If you’ve been following our recent posts about household water treatment systems, you might have decided to install one in your home. You know how important proper care and maintenance is when it comes to protecting your investments.
Here are four simple steps you can take to make sure your water treatment equipment is working at full efficiency.
- Conduct annual maintenance.
All water treatment equipment needs annual maintenance. It can be performed by the equipment owner, but we can provide it in a couple of different ways as well. We can either remind you when maintenance is due or we can enter a service contract and take care of it for you, so you’ll have peace of mind.
During annual maintenance, we check to make sure the system is actually filtering/cleaning the water effectively by performing a water test before and after filtration. We check the injectors and connections in the system to make sure the unit isn’t sucking in air or doing anything that would reduce its effective performance. An experienced, keen eye is needed to look at these areas, so it can be challenging for a typical equipment owner to know exactly what to look for.
Replenish salt regularly (if applicable).
If the unit is a salt system, it is very important that it is replenished as necessary. Salt is used to clean the unit, and if it doesn’t have adequate salt, it will not be able to effectively flush itself. Residue can build up over time, damaging the equipment. Salt refills must be done on a consistent basis—it isn’t enough to replenish it most of the time, but then neglect it the rest of the time.
Keep the clock’s time set.
Most systems run using some sort of clock that keeps the current time. They need to be set accurately so they can clean themselves at night. Normally, this happens around 2:00 in the morning. If the time is not set correctly, the units may malfunction or act erratically. If the unit is cleaning itself when you turn on the water, for example, unwanted behavior may occur. If the system uses salt, then the water will have a salty taste to it. If it is a unit that cleans itself with air, the water will have a lot of air in it and the water may not be filtered properly.
If there is a power outage or the unit is unplugged, the current time must be set again. The units that we install have battery backups in them. Even if the power goes out for a couple of hours, there will be no problems at all. The battery backup will keep correct time, so once power returns, the time will still be correctly set. Keep in mind, Daylight Saving Time may also need to be accounted for. (If you have any questions about your particular unit and keeping correct time, contact us and we would be happy to assist you.)
- Don’t exceed the unit’s capacity.
Water treatment units have a capacity, which means how many gallons they can treat or filter before they need to clean themselves. During the springtime, when homeowners start to fill up their swimming pools, an astronomical amount of water may be consumed in a very short time. The system will run out of capacity, and you will end up filling the pool with dirty water. Additionally, any water you would use for showers, doing the dishes, or doing the laundry, will be dirty until the unit cleans itself automatically during the night.
To prevent this from occurring, make sure that you pay attention to the unit’s capacity if you will be consuming a large amount of water in a short amount of time. (Our current systems display the capacity on the front of the unit.) If you know that you have exceeded the unit’s capacity, you may wish to perform a manual cleaning cycle, by pushing the relevant button on the unit.
Just like any important investment, following a few key tips for maintenance will keep it working reliably for many years to come. Remember, you’re not alone when it comes to proper care and maintenance. We’re here to help, and we’re only a phone call away. Give us a call at (540) 685-0366.
