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Product Help

To remove: We recommend the following:
Chemical/Chlorine Taste & Odor Carbon Filter System
Or Centaur Carbon Filter System
Or Cartridge Carbon Filter
Visible Particles of Sediment ChemSorb Filter System
Or Cartridge Sediment Filter
Iron with “Rotten Egg” Odor Manganese Greensand Filter System
Or Katalox Filter System
Or AIO Filter System
Iron with no Odor Birm Filter System
Nitrates Nitrate Filter System
Tannin Tannin Filter System
Hardness Water Softener
Dissolved Solids Reverse Osmosis
Bacteria/Disinfect Your Water Ultraviolet Disinfection
Or Stenner Chlorine Injection
To raise the pH level Calcite Filter System

Frequently Asked Questions

Remove Chemical/Chlorine Taste and Odor

To remove chemical and chlorine tastes and odors from your water, we recommend either a Carbon Filter System, a Centaur Carbon Filter System, or a Cartridge POU (point of use) Carbon Filter.

Carbon Filter Systems (and Centaur Carbon Filters)

ph1.jpgTo remove chemical and chlorine tastes and odors from your water, we recommend a Carbon Filter System. Additionally, if you have hydrogen sulfide present (rotten egg odor), you may want to consider a Centaur Carbon Filter System.

We offer 6 different size units for residential applications, where size of the unit is based primarily on the flow rate of your water passing through the unit, which then determines the amount of Carbon media per cubic foot that is inside the mineral tank.

All Carbon Filter Systems are sized to operate at 5, 6, 7 or 9 gpm flow rates, using either the Fleck 5600 valve for 5-6 gpm applications, the Fleck 2510 valve for 5-7 gpm applications, or the Fleck 2750 valve for 7-9 gpm applications. For these applications, we use a measured volume of Activated Carbon Media, (1 to 4 cu/ft.).

Carbon is very porous and will absorb chlorine and other odors from water on contact. As the water flows down through the Carbon media inside the tank, it absorbs tastes and odors from your incoming water, making your water taste better, cleaner and fresher.

The Fleck valve is used to backwash the Carbon media, rinsing and reclassifying it inside the mineral tank. This backwashing allows the water to easily continue to flow through the Carbon. This also makes certain the Carbon media particles are rearranged on a regular basis, ensuring that new porous areas of the Carbon media are exposed to the untreated water passing through it, making the unit last longer.

Generally, Carbon Filter Systems used on public water supplies will continue to absorb these odors and chlorine for about three (3) years before the Carbon needs to be replaced. After installing the unit, you will know when it is time to replace the Carbon media, when you start noticing the odor of chlorine in your water again.

If you get your water from a private source such as a well or cistern, it is important to make certain that there is no sulfur present in your water, as this will deplete your Carbon’s capacity to absorb tastes and odors much more rapidly, causing the life of the Carbon media to shorten sooner.

When the time comes to replace the media, you can save money and change it yourself! The Carbon media is very easily replaced by simply unscrewing the valve head off the mineral tank, dumping the old carbon out and replacing it with fresh Carbon. Once the Carbon has been replaced, screw the valve head back on the mineral tank, and you are in business! If you want to do it yourself, simply check out our online step by step Replacing the Media guide. We also stock Carbon or Centaur Carbon media that you can purchase by the cubic foot at this link.

Carbon Media Specifications.
Centaur Carbon Media Specifications.

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Cartridge Carbon Filters

ph2.jpgFor Cartridge Carbon Filters, we offer Pentek (formerly Ametek) brand housings and filter cartridges in both Standard and “Big Blue”, 10″ & 20″ sizes!

These inline quality units are simple to install and will remove tastes and odors (including Chlorine) from your water safely and effectively.

Pentek filter cartridges are also very easy and quick to replace when needed.

Please click on the link above to view all our quality Pentek filter housings and matching Carbon filter Taste and Odor cartridges.

Remove Visible Particles of Sediment

To remove visible particles and sediment from your water, we offer 6 sizes of Multi-Media Filter Systems and ChemSorb Filter Systems or several quality Pentek (formerly Ametek) Cartridge Sediment Filters for residential applications.

 ChemSorb Filter Systems

ph3.jpgTo remove visible particles and sediment from your water, we offer 6 different size filter systems for residential applications using ChemSorb media. The size of the filter systems are based on the flow rate of the water passing through the unit.

Our ChemSorb Filter Systems are sized to operate at 7, 9, 11, 17 or 23 gpm flow rates, and use either the Fleck 5600 valve for 7 gpm applications, the Fleck 2510 valve for 7-11 gpm applications, or the Fleck 2750 valve for 9-23 gpm applications.

ChemSorb� Filter Granules are used as a water/liquid, filter bed (or tank) material in lieu of sand/anthracite, pecan shells or other, coarse filtration material to efficiently remove suspended solids and fine turbidity particles. The filter granules physically filter and trap the suspended solids. In addition, the granules remove a wide range of colloidal and soluble, inorganic metallic, contaminants by surface sorption, chemical binding, charge-neutralization, coagulation, reactions and/or ionic, ion-exchange phenomena. One of the advantages of ChemSorb is its superior filtration rating (5 micron nominal) which translates to enhanced water quality.

The Fleck valve is designed to backwash and rinse the media at a set time automatically. This normally occurs every 3-4 days. While in the backwashing and rinsing cycle, the media is reclassified to keep it from packing down inside the tank. Also during the backwash and rinse cycle, the valve automatically rinses the media clean, sending unwanted, trapped sediment particles down the drain preparing the unit for continuing sediment removal.

These types of sediment filters will normally last several years with maintenance free service.

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Cartridge Sediment Filters

ph4.jpgFor Cartridge Sediment Filters, we offer Pentek (formerly Ametek) brand housings and filter cartridges in both Standard and “Big Blue”, 10″ & 20″ sizes!

These inline quality units are simple to install and will remove sediment from your water down to 1 micron in size, safely and effectively.

Pentek filter cartridges are also very easy and quick to replace when needed.

Please click on the link above to view all our quality Pentek filter housings and matching Sediment filters.

Remove Iron/Hydrogen Sulfide “Rotten Egg” Odor

Before deciding which Iron or Hydrogen Sulfide removal system is right for your water, you need to identify which type of Iron you have in your water and/or if you have a “rotten egg” odor present. Different forms of Iron require different types of treatment to completely remove them from your water.

Hydrogen Sulfide is commonly found in water containing iron causing the water to have a bad “Rotten Egg” odor.

There are basically four types of Iron found in water, they are:

  • Oxidized Iron – Contains red particles easily visible as the water is drawn from the faucet.
  • Soluble or “Clear Water” Iron – Very common and will develop red particles in the water after water is drawn from the faucet and exposed to the air for a period of time. The iron particles actually “rust” once they are exposed to air.
  • Colloidal Iron – Consists of extremely small particles of oxidized iron particles suspended in water. This type of iron looks more like cloudy, colored water instead of actually seeing small red particles of iron.
  • Bacterial Iron – Consists of living organisms found in the water and piping of the well and house. You can tell if you have Bacterial Iron by looking in your toilet flush tank and finding a reddish/green or black slime buildup. To confirm this, you should take a sample of water to your local health department for testing.
  • Hydrogen Sulfide – Causes water to have a pungent “rotten egg” odor.

 

For removal of Oxidized Iron (also referred to as Orange Iron) with NO odor, choose the Birm Filter System.

For removal of Soluble Iron (also referred to as Clear Water Iron) with or without hydrogen sulfide (rotton egg) odor, choose the Pyrolox Filter System.

For removal of Oxidized or Soluble with hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg) odor, choose the Manganese Greensand Filter System, OR the Terminator Filter System. (Note: Terminator systems work only with submersible pumps).

For removal of Colloidal and Bacterial Iron, the raw water must first be treated with Chlorine, before entering either the Birm, Pyrolox, Manganese Greensand or Terminator Filter Systems.
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Birm Filter Systems

Birm Filter Systems remove Oxidized or Orange Iron. These units work very well at removing this type of Iron and Manganese from water supplies with a pH of 6.8+, requiring only a periodic backwash to keep the Birm media reclassified and loose inside the mineral tank. Birm is a special Iron removing media that simply filters the Iron from your water as it flows through it. Iron particles readily adhere to the Birm media on contact. Birm Filter Systems will not remove the Hydrogen Sulfide “Rotten Egg” Odor.

We offer 6 sizes of Birm Filter Systems, which are based on the flow rate of water passing through the unit. Our systems are designed to operate at 5, 6, 7 or 9 gpm flow rates, and use either the Fleck 5600 valve for 5-6 gpm applications, the Fleck 2510 valve for 5-7 gpm applications, or the Fleck 2750 valve for 6-9 gpm applications. These systems backwash automatically and do not require any regeneration solution for operation.

Birm Media Specifications.

 

Manganese Greensand Filter Systems

ph5.jpgManganese Greensand Filter Systems remove Oxidized and Soluble Iron and Manganese with a “Rotten Egg” (Hydrogen Sulfide) odor in your water within a pH level of 6.2 – 8.8. The Manganese Greensand media is regenerated every few days with a weak solution of Potassium Permanganate solution.

We offer 7 sizes of the Manganese Greensand Filter Systems, which are based on the flow rate of water passing through the unit. Our systems are designed to operate at 5, 6, 7, 9 or 12 gpm flow rates, and use either the Fleck 5600 valve for 5-6 gpm applications, the Fleck 2510 valve for 5-7 gpm applications, or the Fleck 2750 valve for 7-12 gpm applications.

These filters must be regenerated with a weak Potassium Permanganate solution, (usually 2-4 ounces per cubic foot of Manganese Greensand media per regeneration), to restore the oxidizing capacity of the resin bed. The Potassium Permanganate is stored in a small separate tank (12″dia x 15″ ht) which will hold up to 30 lbs. of Potassium Permanganate powder. You can purchase the powder at this link.
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Remember……Birm or Manganese Greensand Filter Systems will not work on Colloidal or Bacterial Iron water, unless the water has been Chlorinated first!

Remove Nitrates

ph9.jpgTo remove Nitrates from your water, we offer two residential Nitrate Filter systems. The first unit holds one cubic foot of special Nitrate removing resin which handles a flow rate of 5 gpm, (gallons per minute). Our second unit holds 1.5 cubic feet of the special Nitrate removing resin and handles a flow rate of 6 gpm. The Nitrate removal units use either the Fleck 5600 or Fleck 2510 timer valves to regenerate at a pre-set interval, normally every 3-6 days.

These units regenerate just like a water softener, using salt to clean the resin during regeneration. They have a brine tank included with each system for holding the salt. Our Nitrate removal units are designed and built to last for many years of maintenance free service.

Special Note: There must be NO Iron present in the water entering a Nitrate unit! Also, for drinking water purposes, we recommend the use of a Reverse Osmosis system which removes all traces of Nitrates from water.

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Remove Tannin

ph10.jpgTo remove Tannin from your water, we offer two residential Tannin Filter systems. The first unit holds one cubic foot of special Tannin removing resin which handles a flow rate of 5 gpm, (gallons per minute). Our second unit holds 1.5 cubic feet of the special Tannin removing resin and handles a flow rate of 6 gpm. The Tannin removal units use either the Fleck 5600 or Fleck 2510 timer valves to regenerate at a pre-set interval, normally every 3-6 days.

These units regenerate just like a water softener, using salt to clean the resin during regeneration. They have a brine tank included with each system for holding the salt. Our Tannin removal units are designed and built to last for many years of maintenance free service.

Raise the pH level

ph11.jpgTo raise the low pH level in your water, choose a Calcite “Neutralizer” Filter System. We offer 4 sizes of Calcite Filter Systems for residential applications which is based on the flow rate of the water passing through the unit.

Our Calcite systems are sized to operate at 5, 6, or 7 gpm flow rates, and use either the Fleck 5600 valve for 5-6 gpm applications, the Fleck 2510 valve for 5-7 gpm applications, or the Fleck 2750 valve for 6-7 gpm applications.

Calcite is a naturally occurring, crushed and screened white marble, calcium carbonate media. It is used to inexpensively neutralize acidic or low pH waters to a neutral, less corrosive effluent.

One of the advantages of Calcite, is its self-adjusting property in that it corrects pH only enough to reach a non-corrosive equilibrium. It does not over correct under normal conditions. Upon contact with Calcite, acidic waters slowly dissolve the calcium carbonate to raise the pH level of your water, which reduces the potential leaching of copper, lead and other metals found in typical plumbing systems.

Periodic automatic backwashing will prevent packing of the media inside the tank while reclassifying the Calcite bed to help maintain high service flow rates. Depending on the level of pH, water chemistry and service flow, the Calcite bed will have to be periodically replenished as the Calcite is depleted.

Normally, a Calcite Filter System will need to be re-filled about every 2-3 years, depending on the amount of water you use, and the pH of your raw water entering the unit. As the Calcite slowly dissolves in your water, neutralizing the low pH level, it will also increase the hardness of your water to the point where you may need to add a water softener.

There are no chemicals or brine tanks needed for these units to operate, only a drain for back-washing and an electrical outlet to operate the automatic backwashing valve.

The Fleck valve automatically backwashes the Calcite media on a regular interval, normally every 2-3 days. This helps keep the media loose and free so incoming water passing through the mineral tank will not become restricted.

The Calcite Filter System’s media will normally last approximately 3 years. The Calcite media slowly dissolves over time and will need to be replenished occasionally.

When the time comes to reload the system with new media, you can contact one of your local water conditioning company to re-bed the mineral tank for you or, if you want to save money, change it yourself! The Calcite media is easily replaced by unscrewing the Fleck valve off the mineral tank and adding more media to the unit. Once the Calcite has been replenished, screw the valve head back on the mineral tank and you are in business! (See the Replacing the Media guide). You can buy the Calcite media you need at this link!

Calcite Media Specifications.

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Remove Hardness (lime and calcium)

ph12.jpgTo soften your water, we offer several sizes of Water Softener units to accommodate your requirements, using Fleck Valves.

A water softener is sized according to the hardness of your water and the amount of water used per day.

We have replaced many older softeners locally that have been in operation for as high as 35 years! An average softener replacement is closer to 15-20 years in our experience. (This does not include the discount department store varieties of softeners which seem to last about 3-5 years.)

ph13.jpgA water softener uses a high capacity softening resin which is loaded inside the resin tank. This resin is specifically designed to remove hard particles of lime and calcium by a simple ion exchange process. This means the resin beads in the mineral tank have a different or opposite electrical charge than the particles that are dissolved in the incoming water.

The particles suspended in the water cling to the resin beads on contact, thereby ridding the water of these particles, causing it to become soft.
The resin has a limit as to how much of these hardness particles it can hold. This is why there are many different sizes of softeners.

The Fleck valve has a single piston that is set into motion by the small electric motor in the valve head. When the meter on the unit has reached the set number of gallons of water, it causes the small motor to start a “regeneration cycle” within the mineral tank. The softener is programmed to go through this regeneration around 2:00am, and lasts for about 1.5 – 2 hours. The valve runs water backwards into the mineral tank to “fluff” the resin up, preparing it for a “Brine Rinse” with water from the brine tank. When Brine rinses down through the resin in the mineral tank, it causes the electrical charge of the resin beads to reverse and become the same as the charge in the hardness particles. The particles simply fall free of the resin beads, cleaning them! After the valve rinses the resin for a set amount of time with Brine to the clean the resin of hardness particles, the valve shuts the Brine off. Then the valve rinses the Brine off the resin beads, making them ready for the next softening cycle of removing hard water particles from your water.

You can have your water tested locally (city or county health departments) for hardness, pH, TDS & Iron, or simply purchase a water test kit at this link! When you have your test results, simply E-mail or phone your results to us and we will assist you in determining what system is right for your particular application.

Once you know your water hardness, you can figure out which softener would be best for your particular application by referring to the table below.

  1. Water Hardness may be reported in either grains, ppm, or mg/l. The chart below is based on grains. If your data is in ppm or mg/l, divide it by 17.1 to obtain the Hardness value in grains. Round up to the next whole number. For example, 304ppm or 304mg/l divided by 17.1 equals 17.8; round up to 18.
  2. Iron is usually reported in ppm or mg/l. Take your data and multiply it by 3. Round up to the next whole number. (Iron should not exceed 3ppm or 3mg/l). For example, 2.1ppm or 2.1mg/l times 3 equals 6.3; round up to 7.
  3. Add your Water Hardness and Iron values from Step 1 and 2 above. In this example, 18 + 7 = 25.
  4. Multiply the value from Step 3 times the number of people in your household. Continuing our example, 25 times 4 people in our example household = 100.
  5. Refer to the chart below. Find the row that contains the value calculated in Step 4 under the ‘Value Range’ column.
  6. The recommended Grain Capacity for the appropriate Value Range is shown to the right. In our example, the recommended capacity would be 48,000 grains.

Note: This table recommends Water Softeners that will regenerate every 6-7 days.


Value Range
Recommended Grains Capacity
Softener Resin Tank(s)
3 – 49 24,000 Single or Twin
50 – 67 32,000 Single or Twin
68 – 85 40,000 Single or Twin
86 – 103 48,000 Single or Twin
104 – 139 64,000 Single or Twin
140 – 175 80,000 Single or Twin
176 – 195 110,000 Single or Twin
196 – 237* 64,000 Twin Only
238 – 304* 80,000 Twin Only
305 – 490* 110,000 Twin Only

* This Water Softener recommendation will alternately regenerate one of the twin tanks every 3-5 days.

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Remove Dissolved Solids

ph14.jpgTo remove TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) from your water, we offer the Point of Use (POU) Reverse Osmosis systems. These units can be installed under your kitchen sink or in the basement near the kitchen area. They have their own faucet that delivers between 25-35 GPD of “Bottled Water” quality water right at your kitchen sink. You can also use this same unit to supply your icemaker and refrigerator door water dispenser.

We recommend changing the pre-sediment or pre-sediment/carbon filter and post-carbon filters every year, while the RO membrane should be changed every 2 years. We ship these filters UPS directly to your door. Order Microline filters at this link. Order AquAmerica filters at this link. Order Flowmatic filters at this link.

We have received many E-mails and calls about Whole House RO systems. We do not recommend these type of systems as RO water is extremely clean and free from most Dissolved solids. RO water is very aggressive in that when it comes in contact with the metal plumbing pipes, faucets and other metallic fixtures inside your home, it will actually eat away at the metal trying to absorb some particles of solids. This is why all residential RO units of this type are supplied with plastic lines. The RO water will not eat away the plastic tubing!

Remove Bacteria/Disinfect Your Water

ph15.jpgWe recommend using our Sterilight or Trojan Ultraviolet Disinfection systems for whole house or point-of-use applications. By using UV light to disinfect your water, you do not have to worry about adding dangerous chemicals to your water. UV Disinfection has been in use by hospitals, food processors and bottled water companies for many years.

An UV Disinfection unit does not actually kill germs, it simply takes away the ability for them to reproduce thereby making them harmless. The UV light waves emitting from the UV bulb is manufactured to produce light at a constant intensity which will instantly neutralize the capability of the germs passing through the light to reproduce.

The Sterilight water sterilizers carry a seven year warranty on the stainless steel reactor chamber, a one year warranty on UV lamps, and a five year pro-rated warranty on all other components.

We recommend replacing the UV lamp every year. There is little maintenance on the units other than changing the lamp and checking to make sure the Quartz sleeve that encloses the UV lamp stays clean. The lamp is easily replaced and it is not necessary to turn the water off when you change it. The lamp simply slides out of the Stainless Steel housing.

Sterilight Replacement UV lamps can be purchased at this link.

 

ph16.jpgWe carry a full line of TrojanUVMax products including the UV Max, UV Max Plus and the UV Max Pro.

Trojan UV systems are warranted for five years on the structural, hardware and electrical components, and one year on the lamps, quartz sleeves and UV sensors to be free from defects in material and workmanship for the specific parts’s applicable period (either one or five years) from the date of purchase.

We recommend replacing the UV lamp every year. There is little maintenance on the units other than changing the lamp and checking to make sure the Quartz sleeve that encloses the UV lamp stays clean.

Trojan Technologies Inc. manufactured the first two Class A systems to receive NSF certification, UVMax Pro7 and UVMax Pro15. UV Class A systems are designed to disinfect or remove microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, from contaminated surface and ground water.

Trojan Replacement UV lamps can be purchased at this link.

How can I tell what my flow rate is?

You can get an idea of your flow rate by simply running water at full open position through either an outside garden hose faucet or with your bathtub faucet.
• Find a container of know size in gallons – i.e. 5 gallon bucket
• Record the number of seconds it takes to completely fill the container up.
• Then divide the number of gallons, by the number of seconds, then multiply that number by 60.
• This will give you the flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM).

Example:
5 gallons divided by 17.5 seconds times 60 = 17.14 gallons per minute (gpm)

How can I have my water tested?

You can have your water tested locally (city or county health departments) for hardness, pH, TDS & Iron, or simply purchase a water test kit at this link! When you have your test results, simply E-mail or phone your results to us and we will assist you in determining what system is right for your particular application.

How do I know what size unit I need?

Our filter systems are primarily sized according to the flow rate of your water and secondly, on the number of people present in the home. Most residential applications have around a 5-7 gpm flow rate. Generally, the higher the flow rate of the water going through the unit the larger the mineral tank will be. With a larger tank, the filtering media will be physically deeper permitting the water flowing down through it to be in contact with the media longer, thereby filtering out impurities properly.

Once you know your water hardness, you can figure out which softener would be best for your particular application by referring to

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