Here are some common and frequently asked questions
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Welcome to our FAQ section. We've attempted to break the questions into subjects in order to help you find what you're looking for quicker. If you can't find what you're looking for, we encourage you to give us a call or utilize our online chat. We've been in business since 1980 and have experienced all water-issue scenarios so we feel comfortable that we can help.
Water Softening Questions
How is Hard Water Gauged?
Hardness is measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or grains per gallon (gpg). When levels exceed 80-100mg/L or 5-7gpg, they are considered problematic, cause scale/residue issues on plumbing fixtures, and affect the efficiency and service life of the hot water system and dishwasher.
Is Hard Water More Common In Well Or City Water?
Hard water is a product of bedrock wells. These can be private residential wells, but smaller towns can also be supplied by several wells. In municipal water systems where the water is from reservoirs, hardness is typically not an issue.
Common concerns about reservoir-fed water supplies are the presence of chlorine, fluoride, lead, and microorganisms. These are mostly consumption concerns. Depending on the levels present, chlorine can also cause obnoxious odors when showering. Most of these concerns can be addressed with point-of-use carbon block filter systems or reverse osmosis applications.
What Do Chemical Feed Pumps Do?
Chemical feed/metering pumps are used for various purposes. The most common uses are pH neutralization through the injection of potassium/sodium carbonate or iron, manganese, and odor reduction through chlorine injection. For chemical feed pumps to be effective, proper contact time must be achieved between the domestic water and the solution being injected. This is usually accomplished via an additional storage tank, also known as a retention or contact tank.
Reverse Osmosis Systems
What Is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a process in which water and contaminants are separated by passage through a thin semipermeable membrane. The membrane creates a barrier between water molecules and chemical or microbial contaminants as high-pressure forces water through it, leaving contaminants behind.
Is Reverse Osmosis Only Used For Drinking Water?
Point-of-use reverse osmosis systems are typically used to remove arsenic, nitrates, uranium, PFAS/PFOAS, VOCs, and many other heavy metals. This process also significantly reduces sodium and chlorides.
Water Filtration Questions
What Causes that Rotten Egg Smell?
Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) is a gas that smells strongly like rotten eggs. It results from the decay of organic matter with organic sulphur and the presence of certain types of bacteria. Even very low concentrations are offensive and highly corrosive (silver tarnishes almost immediately upon contact with H2S).
Because it is a gas, H2S cannot be collected in a sample bottle for laboratory analysis. Therefore, its presence must be reported when a sample is submitted for a treatment recommendation.
Filter Medias-Odor Removal(Hydrogen Sulfide-Rotten Egg Odor)
Centaur™ Granular Activated Carbon (GAC). GAC is a lightweight, highly porous media used primarily to reduce hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, and other dissolved gases, which can add to the taste and odor of water. Centaur GAC is produced from bituminous coal in a patented process, creating a highly catalytic functionality.
What are Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)?
TDS is the sum of the mineral salts in water. If it is too high, it can result in objectionable taste, cloudy ice, interference with the flavor of foods and beverages, and scale left behind in cookware. Generally speaking, the lower the TDS, the more acceptable the drinking water. TDS of 1,000 ppm or more is unacceptable.
Notes: If the composition of TDS is relative to sodium and chlorides, then the water would be extremely corrosive to plumbing and associated fixtures.
If the composition of TDS is relative to sulfates, then the water will create a scale similar to hardness and may cause intestinal discomfort if consumed.
Best Application: Point of Use Reverse Osmosis or Whole House Reverse Osmosis unit.
How does Chlorine get in water?
Most municipal water and some community well water supplies are continually chlorinated to prevent bacteria from developing within the water mains. Chlorine in elevated levels can be objectionable to taste and smell.
Best Application: Point of Entry Carbon Filter (cartridge or backwashing unit) or point of use carbon filter/reverse osmosis unit.
What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's)?
The presence of toxic chemicals at various concentrations in many water supplies has been widely documented. Detection can be difficult as these contaminants often have no taste or odor. Treatment depends on type and concentration. These chemicals may be industrial solvents or agricultural pesticides and herbicides. One of the most common is Trihalomethane (THM), which is formed when chlorine in the water reacts with natural organic matter.
Volatile organic compounds are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants. VOCs typically are industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene; fuel oxygenates, such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE); or by-products produced by chlorination in water treatment, such as chloroform. VOCs comprise petroleum fuels, hydraulic fluids, paint thinners, and dry cleaning agents. VOCs are common ground-water contaminants.
Best Application: Down-flow carbon tanks in a series formation.
What Dangerous Metals Can Be Found in Water?
Lead (Pb)
Cadmium (Cd)
Mercury (Hg)
Arsenic (As)
Selenium (Se)
Chromium (Cr)
The so-called heavy metals are toxic elemental metals such as Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, and Arsenic that find their way into water supplies from natural and industrial sources as well as home plumbing. These metals, especially Lead, can seriously affect the mental and neurological development of infants and children.
Radon Aeration Systems
How Common is Radon in Water?
Radon in water is more common in homes that get their water from wells than from public water supplies. This is because radon gas can dissolve in underground water sources like aquifers. When the water is pumped up for use, the radon can be released into the air in your home during activities like showering, washing dishes, or laundering clothes.
Here's a breakdown of radon in water sources:
- Well water: Radon is a concern for well water.
- Public water supply (surface water): Radon is not typically a concern for public water supplies that get their water from lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. This is because radon gas has a chance to escape into the air before it reaches the treatment facilities.
There is currently no federal drinking water standard for radon, but the EPA recommends a health action level of 4,000 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) for private wells. If you have a well, you can test your water for radon.
Is Radon Only Found in Well Water?
Radon is primarily a concern for well water, but technically it can be found in very low levels in some public water supplies.
Here's the breakdown:
- Well water: Because well water comes directly from underground sources, it has a higher chance of containing radon that seeped in from the soil and rock.
- Public water supplies: Public water typically comes from surface sources like lakes or rivers. Radon readily escapes into the air before reaching treatment facilities, significantly reducing the amount in the final treated water you receive.
While public water supplies might have trace amounts, it's generally considered negligible compared to well water. The main concern is radon gas released into the air from well water during household activities.
Equipment Systems Questions
How Do I Set My Timers?
Programming 440i Timers
1. Set days of regeneration on Skipper Wheel.
2. Set the time of day.
Note: With the time of day properly set, the conditioner will regenerate at about 2:30am. If you prefer to have the unit regenerate at an earlier or later time, simply set current time-of-day accordingly (e.g. to have the unit regenerate at 4:30am- two hours later- set the clock two hours earlier than the actual time of day.)
Note: The Timer Locking Pin should always be horizontal during operation.
Programming 460i Timers
Plug the wall-mount transformer into a functioning electrical outlet that is not controlled by a switch. Plug the transformer into the transformer plug receptacle on the control.
Open the access door by pushing the raised tab on the door toward the left while pulling the tab out.
Time of Day Settings
With the jumper on the set of pins next to the word TIME, set the time of day to the closest hour by pressing the black TIME SET button. PM hours are indicated by a light next to the letters PM on the display window.
Note: The unit is factory set to regenerate at 2:30am. If you prefer to have the unit regenerate at an earlier or later time, simply set current time-of-day accordingly (e.g. to have the unit regenerate at 4:30am- two hours later- set the clock two hours earlier than the actual time of day.)
Note: The Timer Locking Pin should always be horizontal during operation.
How Do I Change My Filter?
- Turn off water supply to filter. Most units can be turned off with a series of 3 lever/valves. If unit is Valve-In-Head style, rotate handle on top of housing to OFF position.
- Depress pressure release button (if present) to relieve pressure in filter housing. Some units may actually have a faucet near them you can turn on to relieve the pressure.
- Unscrew (from right to left) housing using spanner wrench. Note: When opening filter housing to change cartridge, it is common for O-ring/Gasket to lift out of housing and stick to cap.
- Remove used cartridge and discard. Rinse out housing and fill about 1/3 full with water. Add about 2 to 3 tablespoon of bleach and scrub thoroughly with brush or sponge. Rinse thoroughly.
- If the o-ring/gasket comes out of track, check for rips or slices in the o-ring and put back in track. If sliced then replace. Lubricate new o-ring before placing in track. It is recommended to replace the o-rings annually.
- Insert a new cartridge into the sump making sure that it slips down over the sump standpipe.
- Screw the sump onto the cap and hand tighten. DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN. Make sure the cartridge slips over the cap standpipe.
- Turn on the water supply slowly to allow housing to fill with water. When using a Valve-In-Head, rotate handle slowly to the ON (filter) position.
- Depress the pressure release button (if present) to release trapped air from filter.
- Check for leaks before leaving installation. The water will run foamy for 10-15 minutes after the filter is changed. Run the water till it clears and it is now safe for all usage.
Note: An activated carbon cartridge (Taste/Odor) may contain a small amount of carbon fines (very fine black powder) and a new cartridge, after installation, should be flushed with sufficient water to remove the fines before using the water. Each time you use water from your filtrated water tap for drinking or cooking purposes, it is recommended that you run the tap at least 10 seconds prior to using water. This is particularly important if the water tap is not used daily.
Note: Certain types of harmless bacteria will attack cellulose material. Cartridges containing cellulose may seem to disintegrate, produce a “musty” or “moldy” odor, or form a black precipitate due to the bacteria. If you notice any of the above while using cellulose media cartridges, switch to a synthetic media cartridge or consult manufacturer.
How Do I Bypass My Units If They Are Leaking?
Not all units are installed with a 3 ball valve bypass, but almost all filtration manufacturers equip their units with its own bypass. Many of these are a push valve style, lever style, or a disc rotation style bypass. Please consult the installer of the unit for instructions for the unit they installed.
See our video that walks you through a typical water system or check out the rest of our instructional videos.
Should I Disconnect My Systems if I Leave Town?
Not all units are installed with a 3 ball valve bypass, but almost all filtration manufacturers equip their units with its own bypass. Many of these are a push valve style, lever style, or a disc rotation style bypass. Please consult the installer of the unit for instructions for the unit they installed.
See our video that walks you through a typical water system or check out the rest of our instructional videos.