How can a small leak damage your water filtration system?
It seems crazy, doesn’t it? However, minor leaks can damage a water filtration system or can even run a well low. Worse yet, detecting a leak would be nearly impossible without inspecting the toilet tank. When the water leaks up and over the “overflow tube,” it leaks directly to the drain (not through the bowl). Most homeowners can’t hear the leak as it can be very quiet. Unfortunately, these quiet leaks can waste hundreds of gallons without you knowing, disrupting the water treatment system’s timing.
How much can a slow leak really leak?
So how much water are we talking about? Take a look at these numbers for perspective. An average leak at 1/2 gallon per minute equals 750 gallons per day. For reference, an average kitchen faucet flows at 1.0 to 2.2 gallons per minute. So if this leak continues for a year, that equates to over 270,000 gallons of water!
How can a small leak damage your water filtration system?
First, it’s helpful to know how water treatment systems work to clean themselves (called a backwash). There are two ways.
1) A water treatment system set up to backwash based on assumed average water usage. When a water treatment system needs to remove physical particles from the water like ferric iron or sediment, it will measure its backwash timing on the average water usage. To calculate the backwash timing, the tech would take the average amount of water used daily. Then, the home’s occupancy would determine the average amount of water. Naturally, the system would have to treat more water before a backwash than calculated initially.
For example, if a home has a water system set up based on four people’s usage, and the homeowner has a leaking toilet, the leak may account for the water usage of an extra person. This much water volume means the system SHOULD backwash sooner than scheduled. Overworking the water treatment system like this can cause low pressure or, in extreme cases, cause a water treatment system to fail.
2) A system that backwashes based on a particular volume of water used in the home is more common with high-efficiency water softeners. High-efficiency water softeners are only going to backwash when needed. Water quality determines the backwash frequency, so each water softener is specific to the amount of contaminant it is trying to remove. A high-efficiency water softener is programmed to backwash as needed depending on the water quality. If the system cannot detect the leak, especially a small leak, it will not calculate the leaking water as part of the water consumption resulting in over-running the system.
Even a minor toilet leak will affect the water filtration system’s work due to the extra volume flowing through the system. If a water treatment system is backwashing more frequently than it should, you will see multiple issues. Symptoms might include lower than normal water pressure, risk of running the well low, or in some cases, system failure.
What can you do?
Are you concerned that your well is running low? Are you nervous that your water filtration system is being damaged? First, a good sanity checks to perform every six months to ensure the water level is at least halfway up the tank. Then, if you’re still uneasy, call FONTUS for help.
HOW FONTUS CAN HELP
The FONTUS experts will provide a free immediate-response water test onsite for minerals. We can also correctly collect any state-certified samples needed for health-related contaminants. Then we send them to a state-certified Maine Lab for a TSFHA water test. The TSFHA Water Test will test for Coliform Bacteria & E. coli (pos/neg), Nitrate, Nitrite, Fluoride, Chloride, Hardness, Copper, Iron, pH, Manganese, Sodium, Uranium, Lead, Arsenic, and Magnesium in your water. This test is an additional charge determined by the lab and paid to the lab.
In short, taking control of your water supply is easy. Schedule your free immediate-response water test today. Call (207) 856-0066 or email info@fontush2o.com to speak with the water treatment specialists at FONTUS Water Treatment.
WHAT IS A FREE IMMEDIATE-RESPONSE WATER TEST?
An immediate-response water test is a test done onsite, getting your results immediately. This test allows us to determine if and what levels of iron, manganese, hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, and salinity, are present in your water. By the end of our appointment, you’ll have all your questions answered. And most importantly, you’ll have a plan to ensure your water is clean and pure.
YOU CAN TRUST FONTUS WATER TREATMENT TO STAY BY YOUR SIDE
At FONTUS, we’re passionate about water purity. We pride ourselves on being reliable, hassle-free, and always available. For example, as the environment and water change, we’re here to help evaluate your water. You can trust FONTUS to ensure clean, pure water for your home or office through testing, installation, and maintenance.