water safe to drink?

Doctors advise pregnant women, children and those feeling unwell to refrain from drinking alkaline water because it has the potential to cause skin irritation and an upset stomach. Although it is not harmful, it certainly does not live up to its purported health benefits.

So what can we do for clean water?

If you are really looking to get clean water, the main concern is filtering to a level that is quantifiable, scientifically researched and verified. The effectiveness of any water filter is measured by the size of particles it filters out.

Proven, precision filtering

Most alkaline water purifiers in Singapore filter out around 0.01 microns of particles. This is a low level of filtration because the focus is on producing alkaline water and not on filtration. In contrast, Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology is a method that is scientifically verified to filter out particles up to 0.0001 microns. It does this by applying pressure to water against a semi-permeable membrane, allowing only the cleanest water to pass through.

This process effectively removes bacteria, arsenic, fluoride and trace metals.

PUB uses Reverse Osmosis

After distilled water, Reverse Osmosis (RO) is recognised by experts as the best technology available to remove the widest spectrum of impurities found in drinking water. RO technology is commonly used by authorities for the national treatment of water. This includes PUB in Singapore for our water desalination plants.

In conclusion..

It is always good to know what you are purchasing and ensure it is backed up by science.

If you are looking for truly clean water, skip alkaline water purifiers and go straight for proven technologies which give you an exact measure of the size of particles filtered out.

6 Reasons Why a Tankless Heater May Be Better Than A Storage Heater

So, you’re in the market for a tankless heater. Whether it’s because you noticed a leak in your old water heater, if you think it’s time you replaced your old one, or you’re getting a new one for your new BTO, we’re here to recommend the tankless water heater.

1. No Heat-Loss, Save 30% Energy

A tankless heater only runs when water is flowing. A storage heater pre-heats water for you and stores it in a tank. This tank can lose heat. That is why tankless uses less energy than a storage heater. It can save up to 30%, which is better for your monthly bills.

Apart from lowering your bills, all tankless heaters come with a water-saving device. Your water usage goes down by 20%, and you still have a good shower at 7 litres/min. But just how efficient is the tankless heater?

The National Environment Agency (NEA) introduced the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS) to allow you to compare the two heaters and make informed purchases. The tankless heater has 4 ticks, whereas the storage heater only has 1 tick. NEA estimates that this helps you save up to $120 a year!

2. Space-Saving and Easy Installation

Storage heater comes in tank sizes of 30 to 100 litres. Tankless heaters have no tank, so they take up less space. A small heater is easy to install in a false ceiling as it is space saving. That's why your installation will cost less with tankless.

A bonus with tankless heaters is that you get to skip messy ceiling works that can cost up to an extra $500.

The installation of a storage heater, including ceiling works, is about $1500. Compare this to a tankless heater, which costs about $900 to install.

This is what ceiling works looks like:

Because of this, some creative clients save on huge costs by choosing not to change back to a storage tank. How?

They leave their storage heater in the false ceiling, and get us to fix in a tankless heater in the same false ceiling. We disconnect the pipes from the old storage heater and connect to the new tankless.

Doing this, you can save on ceiling works $200 + removal cost $250. The only catch is that you need to use a hand shower. Rain showers do not run well with tankless heaters.

No problem for most people, some of us prefer hand showers anyway.

3. Tankless Heaters: No Need to Maintain

You need to maintain a storage heater tank every 3 years. This costs about $200 each time. The water needs to be flushed out to clear any sediments that are stuck there. This is the same for all storage heaters.

Sediments make your water yellow so you need to do this. If you have a landed home with multiple heaters, this cost goes up.

With tankless heaters, life is easy. No need to maintain these at all as they have no tank.

Simply enjoying how sleek it is for a water heater. Installer Bee is also wonderful in explaining the various positions for the installation before made my decision in this placement. He also took effort to clean up after the installation works. 👍 ...

Aurgus Chang

Google review

Bathbox installation done by Mr.Moez. Great service by him and really like how clean and neat the Bathbox look

Afiq Hamizan

Google review

4. No Fear of Leaks with Tankless Heaters

Storage heaters can leak and cause damage. This is something every false ceiling owner has to put up with at some point. To prevent this, some choose to change their heaters before they get too old.

This is where the tankless heater shines. No tank = No leaks. That is why the tankless water heater could be an easier choice for you.

5. Tankless Heaters can Give You Infinite Hot Water

Ever wanted to take a long long shower after a long long day? You can do that with the tankless heater. With a tankless, water gets heated non-stop. This means that the hot water you get goes on forever. You can jump straight in the shower, with no worries that you'll run out of hot water half way.
If your family takes long showers one after another, you may run out with a storage heater. A tankless heater however, gives you infinite hot water. It just keeps going, as long as you aren't using a rain shower. You also can't use multiple bathrooms at the same time because of the lower flow rate.

If you are unsure if the tankless is a good choice for you, feel free to take an easy quiz here! We'll help you with that.

6. Tankless is Safer for Kids and Elderly

Sometimes on a rainy day, the water at my shower takes longer to heat up because of the cooler cold water. I get impatient and turn the lever all the way to the left (high) and suddenly, the water is way too hot! I often jump back due to the high temperature and quickly turn the tap off. I bet this has happened to you at least once if you have storage heaters.

Many of us have ageing parents or grandparents. They might not be able to react so quickly. Luckily, the tankless heater has a special function not known to many.

Storage heaters can reach up to 70°C, which is a temperature that can scald. The tankless heater allows you to set it to a safe temperature of 50°C. This temperature control setting protects the elderly from injury as it is not so high. This setting also prevents young children at home from getting hurt.

Why We Choose Stiebel Eltron Tankless Heater

Stiebel Eltron is the # 1 tankless heater supplier in the world. Established in Germany a 100 years ago, they have the best tankless technology. We like these good brands as they make stuff that is durable and long-lasting. An added bonus is how slim it is, allowing it to fit in the tighest space.

In Singapore, our labour cost is high. You don't want to waste money changing to a new heater every 3 years. You want something that can last you around 10 years. Stiebel Eltron can.

We also provide a 3 year full warranty on branded heaters like Stiebel. This is the longest heater warranty in Singapore. The average warranty for other brands are only 1 year.

A good brand is worth investing in. It will spare you the mess that comes with constantly replacing new heaters.

Moez came to help us replace our faulty storage heater with the AOS bath box! So slim and sleek looking. Very pleased with the hot water and pressure in both our toilets

Jac

Google review

Just installed a tankless bathbox at my owner house, Thanks to the installer, Shamemul, for his patience and cooperation during the installation. The tank looks sleek and space-saving compared to the other storage heater brands👍

Afiq Hamizan

Google review

Conclusion

With storage water heaters requiring more maintenance in the long-run, why not stick with the easy way out?

Not only will the tankless heater be a good addition to your household, it will also help save on your energy bills. The tankless heater can do this while giving you good water pressure for comfortable showers as well. It can also keep your family members, both young and old, safe from burns.

The BathBox is worth your time. Simple and direct, just like it's design, your save on space and energy starts now.

Tankless Heater FAQ

How is the tankless heater different from the instant heater?

Tankless heaters are totally different from Instant heaters.

• Tankless has a more advanced technology. They produce better flow rates of 7 lit/min. Instant heaters only go up to 5 lit/min.

• If you have 2 bathrooms, you can use 1 tankless piped to 2 baths. This is the ideal setup for BTOs. If you choose to install an instant heater, you need 2 heaters plus extra pipe work. Instant may end up costing you more, and your shower won't feel as good with the lower water pressure.

How can I test the water pressure for BathBox?

If you want to test the water pressure before deciding on the BathBox, feel free to visit us at our showroom here.

We have a working model available to test it out.

What do tankless / instant heater costs look like for BTO?