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Got Water Problems? We can help!

Problem:

Client: I’m having issues with my restaurant steamer oven having to be cleaned of a hard rock like substance on the heating elements and on the inside of the ovens boiler tank every 1 to 2 weeks. I’m also having to use more soap and cleaning supplies in the kitchen and bathrooms of my facility. I also have 2 large 1600 pound ice makers and 2 fountain beverage stations with 2 carbonators. My drinking water tastes bad and my glasses and flatware look dirty even after they have been cleaned in the dishwasher or by hand. My steamer oven manufacturer technician says I need an Everpure SRX scale inhibitor feeder bowl with a Scale Stick. Can you help? FPS: Yes we can but before we go any further and we sell you the wrong thing based on someone else. Can I ask you a few questions? Have you done a water sample recently to know what is in your water? Client: No, Why? FPS: The Everpure SRX scale inhibitor may not be enough or the right solution to take care of the entire problem you’re having. To know what is causing your problem in your steamer oven, bad smelling and tasting drinking water, high usage amount of detergents, liquid cleaning supplies, fountain beverage syrups, quick clogging ice machine water filters and dirty dishes it would be best to find out what’s in your water. How much water does your facility use? Client: Approximately 150 gallons per hour for 20 hours per day. FPS: What size is your water line to your kitchen and restaurant? Client: 3/4 inch FPS: Does the ¾” water line supply water to the entire facility? Client: Yes, it goes to the bathrooms and deep sinks. I want to make sure we don’t lose any water flow because we use a lot of water. I don’t want to use anything to make us lose water flow. FPS: No problem. Solution: Municipal water test results revealed the grains per gallon of hardness was 21, total dissolved solids were 289, chloride level of 237 and PH was 7.2. The levels of hardness would not have been controlled properly by the scale inhibitor system originally suggested and the issues in the other part of the building would not have been solved. We recommended to the client the Hydrotech Duplex 9×48 alternating tank water softener, a salt brine tank and a metered head which handles 10 gallons per minute flow rate. We also recommend an Everpure Triple 7FC for the beverage stations. Results: We talked to the client just one week after installation and asked how the system and his facility were doing after the installation. He said he did another water test after the system was installed and that the new water test sample reported the PH level was now 7.7, the hardness grains per gallon was now 7.5 down from 21, the chloride level are under 100 and the smell in the drinking water is gone. That was not the only good news. He also reported that the beverage syrup consumption is down and the soap usage has now been reduced by more than half than before. Also, the dishes and glasses are cleaner and shinier. The original problem with the limescale buildup issue in his steamer cooker, coffee machines and ice machine has been eliminated, saving money on downtime and additional service and replacement parts costs. He calculated his savings from this recommendation we gave and the equipment we supplied, he now will be able to save enough money to upgrade his facilities and add more revenue making equipment. Are you having problems with your water filtration or the quality of your water? Please do not hesitate to call us. We are trained professionals dedicated to solving all your water quality issues. Call us at 800-942-7873 or click the link below to ask a question.

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Chlorination Nation!

Decades ago, municipalities started adding ammonia to the chlorinated water treatment to boost the effectiveness in making water safe for consumption. As you can see in the chart above, Florida is one of the largest users. Chloramine is a combination of both chlorine and ammonia designed to strengthen the chlorine, making it last longer through the municipal water system. Chloraminated water is blended at the municipal water treatment site. It is monitored daily and after a large amount of rain, it is then blended a little stronger to handle the extra amount of water in the supply.  The ammonia in the water has created new types of problems that commercial equipment must deal with. Chloramines damage gaskets and o-rings and react with sweeteners in fountain syrups to form compounds that impact the taste. The activated carbon filters we used in the past are not as effective in removing  chloramine as they were with chlorine. So new types of filters and filter systems have been designed to deal with this problem. We constantly recommended the Everpure Series of CLM filters; the EV9278-11, EV9278-12, EV9278-13, and the EV9278-14.

All are not only rated for Chloramine but are NSF 42 and 53 certified. They have also been specified by Coca-Cola after testing with the new Coke Freestyle unitFor even larger capacity applications, the Everpure CB20 series can supply up to 5 gallons per minute for up to 85,000 gallons of water. If you have a chloramine problem, let us know right away. To find out what chemicals your municipality is using and what filtration can best take care of your water, call us at 800-942-7873. Have a different problem or questions, let us know! Sign up to receive our Newsletter!

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The Multiple Advantages for Commercial Water Filtration

More consumers are “going green” and ditching the bottled water. What does that mean for businesses? An increased demand for pure and refreshing water, ice, and beverages. The best way to deliver that is through a high-quality commercial filtration system. Benefits of Commercial Water Filtration Commercial water filtration systems are indispensable for virtually every business. These systems offer businesses multiple advantages, including savings:

  • Reduced expenditures on bottled water: In the office setting, employers often supply their staff and customers with bottled water. Cut costs on beverage service with an office water purification system. A filter system requires a higher one-time investment, but eliminates a recurring cost.
  • Eliminate incidence of injury: Lifting and changing the heavy bottles on popular water coolers can result in employee injury, due to muscle strain. Replace the cooler with an Everpure Reverse Osmosis System, which runs directly from the office water supply.
  • Improved sanitation: Since water filtration systems can remove microorganisms, shielding employees and customers from potentially harmful bacteria. Meanwhile, food preparation attains a new level of sanitation when completed with purified water.
  • Better flavor: The flavor of all water-based beverages improves with water filtration. Food service customers will appreciate the consistently delicious flavor of all their favorite beverages, from fountain soda to coffee.

Attaining Maximum Benefit The key to gaining the greatest benefit from commercial water filtration is proper maintenance. Business owners should take special care to maintain their systems properly:

  • Follow manufacturer guidelines for installation: Be sure that the person who installs the water filtration system is a licensed plumber or a qualified manufacturer’s representative. The installer should have specific experience installing commercial systems.
  • Don’t skip the regular maintenance: Read the instructions for the system and adhere to any specified maintenance schedule, such as changing filters. Failure to do so can cause increased wear on parts and leave water less than totally pure.
  • Clean the system properly: If employees will be responsible for any aspect of commercial water filtration maintenance, be sure that they receive proper instruction in all necessary techniques. Ask your installer to provide “lessons” to key staff members.
  • Teach proper technique: Show all employees the best way to maintain sanitary conditions. This step is often as simple as reminding employees to use the provided scoop in the ice machine!

From corporate headquarters to family-owned diners, all businesses can benefit from commercial water filtration systems. These systems ensure consistent quality, improve sanitation, and save business owners money.

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Don’t Forget About the O-Ring!

First, what is an O-ring? An O-ring is a doughnut, or torus shaped seal typically used to prevent the passing of air or fluid. O-rings are used to keep fluid or air IN or OUT of a defined space. This device helps to keep the water tight or air tight integrity of a filter housing or filter application. O-rings come in a wide variety of sizes and different types of materials; Types of Material

  • Buna-N®
  • Ethylene, Propylene
  • Silicon Encapsulated with FEP, an FDA-approved material
  • Silicone (Solid)
  • Teflon® (Solid)
  • Teflon® Encapsulated with FEP
  • Viton® (Solid)

    To extend the o-ring’s effectiveness there are some things you can do: Remove and inspect the o-ring at every filter change or every time the housing is opened, as well as applying the manufacturer’s approved lubricant. The protectant/gel, usually made of silicon is inexpensive and is easy to apply. If there are signs of any wear or improper form of the o-ring, the o-ring must be replaced immediately prior to restarting the filter system.    The life of an o-ring varies based on how you take care of it and what it is made of. It is very important to your operation to make sure you have the proper o-ring for your filtration application. If you have any questions on changing out your o-rings or whether you are using the proper o-ring for your system, I invite you to submit a question below or call our team at 1-800-942-7873. Click here to ask us a question!

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How Often Do I Change My Water Filter?

One of the most common questions we hear from our customers is in regards to how frequently a water filter cartridge should be changed. Whether it’s a standard sediment or carbon filter, every customer has one key priority in mind: How Long Will I Have Dependably Clean, Great Tasting Water? In other words, how can I be sure that my filter is still reducing the impurities that can impact the flavor of my water? Our standard answer: It depends. The frequency of filter changes depends upon your water quality and your water usage. For example, if there are a lot of sediment particulates in your water, then you will have to change your filters more frequently than someone with little to no sediment. If you are a large restaurant consuming large amounts of water a minute or a hospital with large ice machines, then your usage will demand more frequent filter changes. Having said that, we suggest replacement schedules that are generally as follows: Everpure High Flow CRS Quad MC2 System The most common Everpure Filtration System, mainly seen in the back of the house of restaurants should be changed every 6 months, or every 36,000 gallons. The EC210 prefilter, to the left of the MC2 filters, should be changed more frequently to extend the life of the MC2 filters. We recommend every 3-4 months.       Insurice Triple PF i4000(2) System w/ 20″ Prefilter For water filtration on ice machines, sometimes it can be difficult knowing when to change the filters, especially if you see no difference in the ice. But even if the ice is fine, deep inside the machine inches of scale can be forming and ruining your machine. That’s why it is important to keep a filter change out schedule. We recommend every 6 months or however many gallons are specified on the water filters. For the system pictured to the left, the Insurice Triple PF i4000(2), change those filters every 36,000 gallons of use. Again, changing the prefilter will give your primary cartridges longer life. You should also replace your water filters whenever you notice a decline in performance, whether it is a drop in flow rate and/or pressure, or an unusual taste in the water. You should also, per the CDC, replace your water filter after any boil water advisory alert is lifted in your area. Remember: taste and odor may tip you off to the presence of chlorine in your water, but most contaminants are tasteless and odorless. For the benefit of our customers, we have set-up automatic electronic reminders that are sent when we see that their filters are due to be replaced, based on order history.  We can even set-up Auto-Ship for customers that know they will need water filters by a certain date, but may not remember to place an order. If you have a water filter or filter model not included in the list above, and have a question regarding how often you should replace your filter, I invite you to submit a question below or call our team at 1-800-942-7873. Click here to ask us a question!

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Meet the OW Family!

This lovely family of water filter cartridges delivers premium quality drinking water for bottleless coolers and drinking fountains. Their unique filter blend uses activated carbon to reduce chlorine taste and odor and other offensive contaminants. Like most of Everpure’s carbon water filters, the OW family contains a precoat submicron technology which reduces dirt and particles as small as 1/2 micron in size. Check out my blog about Microns to see how small a 1/2 micron really is! But beware of the GIARDIA cyst!! The OW family inhibits scale from building up in your home water cooler, your water dispenser, or your drinking fountains. Keep an eye out for my up-coming blog about Scale!! Let’s break down this family and see what’s unique about each filter! The OW200L (P/N EV9619-06) has a rated capacity of 480 gallons. Its overall dimensions are 17″H x 3.25″ diameter. Its service flow rate is at maximum 0.5 gpm. This cartridge is commonLY used in office drinking water systems and home drinking water systems. In fact, that’s what I have installed under my sink at home. The OW2-PLUS (P/N EV9634-01) and the OW4-PLUS (P/N EV9635-01) are essentially the same. The only difference is their capacity rating and size. The OW2-PLUS is rated at 1,000 gallons and 10.25″H x 3.25″ Diameter. The OW4-PLUS is rated at 2,000 gallons and 14.5″H x 3.25″ diameter. But unlike the OW200L, they both contain a KDF media that can remove lead to below the Federal Action Level of 10 ppb. All the OW replacement water filter cartridges are NSF Certified under NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53, which means these cartridges get the job done! We gladly stock the OW family and for more information about the OW family, contact us at 1-800-942-7873 or click on the “Live Help ONLINE” link on the left of your screen.

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News From Pentair's Water Initiatives

More than one billion people around the world, most of them in developing nations, lack access to safe water. The result is that preventable waterborne diseases continue to be a leading cause of illness and death globally. Every day, approximately 25,000 people, mainly children in developing countries, die from preventable waterborne diseases, according to the World Health Organization. Pentair has been in search of a solution that not only brings safe water to communities in need, but also ensures that the solution is sustainable at the community level, taking into consideration the complex economic, cultural and geographical constraints that need to be addressed. The solution also needs to have validating methods and standard practices that can be replicated around the world. To accomplish this, the Pentair Foundation funded a multi-year research program in remote Colón, Honduras. The results of the five year program and the impact on the lives of the people in Colón have been profound. The results demonstrated that sustainable access to safe water and adequate sanitation can be provided cost-effectively, and that the health and welfare of the recipients can be significantly improved. Additionally, to ensure that safe treated water continues to be available beyond Pentair’s initial funding period, a microenterprise business model was established, where the local community owns the water treatment systems and users pay their communities a nominal fee for potable water. The individual user fee is established by the local community to cover the ongoing operation and maintenance of their system. Once installed, the system costs pennies per person per day to operate. Leveraging this success, Pentair is partnering around the world by putting its grants, technology and talent to work for communities in need of clean drinking water. By engaging community partners and equipping them with our extensive product portfolio and technical water distribution systems expertise, we are measurably improving water safety and sanitation worldwide. Understanding that everyone’s efforts add up to more effective answers, Pentair is leading through partnership to find a sustainable solution to the global water crisis. Pentair invites others to join in working toward a world where everyone has access to quality water supply. We are making our findings and models publicly available to other organizations and municipalities interested in replicating these cost-effective methods. By turning industry insights into collaborative proactive plans and on-the-ground tools, we are confident that even the most challenging issues can be solved when we unite around smart ideas. Reference: Pentair.com    

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What Your Unfiltered Water Contains…

Think about where your water comes from….and we don’t just mean the sink! Expand your mind and remember that water comes from unclean, natural resources like rivers and lakes, which contain pollution and contaminants that are unfit for consumption. To be clean, the water should undergo a number of treatments necessary to make it drinkable.

Specifically in tap water is:

  • Toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, copper, cadmium and aluminum
  • Volatile organic chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Chemicals from irresponsible manufacturers
  • Personal care chemicals
  • Household cleaning products
  • Water treatment additives such as chlorine, fluoride, and other toxic chemicals
  • Bacteria and viruses such as giardia, cryptosporidium, coliform and E-coli
  • Toxic Heavy Metals

Water purifiers are specifically designed to eliminate or reduce these certain pollutants that are in our drinking water. They also improve the quality and taste of the water by eliminating its chlorine content. It is virtually impossible to know what is in tap water at any given time because municipal water quality as well as private well water varies from place to place, season to season, and house to house. Even if all of the toxic metals could be completely filtered at the local water treatment facility, they could still end up in your drinking water because rust and sediment build up in the water pipes within our homes. Even this minimal exposure can cause symptoms similar to the flu, such as headaches, diarrhea, cramps, nausea or vomiting. The only way we can have any control over the quality of water we drink is by having a personal water filter system. Filtered drinking water is the most reliable and least expensive way to get healthy water!

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Canadian Firm Pioneers Green Water Technology

One of the classic problems plaguing mankind in the modern age is the facilitation of infrastructure, that is, the purveyance of essential services, in a way that negatively affects the environment and others as little as possible. The utilization of nearly every resource we use – from the most obvious, gasoline, to those less-often considered such as this one: water – exhibits negative externalities on the environment. Traditional water services make quite a bit of use of fossil fuels. In many states, it’s coal and oil which power water treatment plants (either directly or indirectly), gasoline or diesel which is burned in transport trucks, and electricity, however it may be procured, which heats water throughout our homes. Recognizing this, one Canadian water-treatment company has taken a step in the right direction. Tec-Water Supplies, Inc., of Saskatchewan, Canada has suggested the use of surface water as a main drinking water source instead of ground water. Doing so promises to supply entire communities with water on an “as needed” basis, from local supplies. This will reduce the need for staffing at larger, remote water treatments plants, and will cut transport costs and pollution. Tec-Water’s patented technology, named the “Floc System 100” removes the turbidity usually present in local surface water which made it impossible to process. So impressed with the prospect of supplying entire communities with local drinking water is the Canadian government that they’ve granted Tec-Water $120,000 to conduct a field-test demonstration at the “Sun Dale” resort community on “Last Resort Lake,” in the middle of the province. The test of 300 homes is hoped to form the foundation for a larger-scale implementation of the technology. As quick as we are to create environmental problems, we can solve them when we just try hard enough. Tec-Water Systems, Inc. proved it.

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Alaska Residents Get Creative with Water Filtration

As the direct result of petroleum contamination, “North Pole,” Alaska residents have been forced to “think outside the box” when it comes to their water supply. Thanks to a combination of readily available commercial water filtration technologies, these citizens have successfully lowered the level toxic contaminants to non-detectable levels. It seems that over the past decade, sulfolane, a chemical used in the refinement of oil, had been seeping into groundwater and private water wells. While the exact cause of the contamination is yet to be determined, the most likely cause is a gasoline spill which occurred within the town limits over a decade ago. The contamination was discovered recently, and has been detected in hundreds of homes in the area, at readings between 50 ppb and 250 ppb – levels above federally recommended concentrations, but not enough to make laboratory animals sick. In response to this problem, Flint Hills Resources, the firm which in 2004 bought the refinery responsible for the spills has developed some innovating solutions. By partnering with Fairbanks-based “Ecowater Systems,” Flint Hills Resources has conceived a point-of-entry water filtration unit to address the problem. In this unit, the contaminated water is first processed by sediment filter. Secondly, it is softened using a standard ion-exchange system. Next, a hydrogen peroxide pump breaks down the sulfolane, after which point a combination mixing chamber and charcoal filter gives the drinking water a final clean. The system has so far been successfully been implemented in 5 “test homes” in the area. Flint Hills Resources, which is currently providing bottled water to affected residents hopes to implement similar water filtration systems in more than 150 homes within the next few months.