Ultraviolet Sterilizers
Frequently Asked Questions
Purchase Questions
Q. How do I size a UV sterilizer?
A. Our UV sterilizers are based on peak flow rate. Most single-family dwellings use 6, 9, or 12 gallons per minute.
Water should be low in hardness minerals: Less than 7 grains per gallon of hardness, or less than 120 PPM) Water should be free of color Iron should be less than 0.3 mg/L. Manganese should be less than 0.05 mg/L pH range should be 6.5 to 9.5 Water should be free of sediment
Any other questions? Please email us or call us toll-free at 888-600-5426.
Q. How often should I replace my ultraviolet lamp?
A. UV lamps are typically rated for 10,000 hours, or slightly longer than one year. The lamp should be replaced, as a rule, once every year.
Q. Can I turn on and off the ultraviolet lamp when I need to use the water?
A. This is not recommended as it takes 3 minutes for the UV to warm up before it reaches its full capacity to disinfect. However if you leave the home for extended periods it is OK to turn on and off between uses.
Q. What is the recommended temperature of the water?
A. Normal operating range is 50 - 100 degrees F - if operating outside this range please contact our engineering staff.
Q. How can I ensure that my flow rate does not exceed the rated flow of my ultraviolet UV sterilizer?
A. We have flow control valves available as an optional accessory that will restrict the flow of your water to the rated flow of the UV sterilizer.
Q. What water chemistry guidelines should I follow when using a UV sterilizer?
Installation Questions
Q. Where should the UV sterilizer be installed?
A. The UV sterilizer is intended for indoor use and should be installed in a dry area which provides enough room to perform routine maintenance. This includes a minimum distance of one chamber length to allow for changing of the lamp and quartz sleeve. In addition, the ultraviolet system should always be located closest to the point of use.
Q. Do I need a special power receptacle to operate the UV sterilizer?
A. No. All of our units are available in either 120v 50/60Hz
Q. Do I need a special connection for the UV sterilizer?
A. Plug the UV sterilizer only into an approved ground fault circuit interrupt (GFCI) receptacle.
Q. Do I need a pre-filter before the water enters the ultraviolet UV sterilizer unit?
A. Particulates can shield microorganisms from the ultraviolet rays. Therefore, we recommend a 5-micron pre-filter prior to the UV sterilizer.
Q. Is the UV sterilizer connected to the hot water line or the cold water line?
A. The UV sterilizer must be connected to the cold water line only.
Q. My water looks clear. Do I still need a pre-filter?
A. Yes we do still recommend a pre-filter. Even if water is clear, a pre-filter will act as another layer of protection in case of any changes in your water.
Q. Should I use a post filter to remove the dead bacteria?
A. This is optional, but by installing a bacteria filter after your UV sterilizer, you will be ensuring that no dead or injured bacteria will enter into the pipes downstream of your UV system.
Q. Does it matter which connection on the UV sterilizer is used as the inlet or the outlet for the UV sterilizer?
A. No, this does not effect the operation of the unit - either connection can be used as the inlet with the other connection used as the outlet.
Q. Should I change the bulb after one year or when it stops lighting?
A. Even though the lamp produces visible light past the 10,000 hours, the ultraviolet output decreases over time. We recommend that you change the lamp every 12 months to maintain optimum efficiency.
Q. I had to turn my UV sterilizer off for service or a problem; can I just turn it back on again?
A. Although the UV sterilizer will turn back on if properly connected, there may be some contamination of the downstream pipes (from the UV sterilizer to point of use) if water flows through the system during shut down. It is a good practice to disinfect the downstream plumbing between the purifier and point of use whenever there is a chance that non-purified water has gotten into the pipes.
Q. How do I disinfect the downstream piping?
A. You can do this by introducing chlorine into the purifier chamber, a 100-ppm chlorine solution is suggested. With the chlorine in the purifier chamber, turn the ultraviolet purifier on. Open the downstream outlet until a chlorine odor is noticed. Close the outlet and allow the chlorine to remain in the plumbing for a minimum of three (3) hours. Flush the plumbing with ultraviolet purified water; allow the water to run for several minutes before use.
Q. How often should I clean the quartz sleeves?
A. It depends on the quality of the water being treated. The poorer the water quality, the more often the sleeve needs to be cleaned. We recommended examining the quartz sleeve after one month's operation to see if there are any deposits or discoloration on the sleeve. If none, then perform this same task at three-month intervals to determine a reasonable cleaning schedule. If obvious staining is apparent before one month or deposits are not being adequately removed by the wiper mechanism, you should consider additional pretreatment prior to UV sterilizer to remove the dissolved contaminant responsible for coating the quartz sleeve.
Any other questions? Please email us or call us toll-free at 888-600-5426.