I am a(sorry) user of HUL Pureit for the last 14 months and I will be penning down my experience in this review.
Why I choose HUL Pureit:
1.Need for Home RO - Local bubble-tops were getting dodgy in quality.
2.Name and brand of HUL
3.Some positive reviews and comparisons.(will dig that up during the updates to this review)
What happened:
1.First breakdown within a week - The pressure valve for water flow had conked off due to excessive water withdrawal.(Due to the day long maintenance power cut, we were forced to use all the the water in the HUL units storage tank.
Instead of shutting off beyond a point the pressure valve just conked off and water flow stopped even after electricity resumed. The technician who came informed us that this is a common complaint(!) with the unit. He fiddled around the unit and did a nifty work to bypass this pressure valve stuff for water release!
2.Worst service - No one bothered to call back or check the filters during the free service period in the 1st year. Being a novice user of RO filters, we did not know much about preventive maintenance either.
3.Second breakdown just after 1 yr warranty - One fine day the water quality was just like tap water without any change in taste! This came out of the blue since the unit was supposed to have multiple warning lights/gizmos that were’advertised’ to warn the user to change the CSF/membrane etc.
Take that for preventive quality built in to the system! The service technician came and changed all CSF filters/ RO Membrane and the carbon filter charging me around 3K. And then they casually told me that the membranes can get impacted due to dust and sediments in the carbon filter that could eventually escape(!) the built-in warning. Take that for the famed HUL quality messaging.
4.Break down #3 - . Within 2-3 months of changing all this crap, I got a message saying to change the CSF filter and the unit just stopped working! When I complained the folks at HUL service are demanding 1500Rs for the CSF filter which has costed only 800 rupees a few months back.Take it or leave it is their attitude. How is that for daylight robbery?
Given all the above issues I sincerely regret buying this crap going by the HUL brand name. With the amount I had spent on this crappy unit, I could have even had Bisleri or such premium brand water delivered to my house every day and still save money!
What competitors are offering:
1.Kent RO - Excessively advertised. Reviews are poorer than HUL.
2.Eureka Forbes Limited - The good old desi player. The looks are not as sleek as HUL or Kent. The water unit and filters are in an integrated compartment instead of separated out like HUL/Pureit.
However, the water quality is on par/better than Pureit. My parents are using it for a year now(not wanting to change allegiance from their old brand). They stay just a couple of blocks away and hence the ground water quality is comparable. The Eureka Forbes unit though looking a tad dull/poorer in build has given them pure and clean drinking water with ZERO maintenance in the same time-frame I have been using this HUL thing.
And that sums up the review.All that glitters is not gold.don’t go with this flashy unit unless and until u want to burn money.instead go with established players who give better value for your money. I do not owe allegiance to any of the above companies. I just believe in this day and age if greedy corporates like HUL think that they can take their customers for a ride, they are well and truly mistaken.
In today’s mobile and social connected world, its not easy to get away with making a lemon of a product and fleecing customers. Hope this message gets across to everyone in HUL who had made that monster of a product and are trying to fleece customers.
Edit: Upgrading the rating to 3 STARS to "Good" from the previous "Poor" 1 Star Rating. This is due to the following reasons
HUL Folks duly contacted me after this review was published.
There was a new installation of the RO Filters, Carbon Filters. Approxiamate cost came to 2500 Rs.
After this for the past 1 year the unit has been running without any complaints. A Big difference from the time where the filters used to break down every 2-3 months.
The Quality of water in the unit has been great as usual and no health worries on that count.
Now why I still am rating it at 3 STAR
The humble Eureka Forbes RO Purifier at my Parents house(costing slightly lesser than the HUL Marvella) is still chugging along for 2+ years now! Unlike our unit which is used for only a single family and that too primarily during weekends/post office hours, my parents place is a hive of activity with the grandkids/sibling visits etc. on daily basis. They have not spent a single paisa on filters in spite of all the usage.zero zilch.and the water quality is still very very good as when it was bought new! The Europeans take the lead with their 5 STAR rating on this count! Hope HUL can match up to the Eureka Forbes quality and maintenance-free aspects.
FINAL EDIT: Changing the rating to 2 STAR Average for Product Quality. The Filters conked off enmasse again after 1 year and I was asked to pay another 7-8K to get them all replaced. I decided enough was enough and ordered a Eureka Forbes RO+UV model. The Eureka Forbes model is not as silent, sophisticated or cool looking.heck the new tap even leaks a slight drop now and then, but it works without a fuss.and I have been getting clean safe drinking water with minimum fuss and zero maintenance. Bye bye HUL Pureit.it is now safely rotting away in the attic of my home.