Softener and Filter Installation
Protect Your Clothes, Dishes and Plumbing
Soft water greatly reduces the scaling of pipes, faucets, and bath fixtures, and reduces spotting of glasses, dishes and flatware. Soft water also helps detergent clean your clothes better, while making your clothes last longer too!
Water Softener Recycling
1. The backwash phase removes dirt from the mineral tank.
2. Recharging the mineral tank with sodium from the brine solution displaces calcium and magnesium, which is then washed down the drain.
3. The final phase rinses the mineral tank with fresh water and loads the brine tank so it's ready for the next cycle.
It's easy to forget how important water is in our lives. Of course we need it in our diet, but in our homes, it's a tool--a fluid medium that carries material from one place to the next. And one of the reasons it does this job well is that it's very good at holding things, either by suspending them or dissolving them.
Unlike most tools, though, water doesn't come with an instruction manual. If it did, you'd know why the dishes you thought were washed are covered with spots when dry, why the water in your shower leaves a film on everything it touches, and why what you thought was clean water has clogged up your plumbing system.
Water passing through the mineral tank loses positively charged calcium and magnesium ions to negatively charged plastic beads. The brine tank holds a salt solution that flushes the mineral tank, replacing calcium and magnesium ions with sodium. A meter at the top of the mineral tank regulates recharging cycles. The valve assembly routes water flow for each phase of the regeneration cycle.
The Solution Is The Problem
While water is in the ground, it picks up soluble bits of whatever it passes through. While this can mean contamination that makes the water unfit to drink, in many cases it simply means that the water contains minerals found in the earth. Of these, calcium and magnesium are of particular importance because they affect the water's ability to function in our homes. These minerals make our water hard.
One effect of hard water is that soaps and detergents lose some effectiveness. Instead of dissolving completely, soap combines with the minerals to form a coagulated soap curd. Because less soap is dissolved, more is required. And the sticky insoluble curd hangs around--it clings to the skin and may actually inhibit cleansing. Washed hair seems dull and lifeless.
In the laundry, things aren't much better. The soap curd can work its way into your clothes as they're being washed in your automatic washing machine. This can keep dirt trapped in the fibers, and it can stiffen and roughen the fabric.
In addition to affecting the actual washing process, insoluble soap deposits leave spots on everything you wash--from your dishes to the family car--and a soap film will build up in your bath and shower.
Another reason to be concerned about hard water is its effect on your plumbing system. Calcium and magnesium deposits can build up in pipes, reducing flow to taps and appliances. In water heaters, these minerals generate a scale buildup that reduces the efficiency and life of the heater.
Water System Repair
A water softener is often something that is often overlooked in homes or businesses – until it no longer functions properly. According to a U.S. Geological Survey, nearly 90 percent of homes have hard water.
Be assured that a water softener will save you money in the long run, and that's where we come in. We may be able to fix the one you have, but if we can't or you don't have one, then we can install a quality unit at an affordable price. We use only the best water softeners available and will dispose of your old, faulty one if that's the case.
Ultra-violet Systems
Ultraviolet is a safe, clean, easy to maintain method of assuring that water is free of bacteria. It is a proven technology that has no significant drawbacks. In some applications, its initial cost is a bit more than chlorination, but because of its low operating cost, it quickly pays for itself. It is essentially trouble-free. Most systems require only an annual change of lamp--like changing a light bulb--and a change of filter cartridges if the unit has accompanying filters.
Ultraviolet or “UV” is a type of energy found in the electromagnetic spectrum lying between x-rays and visible light. Ultraviolet is divided into four basic sections: UV-V, UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. It is the UV-C, or germicidal UV, specifically the 265nm wavelength of UV-C that offers disinfection. The ultraviolet energy attacks the genetic core of the harmful microorganism and rearranges the DNA/RNA preventing reproduction. If the microbe can not replicate, it cannot infect! UV is quick and the most cost effective way to disinfect your water.
Is UV 100% effective?
UV disinfection typically offers a 99.99% reduction in both bacteria and virus and is more effective than chemical disinfection processes at destroying viruses.
Does UV remove E. coli?
Yes, E. coli requires a UV dose of between 6 to 12 mJ/cm2 to achieve 4-log disinfection. This is well within the capabilities of the Sterilight UV system.
How much does it cost to operate? UV systems are extremely economical to operate.
A typical household UV system operates on the same power requirements as a 40 watt light bulb!
Will UV change the taste or smell of my water?
UV is a physical disinfection process, no additives are required. It does not change the taste or odour of the water. It simply provides safe reliable disinfection.
How do I know the system is working?
All UV systems come with “lamp-out” monitors which give an audible and visual signal in case of lamp failure. UV water systems incorporate true UV intensity monitors so an alarm will sound if the disinfection effectiveness falls below a safe level.
Why do I need Disinfection?
Disinfection is required on all water supplies that are not protected by a municipal water source. Due to the uncertainties that exist within some water systems, we can no longer rely on the fact that our water supplies “may be safe.” By providing your own disinfection, you are taking the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the water supply for you and your family.
Do I need to Disinfect My Municipal Water Supply?
Our municipalities work very hard to provide safe disinfected water supplies to their customers. However, you may wish to give yourself that added “peace of mind” and install a UV sterilizer to protect against the possibility of drinking contaminated water.
What are the annual maintenance requirements?
UV systems contain no mechanical parts that wear out or require maintenance. UV lamps have a useful life of approximately 8,000 hours and require replacement annually. Proper maintenance of any pretreatment system is also required.
Should I be concerned about the adequacy of my electrical system?
The UV system requires consistent power, both voltage and frequency. To compensate for the fluctuations in power supplies, Sterilight systems incorporate proprietary ICE ballast technology to provide constant output voltage regardless of the fluctuations. This results in consistent UV output and UV dose. What size of system do I need? An average household UV range in size from 5 to 12 gpm. Determining your pumps flow rate will typically determine your required flow rate. (Sterilight offers many different models in sizes ranging from 1/2 gpm to 1,000 gpm.)
Should I shut my system off when I am not using it?
The UV system should be left on at all times. By leaving the unit on, you will eliminate the potential problem of having contamination pass through the system while the unit is off.
Do I need to worry about the quality of my water prior to the UV?
For UV to be effective, it is recommended that the influent water contain less than the following:
- iron less than 0.3 ppm
- hydrogen sulphide less than 10 ppm
- suspended solids less than 10 ppm
- manganese less than 0.05
- ppm hardness less than 7 gpg.
All conditions are treatable. To obtain adequate water quality for the UV, please contact us for further assistance. To validate the disinfection process, it is important to have the water tested for bacteriological contaminants on a regular basis.
