The WaterPik was never intended to be used with salt water on a regular
basis.  The HydroPulse is.

Salt water is a good electrical conductor.  And as the water evaporates,
the salt that remains can corrode electrical parts.  I find that due to
the location of the power button on the HydroPulse, saline solution
often drips onto the power button accidentally.  Over time, that might
be damaging the seal and causing electrical current leakage.  When I
owned a WaterPik, with its power switch on the side of the machine, the
switch got wet much less often.

Let's wait and see if any other users of the HydroPulse ever encounter
excessive current leakage from their units.  I'm sure that if enough
reports of this phenomenon occur, the HydroMed company will then do
something about it.

Well, you lost me with the low wattage statement.  The power consumption of
a device has nothing to do with the necessity for a GFI.  Any device that
has line potential and is used around water can benefit from a GFI.  The
fact that the plugs are polarized is a benefit when a potential "hot
chassis" exists, to ensure that the exposed metal components are not at
lethal voltages, but does _not_ make GFIs "unnecessary" when water can come
in contact with line voltages inside an appliance.  Yes, GFIs have some
inconveniences, including false triggering, but that inconvenience pales in
comparison to electrocution.

You are always called in to defend the HydroPulse, correct, when anyone
questions its supposed "superiority", costing three times as much as the
other devices?

Something that I didn't notice in this post of yours, but I think you wrote
before, is that you are very involved in producing the Hydro-Pulse. Is that
correct? Why do you mention so many times that you formerly worked for
WaterPik, but do not mention that currently are involved with the
Hydropulse? When there is a financial incentive to any post, it should be
clearly stated by the poster. The sales of Hydro-Pulse affect the financial
well-being of your company, correct? You are not just writing from an
objective point of view. Dr. G asked you to write this, as you both have a
financial stake in sales of Hydro-pulse.

A couple of points about what you wrote below:

You imply that the HP is sturdier. Why then, does it only have a one year
warranty, while both the WP and Interplak-Conair device have two year
warranties? Why does that question go unanswered? Several people here have
mentioned how their HPs broke down a little over one year. Doesn't sound
very sturdy to me.

It's true that often the current WPs have problems, especially when used
with saline. However, the WP company is great about its warranty. You just
call them, tell them the problem, tell them your serial number, and they
send a new one (or a new handle, if that is the problem). They don't ask you
to send the old one back, they don't ask you to send them a copy of your
receipt. Nothing but a phone call, and they send you a new one. I would
guess that, as long as the model you have was made within the last two
years, that it would even be replaced after two years, since they don't ask
for a copy of the purchase receipt. Does the HP have such a great return
policy, within its much shorter one year warranty period? (Anyone here with
a HP had a problem within one year, and called for warranty repair or
replacement? If so, please relate that experience to us.)

The IP (Interplak-Conair) seems more sturdy than the WP. I have not had any
problems with mine. However, although I like the IP more than the WP in most
respects, the larger water tank (1000 vs 500 ml) on the WP is better for my
purposes, so I haven't used the IP much. Like your HP, it has a rotary
pressure control device on the machine, and is much quieter than the WP/

Regarding that the "warranty is voided if you use anything other than plain
water in the device", perhaps that was the case when you worked for WP, but
it certainly is not the case now. In fact, WP now puts out its own nasal
irrigation device. No one irrigates the nose with plain water, so they must
assume that people will use it with saline. One cannot make the claim that
the device is "not intended for nasal irrigation", since the company makes a
nasal irrigation tip to use with it. In fact, it is a little funny that you
make the statement about the warranty being voided by non-dental use, right
after the sentence about "we were very happy to sell Waterpiks because of
Dr. Grossan's efforts".

You criticize that the WP and IP are made in Asia. Yes, unfortunately for
the manufacturing work force in the USA, almost all production of goods
bought here has moved to Asia, Latin America, etc. I don't think that
degrades the quality of the product, however. You would have a hard time in
any shopping mall in the USA, to find any products manufactured here. Same
goes for the Hydropulse. Also manufactured in Asia, correct? So, how can you
criticize that "production has moved overseas", when your production is also
overseas?

You write, as has Dr. G, about "insurance reimbursement". Has anyone reading
this, who has an HP (several regular readers to this NG seem to have one),
been reimbursed by insurance for it? If there has been any reiumbursement, I
would guess it is a very small amount, like a few dollars, nowhere near
enough to make up for the difference in cost between the products.

Once more--before you write promoting a product in which you have a
financial incentive in its sales, you should be honest in disclosing that
fact.

Right on Mr Rocklin!  The Grossan Hydropulse rocks!!!!!!!!!!   Carol