Rust is a common element in water that is flowing through Michigan irrigation systems. One way that homeowners can ensure that this rust doesn’t cause staining to outdoor furniture, landscaping, or siding is to install a water treatment system that offers irrigation stain control. Reynolds Water Conditioning Company offers a system that is designed specifically for this purpose. In these systems a concentration of a bio-degradable solution is injected into the irrigation stream as it enters the irrigation system.
Irrigation stain control water treatment systems help to prevent the formation of rust and red water staining outdoors. The solution that is injected into the water is safe in preventing stains without harmful acids and chlorides. Not only does the solution prevent staining it protects against corrosion, pitting, and plant life damage.
Now that we know how we go about preventing future staining it is important that we remove the rust stains that have already formed. Landscape rocks are one of the most versatile materials that can be used when creating a natural space. When rocks are exposed to the elements a natural unattractive red staining can occur. It can come from the rust in the irrigation water and from a chemical reaction between irrigation water and iron that can be present on landscape rocks. Most stains can be removed by using an oxalic acid bath or a combination of powdered clay and liquid rust remover. There are also a number of over the counter products that remove rust all of which can be found at local hardware stores.
Cleaning Small Landscaping Rocks
To safely clean your landscaping rocks first removal the
built-up dirt and debris. Place larger rocks in a bucket. Put on some rubber gloves and safety goggles
combining one gallon of distilled water with one pound of oxalic acid
crystals. Mix carefully with a wooden
spoon until crystals are dissolved. Pour
the solution slowly over the landscaping rocks to avoid splashing. Use enough solution to cover the rocks. Let this sit until rust no longer
remains. Add baking soda slowly to the
oxalic mixture to neutralize it. This
will cause the mixture to bubble and foam up.
Once this process stops you can remove the rocks from the bucket with
rubber gloves. This mixture can be
disposed of down the drain. Rinse the
landscape rocks with a garden hose.
Cleaning Large Landscaping Rocks
Rinse landscape rocks with a garden hose. Put on rubber gloves and mix rust remover
with powdered clay to make a thick paste.
Apply a thick layer to the stains with a spatula. Allow the paste to sit for 24 to 48 hours. Cover with plastic wrap or a large tarp to
allow the paste to dry completely. Once
the mixture is dry you can scrape it off with a plastic knife. The rocks should then be washed off with a
garden hose. If rusts or stains remain
the process can be repeated.
Tips for Cleaning Rust
Test the acid solution/paste on an area of
hidden rocks before cleaning the lot.
If the paste leaves marks on the rocks use a wet
cloth and polishing powder to buff them out.
Always wear rubber gloves and eye protection.
Work carefully to avoid splashing on your skin.
Use caution to prevent breathing in dust from
the oxalic acid and removed paste.
While cleaning keep pets and children away from
the area.
Throughout the year we spend a lot of time thinking about the water quality in our home. We all desire high quality water in our homes which is why many of us will install a system to treat our water. There are several different water treatment solutions available including water softeners, water conditioners,reverse osmosis filtration, iron filters, and water purification systems. Each available system serves a different purpose and meets the needs of homeowners differently. Testing and analyzing the water from your home will determine what system or systems best fits your needs.
When warmer weather starts to move in, we quickly shift
gears from the water in our home to the water outside of our homes. Let’s face it, water is essential to create
and maintain a healthy landscape. When
Mother Nature isn’t producing the water, we need for this to happen we turn to
our irritation systems. For many of us
this is when we start to notice the unsightly effects of rust and iron within
our irrigation systems.
There isn’t a whole lot treating your water will do for existing rust and iron stains however installing an irrigation stain control system can prevent further damage. Rust and iron prevention and remover are two different aspects in preparing your home and irrigation system for the spring and summer seasons. In order to remove existing stains on landscaping, siding, sidewalks, and more there are many safe, biodegradable options available to homeowners. For irrigation rust and iron prevention, the experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning Company can help!
There are three different water treatment systems that work
well in irrigation applications. The
results of your well water analysis will better help to determine which system
will best suit your specific need. The
most common option for irrigation systems using well water with a high density
of rust elements is the installation of a system that combines specialized
equipment and chemicals.
The Reynolds Irrigation Stain Control System is a combination of the best equipment and chemicals available on the market today. It is a system that has over 25 years of results to prove it is effective in preventing the rust stains that can be found on the outdoor surfaces around your home. This specific system works to prevent red water stains and rust from forming on patio furniture, siding, and more without the use of harmful chemical solutions.
The specialized RC solution used in the Reynolds Irrigation
Stain Control System is not only safe for plants and animals it protects
against corrosion and pitting as well as being 100% bio-degradable and safe for
the environment. This solution is added to a tank that includes a flow switch
and an injection pump. The solution is
introduced to the water stream as it enters the irrigation system which
prevents staining.
Other options that are available to improve the quality of the water running through your irrigation system include the Reynolds ClearStream Iron-Rust-Odor Filter and Reynolds Chlorinator. Both systems treat the amount of iron in well water. When iron is removed for the water before it enters the irrigation system, outdoor staining can be prevented.
. Both systems treat the amount of iron in well water. When iron is removed for the water before it enters the irrigation system, outdoor staining can be prevented.
The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a
solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria,
chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins,
radon, and more. More information on our
water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water
filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron &
odor removal can be found online at https://www.reynoldswater.com/irrigation-iron-removal.
There are a number of signs that point to a problem with hard water. Homeowners with hard drinking water will often notice a smell or taste that is off. When hard water is present in your home often times the sinks, tubs, and toilets will be stained, family members may begin to complain of dry, itchy skin, and your water supply will smell and taste off. Bringing in a sample of the homes water will allow you to know exactly what is going on in your water supply. This water analysis will tell you what type of water treatment system will best suit your homes water issue.
Water softeners are used to remove excess calcium and magnesium ions and exchange them with either sodium or potassium ions, depending on if you choose a salt free water softener or water softener that uses salt. When the exchange has taken place the water softener regenerates and flushes the system of extra ions until it has been completely recharged with new sodium or potassium ions. This process uses twenty-five gallons of water each day, depending on use. It is important to determine the waters hardness. Preventing the buildup of scale can increase the lifespan of your appliances like your water heaters, dishwasher, and more. There are seven common signs that your home will benefit from the installation of a whole house water softener.
Noticeable Scale
Buildup on Appliances
If you are noticing scale, you more likely than not have
hard water. Noticeable scale build up
will be seen in the form of mineral deposits on coffee pots, tea kettles, and
such. These same mineral deposits are
being built up within your homes pipes as well.
To prevent clogged pipes and less effective passing of water through
your system causing defective plumbing and increased scale buildup a water
softener should be installed. The water
softener needs to be set in a manner that allows the proper amount of water to
rejuvenate each day to avoid running out of soft water throughout the day. If you use twenty-five gallons of water each
day, then your water softener needs to supply twenty-five gallons of soft
water.
The visible buildup that homeowners are seeing is known as limescale. This is a hard, chalky material that is formed from a combination of calcium and magnesium bicarbonate. The salt is what forms the white chalk like substance that is visible. A water softener will reduce this scale buildup through ion exchange technology.
Itchy, Dry Skin and
Hair
Hard water contains more calcium and magnesium salt than
soft water. When hard water is used in
daily life it can cause your skin and hair to dry out no matter what shampoo
and lotion you are using. The hard water
is not providing any nourishment to your skin and hair, so it dries out. The extra minerals, calcium and magnesium,
remain on your skin. It is important to note that soap doesn’t dissolve well in
hard water, so it doesn’t help to remove the build up of minerals. Since soap doesn’t dissolve well either that
residue is also known to irritate the area as well.
Hard water is also harsh on even the most stringent of skin care regimens. Hard water blocks the pores in your skin, causes inflammation, and creates an environment prone to black heads. Leathery, dry skin is another common side effect of hard water.
Gray and Faded Clothes
When darker clothes, sheets, and towels start to fade and
gray when washed using hard water. The hard water may also change the texture
of the fabrics. The fabrics will start
to become scratchy overtime because of the additional minerals that are
contained in hard water.
Sinks, Bathtubs, and
Toilet Stains
Often times when a home has hard water it is noticeable
because of the stains that the mineral residue leaves behind in sinks, tubs,
and toilets. The stains are formed
after water evaporates and leaves behind the large amounts of calcium and
magnesium from the tap water. The
residue will feel plaster like. These
deposits can also form on faucets.
One way in which to remove the residue build up is with
vinegar. Put vinegar into a spray bottle
and spray the buildup or residue with vinegar.
After letting it set for a minute it should wipe away without a ton of
struggle. For harder to remove residue
let the vinegar soak for up to an hour.
To clean the residue buildup from your dishwasher, pour a cup of bleach
into the dishwasher along with a cup of powdered detergent. Run this mixture through an empty
dishwasher. After the cycle has finished
up run the dishwasher once again with an empty load using a cup of vinegar. This will help to ensure that the bleach is no
longer present.
Both types of water softeners, salt and potassium chloride, are effective in softening your homes water to prevent future residue buildup from making a home in your home. To determine your homes water softener needs, have the water in your home tested. This water analysis will help to determine the level of extra minerals in the water and the settings that will be optimal once your water softener is installed.
Constant Plumbing
Repairs
The plumbing in your home, especially steel pipes, are
easily harmed from the buildup of limescale which will prevent the water from
flowing freely through them. PVC and
Copper piping tend prevent the buildup of hard water minerals better than steel
however, all plumbing will eventually be affected by limescale. More limescale means thicker buildup in the
plumbing and will eventually lead to the loss of water pressure. The rate at which the pipes are affected will
be quicker overtime as the space within the pipe circumference shrinks due to
the additional limescale.
If left untreated the pipes will eventually fail. Homeowners that don’t take regular care to clean up the build up from around faucets will eventually end up with valves that don’t fully shut and therefore leak. This leak will lead to greater, faster limescale buildup. Plumbing repairs can be expensive as well as causing a lot of excessive wear on the house. Installing an appropriate water softening unit will work wonders in helping to prevent further plumbing issues.
Increases in Water
Bills
The amount of water that you use will increase the harder pipes have to work to get the water to flow through. If there is a sudden increase in your water bill have your water tested. This analysis will determine if you need a water softener installed, need your water softener replaced, or the water hardness level of a currently installed system needs to be adjusted.
If you notice a change in your water the first step should always be to have your water analyzed by a professional. Once an analysis is done on your water and you know what minerals are contained in the water a water treatment solution can be recommended. Sometimes the simple installation of a water softener can improve the overall quality of your homes water however sometimes the solution is more complex. A wide range of water treatment systems are available from whole house to point of use water softeners, water filters and purifiers, and reverse osmosis systems, all with their own specific job.
The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution
to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria,
chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins,
radon, and more. More information on our
water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water
filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron &
odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.
Part of owning a water softener is maintaining it. One aspect of water softener maintenance involves cleaning the tank which holds the brine. Cleaning a water softener tank should be done every five to ten years. It is time to clean the tank when your water turns hard and the basic tank maintenance doesn’t fix the issue. Older water softening units can benefit from annual cleanings especially electric water softeners.
The first step in cleaning the water softener tank involves emptying the tank. This is done by locating the bypass valve and shutting off the water intake. Water can be siphoned out of the tank. After this process is completed you will want to remove the leftover salt and safely throw it away. Water softener salt must be disposed of away from plants. Water softener salt will kill plants and other landscaping plants and shrubs. Another way to get rid of large blocks of salt or bridges is to dissolve it in hot water.
Once the water and salt have been removed from the tank
homeowners should remove the brine grid that sits at the base of the tank. Some water softening units have a mesh
platform instead. Set this grid to the
side before cleaning the tank.
Once the water softener tank is empty and the brine grid or
mesh has been removed it is time to clean the tank with a good amount of soap
and water. This mixture should be
scrubbed all around the interior of the tank with a long-handled scrub
brush. After the tanks has been
thoroughly cleansed the soapy water can be dumped out and rinsed with clean
water.
After this has been done the homeowner should clean the tank with a combination of bleach and water. Stir the bleach/water combination in the tank and let it sit for fifteen minutes to completely disinfect the tank. Organisms have a difficult time to grow in the concentrated brine however the bleach and water mixture makes sure.
Once this process has been completed and the bleach/water combination has been rinsed out it is time to replenish the tank with water and salt. First replace the grid into the bottom of the tank. Add water softener saltand water back into the tank when it is back in place. Give the tank a couple of hours before you regenerate the water softener as this time is needed in order to dissolve the salt within the tank.
The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution
to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria,
chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins,
radon, and more. More information on our
water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water
filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron &
odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.
Take a minute to look inside the tank of your toilet, what do you see? Do you see a collection of rust, sediment, and/or sand? That same collection of debris is accumulating inside your plumbing and water heater. It is pretty standard to assume that when any mechanical system in your home becomes saturated with gunk build up the quality of the system and the products of the system are compromised. The goal for homeowners is to avoid situations where this occurs. One way this happens is with the installation of a whole house water filter.
When a whole house water filter is installed it can act as a
barrier that quietly protects your home.
A filter will prevent crud from settling into the systems throughout
your home such as the toilet, water softener, and hot water tanks.
Benefits of Installing a Water Filter System for Your Home
Layered Protection
With the installation of a whole house water filter system you are layering the protection to your appliances. You are preventing the sediment from reaching your appliances, plumbing, water softeners, toilets, and such. Many appliances have small plastic and rubber pieces that are used in the use of different household appliances. Small amounts of debris will damage seals in appliances over time. When a seal becomes damaged it will leak and as we all know this ends up costing us time and money. A filter removes the gunk such as sediments, debris, dirt, and gunk in general. For homeowners there is an increase in appliance longevity and a piece of mind that your equipment will be reliable for longer.
Eliminate Unexpected Water Surprises
Both city and well water sources can become compromised from
unexpected elements in the system. When
this occurs homeowners can receive quite the surprise at the tap.
City Water Issues
Water Main Break
Hydrant Flush
New Construction and New Water Connections
All of these events will knock iron and sediment buildup
into the water supply. This in turn
creates sludge, orange water, and dirt from coming into your home.
Well water quality is affected by outside sources as
well. The quality of the water can
change from season to season.
A whole house water filter helps to remove the iron that exists in some water sources. When a water filter is installed the iron in the water is filtered out. This helps to prevent the staining that occurs on laundry, appliances, faucets, and more.
Filter Operation and Maintenance
Filtration systems function without electricity, without salt, and without waste. There are no controllers to worry about, batteries to change, or clocks to reset. In fact, whole house water filtration systemsare simple to install and can be added to any water treatment system. In order to properly maintain a filtration system for your home you will be required to change the filter periodically. The number of times a filter needs to be changed depends on the quality of the filter, use, and the filters rating.
When choosing a filter consider the following: the physical size of the filter, the Micron rating, flow rate, and filter life. Larger filters naturally have more surface area which often means that they last longer, increase the quality of the water and water pressure. Larger filtration systems are needed in homes with more than two family members.
The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution
to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria,
chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins,
radon, and more. More information on our
water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water
filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron &
odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.
Hard water is known to contain higher than normal levels of calcium and magnesium. This causes issues with lime scale build up that interferes with household and daily functions. Issues range from clogged plumbing to soap’s ability to clean properly. For most homeowners the installation of a water softener system is vital in bringing higher quality water to the household. Most water softening units will continue to function for years with little maintenance. Regular check ups and cleaning does help to improve their lifespan.
One important aspect in maintaining your water softening equipment is caring for the systems brine tank. In order to properly maintain the tank, the salt levels should be checked and if low replaced on a monthly basis. Salt is essential in the ion exchange process that takes place in water softeners. As the system regenerates the hard water will flow through resin in the softener and the hard ions trade place with the soft ions on the resin beads. This creates soft water.
Your specific softener should come with a manual that
instructs you on the perfect level for the salt in your brine tank. Generally, the tank should be kept half way
full and three inches above the water level.
High levels of salt can improve the overall efficiency however should be
reduced is the salt sticks to the sides of the unit. If salt is allowed to build up in the brine
tank users should carefully separate the salt to avoid thick bridges from
forming.
It is also important that you put the proper water softener salt into the brine tank. The manual should explain if your system best operates using granular, tablet, or block salt. Granular is the most common as it easily dissolves. On top of different types of salt there are grade variances as well.
Water Softener Rock Salt: This is a cheaper
source of softener salt and therefore contains more impurities. These impurities often decrease the
efficiency of the softener, dirties the tank, and requires more regular
cleaning and maintenance than other salt grades.
Water Softener Solar Salt: This option is purer
than rock salt. For most water softeners
this salt option is chosen by homeowners
Water Softener Evaporated Salt: This option is
the highest quality grade of water softener salt that can be purchased. It is also the most expensive.
If a salt bridge occurs, it is important that it is broken up and not allowed to “build up”. A solid layer of brine known as a bridge occurs when the salt in the brine tank binds together preventing loose salt on top from mixing with the water below the bridge. This of course prevents the softener from properly functioning. These bridges can be broken up using a large broom handle and tapping it around the tank several times. If the layers are not easily broken with a long handle a homeowner can pour hot water over the bridge. If bridges become a common issue in your water treatment systemyou can try using less softener salt which would allow the salt to drop between refills. Cleaning out the brine tank also helps.
Another common issue with salt inside of brine tanks is that
the salt can become a mushy pile at the base of the tank. This causes the water to rise around the salt
instead of mixing in with it. A large
broom handle can be used to break up the mush mound. Mush should be scooped out, dissolved in a
bucket of hot water, and then poured back into the water softener tank.
The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution
to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria,
chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins,
radon, and more. More information on our
water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water
filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron &
odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.
Homeowners that are looking to improve the quality of the water in their homes are often confused between the available water treatment options. There is a big difference in how you treat your homes water based on the issues it has. Your water may contain containments, be high in harmful minerals, or may just smell and taste off; depending on the exact issue you can determine what type of water treatment system will bring the highest quality water to your family.
A Look into Water Softeners and Reverse Osmosis Water
Systems
Reverse osmosis is described simply as a system that provides filtration. RO water filtration units are extremely popular amongst homeowners as they provide a point of use system that brings better tasting, healthier water. RO systems are especially popular amongst homeowners with wells. A reverse osmosis water treatment system removes the contaminants and dissolved minerals in your water by forcing them through a filter. Benefits of including either a point of use RO or whole home RO include:
Flavorless
Water: A RO system will remove the funny taste in your homes water by
eliminating the source of the taste within the water.
Doesn’t
Use Chemicals: Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are environmentally
friendly as they do not use chemicals to filter water.
Soft
Water: Minerals cause hard water; reverse osmosis systems filter and remove
the minerals in the water that cause hard water. Whole house reverse osmosis systems can
eliminate corrosion in pipes.
Odor and
Color Removal: Occasionally contaminants and dissolved minerals in the
water will cause a strange smell and odor.
RO systems work to filter these pollutants and minerals giving you a
higher quality water supply.
The quality of your homes well water is often improved with the installation of a RO filtration systems. Whether you install a whole house or point of use reverse osmosis unit your homes water will taste and smell better.
Water softeners are often described as water conditioners. Unlike a RO in which a filter physically removes contaminants and dissolved minerals from the homes water, a water softener processes water through an ionization process that replaces magnesium and calcium ions with sodium ions.
Hard water is known to contain increased levels of dissolved minerals such as magnesium and calcium. The water softening unit softens the water by exchanging these minerals with sodium, a less destructive mineral. Hard water can cause a great deal of problems in the home and water softeners help to mitigate them. If you notice plumbing corrosion because of hard water a water softening unit can help. It is important to note however that a water softener is not a filtration systemand does not remove other contaminants. Benefits of water softened using a water softener include:
Natural Tasting Water
Stain Free, Brighter Laundry
Spot Free Cleaner Dishes
Longer Lasting Appliances
Fewer Clogged Pipes
The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning
have a solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic,
bacteria, chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid,
tannins, radon, and more. More
information on our water treatment solutions including water softeners and
conditioners, water filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking
water, and iron & odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.
There are many myths surrounding hard water. Although hard water is often not detrimental to your health it can be a considerable nuisance. Below we will look further into the most common hard water myths and debunk them.
Myth #1: Hard water is responsible for clogging ALL types of plumbing materials
Truth: Hard water contains minerals including calcium and
magnesium both of which are known to stick to the interior of galvanized steel
pipes which leads to build-up and in turn clogs pipes. Galvanized steel plumbing is commonly found
in homes that were built between 1940 into the late 1970’s.
Homes built after the late 1970’s or homes that have had their plumbing replaced most often use pipes that are made from copper. Copper plumbing does not allow for calcium or magnesium build up to form. Thus, not ALL types of plumbing materials are responsible for hard water clogs.
Myth #2: Hard
water minerals are contaminants
Truth: Hard water does contain a number of minerals however, minerals are not contaminants, minerals are nutrients. Drinking water that is rich in essential minerals like calcium and magnesium is healthy for individuals. Mineral rich drinking water helps protect the health of individuals and can lead to lower risks of heart disease and stroke.
Myth #3: Water
softeners produced filtered water
Truth: Water softeners do not in fact filter water at all. Softeners use a process of ion exchange which is used to exchange minerals in the water for sodium. Water softener units take “tainted” tap water and create water that can be used for drinking, cooking, showering, laundry, dish washing, and more. The water processed through a water softener is NOT filtered and can often have a salty taste depending on a number of different variants. To remove the saltiness from water that has gone through a water softener a point of use filtercan be installed to faucets. Most individuals are not bothered by the taste of drinking water that comes from a softening unit however a filtration system does remove the sodium in water if a homeowner is bothered by the taste.
Myth #4: Hard
water works well for bathing, cleaning, and laundry
Truth: Hard water often leaves behind a residue that contains minerals which are not the best for bathing, cleaning, or laundry. Water that goes through a water softener is known as soft water. Soft water is ideal for bathing, hard water is known to create dry hair and skin because of mineral deposits that it leaves. In laundry and household cleaning hard water is known to leave stains and create a filmy residue that is not found in water that has gone through the rejuvenation process that takes place within water softening units.
The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution
to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria,
chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins,
radon, and more. More information on our
water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water
filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron &
odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.
How many homeowners can honestly say they would be okay drinking water from their taps that comes out brown? ZERO, that’s how many! Brown water occurs because of contamination in their water from Iron and Manganese, common elements found in well water. Thankfully there are water treatment options available to remove these contaminants. Both Iron and Manganese are found in soil thus washing into the well water drinking supply. The good thing is that you don’t have to live with contaminants in your water.
Contaminants in your homes water supply certainly can be a
nuisance. Iron and Manganese cause several issues including metallic tasting
water, stained laundry, clogged plumbing, and an oily or crust sheen on the
surface of the water. This is one of the reasons high levels of the
contaminants are treated using whole house
water treatment systems.
In 1974 the federal government set in place visual standards for water because of the effects of Iron and Manganese. Although state health-based standards are not in place for metals in drinking water, there are some concerns that high levels of manganese are bad for formula-fed infants. Infant formulas naturally contain manganese, so the National Health Department recommends mixing formula with water with a low manganese level.
Iron and Manganese Testing
It is easy to recognize elevated levels or iron and
manganese in water including a bitter, metallic taste and orangish-brown
staining on bathroom fixtures, clothes, and more. It is however important to test the water
before treating it in order to determine the amount of minerals and metals that
are in the water. Two types of metals
are commonly found in a homes water supply including reduced and oxidized. Water that has a reduction in iron and manganese
often looks clear, initially however will form solid orangish brown solid
particles. Water with oxidized iron and
manganese will have visible particles upon being drawn from the well.
Water Treatment Options
Once your well water is tested and you are told what type
and amounts of iron and manganese are in the water, water treatment specialists
like the ones at Reynolds Water Conditioning can help you determine the best
treatment option for your home. It is
important to note that some filtration such as oxidation filtration which injects
oxygen into the water to remove impurities only removes iron. The water will need an additional chemical
treatment to remove manganese.
Water softeners are often installed to treat hard water. They can also remove small amount of iron and manganese. Water softening units use an ion exchange process which replaces iron and manganese with sodium. The metals are removed from the softeners filtering resin through a process of backwashing.
Another treatment option to remove iron and manganese from water is through a point of use reverse osmosis systems. This treats water at the tap which is usually where drinking and cooking water is drawn from. The filter uses different membranes to remove unwanted molecules in water to be filtered from the water. Although this is a fairly simple method of getting water without metal it does not treat water throughout the house. Thus, staining will still occur in bathrooms and in laundry and water in other parts of the house will have the metallic taste.
The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution
to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria,
chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins,
radon, and more. More information on our
water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water
filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron &
odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.
When it comes to figuring out the what the best option is
for treating your homes water supply there is a lot of confusion and
conflicting information within the industry.
Homeowners will find a variety of solutions when it comes to water treatment
including solutions that treat the whole house and point of use options. Although some within the industry like to
sell water treatment options as interchangeable it is crucial that homeowners
understand that each treatment option is unique and deals with removing
different contaminants through difference processes. Each system has distinctive qualities in how
they treat the water in your home.
Whole House Water
Treatment Solutions
Water Filters and Water Filtration Systems: Water filter systemsoften use a carbon filtration solution to treat foul odors and improve the taste of water throughout your home. Carbon filters are known for treating a variety of elements in water including: chlorine, chemical tastes & odors, organic chemicals, and pesticides.
Municipal city water sources are known for their
overpowering use of chlorine. The
installation of a whole house carbon filtration system is often recommended to
stabilize drinking water and making bath water less irritating to sensitive
skin. Some private wells may also
benefit from the installation of a filtration system especially those in more
urban settings where organic chemicals are used in treating crops. These chemicals can run off into water sources
or soak into the Earth affecting the quality of the water coming from the well.
Water Softeners and Water Conditioners:
Water softeners and conditioners are common and well-known amongst homeowners for removing hard water minerals and preventing limescale build up in appliances and plumbing. Hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium can be found in both city water and private well water. Soft, scale-free water can be delivered throughout the house with the installation of a whole house water softening unit.
Reverse Osmosis:
The biggest misconceptions in water treatment center around reverse osmosis systems. Reverse osmosis systems are commonly mistaken for providing the same treatment to your homes water as water filters and water softeners. RO systems should not be advertised to treat chlorine, foul odors, hard water, or iron removal. Reverse osmosis water treatment systems have a semipermeable membrane that removes 95 to 99% of contaminants from your homes water. However, the membrane contained in RO systems don’t compare to the carbon filtration or water softening units.
In fact, chlorine and hard water can actually taint the RO
membrane. In fact, water should be
treated before it is sent through a reverse osmosis system. When RO systems are used in conjunction with
a water softener and filtration system you will prolong the life span of your
RO system thus leaving you with the highest quality drinking water.
The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution
to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria,
chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins,
radon, and more. More information on our
water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water
filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron &
odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.
