NuvoH2O DPMB Manor Salt-Free Water Softener System Review

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The DPMB Manor is the largest water conditioning system that NuvoH2O sells. It’s for households with 4+ residents supplying a water flow rate of around 15 to 18 gallons per minute.

NuvoH2O Manor

NuvoH2O Manor

Price: $$$
Flow Rate: 15-18 gpm
Capacity: 50,000 Gallons
# of People: 4+
Tech: Chelation

Our Rating

NuvoH2O DPMB Manor Salt-Free Water Softener – Key Features

According to Nuvo, 15 to 18 gallons of water per minute is enough for homes over 2,000 sq. ft.

However, this statement doesn’t really make a lot of sense in our opinion. Because what’s more important than square footage and the number of bathrooms in your home is how many people are actually living under your roof.

The more people, the higher the daily water consumption and the more water the system has to process in a given period of time. Makes sense? Great!

Also, we wanted to clarify that we are not talking about a traditional salt-based water softener here.

Rather, the Nuvo Manor is a conditioner that alters the way hardness minerals behave in water by means of chelation.

Now, how exactly does that work?

First of all, the system removes neither calcium nor magnesium. Instead a chelating agent, in this case citric acid, is added to bind those minerals.

This is what prevents them from forming deposits in your plumbing and water-using appliances.

And that’s not the end of the story. Even existing scale can be dissolved over time. But there is a catch – actually, there are two:

  1. The manufacturer advises against using this system if you are on a private well.
  2. For this to be effective, your water pH-level has to be at least 7.2. As far as we understand, the higher, the better.

How effective is the chelation? Well, we found a report where someone had two water samples tested by a professional lab. One sample was run through the Nuvo, the other was not. The unprocessed sample read 18 grains per gallon hardness. The second read 15 grains per gallon.

As you can see, if you want to reduce your water hardness down to 0 or 1 gpg, you better opt for a different product. If your main concern is scale reduction and you meet the given requirements, the Manor System can make a great choice.

The conditioner is NSF approved, by the way, against Standard 169 for scale control.

And you get a 90-day money-back guarantee plus limited lifetime warranty. You will have to pay for shipping and handling, though.

DPMB Manor Pros

Probably one of the biggest benefits of the NuvoH2O Manor is its eco-friendliness. Compared to a real softener, it doesn’t release tons of sodium or potassium into our water supply systems and no water is wasted for regeneration or backwash.

Another positive aspect is that this unit is much more compact. It features a single-tank design since it does not require a second tank for mixing brine.

NuvoH2O Manor

The NuvoH2O Manor – learn more on amazon.com

Installation + Startup Instructions

There definitely is no water softener or conditioner out there that is easier to install than a Nuvo system.

And like we said, due to the compact size it’ll fit in every corner of your basement.

If you are looking for setup instructions, here is what you need to do:

  1. Close the main water supply.
  2. Use the provided screws to attach the wall mounting panel. Leave out the top left and top right hole for now.
  3. Unscrew the black top of the housing unit by removing the single screw in the middle.
  4. Attach the L-bracket to the housing head and secure it with screws (included).
  5. Replace the black top of the housing unit and re-insert the single screw in the middle.
  6. Attach the assembly horizontally to the wall mounting panel.
  7. Attach the appropriate nipple (not included) securely into the ports on each side of the housing head. Seal the inlet/outlet port with tape. Be careful to not over-tighten.
  8. Connect the water supply line to the inlet/outlet port.
  9. Make sure that the O-ring is properly seated inside the housing body.
  10. Insert the cartridge with holes located at the top.
  11. Attach the collar and use the wrench (included) to tighten the housing body to the housing head.
  12. Open the mater water supply.
  13. Put the housing head in “Softener” position.
  14. Check for leaks.
  15. Allow the system to flush for 60 minutes at minimal flow.

Video

The following video outlines the installation process in more detail. Make sure to check it out if you are uncertain about what to do next:

The Package (Parts)

  • NuvoH2O Manor System (model number DPMB)
  • NuvoH2O Manor cartridge
  • Mounting back plate
  • Mounting bracket
  • Screws
  • Housing wrench
  • User manual

Piping and connectors that are required for installation are not included in the package.

Programming, Settings & Maintenance

There is no programming involved when setting up the Nuvo Manor.

For maintenance, all you have to do is remember to change the cartridge every 50,000 gallons or 6 months. Don’t worry, this is not hard to do. Shut down the water flow and be careful as the cartridge can be heavy with water and splashy to remove.

How you can replace the cartridge is also explained in the video on top (minute 7:55).

DPMB Manor Cons

What we don’t like about this product?

The biggest issue is that too many people don’t see any improvement or difference in their water after using the NuvoH2O for a month or longer. They use the same amount of soap. They have hard water building up on shower heads and dishwashers. Basically, everything is exactly as it was before.

We think this is because their water is already too acidic and the chelation agent does not have any scale reduction effect then. Nuvo as a company definitely has to better educate their potential customers on that matter, so they won’t waste their money on a useless device. Overall, the customer service seems to have difficulties answering technical questions anyway.

Another issue that we see is that replacement cartridges are pretty expensive, compared to softener salt which you can purchase at $2 to $3 a bag at Costco.

And lastly, your water might turn bluish for a couple of days after installing the conditioner if you have copper piping. It’s not harmful to your health, but looks strange nevertheless.

NuvoH2O DPMB Manor Review: Our Verdict + Best for

Let’s recap: The NuvoH2O Manor System is easy to install and does a decent job at reducing scale, provided that your water is alkaline. It can even eliminate existing hardness deposits – think about that for a second.

All in all, it’s the right choice for you if you don’t like salted water. Just keep in mind that it’s not a real softener.

Taking into account the somewhat high price tag and increased cost for maintenance, our rating is 4 stars.

The NuvoH2O Manor is best for large homes with a water pH of 7.2+.

More Reviews:

This completes our NuvoH2O Manor System review. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

About the Author Alexandra Uta

Alex is a content writer with an affinity for research and a methodical attention to detail. Since 2020, she has fully immersed herself into the home water treatment industry only to become an expert herself. Alex has been using water filters and similar products for years which has gained her lots of hands-on experience.
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