Indians are known for their thrift and the willingness to look for a deal. For a lot of us brand names come second only to the value and price of products. But there is one area where most of us aim for the best brands as it relates to our family’s safety and health. This area is that of water purifiers. Most of us, irrespective of the income bracket we fall under, mostly consider these two brands – Kent and Aquaguard for our home water purifier as they have withstood the test of time and remained among the best products in the market.
But, then, how do we choose between the two brands, if they ae both doing great? That is where this blog comes in. Here we have compared the two brands along several parameters including the technology used, features offered, maintenance costs, and overall effectiveness of purifiers from the respective brands to help you identify the right choice for you.
Patented Technology Used by Kent and Aquaguard
Kent’s Mineral ROTM Technology
Kent’s Mineral ROTM technology gives the benefits of reverse osmosis purification while retaining essential natural minerals in drinking water. This is done using a TDS controller.
The membrane-based filtration technique effectively removes heavy metals and chemicals, and a UV disinfection stage kills bacteria and viruses. This multi-stage process results in safe, sweet-tasting mineral water.
Aquaguard’s BiotronTM and RO+UV Technology
Aquaguard uses BiotronTM technology that involves ultrafiltration to block bacteria and RO membrane plus UV treatment to remove other impurities.
Models like Aquaguard Enhance use an e-boiling mechanism to revitalize water after RO filtration. The Aquaguard Ritz utilizes RO+UV+UF and taste enhancing infuser technology for pure, great tasting water.
Water Wastage and Maintenance Costs
A major concern with RO purifiers is the amount of water wasted during purification. For every liter of drinking water produced, RO systems waste 2-3 liters of water. This can add up to thousands of liters wastage every month.
Kent claims to minimize this wastage through better membrane design and technology innovations like Mineral ROTM. Aquaguard’s water recovery on RO models is also decent, ranging from 30-50% depending on the model.
Maintenance costs are higher for RO purifiers as they require frequent filter replacements. The pre-filter, sediment filter, carbon filter and RO membrane need replacement every 6-12 months. Kent provides a 1 year free service warranty on some models.
UV and UF based purifiers have lower maintenance since only the UV lamp needs annual replacement. Aquaguard offers up to 2 years free service on models like Geneus and Marvel.
Direct Model Comparison
Here is a head-to-head comparison of popular models from both brands:
| Specs | Kent Pearl | Aquaguard Ritz |
| Technology | RO + UV + UF | RO + UV + UF |
| Purification Stages | 8 | 7 |
| Storage Capacity | 8 L | 7 L |
| TDS Reduction | 90% | 90% |
| Purification Rate | 15-20 L/hr | 15 L/hr |
| Price | ₹16,500 | ₹18,000 |
As you can see, the Kent and Aquaguard models are quite evenly matched in terms of core purification technology and effectiveness. The Kent Pearl costs slightly less while providing a higher storage capacity.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Water Purifier
1. Water Source and Quality
The first consideration is the source of water in your home and its quality. Is it municipal tap water, borewell water, or tanker water? Checking the TDS (total dissolved solids) level gives an idea about impurities.
Kent and Aquaguard offer different models based on water quality. RO purifiers are ideal if TDS exceeds 300ppm. For moderately hard water, UV+UF models work well.
2. Filtration Technology Needed
RO purifiers are best for removing dissolved salts, chemicals and heavy metals. UV treatment is effective against harmful microbes like bacteria and viruses. UF is suitable for turbidity and particulate removal.
So assess your water contaminants before deciding between RO, UV, UF or combination models from Kent and Aquaguard.
3. Storage Capacity
Aquaguard offers storage options from 7 to 12 liters while Kent models go up to 15 liters. Pick one that meets your family’s daily water consumption needs.
4. Convenience Features
Many higher priced Kent and Aquaguard models come with touch screens, WiFi connectivity for smart operation, filter change alerts and mobile app access. These can help maximize convenience.
5. Budget
Kent and Aquaguard have models across budget segments. Aquaguard starts at a lower base price, while premium Kent models boast more features. Pick one that provides maximum value for money based on purification needs.
Purification Technology Used in Kent and Aquaguard
Let’s take a more in-depth look at how the different water purification technologies work:
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
The RO process uses semi-permeable membranes to remove dissolved impurities. Water pressure pushes water molecules through the membranes while blocking larger contaminants like salts and heavy metals. RO can remove up to 90-95% TDS. Disadvantages include high water wastage and slow output.
Ultraviolet (UV) Treatment
A UV lamp emits radiation that disrupts the DNA of microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, rendering them inactive. UV is a chemical-free, eco-friendly method to kill pathogens. However, it doesn’t remove TDS or filters particulates.
Ultrafiltration (UF)
UF uses a membrane filter with a pore size of 0.01 microns. This blocks contaminants like mud, bacteria and protozoa but allows water molecules to pass through. UF is effective for turbidity removal.
By combining methods like RO, UV and UF, Kent and Aquaguard provide multi-stage purification for comprehensive water treatment.
Design and Build Quality
Kent and Aquaguard aim to provide visually appealing and well-designed water purifiers for Indian homes.
The plastic outer body and food-grade plastic storage tanks ensure durability. Kent offers glossy finish and vibrant colors across models. Aquaguard has sleek curved edges and a modern aesthetics on models like Geneus and Marvel.
Controls are ergonomically designed for ease of use. Many Kent and Aquaguard models include a built-in voltage stabilizer for protection against power fluctuations.
Aquaguard claims to have super-durable RO membranes and also provides free preventive maintenance annually to maximize product life.
So whether you choose Kent or Aquaguard, you can expect a sturdy and well-built water purifier designed for ease of use.
Feature and Drawback Comparison
Here is a look at some of the key features and potential drawbacks of Kent and Aquaguard purifiers:
Kent Advantages
- Higher storage capacity up to 15 liters
- Mineral ROTM technology retains natural minerals
- Built-in TDS controller on RO models
- 1 year free service and maintenance
Potential Kent Disadvantages
- Slightly lower water recovery on some RO models
- Limited model choices with UV+UF technology
Aquaguard Advantages
- Biotron and e-boiling technology for purity
- Wide range of models suiting all budgets
- Up to 2 years free service and maintenance
- Higher 6 times more service centers than Kent
Potential Aquaguard Disadvantages
- Lower maximum storage capacity at 12 liters
- Plastic construction feels less premium than Kent’s designs
Performance and Effectiveness
Kent and Aquaguard offer excellent performance across their water purifier models.
Their high-end RO water purifiers reduce TDS by over 90% to deliver safe drinking water. Microbiological tests by Water Labs in India showed that Kent and Aquaguard RO+UV models remove harmful bacteria and viruses by up to 99.99%.
Both brands also meet the latest water purification standards defined by organizations like ISI, NSF International, and Water Quality Association (WQA).
In customer reviews and user feedback, both Kent and Aquaguard score highly for their effective water purification and ability to transform hard borewell water into clean mineral water.
As leaders in the water purifier segment, you can expect top-notch filtration performance from both Kent and Aquaguard suitable for Indian water conditions.
Maintenance and Service Requirements
Since RO purifiers have more filters, their maintenance needs are higher than UV or UF models. The sediment, carbon filters, membrane and other units need replacement every 6-12 months depending on water usage.
Kent provides a 1 year free service warranty on their RO water purifiers where maintenance visits are free. Aquaguard offers up to 2 year free service on some models.
The Kent and Aquaguard service networks have technicians and support staff to help with maintenance. But RO filter replacements can also easily be done by users at home by purchasing compatible filters.
UV and UF purifiers require simple annual UV lamp replacement and occasional cleaning which can be done without technicians. Operating costs are thus lower than RO purifiers.
Aquaguard edges over Kent in terms of service network reach and provisions like 2 year free maintenance support on models. But Kent purifiers are also designed for easy maintenance whether done in-house or through authorized service centers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which brand offers better after-sales service?
Aquaguard provides up to 2 years free service while Kent offers 1 year. Aquaguard also has significantly more service centers than Kent across India, giving it an edge in after-sales service and support.
Q. Is the water taste different in Kent and Aquaguard purifiers?
Kent claims that their Mineral ROTM technology helps retain natural taste and minerals compared to standard RO filtration which removes everything.
Aquaguard uses proprietary Biotron and e-boiling technology to revitalize water post-purification for an enhanced taste. Many Aquaguard models also have taste enhancer attachments.
So while both provide clean tasting water, Kent promises a more natural mineral water taste compared to Aquaguard’s processed taste.
Q. Which brand has better filtration effectiveness?
Both Kent and Aquaguard use similar core filtration methods like RO, UV and UF. Their top models provide multi-stage purification for removing all major contaminants including TDS, chemicals, bacteria and microbes.
Independent lab tests show both Kent and Aquaguard high-end models reduce TDS by over 90% and are effective against bacteria. So filtration effectiveness is at par.
Q. Is Kent or Aquaguard better for borewell water?
For borewell water that tends to have very high TDS and hardness, a good quality RO purifier is essential. Both Kent and Aquaguard offer excellent RO+UV models like Kent Grand+ and Aquaguard Geneus for borewell water purification.
Kent’s Mineral ROTM technology helps retain some minerals while removing TDS which makes it well-suited for borewell water. Aquaguard’s e-boiling is also effective for such groundwater sources.
Conclusion – Which Brand To Pick?
After looking at all the parameters and models in detail, here are some key takeaways:
- For advanced RO purification, especially for borewell water, both Kent and Aquaguard offer capable models like Kent Grand+ and Aquaguard Geneus. You can choose based on budget and features.
- For municipal tap water, UV + UF purifiers like Kent New Mineral Z or Aquaguard Marvel make sense over RO models given their lower costs and maintenance.
- Kent scores in mineral retention with Mineral ROTM and higher storage capacity up to 15 liters.
- Aquaguard has more model options and wider availability across price ranges. It also edges ahead in after-sales service quality and reach.
So choose wisely based on your specific water purification needs. Kent and Aquaguard continue to battle for market share while providing quality water purifiers to Indian household.
