Water filtration systems can provide many benefits and are a great investment. Water filtration systems improve the quality of your water by removing hard minerals which makes your water cleaner and healthier. There are various water filtration systems but to keep them functioning correctly, it is very important to properly maintain and clean your system. This article will tell you the best way to maintain the three common water filtration systems so that they can keep providing you and your family with high-quality water.

 

Reverse water osmosis (ROS) filtration systems are installed under your sink and provide you with clean, filtered water for drinking, cooking, and washing. To properly maintain your ROS system, the most important thing is to regularly replace the reverse osmosis filters and the membrane. All ROS systems have filters that are designed to remove chlorine from the water to stop it from destroying the reverse osmosis membrane. How often you will need to change the filters depends on the chlorine levels of the water in your area but if they are very high, you may need to replace them every six months. If calcium levels are not too high, then every 12 months should be sufficient to offer adequate protection for the membrane. The next thing you need to do is to drain the reverse osmosis storage tank in order to fully replace the water. Correct maintenance includes checking the tank for leaking valves and cleaning out all the tubes. You can visit this online resource if you want to find out more about cleaning your ROS system. Storage tanks can accumulate slime so when the tank is empty you should clean it thoroughly and sanitize it before refilling it. It is particularly important to sanitize the tank when the reverse osmosis membrane needs replacing as it is likely that slime will have built up at the end of the membrane’s life.

 

UV purification systems use ultraviolet radiation to kill harmful bacteria in your water. To make sure they are able to function properly, UV purification systems require regular maintenance and the two most important components that you need to look after are the UV lamp and the quartz sleeve. The UV lamp is the component that transmits the UV radiation, but over time the mercury that fuels the lamps will start to deplete and will be unable to produce enough radiation to eradicate the bacteria. UV lamps need replacing every year for your UV filtration system to work effectively. The UV rays pass through the quartz sleeve and into the water. Limescale formed by minerals in your water can build up on your quartz sleeve which can block the rays from passing through. The quartz sleeve must be cleaned regularly to make sure it stays transparent so that the UV rays can pass through. Eventually, cleaning will not be sufficient and you will need to replace the quartz sleeve. Depending on the levels of minerals in your water, this will usually need to be done every two to three years.

 

Water softeners reduce the hardness of your water by replacing calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions. Calcium and magnesium can damage your laundry, dry out your skin and hair, and form limescale build-ups which can damage your plumbing system, washing machine, and dishwasher. To keep your water softener functioning properly the most important thing is to remove salt bridges that can form when the salt solidifies in the brine tank. These salt bridges do not dissolve and so the water softener is unable to exchange the magnesium and calcium ions for sodium ions. To avoid salt bridges, make sure you are not overfilling your brine tank and that you are using the right kind of salt. If a salt bridge does form, use a tool to break it up, being careful not to crack the tank. If you cannot break up the salt bridge, pour warm water over it so that the salt dissolves and drops down into the tank. Scoop these chunks out of the tank as there will be far too much salt for the water to dissolve and then restart the system.

Water filtration systems are very important for ensuring that we have clean, drinkable water and that the water in our homes does not contain minerals that can destroy our plumbing and appliances. Different water filtration systems provide different benefits but all require careful maintenance. Follow the advice in this article to ensure that your water filtration system continues to function effectively.