Water Treatment Systems
In many cases, your domestic water supply may not be in ideal condition. Although
perfectly potable, the pH, hardness, iron levels, sediment, carbon, etc. may be
creating conditions that could damage your piping and fixtures or make your water
unpleasant to taste. Water treatment systems are designed to control these conditions.
Once installed, regularly scheduled maintenance is all that is necessary. A simple
water test is required to determine which unit, or combination of units, would be
needed to correct your individual water problems. Filters, softeners and neutralizers
are the most common methods of water treatment and can all be sized for your individual
needs.
Softeners
"Hard" water is usually caused by the presence of calcium and magnesium
ions; soft water occurs when these cations are low. Elevated hardness will cause
stains on your fixtures, spots on your dishes and insufficient lather from your
soaps and shampoos. It can dry your skin, cause your hair to tangle and feel rough,
and even discolor it under some circumstances. It can also cause scaling which can
clog pipes, decrease the life of your fixtures, clog your water heater, and even
leave a coating in your tea and coffee pots. A water softener will lower the hardness
of your water by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions, which
do not harm your fixtures and can eliminate potential costly problems. Once installed,
it is recommended that conditioners be serviced on a regular basis. For most of
our clients, this means every six months.
Neutralizers
A test will show where your water measures on the pH scale of 0-14. A low pH reading
indicates an acidic condition, whereas a high pH reading indicates alkalinity. Ideally,
the pH reading should be a neutral 7. A pH imbalance will ultimately damage your
piping, causing leaks which will increase in frequency and severity over a period
of time. A neutralizer is bedded with material which will neutralize the water as
it passes through. With proper maintenance, a neutralizer can prevent many costly
repairs
Filters and Ultraviolet Lights
here are numerous types and sizes of filters. For instance, there are whole house
canister style filters with cartridges designed to trap such things as carbon and
sediment accumulation, small filters for individual lines such as the water line
to the refrigerator and a tank style for iron. Ultraviolet light systems are designed
to make potable if a laboratory test confirms that it is contaminated.
Maintenance
It is very important to keep a water treatment system maintained. It is recommended
that units be checked semi-annually for proper function, operation and bedding condition.
The salt level in a softener brine tank must be maintained at all times for the
softener to achieve optimum results. The unit can be set to backwash automatically
at predetermined intervals, and a clock set accordingly. Neutralizers are also set
to backwash automatically, but the bedding level must also be checked to ensure
that it is sufficient to continue to neutralize the water. If maintained properly,
a water treatment system can prevent many costly repairs, more than offsetting any
costs related to the scheduled servicing. The filter cartridges in a canister style
unit can often be changed by the homeowner.