WHAT IS HARD WATER? |
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The original source of all the water we use is rain which is itself soft. However, once rain falls to earth it
runs through the rock strata and dissolves from it mineral salts such as those of Calcium and Magnesium. In
many areas of Ireland the water coming from the mains or a borehole is a solution of these salts. This is called HARD WATER because of the hard deposits caused in water systems when the salts come back out of solution,
like rock turning back to rock.. |
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PROBLEMS CAUSED BY HARD WATER: |
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These hard deposits are generally called "scale". However, it is actually more like concrete, forming a thick coating on heating elements in boilers and hot water tanks. Soaps and detergents do not work as well, so
larger measures are needed for the same amount of cleaning. This in turn creates scum deposits which are difficult to remove. Boilers, dishwashers and washing machines fed with hard water need significantly more maintenance and cleaning. |
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HEATING EFFICIENCY IMPAIRED:
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| Scale build up on heating elements reduces their efficiency because of the time taken for the heat to get through to the water. Thicker scale means higher energy costs. Scale also insulates the elements from the water causing them to overheat and burn out more quickly. |
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THE ANSWER TO THESE PROBLEMS: |
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A very cost effective way to solve these problems is to remove the dissolved "hard" mineral salts from the
water, replacing them with "soft" salts that do not form scale. This can be done using one of our wide range of automatic water softeners, from compact time clock regenerated models to large high capacity duplex systems.
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HOW DO WATER SOFTENERS WORK?
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Water softeners work by a process known as ion exchange. The hard water passes through a high quality
cation exchange resin column inside a pressure vessel. The resin removes the positively charged Calcium and Magnesium ions from solution and exchanges them for ions of Sodium. When the resin becomes exhausted
it is regenerated by drawing a solution of common salt - called brine - through the column. During regeneration the hard mineral ions are then released from the resin and replaced again with those of Sodium from the brine. The unwanted ions are flushed to drain along with the exess brine. Regeneration takes between 60 and 180 minutes depending on the size of the softener, and can be repeated as often as necessary.
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VALVE SIZE: |
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Control valve sizes are specified according to the flow rate required of the softening system, within the
exchange capacity limits of the softening resin. Pipe connection sizes range from 3/4 to 2" for standard directly connected control valves with flow rates up to 18m3h. For certain high flow applications water is piped directly
to the vessel through service valves, with water only being diverted through the control valve during
regeneration.
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CAPACITY: |
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| The capacity of a particular softener is a function of the amount of resin in the column, the hardness of the water supply and the amount of salt used at each regeneration. It is more efficient to regenerate frequently with a minimal amount of salt. |
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MAINTENANCE: |
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| The range of softeners we produce will give years of reliable operation. The only attention required from the user is to check on the level of salt in the brine tank from time to time and top it up as required. However, like any piece of essential plant, routine planned servicing of water softeners is recommended. |
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CS14:
These units are a cabinet type where the vessel c/w control valve is contained within a cabinet acting as the brine tank.
The control valve may be either a simple time clock which will regenerate at a
set time from 1 - 7 days/week, or be a metered type which measures the amount of softened water used and regenerates the unit only when necessary.
These units are used where space is limited i.e. under a counter top. |
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CS 20:
This unit consists of a Vessel c/w control valve and a separate brine tank.
The control valve may be either a simple time clock which will regenerate at a set time from 1 - 7 days/week, or be a metered type which measures the amount of softened water used and regenerates the unit only when necessary.
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