Additional Information for ONIT Home

BBB promotes truth in advertising by contacting advertisers whose claims conflict with the BBB Code of advertising.  These claims come to our attention from our internal review of advertising, consumer complaints, and competitor challenges.  BBB asks advertisers to prove their claims, change ads to make offers clearer to consumers, and remove misleading or deceptive statements. 

On December 7, 2023, BBB contacted ONIT Home regarding advertised claims on their website, https://www.onithome.com/ and their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/onithome.

ONIT Home's website and Facebook page advertises, "Buy a Water Filtration System today and enjoy no payments or interest for six months." And "Simple, easy finance options to make the switch more affordable."

BBB Code of Advertising states, whenever a specific term is advertised, it must actually be available to all consumers. The federal Truth in Lending Act, as well as applicable state and provincial laws set requirements for clearly and conspicuously disclosing credit terms in the advertisement. 

BBB requested ONIT Home to clarify if their advertised credit terms were available to all consumers, or dependent on other factors. 

ONIT Home also advertises they offer warranties and guarantees, specifically they advertise "Lifetime Warranty", "Satisfaction Guaranteed", "25-year warranty" and "Guaranteed Savings on your Energy Bill- After the energy audit is conducted, your technician will review the results with you in detail. This report will include an estimate of how much you'll save each month on your energy bill. We are confident in the results, so much so that we guarantee them if you choose to move forward with the recommendations." And "We now offer a LIFETIME WARRANTY on our Water Filtration Systems!" 

BBB Code of Advertising states, that when using the term "warranty" or "guarantee" in product advertising, the advertiser must clearly and conspicuously include a statement that the complete details of the warranty can be seen prior to the sale at the advertiser's location, viewed on the advertiser's website or, in the case of mail or telephone sales, made available free on written request.  

BBB Code of Advertising states, advertisers should only use "satisfaction guarantee", "money back guarantee", "free trial offer", or similar representations in advertising if the seller or manufacturer refunds the full purchase price of the advertised product or service at the consumer's request.  

BBB Code of Advertising also states, when advertising a "lifetime" warranty or guarantee in product advertising, the advertiser must clearly and conspicuously disclose its intended meaning of the term "lifetime". 

BBB requested ONIT Home to provide a copy of their guaranty policies, modify their website to disclose how a consumer would be able to view the warranties prior to the sale, and modify the website to include the intended meaning of "Lifetime". BBB also requested ONIT Home to clarify if they offer full refunds for any reason a customer may be dissatisfied. BBB requested "satisfaction guarantee" verbiage be discontinued if a full refund was not offered.

ONIT Home also advertises claimed results including "Using solar energy will virtually eliminate your electricity fees, letting you enjoy a fixed monthly rate no matter what.  Now that is taking control of your future.  You can crank up the heat in the winter and blast your air conditioning all summer long without having to worry about your electricity bill." And "Control your energy bill and save money every month."

ONIT Home's website also states, "Get rid of PFAS chemicals from your water with a home filtration system", "Remove 99% of contaminants from your water and avoid health risks" and "The ONIT Home whole home water filtration system removes 99% of chlorine, chloramines, calcium, magnesium, and more."  

BBB Code of Advertising states, that claims relating to performance, energy savings, safety, efficacy, or results for a product or service should be based on recent and competent testing or objective data. 

BBB requested ONIT Home to substantiate the advertised claims by providing evidence from recent, reliable, and competent studies or other objective data.

ONIT Home's website advertises "How Energy-Efficient is Your Home? Find out with our free energy audit that includes a Home Performance Assessment. This whole home assessment reduces your energy bills and ensures every inch of your space is top-performing." And "Save Big on Your Electric Bill With a Free Energy Audit."

BBB Code of Advertising states, that an advertiser may use the word "free" in advertising whenever the advertiser is offering an unconditional gift. If receipt of the "free" product or service is conditional on a purchase, the advertiser must clearly and conspicuously disclose this condition with the "free" offer (not simply by placing an asterisk or symbol next to "free" and referring to the condition(s) in a footnote). The advertiser must not have increased the normal price of the product or service to be purchased nor reduced its quality or quantity. Whenever such an offer is made advertisers must make clear at the onset all the terms and conditions of the offer. 

BBB requested more information about their offer.

ONIT Home advertises "In 2021, we raised $3,401 for nine organizations" and "In 2022, we raised $4,462 for four organizations".

BBB Code of Advertising states, the primary responsibility for truthful and non-deceptive advertising rests with the advertiser. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate any objective claims or offers made before publication or broadcast. Upon request, they should present such substantiation promptly to the advertising medium or BBB.

BBB requested more information about their giving statements.

As of March 5, 2024, ONIT Home failed to respond to BBB's request to substantiate or discontinue the advertised claims.