Water Softeners Part 3 Installation

problems caused by hard water

Time to install a water softener?

Scale build-up?

Bad taste & odor in water?

Stains on sinks, tubs, & laundry?

More scrubbing to get mineral deposits off faucets & shower heads?

If you’re experiencing any of these problems it’s time to get your water tested. A water softener system is the most cost-effective way to correct hard water hassles.

Once you’ve made the decision to install a water softener, you have some other choices to make.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS….

One choice will be the type of water softener you buy. Another will be how you will install the system. Many homeowners are comfortable with plumbing tasks and can do a DIY install. Others will want to enlist the services of a professional.

If you’re thinking about a DIY install, here are some pointers to get you started:

1. PERMITS

Be sure to check with your local building codes. Some locations require permits for installation of water softener units. They may also require emergency by-pass or shut-off valves. Local code requirements may affect your choice of system.

2. CHOOSE YOUR SYSTEM

Once you have the permit issue clear, your next step is to choose which water softener system you want to install. A multitude of online water softener sites provide an overload of information. You can get better information and more personal answers from your local water treatment service. We’ll help you evaluate your needs and get the best system for you.

3. TOOLS

OK. You’ve gotten your permit and selected your system. Before you go to pick it up, or have it delivered, make sure you have the basic tools need to get the job done properly. Basic plumbing tools should be enough to get you started.

Pipe cutter Pipe wrench Torch & solder Pipe fittings Flex pipe tubing Copper pipe PVC solvent Teflon tape Elbow unit Gloves and safety goggles Pipe wrenches

4. CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION

Permit? Check. System? Check. Tools? Check. Excellent! Now you need to find a place in your house where you will install the system you’ve chosen. Things to remember when selecting the location for your water softener include:

Easy for you to access to install & maintain
Access to electrical outlet
Close to drainage (floor drain, standpipe, sump pump, or utility sink)
Connection must be before water heater split
Connection must allow softened water to water heater and inside faucets, but not to outside hose faucets

5. INSTALLATION PROPER

(Note: These are general installation steps. We like these DIY instructions for salt-based, reverse osmosis, and magnetic systems.)

Step 1: Shut off water to house.

Find the shut-off valve (usually in your basement) and close it. Now, open the lowest valve in your house water line to drain all water from the inside pipes. Once pipes are drained, proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Cut the main line.

Use your pipe cutter to cut open the main water line where you’ve chosen to install your water softener.

Step 3: Connect by-pass or shut-off valve.

Follow manufacturer instructions to install the by-pass or shut-off valve. You should install this as a safety feature whether your local building codes require it or not.

Step 4: Tie in to water supply.

Use copper or flexible tubing and pipe fittings to connect water softener to main water supply.

Step 5: Set up drainage

Connect drain hosing to unit and clamp it in place. Feed the end of hose near where it will drain. Be sure to leave about a two-inch gap to prevent any backwash from contaminating the system.

Step 6: Connect brine tank (salt-based systems)

Connect the large backflow hose to the brine tank. Refer to your manufacturer’s instructions for details.

Step 7: Flush tank

Turn the valve into the bypass position and flush water through to clear any debris or sediment in the tanks.

Step 8: Add salt (salt-based system)

If you own a salt-based system, add salt to the brine tank following your manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 9: Turn on the water

Start by turning on a cold water tap somewhere in the house. Next, turn on the main line valve slowly until it is fully open.

Step 10. Plug unit in and set up timer

Plug your unit securely into the outlet. Follow manufacturer instructions to set timer on your system. Timer settings include time of day, hardness level of your water, and details related to the rinse and regeneration cycles of your individual model.

THAT’S IT! Enjoy your new soft water!!!

Knoxville Water Treatment knows that installing a water softener system requires a lot of work. If you have questions during your DIY installation, or if you decide you’d like a professional to do the job, give us a call today. We’re stocked with top-of-the-line water softener systems and offer free water testing. Get in touch today!

November 26, 2018/by Support Team

Clean Water, Drinking Water, Pure Water, Under-sink Water Filters, Water Filter

Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

Water, anyone?

Who doesn’t love a glass of cool, clear water on a hot day? Unfortunately, many people who go to their sink for a glass of refreshing, clean, clear water find themselves disappointed — or even kind of grossed out. Water taps across the country spurt odd-smelling water. The water often has unidentifiable particles of … well, something… floating in it and even sticking to the sides and bottoms of the glasses. No thanks! If this describes the water from your tap, it’s time to invest in a water filtration system. One of the most popular types of drinking water filtration systems is the reverse osmosis water filter system, or RO, for short.

What is Reverse Osmosis?

You usually hear about reverse osmosis as a way to make ocean water drinkable by removing the salt. Dictionary.com says reverse osmosis is the process of producing pure water by forcing water with salt or other solid particles in it through a semi-permeable membrane. In order to really understand reverse osmosis, we need to talk first about regular osmosis.

Osmosis

Osmosis occurs when water moves through a semi-permeable membrane from an area of higher concentration of water particles to an area of lower concentration of water particles.

Think of it this way:

You have one cup of fresh water and one cup of water with salt mixed into it. You pour the salt water into the left side of this U-shaped glass beaker. Then you pour the fresh water into the right side. A very thin plastic membrane filled with thousands of very tiny holes sits in the center of the bottom tube of the beaker. When you pour the cups of water into each side of the beaker, the fresh water flows to the side of the salt water. The water level in that side of the beaker rises. This happens because there are more water molecules in the fresh water compared with the water molecules in the salt water. The fresh water moves toward the salt water to even up the number of water molecules.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis occurs when you apply pressure to salt water. The pressure forces the salt water up against the membrane. The salt particles are too large to fit through the membrane openings and only the small water particles are pushed through. The membrane effectively filters out the salt and contaminants, allowing the now-clean water to pass through and mix with the fresh water on the right-hand side.

So how does all this work in a home drinking water system?

How reverse osmosis water filters work in your home

If you want to install a reverse osmosis system for your whole house, we can help with that. Most families, however, choose to start with a much smaller reverse osmosis water filter system that fits underneath the counter.

The reverse osmosis water filter system is connected to your water supply and the system processes the water through a series of 3 to 6 tube filters before it passes into the storage container. A separate faucet, installed on your sink, draws clean, filtered water from the storage tank. Some folks don’t want to install a complete reverse osmosis water filter system under their sinks. Most stores also carry a counter-top model of the reverse osmosis water filter system. This unit sits on the counter and connects directly to the faucet.

Now what?

Not sure if you want to try a DIY install for your reverse osmosis water filter system? Or maybe you need help figuring out what type of water filter system is best for you. Whatever your water purification needs, Knoxville Water Treatment can help. Give us a call today and start treating yourself to the best water you can get!

November 7, 2018/by Support Team

Clean Water, Drinking Water, Pure Water, Uncategorized, Water Filter, Water Purification

Good Water Makes Good Coffee

For many people, the first thing they consume in the morning is a cup of coffee. A good cup of coffee would taste like coffee and look like coffee. A good recipe for good coffee starts with good water.

Good water can come right out of your kitchen faucet. If you’re lucky. Water hardness can vary depending on your geographical location. Water quality can vary from town to town. Call your water supplier for the most recent water report to learn how good your water is. The water report should also tell you how hard your water is. The United States Environmental Protection Agency requires the monitoring of 91 contaminants.

You know you have hard water if you see mineral deposits on your pots, sinks, and toilets. Hard water can leave whitish deposits on your coffee maker parts that do not wipe off. These deposits are from calcium and magnesium and do not pose a health risk. Over time mineral deposits can clog the tube and drip arm resulting in an uneven or failed brew. These minerals can also leave a slime floating on top of your coffee. Clean your coffee maker by running vinegar through a brew cycle. Be sure to run a cycle of water through after that to rinse the vinegar out.

Water that makes bad coffee? Pretty much the same culprits that make bad tasting drinking water can make bad coffee. How about hydrogen sulfide, that rotten egg smell. The presence of iron can give your water a metallic taste. How about too much chlorine?

Coffee shop chains use a filter system that treats their water so essentially a cup of their coffee tastes the same no matter where the coffee shop is located.

A better cup of coffee for you might just involve using a pitcher type water filter product. These can reduce chlorine taste, odor, and contaminants. Be sure to read the instructions on how often to change the filter. Keep the pitcher and parts clean and store your water in the refrigerator to inhibit bacteria growth.

Using bottled water can make a good cup of coffee but the expense makes this not such a good idea. Lugging several gallons of water from store to car to house can be a lot of work.

If you need a more advanced filter system call your local professional water treatment company for their advice and solutions. If you already have a water system in place a regular inspection is a good idea to make sure it is working properly and maintained correctly.

March 17, 2017/by Support Team

Bottled Water, Clean Water, Drinking Water, Water Filter, Water Testing

Top 5 Reasons To Drink Adequate Water Daily

Because our bodies are made up of between 55-75% water, it’s essential we care about the quality and amount of water we drink daily. You can test the quality of your water by inviting a local water treatment company to your home. After you receive the results, you’ll better know if you need to treat your water to be ingesting more pure water with the necessary mineral profile for optimal health. More importantly, the most common recommendation is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Here’s why.

It Reduces Fatigue

If you’re feeling tired, there is a good chance you might be dehydrated. Feeling less energized is often the first sign of dehydration because the lack of water causes the heart to work harder and all the other systems of the body work less efficiently.

It Improves Mood

Studies show that even a small amount of dehydration can affect your mood and your ability to think clearly. A good indicator that you are well hydrated is a light yellow or clear colored urine. If you are slightly or severely dehydrated you’ll have yellow to dark yellow colored urine.

It Minimizes Headaches and Constipation

A huge contributor to headaches and migraines is lack of water consumption. Drinking water when you first feel a headache coming on should take effect immediately. When the body is dehydrated your body will pull moisture from your stools to make up for the lack of hydration and cause you to become constipated. Drinking your daily water intake will aid your digestion and prevent constipation and its associated discomfort.

It Aids Healthy Weight Loss

For many reasons changing your water drinking habits is the very first step toward healthy weight loss. Often when we think our body is hungry, the fact is we’re often only thirsty. You’ll find that drinking 1-2 glasses of water before a meal can suppress that false hunger. Drinking water also promotes fat burning and elimination within the body.

It Flushes Toxins

Having adequate supply of water within the body let’s the body sweat and release toxins through urine. Water supports proper liver and kidney function, essential filtering organs. If you are predisposed to kidney stones, water dilutes the salts and minerals that form kidney stones. If it’s safe to say water promotes your health, it’s probably safe to say it prevents illness as well. On top of preventing kidney stones and constipation, other illnesses that can be prevented by getting adequate water are bladder infection, asthma, colds, yeast infections, sleep disturbance, skin issues, high blood pressure, heart disease and more.

February 22, 2017/3 Comments/by Support Team

Bottled Water, Clean Water, Cost Efficient, Drinking Water, Under-sink Water Filters, Water Filter

Considering Installing A Water Filter?

Okay, you’ve tested your water or know it can be better and you’re considering purchasing a water filter. You’ve seen water filters attached to faucets in other’s homes, but did not realize how many different kinds of filters there are and how differently they can be installed! This quick read article can hopefully assist you in sorting your thoughts and narrow your choices. They are listed from simplest technology to most complicated and basically in order of value as well. If any hesitation regarding the right choice for your home and family, consider calling your local water treatment professionals.

What If I Just Purchase Bottled Water?

What if you’d rather not deal with the fuss getting a water filter that does or doesn’t do the job and just purchase bottled water? After some research you’ll find that bottled water is one of the least cost effective, environmental and healthy options available for clean water. The cheap plastic, often containing BPA and other unhealthy elements, can easily leach into the water itself and the water is not much cleaner than tap water when you consider all its pitfalls.

Pitcher Filters

Water pitchers that contain a water filtration system within the lid can be easy traveling or quick options, but over time the charcoal filters can get very expensive quickly. It does not remove all toxins or the worst kinds from the water and requires constant filling to keep up with your family. Faucet attachments that contain the same filtration (charcoal) are just as ineffective and costly. There are better options on the market.

Reverse Osmosis Filtration

This technology is also a charcoal filter that needs replacement parts over time, but runs the water through more than the previous options. It removes major contaminants, including arsenic, chlorine, heavy metals, and other bacteria. It usually attaches below the sink and has a holding tank. It can be more time efficient than the previous options, but still takes an hour to make one gallon of drinking water. It’s got the same cost con associated with the replacement filters and is worst socially because it wastes a ton of water that it rejects during its process.

Water Distilling At Home

Water distillers are very effective at removing chlorine, heavy metals, bacteria and other toxins from your drinking water. Unfortunately they are large and expensive. They use a lot of electricity which only adds to its cost. Due to a loss of mineral deficiency from using certain filters, you can experience negative side effects. This is something to consider when going with this or any of the previous filtration options.

Solid Block Carbon Filters

This technology is the answer to previous issues with other filters. The pitcher filters and faucet filters use the same kind of technology except the charcoal in theirs is not solid and that’s where they remove less toxins. Solid block carbon filtration systems are units that take up some counter space, but remove the most toxins with the least amount of replacement. The unit itself can be costly, but the filters cost less than previous options do over time. The best thing about this option is that it does not require electricity or running water and will make any water safe, including rain water, pond water, and even salt water. It even removes food coloring from water and comes out clear!

February 16, 2017/2 Comments/by Support Team

Clean Water, Cost Efficient, Water Filter, Whole-House Water Filter

4 Reasons to Buy A Whole House Water Filter Before Christmas

Reasons to Buy A Whole House Water Filter Before Christmas

One of the ways that pollution can affect you, your family or friend in the comfort of your home is your water source. Water pollutants or contaminants may come in the form of harmful chemicals or microorganisms that can prove dangerous to your health and the health of your loved ones. This is the reason why you should own a water filtration system in your home.

With the aid of a water filtration system, you will not have to worry about buying individual filters for your bathroom or kitchen. Just have the water filter fixed in your plumbing system and you get clean water from all water sources inside or outside the house in an instant. Doing this, you are fully prepared for Christmas holiday.

Here are the reasons why whole house water filter is necessary prior to Christmas holiday:

REASON #1: Friendly Water for Laundry Purposes

For homes without water filters installed in their water system, one of the common challenges is washing the clothes without getting the fabric damaged or discolored. A whole house water filtration system is the solution to this. With the use of a filter, harmful chemicals that destroy your clothes are gotten out of the way. Your visitors enjoy cleaning clothes using filtered water.

REASON #2: Guest Friendly Showers and Baths

Another advantage of a water filter in your home is keeping your skin free from harmful bacteria or microorganisms that may be carrying diseases. Without a water filter, these elements can get in direct contact with your skin, causing your skin to feel dry, itchy and even smell bad. With the use of a water filter, you will be able to keep your skin healthy especially when using showers and baths. It is easy to host a guest during a holiday without worry.

REASON #3: Cost Efficient and Safe Water for Drinking

Perhaps the number one benefit a water filtration system can offer you is pure drinking water. The tap water you and I drink is very likely to be contaminated with any of the following: live bacterium and viruses and toxic and carcinogenic chemicals. The list of impurities in our water is enormous. You could pay a lot of money for bottled water that doesn’t solve the problem of your shower water. When you have a water filter for the whole house, there will be no need for you to buy pure drinking water from the market. All you need is to open your faucet and presto! You have clean water ready to drink and use it to prepare healthier coffee or tea.

REASON #4: Get Water Filter Now

A water filter is easily installed on your faucets or shower head creating safe drinking and showering water. In many sections of the country, water coming from the treatment plants is still not properly filtered when it reaches your house. That’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Every day there are stories about people getting sick from the water they drink. To avoid this, just hire an expert to install whole house water filters systems in your home. By putting up a water filtration system for your whole house, you are ensuring the overall health of your entire family and not just your own. It is quietly efficient, and it gives you peace of mind. Get a water filter now for your house to make Christmas holiday more enjoyable.

November 6, 2016/by user

Clean Water, Drinking Water, Under-sink Water Filters, Water Filter, Whole-House Water Filter

How to Choose the Best Water Filter Systems for Your Home

Having clean and safe water is vital for every home. This can be achieved by installing water filter system at your home. However, most people face challenges in choosing the best water filter system for their homes. Whether you want to use water filtration pitcher, Under-sink filter or whole-house water filter, you will need to have an in-depth knowledge of water filter systems.

In this article, we are going to provide you with tips of on how to Choose the Best Water Filter Systems for Your Home. Having an in-depth knowledge of water contaminants, water filtration technologies and the basic of water filters will help make a wise purchase decision.

Contaminants in water

It is important to note that different water filtration systems may not effective filter out some contaminants. Therefore, you should identify the type of contaminants in your water. This will help you buy the right water filtration system that will remove such contaminants. NSF provides the list of common water contaminants. Moreover, NSF has suggested the most efficient technologies that reduce various water contaminants. Therefore, you will have to perform a test to know the type of contaminants present in your water. After that, you use the results to choose the most effective system that will meet your needs.

Common Water filtration technologies

All filters use the same technology, but not all technologies are effective. For instance, ion exchange reduces magnesium and calcium but will not remove other contaminants. On the other hand, mechanical filters will effectively remove sediments but cannot reduce chemical contaminants. Moreover, carbon filters can remove chlorine, mercury, lead and asbestos.

Types of water filters

These include Pitchers, Under-sink, and whole-house filters.

Pitchers

These basic water filtration systems require not set up since water move into the system via gravity. Therefore, you have to refill the pitcher as you use the water regularly.

Under-sink Water Filter

This system filters water using a secondary faucet on the kitchen sink. Under-sink water filter system treats water just before consumption.

Whole-house Water Filters

This is the most advanced system that treats water at the point of entry into the house. The water from the municipal line is treated before flowing into the entire home.

Salt-free water softener

This is ideal homeowners who want to avoid scale build up in the pipes or home appliances. Just like water filters, salt-free water softeners are installed on the home’s water line.

Water filter certification

Usually, water filters are subjected to stringent quality measures to ensure they serve the intended purpose. In this case, the best water filters should have NSF seal. NSF is an international organization that test water filtration systems determine their compliance with the required standards for quality, performance or safety. Therefore, you should consider water filters with NSF seals as they are reliable.

Water filter costs

The prices of various types of water filter systems vary greatly. Therefore, you will not expect to buy pitchers, Under-sink or whole-house system at the same price. If you need the basic and the cheapest water filter system, then you should consider pitchers. On the other hand, you may take into account the under-sink water filter if you want the convenience of getting filtered water at your sink. However, this option is more costly than pitchers water system. Otherwise, Whole-House filter system will deliver high performance. In this case, you will enjoy clean water throughout your house. Whole-house system is the most but it worth the value of your money.

Conclusion

Water filter systems are very vital in our homes. Without clean water, your family is at risk of getting water-borne diseases. However, it can be a daunting task to Choose the Best Water Filter Systems for Your Home.

The initial step is to determine the type of contaminants present in your water. This will guide you in choosing the system that will reduce specific contaminants in your water line. If Lead is a major contaminant in your water, you will have to consider the system that will effectively remove that contaminant.

Moreover, the filtration technology and the type of water filter system are things you should consider. Whether you choose Pitcher, Under-sink or whole-house water filter system, you will have to check for the NSF seal. The systems that are certified by NSF will serve the intended purpose. Conclusively, the above tips will help you get the best water filter system in the market.

October 25, 2016/by user

Clean Water, Hard Water, Soft Water, Uncategorized, Water Filter, Water Testing

Suspect hard water? There’s a test for that.

Different Ways Of Conducting Hard Water Test

Water is very important to us. You will realize that we normally use it for drinking, cleaning and so on. You need water on a daily basis. Water can be hard or soft. You will realize that hard water normally takes time to lather with soap. Hard water can actually frustrate you. It can make your dishes to be spotty and even affect your skin. It can make your skin to be dry. It can also affect other appliances in your home. If you spot any of these signs, you are living in a hard water zone. You will realize that very few people normally have water softeners. Most homes in the United States have hard water. This is the reason why you should test whether your water is hard or soft.

Testing your water’s hardness will go a long way in finding the best solution for your home. There are many ways of testing whether your water is hard or not. Some of those ways include:

1. Review your yearly consumer confidence report.

This confidence report is normally sent by July 1 from your water supplier. This report basically has details of where your water comes from and what’s in it. You can actually call your water supplier if you do not receive your confidence report on time. He or she will send it to you. If the water hardness level is not indicated in the annual report, you can contact your local water municipality.

2. Carry out some tests at home.

Put some water in a clean water bottle and add a few drops of basic soap. A good example is Castile. It is normally free of dyes and perfumes. Once you are done, shake the bottle vigorously for a few seconds. If you see milky water that lacks fluffy bubbles, it shows that your water is hard. You will realize that soft water normally has an abundance of bubbles.

3. Use hard water test strips.

You can actually buy these strips from any store or through an online retailer. These test kits normally cost between $5 and $20.These test kits can actually help you determine whether your water is hard is hard or not.

4. Use a third-party lab

You can actually send some water samples to a third party lab for more analysis.

5. Hire the services of Knoxville Water treatment.

We are professionals in this field. We can help you determine whether your water is hard or not. Once you hire us, we will come and do hard water test for free.

October 17, 2016/by user

Clean Water, Water Filter, Whole-House Water Filter

Cleaning With A Whole-House Water Filter

CLEANING AFFECTED BY WATER FILTER

Everyone knows how important it is to use pure, safe, hygienic water for drinking and cooking for better health and living. Clean water is good for your skin, hair, metabolism and a myriad of other reasons which will always want you to look for options to get the best water purifying system. To enhance the healthy lifestyle of your families it is very important to use clean water for not just consumption or sanitization purposes by it is very interesting to know how a whole house water filter affects your cleaning.

Tap water contains many contaminants such as chlorine that could be very hazardous to health and needs to be filtered out before drinking or using for cooking. Let us check out how the different chemicals present in the water can affect cleaning and the advantages of having a whole house water filter system.

Protects your Clothing

A Whole House Water Filter system is designed to filter water at the source so that right from the time it is out of the filter tap, it can be used for all household chores including laundry, dishwashing etc. It is a known fact that chlorine based water is unhealthy and we should only consume filtered clean water. As clothes can be a medium of absorption for our bodies through skin, it is very essential to use filtered laundry water for our health. This will also help to prolong the good quality of the clothing, protect the colors and elasticity from fading away and the beauty of your clothes. A whole house filter system can be used to address this issue effectively.

Breathe Cleaner Air

Everyone knows that breathing unhealthy air full of contaminants can be detrimental to health. Even in small traces, this kind of polluted air can built up over time causing bigger health issues. A common occurrence could be breathing under a hot shower bath with unfiltered water. Do you know that there are traces harmful being sucked into your lungs daily if you are not using a whole house water filter? The same pollutant is being emitted from your laundry machine and dishwashing equipment too. Since municipal water supply has chlorine in it, we have to stress on removing that chlorine at the source itself before using it for any household chores. This will help to clean the air that we breathe for better quality of life and prevent respiratory disorders.

Prolong the life of your Appliances

The same health concern with unfiltered water can be true while dishwashing. We do not want any chemical traces on our cookware than there already is by using untreated water. The chemicals can build up on the utensils gradually that can be annoying and we mistakenly blame the dishwasher and try to replace it. Well, the culprit is not the dishwasher but the chlorine loaded contaminated unfiltered water that is slowly but steadily damaging the cookware. In fact, by continually using polluted water the dishwasher can be less efficient and may not perform at its best.

The whole house water filter does have the copper zinc based mineral stone filter and a carbon activated element to eliminate chemicals and prolong the life of various household appliances. To take it a notch up, an advanced filtration system can be used to include salt water softener and other variants. So, it is the need of the hour to install a whole house water filter system for better cleaning and quality of life.

September 16, 2016/by user