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If anyone has any questions about water quality improvement - I can help.

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Rex Kramer, Jan 12, 2020.

  1. Jul 1, 2020 at 8:28 AM
    #121
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    You are welcome, and it's my pleasure to share this information.

    The first thing thing you need to address is the super low ph. An acid neutralizer with a small amount of magnesium oxide pellets mixed in with the calcite will elevate the ph and stop it from dissolving your copper pipes.

    Do you find the black stuff growing like moss or hair in the toilet tank?
    I need an answer to this question before I can proceed.
     
  2. Jul 6, 2020 at 6:12 AM
    #122
    Geezer

    Geezer New Member

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    No moss growing, just a light stain. The black stuff comes out of the faucet mixed with the water. It only happens once in a while, but I always have to flush it out of each faucet after I change the sediment filter.

    I will retest the ph to verify my first finding.
     
  3. Jul 6, 2020 at 6:22 AM
    #123
    SOB

    SOB Big Member

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    What about a catalytic filter system? I'm assuming its some kind of activated carbon and it regularly backwashes. I was offered this as an alternative to adding hydrogen peroxide. It's much more expensive however. Any pros/cons to this type of system - i.e. media replacement, maintenance, etc.

    Also, any experience with the Sterling brand?

    Much thanks!!
     
  4. Jul 6, 2020 at 6:28 AM
    #124
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    That's good news... I feared that you had bacterial Iron.
     
  5. Jul 6, 2020 at 6:36 AM
    #125
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    I have used Catalytic activated carbon in the past, it does a good job of reducing hydrogen sulfide gas if you back-wash it every day or two, but it begins to become saturated and break down after 24 months or so. Re-bedding Cat-Carb is expensive, this is another reason I have switched over to the AIO system.

    The only hands on experience I have with Sterling is replacing them.
     
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  6. Jul 6, 2020 at 6:59 AM
    #126
    Voyagermike

    Voyagermike New Member

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    We are looking to purchase a system this week I've been trying to decide what the best option would be. Our water is very hard here and our previous house had a Kenmore or whirlpool softener. I think I've narrowed it down to the Fleck 5600sxt control valve. We also want the whole house to have filtered water and get rid of chlorine.
    Any thoughts on this system.
    https://store.afwfilters.com/packag...ith-upflow-filter-10-resin-with-carbon-black/
     
  7. Jul 6, 2020 at 7:14 AM
    #127
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    Fleck SXT is all I sell here, but I use the more robust 2510 control valve with higher flow rates.
    If you were my client I would recommend a 10x44 metered softener with straight resin, and a 10x44 carbon filter installed ahead of the softener. Both tanks would be Vortech, and both would have 2510 SXT valves. The carbon tank would be set to backwash itself every 2 weeks, and the metered softener would backwash according to water hardness and gallons used.
     
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  8. Jul 9, 2020 at 4:45 AM
    #128
    SOB

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    What are your thoughts on the ECOWater brand? I'm awaiting a cost to buy/rent a system from a local place that only uses ECOWater products.
     
  9. Jul 9, 2020 at 4:48 AM
    #129
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    I am a former ECOWater distributor... the equipment is damn good, but most repair parts are proprietary and the cost is high. I would rate ECOWater higher than the other big brand names like Culligan and RainSoft.
     
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  10. Jul 9, 2020 at 5:11 AM
    #130
    Rgross2112

    Rgross2112 ASCM #5: Just like Sick and Disgusting

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    I see a lot of full home water filters here, what about under the sink filters? I just bought a CuZn for under the sink and not happy. Wife saw floaters in her water the other day and I didn’t have the heart to say it was pieces of toilet paper from the town over the way, but are there any recommendations for under the sink filters to look at/consider?
     
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  11. Jul 9, 2020 at 5:20 AM
    #131
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    The very best under-sink point of use drinking water filter is a solid carbon block filter, my Multi-Pure distributor number is #114579. Depending on your specific water quality needs it can be a stand alone filter, or follow a distiller or reverse osmosis system.
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2020
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  12. Jul 9, 2020 at 8:23 PM
    #132
    Half Assed

    Half Assed me ne frego

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    I'm trying to get rid of iron from my shallow well water. I had iron bacteria for while and finally cut open the system to pour bleach down the well and move my well pump from the front yard to the crawl space. So far no more bacteria after a month.

    Anyway, I'm fixed up my place and I'm getting closer to installing new plumbing fixtures so I have to do something now. I bought a water test kit and after a 5 micron filter I think I was getting about 5ppm iron.

    So I recently bought two more Culligan filters to use in 3 stages. I'm thinking 20, 5, 1 micron filters? Something else you recommend?

    I also bought this air injection filter last week to put after the filter cartridges. I just arrived today. I'm hoping this will remove the last of the iron in the water? Looks like you have mentioned air injection filters a few times in this thread already.
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FVZHLC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Plan is to hook up the extra filters and the air injection this weekend.
     
  13. Jul 10, 2020 at 5:37 AM
    #133
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    Your bacterial iron will return most likely, so you really have to stay on top of that or it will potentially foul everything else. Find out specifically what "iron trapping media" is included with that filter, and ask about upgrading to a Vortech tank.
     
  14. Jul 10, 2020 at 2:30 PM
    #134
    Half Assed

    Half Assed me ne frego

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    I bought the property in foreclosure. The well casing was open to the atmosphere for years. I think that's why I had the bacteria, but I will keep an eye on it. I redid the well setup, so I can put bleach down the well now without having to cut the pipes open.

    The AFWfilters website says its chemsorb media. I don't know for sure though it arrived with the media already installed. And the tank is a Clack brand. Is the Vortech tank necessary? I'm only going to live here about 5 years at the most.

    Will bleach mess up the air injection if I do have to shock the well again?
     
  15. Jul 10, 2020 at 2:41 PM
    #135
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    The Vortech tank does a much better job of backwashing the media using less water.
    You will have to contact AFW and ask them about chlorine interacting with that media, I use Katalox here and it's not a good idea the run chlorinated water through it.

    Of course, if you have to shock the well with Chlorine again you can bypass the filter until the chlorine is gone
     
  16. Jul 10, 2020 at 3:10 PM
    #136
    Azblue

    Azblue Beer is Good Ban Moderator

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    Here in Tucson we have a saying that you don't drink our water, you chew it because it's so hard. Years ago we started getting CAP water (Central AZ Project) that was so bad it ate pipes appliances, etc. Many lawsuits and years later we still get CAP water but it is all recharged into the ground. So basically our city water is back to well water and still hard as shit and taste like shit too.

    I have a basic under sink filter and the one on the fridge that we use to drink and they work fine. My problem is that I can't wash my vehicles, especially in summer, because the water spots before you even finish washing much less drying it. I'm not really interested in a whole house softener so I bought this set-up on eBay years ago but it restricted flow so bad that it was worthless and didn't seem to work anyways.

    Any suggestions for a point of use type thing for car washing?


    Filter.jpg
     
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  17. Jul 10, 2020 at 3:35 PM
    #137
    Burdturger

    Burdturger New Member

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    What an awesome thread!

    I've got an aquasana whole house water filter I installed about 2 years ago (pic below). For the first 4 months I could tell the water seemed a lot softer but that feeling hasn't lasted. From memory, I believe they only recommend changing the pre and post filters every 3-6 months (which I have) but I still don't have that soft feeling that we had at the beginning. Is there any reason you can think that might cause this? Honestly I question if the thing even does any thing or if I bought snake oil.

    eq-1000-how-it-works.jpg
     
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  18. Jul 10, 2020 at 4:42 PM
    #138
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    De Ionized water is probably best, here are two options... I'm sure there are more.

    Option #1
    Option #2
     
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  19. Jul 10, 2020 at 4:48 PM
    #139
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    I have worked in the business for over 30 years, and I have never found any device that actually softens the household water without using salt. There are chemicals and electronic devices that can temporally alter the make-up of household water, but none of them remove hardness.
     
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  20. Jul 10, 2020 at 4:55 PM
    #140
    Burdturger

    Burdturger New Member

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    Well maybe my understanding of soft water isn't accurate. What I experienced in the shower for example was that the water left my skin and especially my hair very soft feeling. A doctor recommended to my wife that we get a whf to improve skin quality (through removal of chemicals).

    I guess my thought is I was looking for justification of purchasing this system by actually noticing results which I did experience for the first few months but they did not last.

    In your opinion does a system like the one we got even make a difference? We never did a water test which I suppose would answer my questions..
     
  21. Jul 10, 2020 at 5:19 PM
    #141
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    0 to 1 grain Soft water makes your skin and hair feel soft / slick like you can't rinse the soap off. Test your water to see how many grains per gallon of hardness your water has.
     
  22. Jul 10, 2020 at 5:20 PM
    #142
    Azblue

    Azblue Beer is Good Ban Moderator

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    Not too bad for #2 but the killer is the $$ to refill the resin. With the hardness of our water I'd probably get 2 washes out of it.
     
  23. Jul 10, 2020 at 5:25 PM
    #143
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    Scientific laboratories / colleges use D.I. exchange tanks to produce their water, you may be able to work out a rental deal with the company that supplies the exchange tanks. They typically use 10x44 tanks that hold 1 cu. ft. of resin.
     
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  24. Jul 10, 2020 at 7:23 PM
    #144
    Half Assed

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    Thanks bud. I'll read up on the Katalox media, but I'll give the Chemsorb a try first and see how it does.
     
  25. Jul 12, 2020 at 1:23 PM
    #145
    Half Assed

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    Got the extra 2 filters and the air injection hooked up.

    I built the shelter for it before it arrived. It was almost too small lol. It's getting a roof and doors soon.

    20200712_141411(0).jpg

    I let the water sit for 2 hours. Cup on the left was before the filters, middle is after the 1 micron filters, and on the right is after the air injection.

    20200712_155235.jpg

    The test kit was a solid 5ppm before. Now it's almost 0.

    20200712_160615.jpg

    It's supposed to reduce some sulfur smell which I do have a little, but not enough to bother me. When take a shower later I will find out. So far it seems like $800 well spent. :D I tried jetting a new shallow well in about a month ago with a buddy using a 3" pump. That was a huge fail, so I'm glad this is working.
     
  26. Jul 12, 2020 at 2:35 PM
    #146
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    You may want to drain a few gallons from the bottom of the water heater before you take a shower, H2O heaters are great sediment filters and that sediment can go on creating a smell as it is cooked and recooked.

    All water heaters benefit from periodic flushing from the bottom. You don't need to drain it. You don't need to turn it off. You just hook a garden hose to the bottom, and run a couple gallons into a 5 gallon bucket as fast as you can.

    Caution! If your water heater is old and it's never been flushed, debris may clog the valve and you may not be able to turn the water off at the bottom right away... open and close the valve repeatedly until the clog is cleared.
     
    Last edited: Jul 13, 2020
  27. Jul 16, 2020 at 8:34 AM
    #147
    SOB

    SOB Big Member

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    New home build on well water - Should I remove the anode rod when my hot water heater is being installed or wait and first see if it creates a smell? Should I replace it with something different than the standard aluminum rod it comes with? It's my understanding the iron in the well water can create a favorable environment for bacterial growth which can emit the hydrogen sulfide smell. My well tested to have 0.5ppm iron. Thanks!
     
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  28. Jul 16, 2020 at 8:51 AM
    #148
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    Remove while dry.
     
  29. Jul 16, 2020 at 1:27 PM
    #149
    CTB Mike

    CTB Mike It's RED? My rods and cones must be screwed up!

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    Wow. I had that model in my old house back in NJ. I got tired of fixing it and threw it in the trash about 10 years ago. But when it did work, it worked well!
     
  30. Jul 16, 2020 at 2:30 PM
    #150
    CTB Mike

    CTB Mike It's RED? My rods and cones must be screwed up!

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    There is one issue that I don't see covered in this entire thread. I have a Rainsoft with an EC4 controller. Should I use pellets or granulated salt? The manual says pellets, our Rainsoft guy said he prefers granular.
     
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