Customer Reviews

WaterPik WP-60W Personal Dental Water Jet System

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

I've been using a Waterpik for several decades now, and while the effectiveness of the product -- excellent for oral irrigation and toughening the gums -- has been consistent, the design and quality of the product have faltered. My first Waterpik, purchased in the early 1970s for sensitive gums on the recommendation of my dentist, lasted far longer than my more recent purchases. Sometimes the motor gives out, and sometimes the hose gives out.

That said, no product lasts forever. But what really annoys me is the design of the current product. First of all, instead of two "picks," Waterpik now gives you one "pick" and a "tongue cleaner." And when you attempt to purchase replacement picks, you must buy them with the tongue cleaner as well. Furthermore, the design of the current model is too big and bulky, not neat and compact as it once was. And lastly, the only way you can close the Waterpik is by removing the pick every time; the top will not fit over the bottom otherwise.

Bottom line: It is still a good product, but it becomes increasingly inconvenient with each new iteration, and I think the market is ripe for the competition.

Update May 2008: This Waterpik finally went the way of all moving devices (the cable from the implement broke), and I purchased the newer "Ultra" model. Many of the inconveniences of the "Personal" model have been eliminated in the Ultra: The Ultra has a much smaller footprint, the jet is positioned better, and it has a top to cover the reservoir when not in use. Even though it is about 50% more in cost, it is worth it to me (despite the blue reservoir, which doesn't match any of my countertop accessories).

Look at the photo carefully. See the tub up on top where the water goes? It's not attached permanently. It just kind of wobbles up there with a small gasket around the hole in the bottom where the water is fed into the motor. In other words, if you were to remove or bump the tub while it has water in it, it will spill over everything. Also, you can't leave any water in it and place the mouth piece in its holder or set it on your counter for a moment, as it begins to slowly drain water if it's not held higher than the level of the water--a syphoning effect occours.

The tube that extends from the unit to the mouthpiece is cheap and way too short (hardly 3 feet) and it's so strongly coiled it ends up hardly being able to reach 2 feet.

The motor is very loud and sounds like an old rusty boat motor and shakes itself around my counter. (I learned setting it on a towell helps to immobilize it, and quiet it a bit, which is good because I'll also have a towell ready in case I bump into the tub.)

Why then do I use it? Well, because it actually works! Once I mastered the art of using this half-baked contraption, I found my mouth, teeth, and gums are cleaner than ever. The stream of water it puts out is very powerfull and "Piks" up where brushing and flossing leave off. I'd gladly buy a better brand if one existed, but to my knowledge, WaterPik are the only ones making such a machine. I think that explains why WaterPik has cut so many corners making this thing--no competition! No one else wants to make them.

What a piece of junk! I had it for a full day -- just long enough to throw out my sales receipt, of course -- before the hose popped off the handle, shooting water all over the bathroom. I'm not sure why Waterpik expected the hose to stay on the handle in the first place; it looks like it must have been secured with spit -- or prayers -- as there is no tape or gromit of any kind to secure it. Apparently a "handle replacement kit" is available from the manufacturer, and I have inquired how I might order one. I suspect Waterpik does a thriving business selling these, as the hose/handle connection is so flimsy it seems sure to fail -- in my case, within one day. My advice: save your sales receipt in case you need to return your unit to the store where you bought it, or you require warranty service. Pathetic.

ADDENDUM (written one week later): Well, I was wrong. You DON'T need to save your receipt, unless you want to return a failed WP-60 to the store. I contacted Waterpik at their website, explained the problem -- and one week later they sent a whole new unit. I must say, they certainly stand behind their (faulty) product! (Perhaps it helps if you point out, as I did, that if the problem of the hose detaching is common enough to warrant a topic on their customer support page, perhaps they might engineer a more effective solution!) Does the new unit work? The hose appears to be affixed more securely to the handle, but I am still using my first unit, as I devised a simple but effective solution while Waterpik was making their move: just by wrapping a length of Scotch plastic tape around the detached hose, you increase the circumference of the hose enough to make a snug fit with the little white plastic collar tucked in the handle where the hose attaches. So you just remove the collar from the handle, slide the collar on the hose now reinforced with the tape, plug the hose into the handle, then reinsert the collar so the tab fits under the lip of the handle. Again, one wonders how Waterpik stays in business effecting such elaborate solutions to such simple (but critical) design flaws; it's like an auto manufacturer giving you a whole new car because they had installed faulty lug nuts on one of your wheels. Another design flaw that shouldn't exist on such a mature product: the irrigation tips really need a gnurled grip so you can turn them in your mouth easily when they get wet while in use. Beyond this, the motor works (so far), and Waterpik does stand behind the product. One also has to wonder, however, what would happen to Waterpik's market share if a Japanese company who sweats the details like Panasonic decided to make a plug-in oral irrigator...

SECOND ADDENDUM (written a few months later): Grrr -- the cleaning tip broke this morning when I tried to remove it from the hose. You'll need to keep a spare or two in the house, and I understand that Waterpik only sells the tip with a tongue cleaner, which I don't need. Again, yet another fault in what should by now be a mature product...

Purchased the WP70W model two months ago. It is already nearly
non-functional. It appears to be leaking water from inside the handle therefore no water pressure at all. I have purchased
Teledyne Water Piks in the past and they didn't last very long
either. It had been a few years since I used this model, so I
decided to try them one more time. Big mistake. The Braun Oral-B
MD-15 Oxyjet is your better bet.

I have been using waterpik for about 6 years now, my 3rd waterpik broke this week. When I tried to replace that one I found Conair Interplak Dental Water Jet in a local store, I had to buy it because they did not have a waterpik and I could not live with out one!!. When I tried Conair Interplak Dental Water Jet I was pleasantly surprised by its performance, it was quiet and jet had enough force but it did not hurt my gums at all!!!. A big problem with Conair Interplak Dental Water Jet was that it has a smaller tank, so you have to stop and refill 3-4 times before you complete!!!.

I bought a WaterPik in about 1963, and it ran fine till about 2001, when the pump wore out. Teledyne, the new owner of the brand, said no replacement parts were available. I bought a new WaterPik, expecting another 40 years of use -- silly me! The switch malfunctioned in a couple weeks, and I exchanged the Pik for another one. This one ran okay till a few weeks ago, when it lost its ability to provide pulses of water at more than one setting. Yesterday, even that setting produced insufficient pressure to serve any purpose. And the water in the reservoir simply ran out the bottom of the unit. I assume the pump leaked. Anyway, the firm listed on the WaterPik web site as the repair place in Dallas says it does no repairs, but only ships units under warranty back to Teledyne. Anybody know another brand of oral irrigator that I can try?

I bought my first Water Pik in about 1970 at the recommendation of my dentist at that time. I think that I am on my 5th one now. I think that they have each lasted about 5 years on the average. Like others have mentioned, generally the hoses fail. In more recent years they have not allowed us to get hose parts and repair this ourselves. There have been years when I did not replace a failed Water Pik. However, I keep coming back to using Water Pik and am hooked on using it. I am especially dependant on Water Pik for a good cleaning of the few dental food pockets that I have. It has also helped me to have healthy gums.

I recently purchased this model and was surprised at the poor
design--there were two main things that were wrong:

1. The lowest power setting is too weak, while the next highest setting is almost too powerful and uncomfortable. There needs to be more gradations of jet power--I don't have sensitive gums but I couldn't imagine anyone being able to withstand the higher settings.

2. The power control is located in a bad spot--on the part you hold while using, and you have to be extra careful not to let your wet thumb slip and accidentally increase the jet power, which could easily hurt your gums.

I expected a company that's been making this product for 30 years to have had a better design.
I definitely would NOT recommend this product.

I bought this product since I have gum disease and need to floss. I always had trouble flossing and this product seemed to be a good solution.

I read some of the reviews before buying this product on Amazon. The reviews were not necessarily glowing but okay. I should have paid more attention to the reviews since they are not wrong. The problems that I ran into are as follows...

1) There is no switch to shut off the water stream without turning the system off. So if you move the spayer from your mouth, water will spray across the room. At the lowest setting the stream is strong...

2) As other people have noticed, the WaterPik has a vibration problem. The WaterPik periodically starts vibrating and it makes use very difficult.

Since my dentist is now recommending an oral irrigation system, I need to look at a different brand. I am now considering the portable Panasonic irrigator. It is not perfect, but I have a number of Panasonic products, at home, which I am happy with...

This is perhaps my 5th Waterpik. Eventually they die or start leaking in odd places, turning your bathroom into a rainforest. Why do I keep coming back? THEY WORK! I get compliments from my dentist and my dental hygienist. Better than flossing. Keeps those gums healthy. It's bulky, it tips, and I love it.