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Frequently Asked Questions |
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| Additional FAQs regarding Agricultural / Golf Course Application |
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1. How does the Sterling Water Conditioner work? / What does the Sterling Water Conditioner do?
Answer: The Sterling Water Conditioner works through a process called electrolysis. Inside the patented unit are two electrodes, one acts as an anode and the other is the cathode. Because calcium is a positively charged particle, it is attracted to the negatively charged cathode. The anode is positively charged and repels the calcium. Over time the cathode will become coated with the calcium build up and will require maintenance. To clean the unit, follow the maintenance instructions outlined in the installation instructions. Cleaning is recommended every 6 months.
Most all particles passing through the unit will not become plated on the cathode. These particles will be influenced by the electrolysis process and will behave differently because the crystalline structure of these particles has been altered from calcite to aragonite. The result is a reduction in water spotting, hard water build up and hard water problems. If water spots remain, they will be easily wiped clean with a damp cloth.
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2. How soon is it before you see results?
Answer: As soon as the Sterling Water Conditioner is installed, the water will be conditioned. However, it will take time to de-scale existing plumbing, just as it took time to coat the pipes with the scale build up. You may notice after the installation that small clumps of scale are coming out of the faucet or are caught in the aerator of the faucet. This is normal and may continue until the plumbing has been de-scaled. (There may be a thin coating on the pipes that will not be removed).
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3. What should you expect from the Sterling Water Conditioner?
Answer: Water treated by the Sterling Water Conditioner will not have the slick, slimy feel that a salt-based water softener does. You will be able to reduce the amount of soap, dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent and shampoo used, as you would with a salt-based water softener. You will see that existing hard water spots on bathtubs, showers, sinks, and dishes will dissipate and any new hard water spots are easily removed with a damp cloth. Unlike a salt-based water softener the Sterling Water Conditioner does not use salt and will not inject sodium into the water. Consequently, water conditioned by the Sterling Water Conditioner will not be harmful to plants nor cause skin dryness as a salt-based water softener will. The Sterling Water Conditioner alters the crystalline structures of mineral particles contained in water; but does not remove any elements from the water.
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4. Where do the hard water particles go if the Sterling Water Conditioner does not regenerate?
Answer: : The particles do not go anywhere. All of the particles and chemical elements in the water before the Sterling Water Conditioner will still be there after the water passes through the Sterling Water Conditioner. The only difference is the increase in Zeta Potential and its consequent impact upon the crystallization properties of the minerals in the water that cause scaling and hard water spots.
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5. How much maintenance is needed?
Answer: The Sterling Water Conditioner is designed to provide conditioned water with minimal maintenance. Depending on the quality of the incoming water, the Sterling Water Conditioner may need to be cleaned every 6 months with vinegar solution to remove any build up on the internal composite materials. The installation manual describes the best installation method for easily cleaning the Conditioner.
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6. What effect will the Sterling Water Conditioner have on water?
Answer: As with any water treatment system, no one system can effectively treat everything in water. The Sterling Water Conditioner is designed to treat water with at least 10 grains of hardness.
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8. Why are salt-based water softeners banned in cities across the United States?
Answer: Salt-based water softeners use salt as a regenerative agent. When salt-based water softeners regenerate, the brine, which is full of chlorides, is transferred to the wastewater treatment plant. From the wastewater treatment plant, chloride is discharged into streams and rivers. Chloride is detrimental to the ecosystems of streams and rivers and hazardous to the environment. The EPA and various States have established certain regulatory levels for chloride discharge from municipal and local wastewater treatment plants which many treatment plants are having difficulty meeting. The treatment plants can spend significant amounts to upgrade their equipment to handle the ever-rising levels of chlorides, or ban the future use of regenerating salt-based water softeners, which are significant sources of contaminating chlorides.
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9. Do magnetic water conditioners work?
Answer: Magnetic water conditioners have no scientific evidence to prove their effectiveness. However, there is substantial proof to illustrate the ineffectiveness of magnetic water conditioners. A study conducted by a staff member of Consumer Reports magazine tested the effectiveness of the magnetic water conditioner on water with a hardness of 220 ppm. He installed the two hot water heaters side-by-side, one with a magnetic water treatment device and one without. After two years, the staff member went back and cut open the two tanks to see the difference in scale build up. Predictably, there was no difference.
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10. What causes glassware discoloration and etching in dishwashers?
Answer: Because there are other dishwasher glassware problems that are similar, it is important to confirm the particular problem(s) that you are trying to fix. There are probably two answers in reference to this question.
If the glassware has a rainbow-like or yellow coloration it may have what is called a silica film. Some glassware is more resistant to this condition than others.
These colors follow existing stress lines in the glass and cannot be removed by acid or bleach but can but can be scraped off with a shape knife.
The silica film condition usually occurs:
- In softened water;
- When poor rinsing has occurred due to dishwasher overloading;
- When detergents are used that have strong polyphosphate sequestering agents for use in hard water;
- With detergent that is not dishwasher safe;
- When there is a high silica-content feed water.
To keep the problem from progressing:
- The dishwasher should not be overloaded;
- The amount of detergent should be cut back by about 2/3;
- The water temperature should never exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit; and
- If possible, detergents should be used that have a lower phosphate content.
Etching
Etching occurs when the causes of colored film are allowed to continue. Signs of this condition are a cloudy appearance that cannot be removed by washing with vinegar (acid), bleach or water.
The cloudiness can be uniform over the surface of the glass or it can be spotty. Unlike the colored film, the cloudiness cannot be scratched off with a knife.
Etching is a deterioration of the glass that cannot be reversed. Metal ions have been removed from the glass causing microscopic roughening of the surface.
The causes of etching are the same as for silica film, only more time must pass for etching to occur.
Hard water dishwashing, to the contrary, results in filming of glassware caused by the presence of calcium and magnesium. However, this type of film is readily removed by acid treatment. Soaking in a mild acid like vinegar or citric acid will dissolve with hardness.
To avoid etching:
- Use less detergent;
- Switch to a soft water dishwashing detergent, typically phosphate free;
- Reduce water temperature to less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
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11. Where can I find the installation instructions and maitenance information for the residential models?
Answer: Go to http://www.sterling-water.com/SterlingWaterConditionerInstallationInstructionsandDiagram.cfm to view the installation instructions and maintenance information for the residential models. For installation instructions and maintenance information for commercial models, please contact Sterling Water Systems at 877.262.5191. |
12. Will I have to use sulfur burners, sulfuric acid, nitrox machines, ozone machines, etc?
Answer: Sulfur burners are designed to produce sulfuric acid, which is used to decrease water's pH. This lower pH neutralizes the effect of calcium carbonate forming caliche (or hardpan) in and on top of the soil. The Sterling Water Conditioner increases the Zeta Potential or particles in water, which decreases the pH at the same time. Typical pH decreases are 0.1 to 1.0 pH number. .
Nitrox and Ozone machines are used to disinfect water, which some companies also claim decreases the "hardness" in water. In actuality, neither nitrox nor ozone machines affect hardness and scaling. You may see less of a build up of scale or caliche due to the reduction of bacteria, from the use of Nitrox and Ozone; but the hardness remains. Some researchers studying Zeta Potential have noticed a direct relationship between increased Zeta Potential and a reduced bacteria count. We are continuing our research to determine the effect of Sterling Water Conditioner on bacteria. If this is true, then the Sterling Water Conditioner may have a positive effect on bacteria reduction.
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13. What effect does the Sterling Water Conditioner have on, fish, wildlife, algae, microbes, mold, fungi, etc.?
Answer: The Sterling Water Conditioner will not have an effect on aquatic life or wildlife, because the conditioner is not removing or injecting any particles or elements into the water. The controlled electrical charge introduced into the water is too little to affect aquatic or wild life. As discussed above, if the Zeta Potential does, in fact, have a correlation with a reduction of bacteria, then the Sterling Water Conditioner will also affect fungi, mold algae, etc. in the same way.
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14. What effect does the Sterling Water Conditioner have on liquid fertilizer, effluent water, reclaimed water and chlorine?
Answer: The Sterling Water Conditioner will have a similar effect on any colloidal particle in water. The Sterling Water Conditioner increases the Zeta Potential of all particles in water to some degree. Therefore, the elements in the water will tend to keep chemicals in suspension and available for use. Liquid fertilizers will be more effective because the treated liquid carrying the fertilizer will act as a sequestering agent, which will result in more fertilizer reaching the ground for absorption.
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15. Does the Sterling Water Conditioner eliminate the use of gypsum, wetting agents, and pesticides?
Answer: Gypsum (CaSO4) is used to help in the treatment of hardness. We have found that gypsum should still be added, but you should be able to reduce the amount per acre or square foot. Wetting agents, such as polyphosphates and surfactants, are chemicals used to sequester (i.e reduce surface tension between water droplets and the leaf) the impurities in water and keep water droplets from "adhering" to plant leaves. Zeta Potential does exactly the same thing, it acts as a sequestering agent. But, instead of using chemicals to coat the impurities, the Sterling Water Conditioner uses electrons to "coat" the impurities.
As we stated above, if Zeta Potential does have an adverse effect on microbial growth, then it appears that the amount of pesticides used may be reduced.
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