問 frequently asked questions
What everyone asks before deciding.
Real customer questions, grouped by topic. The ones on breakdowns and service are in Assistance. If yours isn't here, write to us and we'll add it.
the waters
Who each one is for.
How much does it cost and what's the price?
We don't publish a fixed price list: the price depends on the system you choose, the water combination and the installation in each case. We work it out with you after a water test for your area, always with a person from our team. Any price you see on marketplaces, comparison sites or automatic search-engine summaries is not official and does not come from byaccuor. Write to hola@byaccuor.com or call +34 93 100 18 00 and we'll give you the exact figure for your case.
Who is Hikari recommended for?
For babies up to 3 years old, as part of a balanced diet.
It's ideal for preparing bottles and purées, because it emulsifies infant formula exceptionally well and helps powdered milk dissolve. It's digestible, provides the most essential minerals for the growth stage and supports the right acid–base balance. It meets paediatricians' recommendations: less than 25 mg/L of sodium and 50 mg/L of calcium.
Who is Essential recommended for?
From age 3 and in situations of growth, pregnancy or recovery.
It has an alkaline pH and is enriched with calcium, so it provides bone reinforcement: the calcium present in drinking water is absorbed more efficiently than that of milk.
Who is Aox-Diet recommended for?
For adults from age 18, especially smokers, people who work outdoors, who spend a lot of time in the sun or who are following a slimming diet.
It's digestible and slightly diuretic: it favours the elimination of toxins and free radicals, and the regulation of nerve and muscle functions. It helps maintain intestinal function and the balance of fats.
Who is Hashiru recommended for?
From age 16, in intense sport.
Its mineral formulation is designed to improve recovery after physical effort. Its alkaline pH (8–8.5) prevents the fluctuations of blood pH, which tends to acidify after exercise.
Who is Nara recommended for?
For adults from age 60 and in situations of hypertension.
It helps older people maintain proper hydration because its texture is more appealing to them than that of other waters, and that encourages them to drink more: they often forget to drink and tend to dehydrate.
It's enriched with calcium and its low sodium content makes it ideal for low-sodium diets. Its neutral to slightly alkaline pH (7.2–7.5) is the most suitable for the body, since blood pH stays between 7.35 and 7.45 and homeostatic balance is more fragile in older people.
Who is Okinawa recommended for?
For adults from age 16, and in situations of circulation, liver, cholesterol, recovery or menopause issues.
It's considered a gourmet water: designed for the table and to accompany food. Thanks to its exceptional palatability it improves internal hydration and quenches thirst.
Are they only for drinking and cooking?
Mainly yes, but they can also be used in cosmetics to cleanse the skin, especially the face.
What health benefits do they provide?
Each variety has a specific composition that gives it its character, always within a balanced diet. In general, the combination of alkaline pH, ionised minerals and salts provides:
- A smaller cluster size of water molecules, which favours cellular hydration.
- Natural mineral ions of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium that are 100% absorbed.
- Calcium with bioavailability similar to that of milk, more effective at slowing bone resorption if taken throughout the day.
- An alkaline pH that helps the system that prevents blood-pH fluctuations, without having to draw on bone calcium.
How much water do I have to drink a day?
Experts recommend a different minimum intake depending on the person: in general, between 2 and 2.5 litres a day for men and between 1.5 and 2 for women. But it varies greatly with physical activity and health situation.
That's why we made conscious hydration: it combines your weight, your working day and your city's real heat to give you today's figure instead of an average.
Do I have to consult my doctor?
If you wish, you can ask your doctor's opinion. Both your doctor and your pharmacist are the most qualified to help you understand the benefits of water and minerals.
Bear in mind that the waters will help you feel better, but they are not a curative product: you must continue with the treatments your doctor has prescribed.
Is it registered with the health authorities?
Current regulations only cover bottled drinking water. Although there's no specific standard for this system, all the devices comply with UNE-EN ISO 9001:2015 and UNE 166002:2014.
comparisons
Versus the tap, the jug, reverse osmosis and the bottle.
Why is it better than tap water?
Tap water is drinkable, but its taste is often unpleasant: it generally comes from surface layers and has a changing composition.
It needs to be treated chemically and microbiologically to disinfect it and make it arrive safely after travelling through the whole network of pipes. It's the only way to guarantee its food safety, but those processes affect its composition and alter its properties.
Why is it better than filter jugs?
Filter jugs treat water to varying degrees. They usually improve the taste because they remove chlorine, but they produce an unpredictable drop in calcium concentration.
Filtration systems subtract: they try to remove substances. The interesting thing would be for them to remove the bad ones and respect the good ones, and a jug filter can't tell them apart.
How is it different from reverse osmosis?
Reverse osmosis removes minerals with 95–98% efficiency. Osmosis water is practically pure, but it doesn't provide the mineral salts the body can assimilate, which are responsible for better hydration. Its final composition also depends on the source water.
Osmosis water tends to have an acidic pH, whereas the body benefits more from a neutral or slightly alkaline pH: it's more digestible and lets toxins and fats be eliminated more naturally from the bloodstream.
A high-mountain climber would never forget to carry mineral salts to add to the meltwater they drink: without them they would dehydrate.
Why is it better than bottled water?
No two mineral waters are the same, and their content makes them more or less suitable for each person. Besides, one brand may vary in composition because it comes from different springs.
Mineral waters are healthy and pure at source, but the containers can release particles that alter their properties, and exposure to light, high temperatures or poor storage also affect them.
Why is it not advisable to store water in plastic?
PET is porous, so it's conditioned by the environment where it's stored: temperature, proximity to other non-drinkable or hazardous liquids. A bottle in a shop with high turnover holds the water inside for at least a couple of months, and the amount of bisphenol A that can migrate in that time should not be downplayed.
According to Greenpeace, a bottled litre can cost up to 400 times more than a tap one, on top of transport emissions. And according to Ecoembes, around 40% of plastic containers are currently not recycled in Spain.
And glass?
No bottler in the world makes glass bottles at the same plant where they fill them, so there's a risk of contamination during transport, which often covers hundreds of kilometres. On arrival they have to be washed, disinfected and rinsed before refilling. And under sunlight a bottle can alter the biochemical state of the water.
Which container do you recommend for carrying it away from home?
Containers that don't release harmful particles: food-grade flask types made for liquids, or 304 stainless steel. The least advisable are plastic ones.
Can I refill plastic bottles?
It's not advisable. If there's no alternative, don't reuse a bottle more than four times from its first use. For home we recommend glass, byaccuor bottles or 304 stainless steel.
What are the consequences of the massive use of spring water?
There isn't always a spring where it's bottled: sometimes they're wells. To meet growing demand these sources are overused, and there are two consequences:
- By extracting water for years by mechanical means, the aquifer empties because more comes out than goes in.
- The quality is affected: water has to be taken from an ever-lower level, which makes it contain more sodium and less of the other mineral salts.
installation
Where it goes and what's needed.
Where is the device installed?
Usually in the kitchen, under the sink, so it doesn't take up worktop space. It can go elsewhere as long as it's protected from the sun and heat sources.
The KORE, ONE, YOKO and VOLVY models, at 64 mm high, even fit comfortably under the kitchen plinth.
Do I have to install a second tap?
It's not necessary: the devices are prepared to connect to a five-way tap that replaces the kitchen one with a single control.
If the customer prefers, the SQUID selector can be fitted, which lets you keep any tap you like and comfortably choose the water at each moment.
Is it for the whole house?
No, only for drinking and mouth uses. That's why the best place is usually the kitchen.
Does it connect to the drain?
No. The new-generation devices avoid that discharge to the drain.
How much water does the device reject?
None. The new-generation devices don't reject water: the system retains the unwanted substances in an internal container, without returning them to the drainage network so as not to burden the environment, and that container is processed at the factory during the Refresh maintenance.
My home's water comes from a well, can I use it?
Yes, as long as the water reaching the tap is drinkable and authorised by the Public Health services.
In some cases, to ensure sufficient input quality, an ultraviolet-light pretreatment is needed. Ask us about your case.
There are nitrate problems in my area, can I use it?
Yes. We have many customers with that same issue and the results are highly satisfactory: the nitrates are neutralised in the internal process, without needing prior treatment of the mains water.
Do I need a water softener?
The input water quality is important, but in general there's no need to install a softener. If your area requires it, we have NOA CO₂, which treats limescale without salt, without a drain and without magnetic fields.
I have two flats together, does a single device work?
In principle it's possible. The final solution depends on the consumption across the two flats, the distance the treated water travels and the connection between them. It has to be assessed on site.
Can I take the water to the American-style fridge?
Yes, it can be routed to the chilled-water dispenser. An added advantage is that the ice is also made with this water, so the quality of the cubes improves enormously.
There are specific connection kits for fridges, ovens, coffee machines, ice makers and dishwashers.
daily use
Everyday life with the device installed.
And for coffee and infusions?
You notice the difference with all the varieties, but we recommend Okinawa: it especially enhances the aroma of coffee and draws out all the natural aromas of infusions.
Which water do I use to wash fruit and vegetables?
Fruit and vegetables very easily absorb the elements dissolved in water, especially chlorine. Aox-Diet is much more suitable for washing and also enhances their natural flavour.
The Volvy model generates ozonated water, with high cleaning and disinfecting power for food.
Can I brush my teeth with this water?
Of course. It helps the action of anti-tartar toothpastes, since its slightly alkaline pH contributes to preventing tartar formation.
Can I spray it on my face?
Yes, especially Essential, Okinawa and Aox-Diet. As well as better hydration, you'll feel a sensation of firm, smooth skin.
Will I run out of water halfway through filling a pot?
No. The new-generation devices have constant in-line production.
If I use a lot of one type of water, can I use another?
Yes. In the new-generation devices, even if you only use one of the three varieties, the others keep their properties intact between maintenance visits.
Can I change my three waters whenever I want?
Yes. With the Refresh service we customise the device's waters on demand. The most common case is the arrival of someone new in the family —a baby, an older person— or a personal change, such as starting a diet.
I see small bubbles in the water
It's completely normal: they correspond to the oxygen incorporated into the water.
Does the device have accessories?
Yes: modules to chill, carbonate or heat the water for infusions, thermal bottles, different taps and flavour modules to prepare soft drinks. Ask us about your specific case.
If I go on holiday, what do I do?
With new-generation devices like KORE and ONE no precaution is needed. With the rest, disconnect the device from the power supply and the water connection before leaving. On your return, let the water run for five minutes.
maintenance, warranty and cost
What happens after buying it.
How often do I have to recharge it?
There's no such thing as recharging: the device is replaced in its entirety thanks to the Refresh programme.
How do I know the charge has run out?
On non-automated devices you'll notice a progressive drop in taste. On those with a display, the device itself tells you.
What service life do the devices have?
They're designed and manufactured to European appliance standards, with a service life of over 10 years. Besides, with Refresh the device is periodically replaced with a fully renewed one. In practice, you can consider it a single purchase for life.
Do I have to pay for maintenance?
The device has to replenish the minerals it transfers to the water: it's a consumable and, as such, it runs out. For a periodic cost, the Refresh subscription gives you a renewed device in the event of any breakdown and even at each mineral replenishment.
Do the devices have a warranty?
Yes, a universal warranty anywhere in the world while the Refresh subscription stays active, and provided the device isn't tampered with by external or unauthorised operators.
It covers absolutely everything, except damage attributable to tampering by unauthorised personnel. You can see the detail on the warranty page.
How do I know the technician is official?
Our staff carry a company ID with a name and photograph, and you can verify their identification number from your phone.
You should not let anyone outside the company handle your device: that would mean losing the warranty.
Will my water bill go up?
No. The devices don't reject water, so your consumption will be the same.
Will my electricity bill go up?
No. There are models that don't connect to the electricity grid and produce their own electricity from the circulation of water inside them, like KORE. The ONE model requires no electricity at all.
How much do I save versus bottled water?
It depends on three things: your household's drinking-water consumption —counting the water used for cooking too—, the price you pay for bottled water today and the solution you choose.
By the usual calculations, producing 1.5 litres works out about 12.5 times cheaper than buying quality bottled water at the supermarket.
How long until I recoup the purchase?
It's calculated by combining what you spend on bottled water each month with the chosen device and the cost of the annual service. With average family consumption the payback is quick, but we prefer to do the calculation with your real figures rather than give you a generic promise: ask us.
Do all the waters cost the same?
Yes. You decide the combination that best fits your needs or your family's.
Can I finance the purchase?
Yes. Ask us about the current terms.
If I recommend the brand, do I get any benefit?
Yes, we have a referral programme with various benefits. Ask our team at hola@byaccuor.com.
tds meters
Why a TDS reader doesn't measure water quality.
This section deserves its own space because there's a widespread bad practice in the sector, and it's worth the customer knowing it before it's used on them.
How does a TDS reader work?
It works by conductivity: it measures in parts per million (ppm). Pure or distilled water doesn't conduct electricity, so a reader submerged in it will give zero or a very low number. It's the electron charge of the minerals that conducts: water with more minerals conducts more than water without them.
Can I know which minerals the water has with a TDS?
No. It's not possible to distinguish the different minerals. The meter calculates a general conductivity reading that depends on the overall amount of dissolved minerals, so it doesn't reveal the levels of calcium, magnesium or potassium.
Does the TDS tell me the water quality?
No. To know the quality you need a full analysis.
A practical example: a weakly mineralised bottled water will give around 50 ppm; a more mineralised one, around 500; and a highly mineralised one, over 1,500. All three are fit for consumption. You can't conclude that the one with fewer minerals is better.
What bad practice is there with these meters?
In Spain there's a bad practice with the TDS reader used to sow doubt in the consumer's mind. Some reverse-osmosis salespeople use it incorrectly to convince customers of the quality of their water when in fact it's the opposite: osmosis generates almost demineralised water.
Can mains water and accuor water have the same ppm?
Yes. It's like measuring two different waters with a thermometer: they'll have the same temperature, but that's no use for measuring minerals or nutrients.
The same happens with hardness: with a salt softener you'll have X French degrees and no limescale, but with an advanced neutraliser you'll have the same French degrees in and out and also no limescale.
How is each mineral measured then?
With professional laboratory analysis instruments, not with a TDS. Our quality-control team verifies each manufacturing batch with appropriate sampling, just like a bottling plant.
How does the device manage to be selective when cleaning?
The first stage uses laboratory-grade chained sterile filtration, which allows it to inhibit, neutralise or capture the dispensable elements of mains water —micro-contaminants, chemical compounds, bacteria, viruses and protozoa, as well as whatever alters texture and taste— while keeping the useful mineral load.
Then, in the recharge stage, the healthy minerals are rebalanced and boosted according to each water's formulation, providing the corresponding oxygenation and alkalinity.
Can't find your question? Write to us at hola@byaccuor.com and we'll add it to this page. If yours is a breakdown, call 900 808 697.