Starting a water treatment business should not mean paying to join a program or guessing what your first order looks like. With Aquonyx, the start is simple. No joining or monthly fees. Your first order is one pallet. Applying is free [1]. Aquonyx backs its systems with a written Lifetime Limited Warranty [2]. Homeowner financing is available to apply for upon completion of the dealer agreement [3].
Aquonyx designs its systems and sells them exclusively to approved independent dealers, never directly to homeowners [4]. Charger Water is a family-owned OEM and full-line distributor that supplies water treatment professionals and dealers [5][6][7]. Here is how the two compare on the terms a new dealer cares about most.
Key takeaways
- Entry terms. No joining or monthly fees. Your first order is one pallet. Applying is free [1]. Charger does not publish its dealer fees or opening order; ordering runs through its Charger Express online store for account holders [7][8].
- Warranty. Aquonyx backs its systems with a written Lifetime Limited Warranty [2]. Charger's written warranty runs 60 months on major control valves, 5 years on brine tanks and cabinets, and 10 years on residential Pentair mineral tanks, with no factory labor charge on covered parts [9].
- Financing. Homeowner financing is available to apply for upon completion of the dealer agreement [3]. Charger does not publish a homeowner financing program.
- Channel. Aquonyx is a dealer-only brand that never sells directly to homeowners [4], and approved dealers get training, technical resources and a dealer portal for quotes and ordering [1].
Competitor information checked October 1, 2026. Sources listed at the end. Rechecked quarterly. Corrections: hi@aquonyx.com.
Who are Charger Water and Aquonyx?
Charger Water
Charger Water has been family owned and operated since 1980 and runs sixteen regional OEM and distribution centers across the U.S. [5]. It describes itself as an OEM and full-line distributor, carrying control valves from Clack, Autotrol and Fleck/Pentair among many other product lines [6], and it sells its own Kenai collection through authorized Kenai dealers [10].
For professionals, Charger offers dealer accounts with marketing support, a warranty program, hands-on workshops and training, and independent-lab water analysis [7]. It also offers Total Connect, a remote monitoring platform with an embedded CRM [11], and Indigo, a customizable brand for dealers [12].
Aquonyx
Aquonyx designs water treatment systems and sells them exclusively to approved independent dealers, never directly to homeowners [4]. Its softeners, whole-home filtration and reverse osmosis (RO) systems are made in America — built, filled, tested and packed at Aquonyx’s U.S. facility [13]. Dealers run their own businesses under a written dealer agreement and handle their own sales, installation, service, licensing and insurance [1].
Charger Water and Aquonyx side by side
Charger is an OEM and distributor; Aquonyx is a manufacturer with a dealer program. The table compares the terms that matter most to a dealer building an installation and service business. "Not published" means we could not find the figure on a public page; we do not estimate it.
| What a new dealer needs | Charger Water | Aquonyx |
|---|---|---|
| How you buy | A wholesale dealer account with Charger, an OEM and full-line distributor of many brands plus its own Kenai collection [7][6][10]. Online ordering through its Charger Express store [7][8]. | Directly from the manufacturer. Aquonyx sells exclusively to approved independent dealers, never directly to homeowners [4]. |
| Fees | Not published. | No joining or monthly fees. Your first order is one pallet. Applying is free [1]; website, CRM and card processing are optional add-ons [3]. |
| Startup | Not published. | Your first order is one pallet, bought at the wholesale price assigned after approval [1]. |
| Homeowner financing | Not published. | Available to apply for upon completion of the dealer agreement [3]. |
| Warranty and who backs it | Written 2022 limited warranty to the original purchaser: 60 months on Pentair, Clack and GE/Osmonics/Autotrol control valves, 5 years on brine tanks and cabinets, 10 years on residential Pentair mineral tanks, and 1 year on other fittings and tank internals. No factory labor is charged for repairing or replacing defective parts during the warranty; parts are returned freight prepaid. Backed by Charger [9]. | Written Lifetime Limited Warranty on Aquonyx systems, backed by Aquonyx as the manufacturer. Copy provided to prospective dealers on request [2]. |
| Dealer support | Marketing support, a warranty program, hands-on workshops and training, independent-lab water analysis [7], and Total Connect remote monitoring with an embedded CRM [11]. | Product and installation training, technical resources, a dealer portal for quotes and ordering, a warranty claim workflow, and marketing materials where available [1]. |
What is still covered in year five? Year twelve?
A warranty matters most years after the install, when a homeowner calls you. Drag the slider to a year and see which written terms still apply on each side.
Written warranty terms
Drag the year; see what the written terms still cover
Charger Water (2022 written warranty)
- Control valves (Pentair, Clack, GE/Osmonics/Autotrol) — 5 yr; 60 monthsCovered
- Brine tanks and cabinets — 5 yrCovered
- Residential Pentair mineral tanks — 10 yrCovered
- Other fittings and tank internals — 1 yrEnded
Aquonyx (written Lifetime Limited Warranty)
- Aquonyx systems — lifetime limited; installed by an authorized Aquonyx dealerCovered
Summaries of each company's written warranty as published on the dates in Sources [2][9]. Both are limited warranties with conditions and exclusions; read the documents before you sell against either one. Charger charges no factory labor on covered parts; Aquonyx's full terms are in document 3LLW-AQUONYX.
Why dealers choose Aquonyx
A no-fee, one-pallet start
No joining or monthly fees. Your first order is one pallet. There is no application, enrollment or franchise fee [1], and the program lets you keep selling other brands [3]. Optional add-ons: a dealer website ($500 setup plus $20 a month), a CRM ($97 a month) and card processing (interchange plus 0.65%) [3]. None is required. Territory and channel rules are set in the written dealer agreement, so read it before you sign [1].
A warranty the manufacturer backs
Aquonyx backs its systems with a written Lifetime Limited Warranty [2]. The system must be installed by an authorized Aquonyx dealer; ask for the full written terms before you sign.
A dealer-only brand
Aquonyx never sells directly to homeowners [4], so the conversation stays on sizing, installation and service. Its softeners, whole-home filtration and RO systems are made in America — built, filled, tested and packed at Aquonyx’s U.S. facility and arrive ready to install [13].
Financing for your customers
Homeowner financing is available to apply for upon completion of the dealer agreement [3]. Dealer payment and credit terms are set in the dealer agreement [1].
Your name on the system, and support behind you
Dealer-branded stickers come with your second order; request them before placing that order to allow time for design and printing [3]. You also get product and installation training, technical resources, and a dealer portal for quotes, ordering and order tracking [1], plus a free water softener sizing calculator [4].
Charger Water is an established supplier with a broad catalog, sixteen regional centers, and tools such as Total Connect that many dealers value [5][11]. If you are weighing it, ask for its dealer terms and opening order in writing so you can compare them line by line.
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to start with Aquonyx?
Does Charger publish dealer pricing or startup terms?
Can I buy parts from Charger and still be an Aquonyx dealer?
Does Aquonyx charge a fee to become a dealer?
No. No joining or monthly fees. Your first order is one pallet. There is no application, enrollment or franchise fee [1]. Homeowner financing is available to apply for upon completion of the dealer agreement [3], you can keep selling other brands [3], and the written dealer agreement sets territory and payment terms [1].
Does Aquonyx offer a warranty?
Yes. Aquonyx backs its systems with a written Lifetime Limited Warranty [2]. The system must be installed by an authorized Aquonyx dealer; ask for the full written terms before you sign.
Become a dealer
Applying is free and approval is not automatic. Tell us about your business, your market and the systems you install today, and we will walk you through the written dealer agreement before you order. Questions first? Call or text (888) 295-3339 or email hi@aquonyx.com.
Apply to become an Aquonyx dealer →
Sources
- Aquonyx, Become a Dealer (checked 10/1/2026)
- Aquonyx Lifetime Limited Warranty, document 3LLW-AQUONYX (9/26). Copy provided to prospective dealers on request from hi@aquonyx.com
- Aquonyx written dealer program terms (dealer agreement and program sheet). Available on request from hi@aquonyx.com
- Aquonyx homepage (checked 10/1/2026)
- Charger Water, About Us, chargerwater.com/about-us/ (checked 10/1/2026)
- Charger Water, 2026 line card, chargerwater.com/line-card-2026/ (checked 10/1/2026)
- Charger Water, For Professionals, chargerwater.com/for-professionals/ (checked 10/1/2026)
- Charger Water, Charger Express online store, shop.chargerwater.com (checked 10/1/2026)
- Charger Water Limited Warranty (2022), chargerwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Charger-Warranty-2022.pdf (checked 10/1/2026)
- Charger Water, Kenai Water, chargerwater.com/kenaiwater/ (checked 10/1/2026)
- Charger Water, Total Connect, chargerwater.com/totalconnect/ (checked 10/1/2026)
- Charger Water, Indigo, chargerwater.com/indigo/ (checked 10/1/2026)
- Aquonyx, Manufacturing (checked 10/1/2026)
Charger Water, Kenai, Indigo, Total Connect, Clack, Autotrol, Fleck and Pentair are trademarks of their respective owners. Aquonyx is not affiliated with any of them. Competitor information is taken from the public pages listed above on the date shown; if something has changed, email hi@aquonyx.com and we will correct it.