Yes, water heater, it is that poor overworked, under appreciated, barrel looking device shoved someplace where it might otherwise be unnoticed and out of the way. We are greedy for its production of water that is hot enough...but not too hot... and yet we rarely offer up any respect or concern for how little we offer in return. Given the option, most Americans push the device to its absolute breaking point, and are then surprised and angry when it breaks. Of course this is the symptom of a greater disease, one in which we will not maintain or even repair most things we buy, because there is probably something "better" we could replace it with. Trouble is, we treat the "better" ...well, no better.
Of course, it is the water heater that I am honoring today, for all the hard work it has done for us over the years. We can look upon the fields full of tanks which have sacrificed their all in order to increase our comfort. Many have lived their entire lives, never knowing that the warmth coming out of the left handle on their faucet is the result of a hard working and neglected fixture that will eventually be tossed aside like yesterdays old stale bread.
"What can I do," you might say, "I am only one person?" Well let me tell you, it is as simple as getting on the phone and calling up your local plumber, I can suggest one in Arizona (valley wide) Crystal Clear Plumbing, LLC 480-888-8889 They, along with most good plumbers will suggest regular scheduled maintenance in which the tank is serviced yearly after the initial inspection. Of course most people will try the old, "If'n it taint broke, don't fix it!" Foolish hogwash! If it is still working, lets do what we can to keep it that way, is a much better motto. Generally speaking a service like this will cost under $200 a year to have done, and the peace of mind is worth every penny.
Let me now tell you about one point of the inspection. The sacrificial anode rod is a device installed by the manufacturer which attracts minerals away from the tank and to itself. After about 3 years of use, the rod is completely worn out and the minerals go to work attacking the tank, until it eventually succumbs to these advances and crumbles to pieces at touch. This is the fate of most tanks. However, if the sacrificial anode rod is replaced every 3 years, we can stop a portion of the wear and tear which would normally occur. FYI the manufacturer does not want you replacing this, they want the tank to go 6 years and then fall apart when the warranty runs out, the anode rod gives them that extra 3 years they need. Most manufacturers are torquing this down to like 300 foot pounds so that the average DIY homeowner will not be able to get it out. A good plumber will have the tools.
Now lets talk filtration, there are a number of options in this area and so lets consider a couple. The most common thing people do to eliminate minerals, they have a water softener installed. This is not such a good plan though, the reasons can be found in some of my earlier posts, but there is one I have not mentioned, salt. Salt is used in most softeners and it is quite corrosive. Since you are going to probably put the brine tank right by the water heater, the salt that escapes into the air will do the same damage from the outside in, that you are trying to eliminate. Besides this there are reasons such as continuing cost, and monthly maintenance that must be considered as well. Furthermore, it is not really the best solution to the problem.
There is a product called the Halo Guardian which is designed specifically for water heaters, it uses a media that removes the minerals and the filter needs to be replaced yearly. Then there is the Halo 5 which filters all of the water in your home so it is healthy and tastes good, inside is another claim to fame, their Ionizer, which will stop corrosion in your tank without removing the good minerals we want in our water. It also requires no maintenance for at least ten years. The Ionizer could be installed by itself, protecting the tank, in which case you would have no maintenance for 30 years, but you would not have the benefits of filtered water throughout the home.
The thing to remember, is that your water heater is not something you are going to wake up and decide you can live without. So it is a good idea that we get into the habit of treating it the way it deserves. Schedule routine maintenance and add filtration, and you will not experience the headaches associated with replacing the heater every 6-7 years, which is the average lifespan of a tank that is neglected.
http://www.crystalclearh2o.webs.com
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Water We Control
In life, we control very little. Should I make a list? We do not control the weather, we do not control the attitudes of others, we do not control the price of cheese in the market... well maybe we control that more than other things. (Especially if you are a cheese monger.) Either way, there are a number of things we do not control, we do however, control water.
At least we should control water, but lately it seems as if we have given our control over to others. Okay, so you have to pay the city for your water supply, but once you buy it, it is yours to use as one would use water in their lives. If you happen to be on a well, even better, you own as much as you can pump out of your ground. What you do not often control is what comes in your water, right? Wrong, but before we get to that, lets look at what some do about the problem of what comes in their water.
You finally have the water in you faucets, and on tap, something earlier generations merely dreamed of, but you know that it is not healthy to drink. As a solution we give up what we already have and go buy more of it in the form of bottled water. It tastes better, it's healthier, it comes from a natural spring. Or so the marketing gurus have told you. The reality is, it is barely regulated at all, and most of it comes from the tap... something you paid for already.
So here we have a situation where many people in America are not drinking the water they buy from the city, but are buying water others have bought from the city at a much higher price... because it is bottled. Sounds like a lucrative business... and it is. The truth is, it is probably filtered in some way before it is bottled... but it is still tap water.
It is a strange thing how easy we give away what we should control, the water comes to you, what stops you from using it the same way you use bottled water? Is it the mystical form of filtration that bottling companies use? Well, how can this be, there are no real mysteries in filtration. Some systems are superior to others, and research is required, but believe me, the bottling companies merely have access to the same products you could buy and put in your home, they have larger versions because they use more water, but it is the same principal.
What is it that causes us to give our money to the countless vendors who sell bottled water each and every day? I can almost understand the convenience factor, but people buy this stuff in bulk from warehouse stores to have in their own homes... which have running water. They spend an outrageous amount of money. It is easy for a family of four to drink and cook with 3 gallons a day, if you buy the cheap stuff, and most will not, this is about $3.00 a day. Not bad right? This comes to $1095.00 a year, or $10,950 after ten years. I could save you at least half of that money, and produce much more than 3 gallons a day, in fact I will produce about 273 gallons a day of premium filtered water... for at least half the price you are paying for bottled water.
It is really a no brainer, but some will cling to the idea that bottled water is the way to go. I for one, choose to control my own water, and to encourage the rest of you to do the same.
http://www.crystalclearh2o.webs.com
At least we should control water, but lately it seems as if we have given our control over to others. Okay, so you have to pay the city for your water supply, but once you buy it, it is yours to use as one would use water in their lives. If you happen to be on a well, even better, you own as much as you can pump out of your ground. What you do not often control is what comes in your water, right? Wrong, but before we get to that, lets look at what some do about the problem of what comes in their water.
You finally have the water in you faucets, and on tap, something earlier generations merely dreamed of, but you know that it is not healthy to drink. As a solution we give up what we already have and go buy more of it in the form of bottled water. It tastes better, it's healthier, it comes from a natural spring. Or so the marketing gurus have told you. The reality is, it is barely regulated at all, and most of it comes from the tap... something you paid for already.
So here we have a situation where many people in America are not drinking the water they buy from the city, but are buying water others have bought from the city at a much higher price... because it is bottled. Sounds like a lucrative business... and it is. The truth is, it is probably filtered in some way before it is bottled... but it is still tap water.
It is a strange thing how easy we give away what we should control, the water comes to you, what stops you from using it the same way you use bottled water? Is it the mystical form of filtration that bottling companies use? Well, how can this be, there are no real mysteries in filtration. Some systems are superior to others, and research is required, but believe me, the bottling companies merely have access to the same products you could buy and put in your home, they have larger versions because they use more water, but it is the same principal.
What is it that causes us to give our money to the countless vendors who sell bottled water each and every day? I can almost understand the convenience factor, but people buy this stuff in bulk from warehouse stores to have in their own homes... which have running water. They spend an outrageous amount of money. It is easy for a family of four to drink and cook with 3 gallons a day, if you buy the cheap stuff, and most will not, this is about $3.00 a day. Not bad right? This comes to $1095.00 a year, or $10,950 after ten years. I could save you at least half of that money, and produce much more than 3 gallons a day, in fact I will produce about 273 gallons a day of premium filtered water... for at least half the price you are paying for bottled water.
It is really a no brainer, but some will cling to the idea that bottled water is the way to go. I for one, choose to control my own water, and to encourage the rest of you to do the same.
http://www.crystalclearh2o.webs.com
Friday, June 28, 2013
Nature's Water Way
Many do not understand the concept behind most of what is being accomplished through water filtration. It is our attempt to return water to its more natural state.
When water is naturally healthy, it is the result of passing through natures cycles, we can begin at rainfall, but since it is a cycle, there really is no beginning or end. So water falls to the earth with very little mineral content, and very little bacteria. It passes through the earth picking up minerals along the way, and maybe some bacteria. Understand that moving water rarely contains bacteria, it is usually the result of standing water, such as stagnant pools. Since humans are in the business of collecting water for use at later times, it is this reason that bacteria becomes a problem. Natural springs rarely contain harmful bacteria because the water does not collect long enough to allow colonies to form.
In addition to the collection of certain minerals from the earth which actually make water healthy, the earth itself acts as a mineral filter for things that could be harmful, this is another reason that spring water is so sought after. It contains the minerals without the harmful bacteria. So the water first passes downward through the water table into underground rivers and lakes. At certain points these flowing rivers of fresh clean water bubble out of springs and into the lives of animals and other creatures. This is good, clean, healthy water. Then of course the water pools and can begin to collect too many minerals as well as harmful bacteria. So through evaporation the pooling water rises through the atmosphere toward cloud collectors in the sky, shedding heavy minerals and bacteria along the way. The process then repeats itself to infinity.
There are filtration systems which emulate, some or even all of these processes which make water healthy. It is essentially our job as water filter experts to find where your water has broken away from the natural course, in order to emulate that missing requirement, with one of our units. In the case of most cities, the municipality collects and stores water which is full of minerals and bacteria, then they treat that water with chemicals and pump it all around the city. Now, they have addressed the bacteria, but replaced it with chemicals that detract from waters health.
Fortunately it is relatively easy to remove those chemicals before they enter your home. The most common and most effective method is whole house filtration. Inside a good whole house filter you will find a water table. There are layers of media designed to emulate good rock beds which capture chemicals and other contaminates and hold onto them until the can be backwashed away from the home. (Backwashing occurs automatically on quality units.) The media vary from unit to unit, but most will contain acid washed coconut carbon, which effectively removes chlorine and other chemicals leaving a spring water flavor for the end user.
Remember, high quality filtration is merely the result of reproducing nature's methods. Since we demand so much water in such localized places, cities could not survive without treating water in massive ways. It is the city who gives us water that does not kill us immediately. It is the end user who must determine how healthy that water is over time.
http://www.crystalclearh2o.webs.com
When water is naturally healthy, it is the result of passing through natures cycles, we can begin at rainfall, but since it is a cycle, there really is no beginning or end. So water falls to the earth with very little mineral content, and very little bacteria. It passes through the earth picking up minerals along the way, and maybe some bacteria. Understand that moving water rarely contains bacteria, it is usually the result of standing water, such as stagnant pools. Since humans are in the business of collecting water for use at later times, it is this reason that bacteria becomes a problem. Natural springs rarely contain harmful bacteria because the water does not collect long enough to allow colonies to form.
In addition to the collection of certain minerals from the earth which actually make water healthy, the earth itself acts as a mineral filter for things that could be harmful, this is another reason that spring water is so sought after. It contains the minerals without the harmful bacteria. So the water first passes downward through the water table into underground rivers and lakes. At certain points these flowing rivers of fresh clean water bubble out of springs and into the lives of animals and other creatures. This is good, clean, healthy water. Then of course the water pools and can begin to collect too many minerals as well as harmful bacteria. So through evaporation the pooling water rises through the atmosphere toward cloud collectors in the sky, shedding heavy minerals and bacteria along the way. The process then repeats itself to infinity.
There are filtration systems which emulate, some or even all of these processes which make water healthy. It is essentially our job as water filter experts to find where your water has broken away from the natural course, in order to emulate that missing requirement, with one of our units. In the case of most cities, the municipality collects and stores water which is full of minerals and bacteria, then they treat that water with chemicals and pump it all around the city. Now, they have addressed the bacteria, but replaced it with chemicals that detract from waters health.
Fortunately it is relatively easy to remove those chemicals before they enter your home. The most common and most effective method is whole house filtration. Inside a good whole house filter you will find a water table. There are layers of media designed to emulate good rock beds which capture chemicals and other contaminates and hold onto them until the can be backwashed away from the home. (Backwashing occurs automatically on quality units.) The media vary from unit to unit, but most will contain acid washed coconut carbon, which effectively removes chlorine and other chemicals leaving a spring water flavor for the end user.
Remember, high quality filtration is merely the result of reproducing nature's methods. Since we demand so much water in such localized places, cities could not survive without treating water in massive ways. It is the city who gives us water that does not kill us immediately. It is the end user who must determine how healthy that water is over time.
http://www.crystalclearh2o.webs.com
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Whole House Filter?
When trying to determine if a whole house water filtration system is right for you, it can be easy to become lost in all of the choices that pop up, each company claiming to have the very best product. I have often wondered if there is really such thing as a very best product anywhere. The very notion suggests that we all need exactly the same things. It even suggests we want the same things.
The reality is, we do not need or want the same things. So when you begin to look at this as an option, it is a good idea that you first discover what it is you require in your home. You can conduct certain water tests, or even have a professional come to your home and conduct a few tests.
Be forewarned about the company you choose, if they are a water filtration company who carries one brand, that is what they will recommend... obviously. You are better off using a licensed plumber. Take caution here as well because some plumbers are under contracts with water filtration companies to carry their particular brand. Ask the company what brand they carry and research the product as much as possible. Even better, determine whether they carry a single brand or multiple brands. Also, do not fall for the "Private Label" trick that some companies use, it does not mean the product is bad, but it is not uncommon for companies to contract with well known brands and simply have them relabeled as part of the agreement. A private label brand might be great, but do your research by determining what the unit uses as media and whether the system is WQA certified. The WQA oversees water filtration, they are not the only entity that might put a stamp of approval, but they are an industry standard.
When looking for a company, it is a good idea to choose someone who can give you options, maybe they even have a private label that cost less but delivers the same filtration quality. Perhaps they have a product that they consider to be the best quality when it comes to delivering the cleanest water. There may be another brand which is more environmentally friendly in their arsenal. Maybe they even carry different styles to fit your unique personality and home. All of this can be determined with a little research. The truth is, no perfect product exists, and companies confined to one brand are often unable to deliver what you need personally. Find an expert willing to offer many options, but who has also done much of the research for you as to what filter is a good fit. This will save you time, money, and a whole lot of headaches.
http://www.crystalclearh2osolutions.com
http://www.crystalclearh2o.webs.com
http://www.crystalclearplumbingllc.com
http://www.crystalclearplumbing.com
The reality is, we do not need or want the same things. So when you begin to look at this as an option, it is a good idea that you first discover what it is you require in your home. You can conduct certain water tests, or even have a professional come to your home and conduct a few tests.
Be forewarned about the company you choose, if they are a water filtration company who carries one brand, that is what they will recommend... obviously. You are better off using a licensed plumber. Take caution here as well because some plumbers are under contracts with water filtration companies to carry their particular brand. Ask the company what brand they carry and research the product as much as possible. Even better, determine whether they carry a single brand or multiple brands. Also, do not fall for the "Private Label" trick that some companies use, it does not mean the product is bad, but it is not uncommon for companies to contract with well known brands and simply have them relabeled as part of the agreement. A private label brand might be great, but do your research by determining what the unit uses as media and whether the system is WQA certified. The WQA oversees water filtration, they are not the only entity that might put a stamp of approval, but they are an industry standard.
When looking for a company, it is a good idea to choose someone who can give you options, maybe they even have a private label that cost less but delivers the same filtration quality. Perhaps they have a product that they consider to be the best quality when it comes to delivering the cleanest water. There may be another brand which is more environmentally friendly in their arsenal. Maybe they even carry different styles to fit your unique personality and home. All of this can be determined with a little research. The truth is, no perfect product exists, and companies confined to one brand are often unable to deliver what you need personally. Find an expert willing to offer many options, but who has also done much of the research for you as to what filter is a good fit. This will save you time, money, and a whole lot of headaches.
http://www.crystalclearh2osolutions.com
http://www.crystalclearh2o.webs.com
http://www.crystalclearplumbingllc.com
http://www.crystalclearplumbing.com
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Hard Water Woes
One of the big problems individuals face in Arizona is the hardness of their water. The minerals associated with hardness are calcium and magnesium. These minerals can do damage to plumbing fixtures and appliances and they are the culprits which leave water spot residue.
Generally, the method for dealing with these pesky minerals has been to remove them from your source water completely. This is usually done with a water softener which utilizes what is called an ion exchange to handle the trouble. This method actually replaces the mineral with small amounts of salt or Potassium, and then back washes highly salinated water down the drain.
The municipality does not appreciate this, since they are the ones responsible for cleaning the returned water, and it is expensive to remove salt, it is for that reason we do not filter much sea water. So many parts of the U.S. have begun outlawing the installation of water softeners, as a result.
Let me remind everyone that calcium and magnesium are essential minerals for life. We need them, but we still flush them out of the water and away from us, so that we can give our hard earned cash to vitamin retail stores when we are told by our doctors, "You need more calcium and magnesium." The problem is, we have not treated the problems associated with hardness if we leave the minerals in, so what are we to do?
There is a solution, it is called ionization. Ionization has been used commercially on boilers and other applications for years and there are a few residential forms of this in use as well, some better than others. The education on this technology begins with understanding that an ionizer will not soften your water. In fact, they will not remove the calcium and magnesium at all. They will change the minerals so that they are not harmful to your plumbing fixtures, and so that they reduce spotting associated with minerals that are binding to dishes and shower walls.
Remember, it is not that we want to throw the minerals out completely, we just need to rehabilitate them so they are not so destructive. So by passing them through a magnetic field which aligns them positively, the effect is that an aragonite talc is formed and the plumbing fixtures are actually protected by this film, and corrosion is virtually non existent. There is still a problem. If the flow rates in the home are not matched to the size of your ionizer, or the water has not moved through the ionizer within the past 48 hours, the minerals revert back to their natural state of disorder. It is a temporary effect. However, as soon as the water begins to flow again, the effect returns. The question is, how often do you go 48 hours or more without using your water?
So as you can see, ionization is a good solution to hard water, it has been used in commercial applications for a number of years, and it can be utilized effectively in your home if it is installed correctly.
crystalclearplumbingllc.com
crystalclearplumbing.com
crystalclearh2osolutions.com
Generally, the method for dealing with these pesky minerals has been to remove them from your source water completely. This is usually done with a water softener which utilizes what is called an ion exchange to handle the trouble. This method actually replaces the mineral with small amounts of salt or Potassium, and then back washes highly salinated water down the drain.
The municipality does not appreciate this, since they are the ones responsible for cleaning the returned water, and it is expensive to remove salt, it is for that reason we do not filter much sea water. So many parts of the U.S. have begun outlawing the installation of water softeners, as a result.
Let me remind everyone that calcium and magnesium are essential minerals for life. We need them, but we still flush them out of the water and away from us, so that we can give our hard earned cash to vitamin retail stores when we are told by our doctors, "You need more calcium and magnesium." The problem is, we have not treated the problems associated with hardness if we leave the minerals in, so what are we to do?
There is a solution, it is called ionization. Ionization has been used commercially on boilers and other applications for years and there are a few residential forms of this in use as well, some better than others. The education on this technology begins with understanding that an ionizer will not soften your water. In fact, they will not remove the calcium and magnesium at all. They will change the minerals so that they are not harmful to your plumbing fixtures, and so that they reduce spotting associated with minerals that are binding to dishes and shower walls.
Remember, it is not that we want to throw the minerals out completely, we just need to rehabilitate them so they are not so destructive. So by passing them through a magnetic field which aligns them positively, the effect is that an aragonite talc is formed and the plumbing fixtures are actually protected by this film, and corrosion is virtually non existent. There is still a problem. If the flow rates in the home are not matched to the size of your ionizer, or the water has not moved through the ionizer within the past 48 hours, the minerals revert back to their natural state of disorder. It is a temporary effect. However, as soon as the water begins to flow again, the effect returns. The question is, how often do you go 48 hours or more without using your water?
So as you can see, ionization is a good solution to hard water, it has been used in commercial applications for a number of years, and it can be utilized effectively in your home if it is installed correctly.
crystalclearplumbingllc.com
crystalclearplumbing.com
crystalclearh2osolutions.com
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Reverse Your Osmosis
One of the most popular forms of water filtration is reverse osmosis. When I started out in the filtration scene, it was all R.O. units all the time for me. I installed 3-5 units every day and went on and on about how great the water tasted and how healthy it was as well. Of course I had not learned that water, if it is to be healthy for consumption, ought to contain a PH above six or seven. I also did not understand that R.O. water is below these numbers because it is actually stripped of most, if not all of its minerals.
Reverse osmosis was actually created by the U.S. Navy for use in submarines, in other words, they were designed to filter sea water, even urine. Now, I have things to say about municipal water, but they do not serve us sea water or urine. In most cases an R.O. unit is actually overkill. I will not say that the water is not healthy to drink (although some would say this) but I will say that the water has no value to you at all (accept for the cost of pricey filtration of course... but we were talking about nutrition value) basically drinking R.O. water while walking through the desert can still result in dehydration since this water will flush out all of your bodies nutrients.
So what are you to do if you are an avid lover of R.O. water? Take vitamin supplements such as calcium and magnesium. Of course tap water comes with these minerals already present, and you removed them with your R.O. unit. If it was taste you were wanting to address, or other harmful contaminates such as chlorine and chloramines, you could try a more mild form of filtration. Consider a product that will remove the harmful, and leave the essential. I would recommend whole house filtration, since your skin does not like the deluge of chemicals it fights off every day when you shower and bathe in water that is not filtered. Lets not forget that the cost of these filters over a ten year period will save you a ton of money, since no maintenance is required for at least this long on most of the units sold. We have not begun to calculate how much you will save in repair costs by treating your water.
Sometimes I get a bit carried away though, passionate about what I do and all. I guess I just wish more people would reverse their thinking and their osmosis.
Reverse osmosis was actually created by the U.S. Navy for use in submarines, in other words, they were designed to filter sea water, even urine. Now, I have things to say about municipal water, but they do not serve us sea water or urine. In most cases an R.O. unit is actually overkill. I will not say that the water is not healthy to drink (although some would say this) but I will say that the water has no value to you at all (accept for the cost of pricey filtration of course... but we were talking about nutrition value) basically drinking R.O. water while walking through the desert can still result in dehydration since this water will flush out all of your bodies nutrients.
So what are you to do if you are an avid lover of R.O. water? Take vitamin supplements such as calcium and magnesium. Of course tap water comes with these minerals already present, and you removed them with your R.O. unit. If it was taste you were wanting to address, or other harmful contaminates such as chlorine and chloramines, you could try a more mild form of filtration. Consider a product that will remove the harmful, and leave the essential. I would recommend whole house filtration, since your skin does not like the deluge of chemicals it fights off every day when you shower and bathe in water that is not filtered. Lets not forget that the cost of these filters over a ten year period will save you a ton of money, since no maintenance is required for at least this long on most of the units sold. We have not begun to calculate how much you will save in repair costs by treating your water.
Sometimes I get a bit carried away though, passionate about what I do and all. I guess I just wish more people would reverse their thinking and their osmosis.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
"I already have a water softener"
"Have you considered whole house water filtration?"
"No, I already have a water softener."
One of the most common mistakes people make when considering the quality of their water, is to assume that the big expensive water softener in their garage is some how purifying or cleaning their water. Let me be very clear, water softeners do not clean contaminates out of your drinking water. In fact, it is a violation of the plumbing code to have the kitchen sink on the softener loop, because softened water is not meant to be consumed.
Having said this, there are a few dealers in water softeners who have wised up enough to begin adding filtration to their systems in various ways, this is an improvement on the home that has only a water softener, but it is far from utilizing the best option available to the consumer.
Consider what it is that you are actually trying to accomplish. Water softeners use an ion exchange to remove calcium and magnesium from water, adding some salt to your water, but backwashing highly salinated water back into the city sewer. Calcium and magnesium are essential minerals for life, people buy vitamins to obtain these minerals. It comes free at your kitchen sink... unless you pay to have it removed.
In the same way, the contaminates that cause trouble, such as chlorine, and ammonia, are still present in your water supply. The only way to remove them is to use some form of filtration. The most common and effective is coconut shell carbon to remove chemicals and improve flavor.
Lets get back to the reason for water softening. Years ago, when pumbers used a whole lot more galvanized pipe in homes, these pipes would be quickly destroyed because of hard water (calcium and magnesium). These days we are doing things in copper or PEX which do not corrode in the same way as galvanized. Having said this, there still may be a need to reduce the effects of minerals. One effective method for temporary reduction is magnetic ionization which changes the polarity of the minerals so they will not bind to the pipes and fixtures to cause corrosion.
So there you have it, do a little research and find the best salt free filter and conditioner for your home. Just remember, the softener does not filter, it removes the essential minerals and leaves the dangerous chemicals. Adversely, filters remove the harmful chemicals, and leave the essential minerals.
http://www.crystalclearplumbing.com
http://www.crystalclearplumbingllc.com
http://www.az-water.info
"No, I already have a water softener."
One of the most common mistakes people make when considering the quality of their water, is to assume that the big expensive water softener in their garage is some how purifying or cleaning their water. Let me be very clear, water softeners do not clean contaminates out of your drinking water. In fact, it is a violation of the plumbing code to have the kitchen sink on the softener loop, because softened water is not meant to be consumed.
Having said this, there are a few dealers in water softeners who have wised up enough to begin adding filtration to their systems in various ways, this is an improvement on the home that has only a water softener, but it is far from utilizing the best option available to the consumer.
Consider what it is that you are actually trying to accomplish. Water softeners use an ion exchange to remove calcium and magnesium from water, adding some salt to your water, but backwashing highly salinated water back into the city sewer. Calcium and magnesium are essential minerals for life, people buy vitamins to obtain these minerals. It comes free at your kitchen sink... unless you pay to have it removed.
In the same way, the contaminates that cause trouble, such as chlorine, and ammonia, are still present in your water supply. The only way to remove them is to use some form of filtration. The most common and effective is coconut shell carbon to remove chemicals and improve flavor.
Lets get back to the reason for water softening. Years ago, when pumbers used a whole lot more galvanized pipe in homes, these pipes would be quickly destroyed because of hard water (calcium and magnesium). These days we are doing things in copper or PEX which do not corrode in the same way as galvanized. Having said this, there still may be a need to reduce the effects of minerals. One effective method for temporary reduction is magnetic ionization which changes the polarity of the minerals so they will not bind to the pipes and fixtures to cause corrosion.
So there you have it, do a little research and find the best salt free filter and conditioner for your home. Just remember, the softener does not filter, it removes the essential minerals and leaves the dangerous chemicals. Adversely, filters remove the harmful chemicals, and leave the essential minerals.
http://www.crystalclearplumbing.com
http://www.crystalclearplumbingllc.com
http://www.az-water.info
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