Water

Top 25 FAQ

General Questions
Q. Why is this system special?
A. There are five main reasons our system is unique:
1. Superior purification power. Our Biocompatible Water System uses three purifiers, not just one, which ensures 99%+ purification - not only when it is new, but over time.
2. No compromises. There are no shortcuts in this system – every part is of the highest caliber, designed to safely handle ultra-pure water, and made for robust durability. We stand behind our systems, and you should expect it to serve you for a long, long time.
3. UV sterilization. Most (RO) reverse osmosis-based systems don't incorporate a UV light to sterilize the water, and if they do it is usually made entirely of plastic which eventually leaches toxins into the water under 24/7 exposure to UV light. We use a UV light made with a quartz glass and stainless steel housing, which allow the UV light to do its work without leaching anything into the water. A UV light of this quality is not cheap to add to a system, which is why most companies don't include one.
4. Comprehensive restructuring. The first seven stages of the system create ultra-pure water, but purification is just the first step. Our second seven stages bring the balance back to the water, mimicking nature to impart subtle, beneficial properties your body will notice, including ionic minerals and alkalinity.
5. Other features: 35 gallon per day membrane capacity makes it hard to run out of water (compared to 15-25 gpd of other systems). Excellent flow rate for quick fill-ups. Low maintenance costs over time make this a low-hassle, low-cost system to operate.
All this means that you can enjoy the purest, healthiest water you will ever drink – in your own home!

Q. Is this a whole house system?
A. - No. Contrary to what you hear, there is no system on the market (for under $10,000) that can offer pure water for your entire house, affecting all of your faucets. Our Biocompatible Water System is designed to supply you with the purest, restructured, alkaline water through dedicated spigot(s) for drinking purposes. We do carry whole house systems, but they are designed to remove chloramines and/or chlorine from your water to create excellent bathing water, protect your plumbing from corrosion, and to provide pre-filtration for your drinking water system. While a whole house system is optional, it is an excellent idea, but it does not provide purified drinking water. (Anyone who tells you their whole house system (except whole house reverse osmosis) provides pure drinking water is misleading you.)

Q. Can I buy a whole house system that will create pure drinking water?
A. Despite a lot of marketing hype, there is no whole house system on the market, short of a $10,000 whole-house reverse osmosis system, that can create pure drinking-quality water. (And typically you need to re-plumb your entire house when you install a whole-house RO which is very expensive.) The whole house systems we carry are designed to remove chlorine, chloramines, VOCs, and pesticide-like chemicals, creating great bathing and gardening water. But to say that a whole house system can do more than this, short of a whole-house RO, is misleading.

Q. How long has this system been on the market?
A. This system has been on the market in its present form for over 12 years. Before the restructuring system was added in 2000, it was sold for almost ten years. We have thousands of satisfied customers around the world.

Q. Will it help my health?
A. We cannot make health claims but we can say that hydration is key to radiant health, and not all water is equally hydrating. Our water is extremely hydrating, and our customers rave about this water!


Installation Questions

Q. Is the Biocompatible Water System hard to install? Do I need a plumber?
A. The system can easily be put in by a person who is handy, though the benefits of a licensed plumber are that they are insured, and they will be pretty much in and out whereas you might take 2-3+ hrs the first time you install it. Any plumber who has installed RO systems before can install this unit. We offer telephone installation support.

Q. What are the dimensions? Will it fit under my sink?
A. Dimensions of the purification unit are: 18"h x 16"w x 7"d. Dimensions of the standard tank are 16"h x 11"d. Both parts are designed to not take up a lot of usable under-sink space. Generally the area under a standard sink area will suffice, with the purification unit typically going on the right wall (mounting on screws is ideal), and the tank going in the back left corner out of the way. Installing in this way minimizes interference with other under-sink needs, and still allows for easy maintenance.

We also offer a larger 14 gallon tank (10+ gallons of water) with dimensions of 26"h x 16"d. The 14 gallon tank holds 3 times more water than the standard tank. It is a practical upgrade if the family or office wants to have plenty of pure water readily available. It is also recommend if you want to install the RO system in the basement or garage, and feed pure water to multiple outlets. The high water volume in the tank will help maintain strong delivery pressure to your remote output points. The tank works fine standing up or laying down on its side. So if you lack space, you can lay the tank down or put it elsewhere within 20-30 ft horizontally, and 10-15 ft vertically from the RO purification unit, and it will work fine.

Q. Are there other installation options if my under-sink is small?
A. Absolutely. If you have an adjoining cabinet to the under-sink area that can be freed up, it could house one or both of the system's components, with a small hole drilled between the cabinets for the tubing. Another option is to put the purifier and tank in the basement and run the purified water up to the sink(s). If there is less than 10 feet of vertical lift, you don't need a booster pump and if there is more than 10 feet of lift, you will want a booster pump (approx. $250).

Q. Does the water come out of my kitchen faucet or a special spigot?
A. We supply a special lead-free spigot designed for ultra-pure water, so your drinking water will not interface at all with your existing plumbing.

Q. Can I send purified water to other locations in my house beside my kitchen sink?
A. Yes. You can send water to other parts of the house with extra dedicated tubing we supply that is run to the other location(s). The water at the other location (kitchenette, bathroom, etc) will be delivered through special lead-free spigots we supply, just like at the kitchen sink.

Q. What if I rent? Can I take the system with me when I leave? Is it hard to remove and will it leave an impact on the plumbing?
A. Renters use this system with excellent results, installing it and then taking it with them when they move out with no impact on plumbing. The unit is simple to remove.


Maintenance Questions

Q. How often will I need to change filters?
A. We include a TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meter with your unit so you can test your filter efficiency, because we want you to get the most life out of your filters that is possible, and to have great peace of mind knowing that your system is working properly. Based on TDS readings, our customers change filters approximately every two years, but changes can be required on an annual basis depending on water purity, hardness, and usage. On an average system some (certainly not all) of the filters would be changed every two years. The process of testing your filters is very simple and takes only about 5 minutes a few times a year.

Q. What are the yearly maintenance costs?
A. The average yearly maintenance cost is about $180, or about $15 per month. This is very reasonable in the industry, especially for a system with 14 stages. Other systems with many fewer components often cost this much or more to maintain.

Q. Can I change the filters myself or do I need a plumber?
A. Filter changes are pretty straightforward, and many customers do this themselves. Some choose a plumber for various reasons – it really is up to you. If you can follow instructions, you can do this.

Q. How do I know when to change filters?
A. We include a TDS (total dissolved solids) meter with the system so you can test the water and determine how it is performing, and when to change the filters. (See manual and/or website.)


Health Questions

Q. I've heard reverse osmosis water is bad for me. Don't reverse osmosis systems produce acidic, dead, aggressive water?
A. We don't recommend drinking normal reverse osmosis water, because it is not completely pure and it is acidic, aggressive, and unbalanced. This doesn't mean that RO is not a useful technology, it just needs to be complemented with more purifiers and then the water must be restructured and remineralized.

Q. Does this system remove fluoride? Chloramines? Lead? Pharmaceutical residues?
A. Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Because it is a triple-purification system, it removes all these contaminants and many more – both when the unit is new, and over time. This is the main difference our system provides – it is able to achieve 99%+ purification of the toxins we know about, and the same purification of those we don't know about yet, which have yet to hit the headlines. Most importantly, our system maintains this very high level of purification over time. This is the kind of purification you deserve and require in this toxic world, and which can only be delivered with a triple purifying system.

Q. What about plastics in the system – don't they leach into the purified water?
A. Our system is designed specifically using materials made for ultra-pure water. In a purification system there are many dozens of parts, and each of them must be evaluated for their safety and inertness – this is the level of care we take with the Biocompatible Water System. Obviously we cannot vouch for other companies' level of attention to this area. Our system is the choice of environmental consultants who recommend this system for their most sensitive clients, because of the absolute purity of the water.

Q. How does the water taste?
A. Our customers consistently tell us that they are amazed at the great taste and feel of the water, and that it is the best water they have ever drank! It has been compared to expensive Penta-Water, only ours is more purified, and much cheaper to make in your own home!

Q. What are the health benefits of drinking this water?
A. We cannot make claims in this area, but we can say that hydration is vital to nutrient delivery, toxin/waste elimination, slowing the aging process, and overall wellness. Drinking hydrating water like this is one of the best things you can do for your wellbeing.

Q. Don't I need all the minerals that your system takes out? Isn't highly mineralized water good for me?
A. It is a myth that we need lots of minerals in our drinking water to stay healthy. Our bodies are designed to derive the minerals we need from our food. Waters that people inquire about typically contains mostly inorganic minerals, which is a form that is not easy for our body to assimilate. The water from our system contains ionic organic minerals, which means they are from a living thing and thus in the form that our bodies recognize. We make sure there is just enough minerals to alkalize and balance the water, but not to burden it. We recommend adding a drop or two of a product like ConcenTrace Ionic Minerals to our water if you crave extra minerals/electrolytes, otherwise just enjoy from the spigot!

Q. What is "energetic restructuring"?
A. Energetic restructuring is a process that mimics what happens to water when it flows over rocks in a stream, or through the Earth. Nature is very complex and mysterious, and there is much we don't know about water's subtle properties. One of the most intriguing properties of water is "memory," or the ability to contain information about a substance even though that substance may no longer be physically present. This characteristic of water is what underlies the 150+ year old esteemed science of homeopathy. Our restructuring process erases the memory of electrical fields, physical toxins, and other residues of the human world, and gently infuses the natural and beneficial informational fields of the natural world using naturally occurring far-infrared minerals. These mineral formations occur naturally, and we are effectively boosting the process so that the restructuring occurs in 18 inches of travel by the water, rather than over miles of river rocks through the Earth.


System Performance


Q. Are there any impurities this system has problems removing?
A. Yes – iron. Iron particles in water acts like little knives, and can shred the membrane. If you have a serious iron problem (usually affecting people who rely on well water with iron levels over 0.5 ppm) you will usually know it by the red staining on your fixtures/sinks. A softener (like the one we carry) will often take care of iron problems, but sometimes an iron removal system is needed (often in addition to a softener). We recommend our special Iron Removal system.

Q. If I have hard water, do I need to put in a softener?
A. If the hardness of your water is above 10 grains/gallon we recommend a whole house softener or what we refer to as a conditioner. A conditioner will allow your water purification system to work much better and last longer, will preserve your plumbing, and will make your clothes last longer.

Q. Don't reverse osmosis systems waste a lot of water?
A. Reverse osmosis developed a reputation for water waste in years past, when their efficiency levels were much lower. Our system today will send about 2.5 gallons of water (the rejected toxins and water necessary to clean the membrane) for every gallon purified. This is a very small amount of water – if you use a gallon of purified water a day, 2.5 gallons would be like one family member staying in the shower for 30 seconds, or flushing a low-flush toilet once a day.

Q. What if the headlines come out tomorrow with news of some new chemical in my water? Will this system remove it?
A. This is one of the great things about this system – it is designed to remove all toxins in your water, whether we even know they are there or not! Consider the pharmaceutical residues that were present in our water for years before we realized they were there – you want a system robust enough to deal with known and unknown toxins, so the headlines don't have to scare you anymore.

Q. What is your water's pH?
A. The pH of our Biocompatible Water depends on many things, including your own tap water's purity and pH. But the average pH would be between 8 and 9, though this is hard to measure on normal pH paper. Normal pH strips are designed for normal water, not purified water. Purified water has few or no minerals so it confounds normal pH strips. To accurately measure the pH of our water you need a special pH meter designed for purified water.


Comparison with Other Systems


Q. How does the Biocompatible Water System compare to other systems on the market?
A. There are basically five types of water systems on the market today. Here is a brief overview of these systems, with comparisons to ours.
1. Filters: Standard carbon filters are common, but are incapable of removing fluoride, metals, and chloramines. They make up an important part of our system but used alone they represent only a partial solution.
2. Reverse Osmosis: Reverse osmosis is a foundational purification technology, but there are limits to what it can accomplish by itself. Most RO systems use only one purifier which means that the purification is compromised. Also, all RO membranes decline in efficiency over time so it is important to use multiple purifiers (deionization) to keep efficiency levels high. RO water is acidic, unbalanced, and aggressive unless water is restructured and remineralized.
3. Distillers: Distillers have crucial flaws that makes it not a good choice for our day and age. First, distillation does not remove all toxins in the first pass. It is really necessary to distill water three times to get total purification (ie, triple purification). This is very difficult with distillers, and even if you did accomplish this, distilled water is so randomized, acidic, chaotic, and aggressive that it is not healthy to drink for extended periods.
Distilled water actively absorbs what it comes into contact with. For example, when it makes contact with air, it quickly absorbs carbon dioxide and becomes acidic. Since distilled water is free of dissolved minerals and other particles, it has the ability to leech toxic substances from your body and eliminate them resulting in the possible development of mineral deficiencies and an acidic state. You can also rapidly lose electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and trace minerals, which can cause cardiac irregularities, high blood pressure, and cognitive/emotional disturbances.
Distilled water is great for steam irons and car batteries but not for drinking.
4. Staged filters: These systems put various types of filters in one tank or cartridge and claim to offer the ability to create drinking water for the whole house, and rarely need to have their filters changed. Some claim restructuring capabilities as well. We have found the claims of these systems to be misleading or false. These systems do not address the most serious toxins found in our water today, and should be avoided.
5. Ionizers: Ionizers are a very poor investment because they don't purify the water, and they only create a weak alkaline effect. It is far better to actually completely purify your water and then to create a powerful alkaline effect according to our instructions.

Write your own review

Q. Who manufactures NoScale® media?

A. The research, development, and manufacture of the NoScale® conditioner systems was initiated by Ceramic Filters Company, Inc. in 2004 as a means of creating a salt free alternative to traditional water softening equipment in the United States and around the globe. CFCI has been a leading supplier and manufacturer of specialty filtration systems in North America since 1989, offering a wide variety of treatment options for clients desiring non-wasteful, environmentally friendly water solutions. With assembly plants in Michigan and Pennsylvania and facilities in Europe to supply the rest of the world, CFCI has positioned itself to supply NoScale® conditioner systems globally.

Q.Why did CFCI develop this state-of-the art catalytic media for scale control?

A. Our environmental safe NoScale® media was initially developed by Watch Water Germany to serve as an alternative to commercial softeners used for scale control. Because commercial softeners discharge sodium into waste water supplies during the regeneration process, many European companies were faced with expensive discharge government permits and subsequently needed a cost effective alternative. Another reason for the development of the NoScale® media was to address the heightened concern by European health and research agencies that through the usage of residential softeners in second and third world countries, calcium and magnesium were being removed from home water supplies and causing serious health problems due to the lack of these vital minerals and the excess of sodium in the drinking water. The NoScale® media systems developed by CFCI addresses both of these concerns and is a major break through in the anti-scaling water treatment market for both commercial and residential applications and has proven to be a successful alternative to commercial and residential softeners.

Q.Why is the NoScale® media years ahead of the competition?

A. The NoScale® media is manufactured in a clean room environment under NSF regulations and has a precise automated and controlled manufacturing cycle which goes through multiple automated manufacturing processes. CFCI provides the only advanced perfectly round and sized catalytic media on the market today. The NoScale® media guarantees the largest surface area with highest conversion capacity in the market. While other manufactures are providing older technologies, CFCI has advanced to the forefront with their ongoing commitment to this advanced technology.

Q.How does NoScale® media prevent scale?

A. The media prevents the formation of scale that forms on heating elements and on the pipes and hardw are of plumbing systems. The media does this by accelerating the transformation of the calcium and magnesium minerals into harmless "Nano" particles. When the inlet water goes into the water conditioner tank, the up flow pulls the water through the fluidized NoScale® media which then acts as a catalyst and pulls the hardness minerals of calcium and magnesium out of the solution and then transforms these minerals into inactive Nano crystal particles. Because the hardness minerals have been transformed into Nano particles, these Nanoscopic particles make their way through plumbing systems without attaching on to pipes, fixtures, valves, or heating elements. Several years of testing has showed that the calcium and magnesium bonds cannot attach to any kind of surface resulting in 99% scale prevention.

Q.How does the NoScale® process work?

A. .The media is specially designed and manufactured to prevent harmful scale build up. Our anti- scale media is unique because the surface of the media is specially manufactured to be hard and similar to a ball bearing which protects the media from shearing off and results in a better operational product with a much longer life expectancy. As the inlet water flows into the water conditioner tank, the up flow pulls the water which then passes through the NoScale® media. When contact between the media and water has been made, the NoScale® acts as a catalyst and converts the hard minerals into active nano-crystal particles. These nano-crystallized particles break off and flow freely through the system without attaching onto pipes and other hardware components. A secondary benefit is that the NoScale® media process has a de-scaling effect on the existing scale already present in pipes, hardware, and equipment. A third benefit is that the media also prevents corrosion by adding a 30-micron protective layer to the surface of the pipes and hardware. The overall process of NoScale® is virtually maintenance free and does not require backwashing, salt, or electricity.

Q.What is the main difference between water-softening unit and NoScale®?

A. The "classical" water-softening unit operates on the basis of ion exchange; exchanging calcium and magnesium ions in water with an equivalent amount of sodium (Salt). When a water softener is used, the result is not only soft water, but also increased sodium content in the water supply. This added sodium content has raised health concern by many government officials. Additionally, these softening units require water for backwashing and common Brine water "salt water" for regeneration. For example, in order to regenerate 100 liters of softening resin, up to 25 kg of salt per regeneration cycle is required. This means an added costly expense of salt is incurred for each and every regeneration cycle.

Q.Why are NoScale® conditioners up-flow configured? Why is it not down-flow?

A. The NoScale® conditioner is not a traditional down flow filter system. It does not trap the hardness nor does it exchange anything for the hardness like a traditional water softener. The media works as a catalytic media by causing crystallization of ions on the surface of the media while the water is in continual up flow. The inlet water flow in the water conditioning system is always in UPWARD motion from the bottom up in the filter housing. The media in the NoScale® system always stays in a fluidized state when the water is flowing. The media is in constant motion and the flows are from the bottom to the top. It is for this reason the media cannot filter out particles in the water. All the hardness that enters the conditioner system is pulled out of solution and forms crystals on the surface as they pass by the media. They attach to the media for a short time until they grow to Nano size and break free from the media and pass along with the water flow. The crystals cannot attach to any surfaces thus preventing any scale build up.

Q.Can I replace a traditional water softener system with a NoScale® water conditioner and what difference in performance should I see between the two systems?

A. Yes, you can remove a traditional softener and replace with a NoScale® conditioner system. There will be a difference with the new system in that the customer will not feel the slippery feeling that he had with the traditional softener. This is because the hardness was not removed but was crystallized. The customer will have all the other great advantages like up to 30% less detergent usage and cleaner laundry. The additional advantage is that he will not have sodium in his service water. IMPORTANT! The customer may experience a salty taste or slight odor in the water for a short period of time, AFTER REMOVING THE OLD SOFTENER. This happens because the new NoScale® water conditioner will clean the pipes that may have a sodium and/or calcium build up and residue in the pipes in the house from the old softener. However, this lasts only for a short time until the pipes are clean. The customer can be assured that the will never again have a sodium or calcium build up in the pipes, water heater, and appliances.

Q.Will I feel and different when I shower?

A. Your water from a NoScale® system will feel like silk and will have noticeable improvements in the feel of your hair and skin.

Q.Will I see any change in the laundry?

A. Your laundry will come out cleaner and feel softer; Clothing will last longer.

Q.Do microorganisms accumulate in the catalyst unit and must the material regularly be disinfected?

A. No. Because the material does not demonstrate filtration effects, the media is always suspended up flow in the water when in service and microorganisms is repressed. Disinfecting the media granulate in most cases is not required.

Q.Is a central control valve necessary or does the system function without backwashing?

A. Because the NoScale® granulate is continually in up flow fluidization, no particles are held up in the media and no backwashing process is required. You might say the media is always in backwash during service because it is always suspended in the water in a fluidized state. A central control valve is therefore not used in a NoScale® water conditioning system. There is no need for backwash. The system uses a simple up flow in and out head.

Q.Can the NoScale® conditioner system treat hardness up to 100 grains hard?

A. The system can treat up to 100 grains hard water. All conditioner system calculations are made based on a hardness of 25 Grains or less. The reason for this is that 95%+ OF ALL INSTALLATIONS FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY WORLD WIDE. The NoScale® system has been used on waters with hard water up to 100 grains hard. CFCI can provide calculations for over 25 grains hard if needed. Please contact an AquaCera support team member for applications of this nature.

Q.Why does the NoScale® media not need to be backwashed? What keeps the media bed from getting fouled?

A. It is important to point out that we have no filtration effect with our media. Remember we are in a continuous up flow backwash situation and therefore we do not filter out anything from the water; so we have no accumulation of anything in the suspended bed of NoScale® media. The media works as a catalyst only and does not filter out particles.

Q.What happens at nighttime when there is no water flow?

A. The filter bed is not suspended when there is no water flow. The filter bed will rest. For top performance it is recommended that the filter media rests 4-8 hours per day. This is never a problem in a residential installation. In commercial applications please contact CFCI or your AquaCera dealer for proper design criteria.

Q.What if the bed gets contaminated with bacteria?

A. This should not be a problem. The continuous backwash is the best action to keep the media clean. The media nevertheless can be treated with chlorine up to a maximum of 2-3 ppm for short periods to kill bacteria and to remove organic matter.

Q.What is the maximum operating temperature of the NoScale® media?

A. The media will tolerate 50° C (122° F) Please consider that all the other equipment is much more limited regarding the water temperature.

Q.What is the minimum operating temperature of the NoScale® media?

A. The media can tolerate to 38° F. Please consider that all the other equipment is much more limited regarding the water temperature. (Please keep from freezing the media)

Q.What is the pH range of the media? What is the low and high pH range?

A. It works in the range of 6 to 9 pH, but we also found that it works at pH 5.5 as well. What you can always do is stay in the range of the pH range allowed for drinking water by the local municipal water treatment in your market area and you will never have a problem.

Q.What is the lifetime of the media?

A. Over the last 7 years, thousands of systems have been installed around the world in real life situations. These systems have been tested with the same performance as day one when installed over the last six years; so, conservatively we estimate a minimum of 5 years but feel confident the media will last 10 years or longer.

Q.Can I destroy the media or can it get fouled? What special precautions should I take?

A. The same precautions you would take with softening resin. Hydrogen sulfide and oil in the water will foul the media. You do not want to have chlorine over 3 ppm. The media is strong and should have at least 5 plus years of lifetime with normal usage. We always recommend a whole house carbon pre filter in front of the conditioner.

Q.How do I keep the media from washing out of the unit when I start it up for the first time and put it into service?

A. We always recommend that you soak the media for 15 minutes before start up. You also should run water through the filter tank and media before installing in the piping system. This will assure that any possible fines from shipping in the tank and media will be washed out of the tank before hook up. This assures that the media is saturated with water and will not accumulate at the top of the housing when filled with water. You also have an upper basket that will keep the media from going into the service pipes in the home.

Q.Can I use a flow restrictor after the water conditioning system to assure I am getting the proper flows and do not go over the maximum recommended flow rate?

A. Yes, this is a good idea. Be sure to size the flow restrictor to the proper tank and maximum recommended water flow. You want enough water flow for the proper sized system but you do not want too much water flow that would go over the max flow rate.

Q.Do I need to clean the media?

A. The media does not need to be cleaned before installation in the filter. Remember, we do recommend that you soak the media with water for 15 minutes before installation. However it is important that you run the water through the system before installation for 5 minutes to be sure you have cleaned out any dust that may be on the filter media or tank surface. You can then put the filter into service.

Q.How can I test the Media?

A. For a homeowner the best and most convincing results are using two sauce pans. You put two saucepans on a heater. One pan is filled with untreated water and the other pan with water treated by the NoScale® water conditioner. As the water boils down the untreated water will build a hard scum on the side of the saucepan. The saucepan with treated water will have no hardness scum on the side and you will see a circulation of hardness crystals on the bottom of the pan just before the water is boiled out. They are easily wiped out just as the water is boiled out of the pan. The other method will be to observe heating equipment and appliances already covered with scale. After installing your water conditioning system in a few days you can observe that the white scale starts to disappear and then no new scale appears. Our customers have observed their coffee machines and appliances start to clean up from years of scale build up. They immediately can use less soap and get a better wash. Their hair feels cleaner and feels softer.

Q. Will the NoScale® media replace Polyphosphates in controlling scale build up?

A. Yes, the media is a much better choice than traditional Polyphosphates. Polyphosphates only temporarily coat the hardness and keep it from coming out of solution and are used up quite quickly and continually need to be replaced at a high operating cost. You are also releasing Polyphosphates into the service water line to the home. NoScale® media will not be used up, does not release any chemicals to the service line, and has a normal lifetime of about 5 years.

Q.If the water hardness is tested after the system is installed will the hardness level be different?

A. The water tested after the NoScale® System will have similar hardness levels. In the short term, it may even test slightly harder due to the existing scale being removed from the plumbing (This is usually seen more on the hot water side due to more hardness build up on the inside of the hot water heater and pipes). After the existing scale is removed the hardness will go back to normal hardness levels.

Q.Will I experience any spotting after installing a NoScale® conditioner?

A. Depending on the amount and type of scale deposits present in the plumbing of your home you may see the following for approximately one to six weeks after the installation of the system. These effects will be temporary and will steadily stop once the appliances and plumbing have been de-scaled. The water going through the conditioner can initially increase the hardness in the water due to de-scaling of the plumbing system.. You may see calcium particles in the aerators, showerheads, bathtub, dishwasher and other areas with high flow rates. The high flow rates can accelerate the de-scaling effect. These conditions are temporary and only last during the de-scaling period. The hot water heater can also have excessive scale build up and may need to be cleaned out by opening the bottom drain valve on the hot water heater. Be sure to turn off the electrical or heat source! Flush out the loosened scale by attaching a hose to the drain valve. You may need to do this for several weeks until the plumbing and hot water heater has been de-scaled. The good news is that a clean hot water heater uses much less electricity or gas to keep the water hot. You can also speed up the de-scaling process by turning on all the hot water valves in the house once or twice a week until all the plumbing is de-scaled and the water runs clear.

Q.What should I expect after installing a NoScale® conditioner from my dishwasher?

A. Dishwashers use water from the hot water side of plumbing and the water is extremely hot water and also extremely hot in the drying cycles when cleaning and drying the dishes. You may find unusual initial spotting because of the de-scaling taking place. You also may have existing excessive scale build up in the inside of the dishwasher. The best way to eliminate the excising scale in the dishwasher is to put a cup of white vinegar in the upper basket during the washing cycle. You can also use citric acid instead of the white vinegar. This will help dissolve the existing scale in the washer arms and inside surface of the dishwasher. You may need to do this until all of the scale in the plumbing is dissolved. When you have water going through the conditioner other than being used in the dishwasher cleaning cycle you can have the calcium crystals break down back into solution if you are using harsh dishwashing detergents that have low ph, high chlorine, and phosphates. Harsh detergents can breakdown the crystals and then can cause spotting on the dishes. It will be important to reduce soap usage as much as 50%. Be sure to use Eco friendly dishwashing detergents. You may have to try several all-natural dishwashing detergents to find the one that works best for you. Seventh Generation dishwashing powder, which you can find at Target, and Lemi Shine, which is available at WalMart, are examples of detergents that work well with our media in the dishwasher.

Q.How fast is the conversion of calcium and magnesium out of solution in the NoScale® system?

A. The NoScale® systems are designed to have contact times as fast as 2 seconds. The catalytic reaction is immediate and the Nano particles are formed immediately on the surface of the media. They then break off as Nano particles and go to service. The systems are design to convert 100% of the temporary hardness of calcium and magnesium based on flow rates and equipment design.

Q.Has the media been tested for health effects?

A. The media has been tested and meets NSF 61 standard. This is an independent test standard for health effects that was performed by an independent lab WQA, "Water Quality Association".

Q.How serious is it having too much chlorine in the water? How will too much chlorine affect the media?

A. Having too much chlorine in the water will have a serious effect on all Medias with a resin base. Even the best medias like NoScale® can be negatively affected by the presence of high levels of chlorine in the water. Because all media manufacturers do not have any control over the concentration of chlorine in the water, media with a resin base is never covered under any warranty. Excessive levels of CHLORINE IN THE WATER SHOULD ALWAYS BE A SERIOUS CONCERN. Under normal conditions, good quality resin based medias like NoScale, Purolite, Dow, and Bayer show no significant loss of performance at typical chlorine concentrations of 1-3 ppm. However, at elevated levels, chlorine can have a substantial negative effect on the structural integrity of the resin material in the media. High levels of chlorine sometimes occur when the water supplier has an extensive break in the water main, after a significant flooding event or when higher levels of bacteria are measured in the water source. The chlorine level can be low for several years, but do to unforeseen circumstances, the chlorine level is increased and the media in the water conditioner can degrade. The best examples were the hurricanes in Florida and Louisiana. Many traditional ion exchange water softeners with a resin media had to be replaced when local authorities super chlorinated to levels over 3ppm because of bacteria concerns in the water supplies. The only way to GUARANTEE to protect your conditioner system is to always have a whole house carbon filter installed as part of a municipal system. A carbon filter removes any excessive chlorine levels in the municipal water supplies before the water enters the NoScale® conditioner.

Why did CFCI develop this state-of-the art catalytic media for scale control?

A. Our environmental safe NoScale® media was initially developed by Watch Water Germany to serve as an alternative to commercial softeners used for scale control. Because commercial softeners discharge sodium into waste water supplies during the regeneration process, many European companies were faced with expensive discharge government permits and subsequently needed a cost effective alternative. Another reason for the development of the NoScale® media was to address the heightened concern by European health and research agencies that through the usage of residential softeners in second and third world countries, calcium and magnesium were being removed from home water supplies and causing serious health problems due to the lack of these vital minerals and the excess of sodium in the drinking water. The NoScale® media systems developed by CFCI addresses both of these concerns and is a major break through in the anti-scaling water treatment market for both commercial and residential applications and has proven to be a successful alternative to commercial and residential softeners.

Q.Why is the NoScale® media years ahead of the competition?

A. The NoScale® media is manufactured in a clean room environment under NSF regulations and has a precise automated and controlled manufacturing cycle which goes through multiple automated manufacturing processes. CFCI provides the only advanced perfectly round and sized catalytic media on the market today. The NoScale® media guarantees the largest surface area with highest conversion capacity in the market. While other manufactures are providing older technologies, CFCI has advanced to the forefront with their ongoing commitment to this advanced technology.

Q.How does NoScale® media prevent scale?

A. The media prevents the formation of scale that forms on heating elements and on the pipes and hardw are of plumbing systems. The media does this by accelerating the transformation of the calcium and magnesium minerals into harmless "Nano" particles. When the inlet water goes into the water conditioner tank, the up flow pulls the water through the fluidized NoScale® media which then acts as a catalyst and pulls the hardness minerals of calcium and magnesium out of the solution and then transforms these minerals into inactive Nano crystal particles. Because the hardness minerals have been transformed into Nano particles, these Nanoscopic particles make their way through plumbing systems without attaching on to pipes, fixtures, valves, or heating elements. Several years of testing has showed that the calcium and magnesium bonds cannot attach to any kind of surface resulting in 99% scale prevention.

Q.How does the NoScale® process work?

A. The media is specially designed and manufactured to prevent harmful scale build up. Our anti- scale media is unique because the surface of the media is specially manufactured to be hard and similar to a ball bearing which protects the media from shearing off and results in a better operational product with a much longer life expectancy. As the inlet water flows into the water conditioner tank, the up flow pulls the water which then passes through the NoScale® media. When contact between the media and water has been made, the NoScale® acts as a catalyst and converts the hard minerals into active nano-crystal particles. These nano-crystallized particles break off and flow freely through the system without attaching onto pipes and other hardware components. A secondary benefit is that the NoScale® media process has a de-scaling effect on the existing scale already present in pipes, hardware, and equipment. A third benefit is that the media also prevents corrosion by adding a 30-micron protective layer to the surface of the pipes and hardware. The overall process of NoScale® is virtually maintenance free and does not require backwashing, salt, or electricity.

Q.What is the main difference between water-softening unit and NoScale®?

A. The "classical" water-softening unit operates on the basis of ion exchange; exchanging calcium and magnesium ions in water with an equivalent amount of sodium (Salt). When a water softener is used, the result is not only soft water, but also increased sodium content in the water supply. This added sodium content has raised health concern by many government officials. Additionally, these softening units require water for backwashing and common Brine water "salt water" for regeneration. For example, in order to regenerate 100 liters of softening resin, up to 25 kg of salt per regeneration cycle is required. This means an added costly expense of salt is incurred for each and every regeneration cycle.

Q.Why are NoScale® conditioners up-flow configured? Why is it not down-flow?

A. The NoScale® conditioner is not a traditional down flow filter system. It does not trap the hardness nor does it exchange anything for the hardness like a traditional water softener. The media works as a catalytic media by causing crystallization of ions on the surface of the media while the water is in continual up flow. The inlet water flow in the water conditioning system is always in UPWARD motion from the bottom up in the filter housing. The media in the NoScale® system always stays in a fluidized state when the water is flowing. The media is in constant motion and the flows are from the bottom to the top. It is for this reason the media cannot filter out particles in the water. All the hardness that enters the conditioner system is pulled out of solution and forms crystals on the surface as they pass by the media. They attach to the media for a short time until they grow to Nano size and break free from the media and pass along with the water flow. The crystals cannot attach to any surfaces thus preventing any scale build up.

Q.Can I replace a traditional water softener system with a NoScale® water conditioner and what difference in performance should I see between the two systems?

A. Yes, you can remove a traditional softener and replace with a NoScale® conditioner system. There will be a difference with the new system in that the customer will not feel the slippery feeling that he had with the traditional softener. This is because the hardness was not removed but was crystallized. The customer will have all the other great advantages like up to 30% less detergent usage and cleaner laundry. The additional advantage is that he will not have sodium in his service water. IMPORTANT! The customer may experience a salty taste or slight odor in the water for a short period of time, AFTER REMOVING THE OLD SOFTENER. This happens because the new NoScale® water conditioner will clean the pipes that may have a sodium and/or calcium build up and residue in the pipes in the house from the old softener. However, this lasts only for a short time until the pipes are clean. The customer can be assured that the will never again have a sodium or calcium build up in the pipes, water heater, and appliances.

Q. Will I feel and different when I shower?

A. Your water from a NoScale® system will feel like silk and will have noticeable improvements in the feel of your hair and skin.

Q.Will I see any change in the laundry?

A. Your laundry will come out cleaner and feel softer; Clothing will last longer.

Q.Do microorganisms accumulate in the catalyst unit and must the material regularly be disinfected?

A. No. Because the material does not demonstrate filtration effects, the media is always suspended up flow in the water when in service and microorganisms is repressed. Disinfecting the media granulate in most cases is not required.

Q.Is a central control valve necessary or does the system function without backwashing?

A. Because the NoScale® granulate is continually in up flow fluidization, no particles are held up in the media and no backwashing process is required. You might say the media is always in backwash during service because it is always suspended in the water in a fluidized state. A central control valve is therefore not used in a NoScale® water conditioning system. There is no need for backwash. The system uses a simple up flow in and out head.

Q.Can the NoScale® conditioner system treat hardness up to 100 grains hard?

A. The system can treat up to 100 grains hard water. All conditioner system calculations are made based on a hardness of 25 Grains or less. The reason for this is that 95%+ OF ALL INSTALLATIONS FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY WORLD WIDE. The NoScale® system has been used on waters with hard water up to 100 grains hard. CFCI can provide calculations for over 25 grains hard if needed. Please contact an AquaCera support team member for applications of this nature.

Q.Why does the NoScale® media not need to be backwashed? What keeps the media bed from getting fouled?

A. It is important to point out that we have no filtration effect with our media. Remember we are in a continuous up flow backwash situation and therefore we do not filter out anything from the water; so we have no accumulation of anything in the suspended bed of NoScale® media. The media works as a catalyst only and does not filter out particles.

Q.What happens at nighttime when there is no water flow?

A. The filter bed is not suspended when there is no water flow. The filter bed will rest. For top performance it is recommended that the filter media rests 4-8 hours per day. This is never a problem in a residential installation. In commercial applications please contact Radiant Life for proper design criteria.

Q. What if the bed gets contaminated with bacteria?

A. This should not be a problem. The continuous backwash is the best action to keep the media clean. The media nevertheless can be treated with chlorine up to a maximum of 2-3 ppm for short periods to kill bacteria and to remove organic matter.

Q.What is the maximum operating temperature of the NoScale® media?

A. The media will tolerate 50° C (122° F) Please consider that all the other equipment is much more limited regarding the water temperature.

Q.What is the minimum operating temperature of the NoScale® media?

A. The media can tolerate to 38° F. Please consider that all the other equipment is much more limited regarding the water temperature. (Please keep from freezing the media)

Q.What is the pH range of the media? What is the low and high pH range?

A. It works in the range of 6 to 9 pH, but we also found that it works at pH 5.5 as well. What you can always do is stay in the range of the pH range allowed for drinking water by the local municipal water treatment in your market area and you will never have a problem.

Q.What is the lifetime of the media?

A. Over the last 7 years, thousands of systems have been installed around the world in real life situations. These systems have been tested with the same performance as day one when installed over the last six years; so, conservatively we estimate a minimum of 5 years but feel confident the media will last 10 years or longer.

Q.Can I destroy the media or can it get fouled? What special precautions should I take?

A. The same precautions you would take with softening resin. Hydrogen sulfide and oil in the water will foul the media. You do not want to have chlorine over 3 ppm. The media is strong and should have at least 5 plus years of lifetime with normal usage. We always recommend a whole house carbon pre filter in front of the conditioner.

HQ.ow do I keep the media from washing out of the unit when I start it up for the first time and put it into service?

A. We always recommend that you soak the media for 15 minutes before start up. You also should run water through the filter tank and media before installing in the piping system. This will assure that any possible fines from shipping in the tank and media will be washed out of the tank before hook up. This assures that the media is saturated with water and will not accumulate at the top of the housing when filled with water. You also have an upper basket that will keep the media from going into the service pipes in the home.

Q.Can I use a flow restrictor after the water conditioning system to assure I am getting the proper flows and do not go over the maximum recommended flow rate?

A. Yes, this is a good idea. Be sure to size the flow restrictor to the proper tank and maximum recommended water flow. You want enough water flow for the proper sized system but you do not want too much water flow that would go over the max flow rate.

Q.Do I need to clean the media?

A. The media does not need to be cleaned before installation in the filter. Remember, we do recommend that you soak the media with water for 15 minutes before installation. However it is important that you run the water through the system before installation for 5 minutes to be sure you have cleaned out any dust that may be on the filter media or tank surface. You can then put the filter into service.

Q.How can I test the Media?

A. For a homeowner the best and most convincing results are using two sauce pans. You put two saucepans on a heater. One pan is filled with untreated water and the other pan with water treated by the NoScale® water conditioner. As the water boils down the untreated water will build a hard scum on the side of the saucepan. The saucepan with treated water will have no hardness scum on the side and you will see a circulation of hardness crystals on the bottom of the pan just before the water is boiled out. They are easily wiped out just as the water is boiled out of the pan. The other method will be to observe heating equipment and appliances already covered with scale. After installing your water conditioning system in a few days you can observe that the white scale starts to disappear and then no new scale appears. Our customers have observed their coffee machines and appliances start to clean up from years of scale build up. They immediately can use less soap and get a better wash. Their hair feels cleaner and feels softer.

Q.Will the NoScale® media replace Polyphosphates in controlling scale build up?

A. Yes, the media is a much better choice than traditional Polyphosphates. Polyphosphates only temporarily coat the hardness and keep it from coming out of solution and are used up quite quickly and continually need to be replaced at a high operating cost. You are also releasing Polyphosphates into the service water line to the home. NoScale® media will not be used up, does not release any chemicals to the service line, and has a normal lifetime of about 5 years.

Q.If the water hardness is tested after the system is installed will the hardness level be different?

A. The water tested after the NoScale® System will have similar hardness levels. In the short term, it may even test slightly harder due to the existing scale being removed from the plumbing (This is usually seen more on the hot water side due to more hardness build up on the inside of the hot water heater and pipes). After the existing scale is removed the hardness will go back to normal hardness levels.

Q.Will I experience any spotting after installing a NoScale® conditioner?

A. Depending on the amount and type of scale deposits present in the plumbing of your home you may see the following for approximately one to six weeks after the installation of the system. These effects will be temporary and will steadily stop once the appliances and plumbing have been de-scaled. The water going through the conditioner can initially increase the hardness in the water due to de-scaling of the plumbing system.. You may see calcium particles in the aerators, showerheads, bathtub, dishwasher and other areas with high flow rates. The high flow rates can accelerate the de-scaling effect. These conditions are temporary and only last during the de-scaling period. The hot water heater can also have excessive scale build up and may need to be cleaned out by opening the bottom drain valve on the hot water heater. Be sure to turn off the electrical or heat source! Flush out the loosened scale by attaching a hose to the drain valve. You may need to do this for several weeks until the plumbing and hot water heater has been de-scaled. The good news is that a clean hot water heater uses much less electricity or gas to keep the water hot. You can also speed up the de-scaling process by turning on all the hot water valves in the house once or twice a week until all the plumbing is de-scaled and the water runs clear.

Q.What should I expect after installing a NoScale® conditioner from my dishwasher?

A. Dishwashers use water from the hot water side of plumbing and the water is extremely hot water and also extremely hot in the drying cycles when cleaning and drying the dishes. You may find unusual initial spotting because of the de-scaling taking place. You also may have existing excessive scale build up in the inside of the dishwasher. The best way to eliminate the excising scale in the dishwasher is to put a cup of white vinegar in the upper basket during the washing cycle. You can also use citric acid instead of the white vinegar. This will help dissolve the existing scale in the washer arms and inside surface of the dishwasher. You may need to do this until all of the scale in the plumbing is dissolved. When you have water going through the conditioner other than being used in the dishwasher cleaning cycle you can have the calcium crystals break down back into solution if you are using harsh dishwashing detergents that have low ph, high chlorine, and phosphates. Harsh detergents can breakdown the crystals and then can cause spotting on the dishes. It will be important to reduce soap usage as much as 50%. Be sure to use Eco friendly dishwashing detergents. You may have to try several all-natural dishwashing detergents to find the one that works best for you. Seventh Generation dishwashing powder, which you can find at Target, and Lemi Shine, which is available at WalMart, are examples of detergents that work well with our media in the dishwasher.

Q.How fast is the conversion of calcium and magnesium out of solution in the NoScale® system?

A. The NoScale® systems are designed to have contact times as fast as 2 seconds. The catalytic reaction is immediate and the Nano particles are formed immediately on the surface of the media. They then break off as Nano particles and go to service. The systems are design to convert 100% of the temporary hardness of calcium and magnesium based on flow rates and equipment design.

Q.Has the media been tested for health effects?

A. The media has been tested and meets NSF 61 standard. This is an independent test standard for health effects that was performed by an independent lab WQA, "Water Quality Association".

Q.How serious is it having too much chlorine in the water? How will too much chlorine affect the media?

A. Having too much chlorine in the water will have a serious effect on all Medias with a resin base. Even the best medias like NoScale® can be negatively affected by the presence of high levels of chlorine in the water. Because all media manufacturers do not have any control over the concentration of chlorine in the water, media with a resin base is never covered under any warranty. Excessive levels of CHLORINE IN THE WATER SHOULD ALWAYS BE A SERIOUS CONCERN. Under normal conditions, good quality resin based medias like NoScale, Purolite, Dow, and Bayer show no significant loss of performance at typical chlorine concentrations of 1-3 ppm. However, at elevated levels, chlorine can have a substantial negative effect on the structural integrity of the resin material in the media. High levels of chlorine sometimes occur when the water supplier has an extensive break in the water main, after a significant flooding event or when higher levels of bacteria are measured in the water source. The chlorine level can be low for several years, but do to unforeseen circumstances, the chlorine level is increased and the media in the water conditioner can degrade. The best examples were the hurricanes in Florida and Louisiana. Many traditional ion exchange water softeners with a resin media had to be replaced when local authorities super chlorinated to levels over 3ppm because of bacteria concerns in the water supplies. The only way to GUARANTEE to protect your conditioner system is to always have a whole house carbon filter installed as part of a municipal system. A carbon filter removes any excessive chlorine levels in the municipal water supplies before the water enters the NoScale® conditioner.

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Cylindrically-shaped system approximately 5' high x 14" wide with 36" high x 18" wide x 18" deep rectangular-shaped component. One Year Warranty