FAQ'S

• Water Softeners
• Scale Inhibitors
• Water Filters
• Reverse Osmosis
• Chemicals & Cleaners

Water Softeners

What are the dimensions of the CalSoft E?
Height 480mm Width 260mm Depth 410mm.

Can the CalSoft E be fitted on the incoming mains supply?
Yes, the CalSoft can be fitted on the mains supply as it has a 3/4" valve head which will cope with high flow situations. This would be our normal recommended installation position. If 22mm pipe work then our high flow kit is recommended to prevent flow restrictions.

Is the CalSoft E a metered unit?
The CalSoft E is not a traditional metered unit. In the true sense it is a fully automatic unit that is programmed to regenerate at 3am each day. The unit is pre-set to produce 1200 litres of softened water per day, based on the average recorded UK water hardness of 300 (ppm) parts per million. The CalSoft M is our traditional metered unit.

How much salt is used with the CalSoft E?
Approx 0.5kg per day.

If I go on holiday will my CalSoft E continue to regenerate on a daily basis?
Yes, therefore it simply requires switching off at the power supply and switched back on again on your return, remembering to set the time of day? The CalSoft M will only regenerate when necessary as it is based on the volume of water used.

How often do I need to replace the water filter in the CalSoft E?
There is no water filter or filter in the CalSoft, only salt.

How much salt do I need to put in the CalSoft E?
Approx 16kg which will last one month.

Will I lose pressure with the CalSoft E?
Yes, however this is the same with any water softener and as a rule of thumb is approximately 0.8- 1.2 bar (11-17 psi).

Is the Cal-Soft Non-Electrical softener a metered unit?
Yes, the most reliable and most efficient unit on the market to date.

What type of salt should I use with the CalSoft Non-Electrical softener?
Water softener salt, you have a choice of either block salt or tablet salt. Block or tablet salt can be used in all of our softeners. Granular salt, as with all softeners, may have varying quality standards and could block up small water ways.

I am getting blue staining from my water softener, why is this?
Although this is very unusual, it is normally due to a reaction of certain manufactured copper with artificially softened water. There are two ways to overcome this; the easiest is to use a propriety cleaner such as ‘Balt Power’ or ‘Shiny Sinks’ which will remove the problem. The second way is to install a bleeding valve prior to the softener which may help solve the problem. It must be noted that this does not indicate that the water softener is malfunctioning - only that it is producing 100% soft water but has had a slight reaction to the copper within the system.

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Scale Inhibitors

How does the CalCombi work?
This dual purpose unit can be fitted on a central heating system to prevent corrosion or on the cold water mains to prevent limescale forming. CalCombi is controlled by the unique internal working design of a magnetic bar and zinc plates, which induce a single polarity into the water. The calcium and magnesium (limescale) particles take on the same polarity, therefore as like poles repel, this prevents the limescale from forming.

With the CalCombi being magnetic and electrolytic we have been told that one process cancels the other one out. Is this true?
No, this is not true. The two processes work along side one another in parallel to produce a high quality scale inhibitor that combats the problem of limescale more efficiently than a single process unit.

What is the difference between the CalCombi and other scale inhibitors in the market place?
The CalCombi is a dual purpose unit that uses the technique of electrolytic plates and magnets, which is a unique patented design of Calmag. You will not find a similar product on the market. It also comes complete with 15mm and 22mm push fit adaptors.

How long will the CalPhos R last?
Each cartridge will last approx 2-3 months dependent on usage.

What product, if any, can you suggest to stop scale build up and tackle existing scale in my pipework?
The Cal Tronic has a proven track record of breaking down existing scale as well as preventing future build up.

CalTronic and bringing the wires together. How should the Caltronic be installed?
The CalTronic should be installed on the mains supply (close to an electrical supply) in order to gain maximum protection for all the appliances in the household. It will work on all types of material by winding the aerial wires around the pipework in a tightly coiled fashion. Best results are achieved when the two aerial wires are wound around non-interrupted pipework and then connecting the ends together to complete a circuit.

How many times do the wires of the CalTronic need wrapping around the pipes?
Approximately 10 turns, just ensure that the wires are coiled tightly together.

In which direction do the wires of the CalTronic need wrapping around?
The direction of the wires can be wrapped either clockwise or anti-clockwise, as the units performance is not determined by this.

Should there be gaps between the wires of the CalTronic when installed?
No. The wires should be wound in a tightly coiled fashion.

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WATER FILTERS

If a kettle is scaled up. What can be done to prevent or reduce this?
A CalSlim R under sink filter should be fitted as this removes a good percentage of the scale from the water, however, if you empty the kettle each time you have used the boiled water required and leave the kettle standing empty, this will produce significant results.

Can I use the CalSlim R for the whole house?
No, the water requires contact time with the resin and carbon to remove all the contaminants designed for this cartridge, Therefore, it is supplied with its own tap and pipework reduced to 6mm.

How often do I need to replace the water filter?
At intervals no longer than six months.

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REVERSE OSMOSIS

What is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is the finest filtration available. The RO process works by separating contaminants from water by forcing the water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane acts as a physical barrier to almost all molecules with a molecular weight greater than 200grams/mole. For example, the membrane may allow passage of water molecules, but blocks molecules of dissolved salt. Unwanted molecules are retained by the membrane while the ultra-pure water continues on for use or further treatment. This process takes any unwanted molecules retained by the membrane and sweeps them away to your drain. This filtration prevents the membrane surface from clogging, thus permitting a long performance life.

What are some of the advantages of Reverse Osmosis?

• Ultra fine filtration at the molecular level
• Filters out 98% of all unwanted molecules
• Membranes last typically 2-3 years
• Crossflow process prevents membrane from clogging
• Easy to maintain, requires only routine maintenance
• Large storage tank for water-on-demand

What are some of the disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis?

• Process is relatively slow, requires a storage tank
• Requires a connection to your drain for wastewater
• Requires some water to be sent to your drain to prevent membrane clogging
• Production is adversely affected by low water pressure and high temperature

Does an Reverse Osmosis system disinfect water?
While the membrane used in an RO system will physically screen out and remove many micro organisms in water, including pathogenic bacteria, the system must not be relied upon to make a biologically questionable water supply safe and potable for consumption. Membrane imperfections or faulty water seals in the system could allow untreated water to pass through and over time bacteria could grow on or through the membrane. Be sure the raw water source for your RO system is safe and potable for consumption by having a sample tested by a certified water testing facility.

Why do I need a pre-filter system if the Reverse Osmosis Membrane takes out everything anyway?
Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes are designed to filter out contaminants at the molecular level.
It is absolutely essential to remove water supply contaminants larger than 5 microns before passing it to the RO membrane to prevent fouling and clogging.

Does Reverse Osmosis waste a lot of water?
It depends on what you mean by waste. A home RO unit uses water to clean itself and wash away impurities. It’s like a lot of other water-using appliances. We use water to wash clothes, to wash dishes, to wash cars, to flush toilets. A Reverse Osmosis unit uses more water in its operation than you actually consume, In terms of expense, it’s the equivelant of 2 extra toilet flushes a day. Membranes require a reject flow rate of at least 4-6 times the product flow rate. Normally this ratio is maintained at approximately 5:1. Therefore, a membrane rated at 10 gallons per 24 hour day should be sized with a flow restrictor of at least 50 gallons per day. Under-sizing the flow restrictor in order to run the system at higher recoveries results in premature scaling of the membrane, and shorter membrane life, and/or an increase in higher-TDS product water. Our systems are set up to produce a 5-1 flow rate, however, you can buy a 3-1 restrictor if you want to reduce the waste water.

Do all of your units use the TFC membrane?
All our systems use high quality thin film composite (TFC) membranes.

What is a booster pump?
A booster pump is used to increase inlet pressure to the Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane. RO membranes require a minimum of about 35 PSI to operate efficiently. Most water supplies meet this minimum requirement. If you plan to use your RO system where low water pressure is a problem, you should seriously consider this option. Even for applications with sufficient water pressure, a booster pump is well worth considering. As illustrated by the graph, increased pressure greatly increases the efficiency of an RO membrane. With over 30,000 operating hours, booster pumps pay for themselves through increased RO performance. The result will be much faster production of filtered water and less waste water.

Does Reverse Osmosis remove chlorine?
The Reverse Osmosis membrane doesn’t remove chlorine. Our systems already have a high quality carbon filter before the membrane remove chlorine. If the carbon filter didn’t remove all the chlorine, the membrane would sustain damage.

Do Reverse Osmosis units need electricity?
No, they run on water pressure. You need electricity only if you add an electric pressure-boost pump. Our standard units do not generally need these as the water pressure in the UK is usually satisfactory.

How often does the Reverse Osmosis membrane need to be replaced?
With proper maintenance of your sediment and activated carbon pre-filters, your reverse osmosis membrane should last 2-5 years.

What is The Flow Restrictor For?
Firstly, to create pressure throughout the membrane element. Secondly and more importantly, to maintain a desired ratio of reject flow (to drain) and permeate (product) flow. Residential membranes require a reject flow rate of at least 3-6 times the product flow rate. Normally this ratio is maintained at approximately 3:1 to 5:1. Therefore, a membrane rated at 10 gallons per 24 hour day should be sized with a flow restrictor of at least 50 gallons per day.
Under-sizing the flow restrictor in order to run the system at higher recoveries results in premature scaling of the membrane, and shorter membrane life, and/or an increase in higher-TDS product water. Additionally, scaling of the flow restrictor will alter the flow rate to drain, and decrease the ratio, causing the above problems. To avoid this, flow restrictors should be changed regularly. The flow restrictor should be changed every time the membrane is changed.
Flow restrictors are rated by a flow rate expressed as millilitres/minute (ml/min). The following table gives a guidance on selecting a flow restrictor.

A standard flow restrictor that closely meets the calculated brine flow should be selected. The poorer the feed water quality, the higher the reject to product ratio should be. Lowering the ratio below the recommended level will result in faster fouling of the membrane and shorter membrane life. In addition, when designing a system, check to ensure that the desired reject to product ratio can be met at the operating pressure of which the system will be running.

What does it cost to run an RO-UNIT when on a water meter?
This is very difficult to calculate as different systems and water conditions will affect the figures. However, the cost of pure water is much more economical than purchasing bottled water when compared litre by litre.

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CHEMICALS & CLEANERS

Is CalChem compatible with competitors inhibitors?
Most brands update their formulations from time to time and it is not always possible to know what effect mixing inhibitors will have. The cocktail of chemicals produced by mixing products could be detrimental to a heating system and we recommend flushing or topping up with the same inhibitor previuosly used in the system. As a cautionary note if a manufacturer tells you that their product is compatible with other products they could be misleading you.

Is CalChem aggressive?
No. Although highly effective, it is not aggressive. Unlike acid cleaners which will attack all the system pipework potentially opening pinholes and exposing other system weak points, CalChem is designed to have little or no affect on pipework.

Is CalChem safe?
Yes. All of our products are neutral pH cleaners and will therefore not cause burns. The main active ingredients in all the cleaners are widely used as food preservatives and additives.

Does CalChem have to neutralised before flushing?
No. Unlike acid cleaners, CalChem does not have to be neutralised before flushing. Not having to do this will save the plumber time and money.

Can CalChem be left in the system?
Yes, this is what it is designed to do.

Can CalChem be used with power flush machines?
Yes, it performs exceptionally well when used in this way.

Are there instances where CalChem solves problems that competitors products cannot?
Yes. As CalChem is highly effective and tuned, it is particularly good at dealing with systems that are heavily fouled or rusted. In general, because our products are more concentrated, they will successfully restore systems where other products fail. Systems that are suffering gas or air problems are often improved by using a sludge dissolver because the product contains a biocide to kill the bacteria that is causing the problem.

Is CalChem environmentally friendly?
Yes. The ingredients are either biodegradable or do not have environmental toxins.

Is CalDensate environmentally friendly?
Yes. It is the only product on the marketplace which has taken this into consideration. The housing unit has a biodegradable cartridge that is disposed of every 12 months and will not harm landfill sites.

Why does CalDensate have push fit fittings?
The CalDensate has been designed for ease of installation, there are no other products that are as quick to install and re-install.

Will the fittings/seals/washers on the CalDensate corrode due to the condensate?
Definitely not - all components of CalDensate have been manufactured from acidic proof material.

Will the CalDensate last longer than 12 months?
We have calculated the product will last 12 months on the basis of maximum use of a condensing boiler running 24 hours a day and 365 days per year. The media we use is specially formulated and is unique to Calmag. No other product will last as long.

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