Questions and Answers About Aquasana Water Filters
1. Why are whole house water filters considered point of entry systems?
— The filtration system is installed at the point where the main water supply enters the home, delivering filtered water to all subsequent outlets.
2. What is hard water?
— Hard water contains a higher than average amount of dissolved minerals (primarily calcium and
magnesium), and a higher concentration of multivalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+).
3. Does having hard water mean it is contaminated?
— No, hard water is more of a nuisance than a health issue, and is not
considered contaminated. Most water sources in the USA are considered hard.
Is hard water safe to drink?
— Yes, hard water is healthy enough to drink.
4. What is soft water?
— Having soft water means you have a lower concentration of dissolved minerals and multivalent cations in your water. The most recognizable trait of “soft” water is how much more soap lathers, as opposed to hard water, in which soap lathers less.
5. Does having soft water mean it is clean water?
— Soft water does not mean clean water. Your water can be soft and still
have contaminants present in the water. Soft water simplly has a lower concentration of dissolved minerals and multivalent cations.
Is it safe to drink?
— Yes, soft water is considered potable as long as the water has not passed through a sodium-based water softener. Drinking water from a sodium-based softener increased your daily intake of sodium, which can lead to health problems in sodium-sensitive individuals.
6. What is a water softener?
— A water softener is a system designed to remove/reduce calcium and magnesium from the water by exchanging it with sodium (or sometimes hydrogen or potassium). This is done through an ion exchange resin that alters the molecular structure of the calcium and magnesium from a divalent ion to a univalent ion, making the water “softer.”
Do softeners reduce chemical contamination?
— Softeners do not remove chemical contamination themselves, but softeners sometimes have a carbon filter working in conjunction with the softener to treat contamination.
7. What type of filtration mediums do you use in the top tank of the EQ-1000?
— The EQ-1000 top tank contains a KDF-55 medium (A mixture of 55% copper and 45% zinc mineral alloy) for the reduction of chlorine and certain heavy metals*, as well as a crushed mineral filter stone to enhance the water’s pH and control scale* on internal plumbing. Both media are bacteriostatic*, which means they prohibit bacteria and algae from growing or developing within the system.
8. What is the difference between EQ-300 and EQ-1000?
— Both systems address the removal of chlorine in municipal water. The EQ-300 is certified by NSF to reduce chlorine by 97% for 300,000 gallons. The EQ-1000 is certified by Pace Anayltics at NSF standards. The EQ-1000 has an additional 5 lbs of carbonized coconut shell in the top tank, plus 2 additional lbs of KDF-55. It also contains premium brass components, a by pass valve for flushing water through the system, it also comes with a 10 year Warranty on the tanks.
9. What is KDF?
— KDF stands for kinetic degradation fluxion, which is a redox filtration medium. KDF uses a unique combination of copper and zinc that creates an electrochemical reaction. During this reaction, electrons are transferred between molecules, creating new, harmless molecules and compounds. Free chlorine, for instance, is changed into benign, water-soluble chloride, which is then carried harmlessly through the water supply. Similarly, some heavy metals* such as copper*, lead*, mercury* and others, cling to the medium’s surface, thus being effectively removed from the water supply.
10. What type of medium is used in the bottom tank of the EQ-1000?
— The EQ-1000 bottom tank contains a carbonized coconut shell medium that reduces synthetic chemicals* and VOC’s*.
11. What percentage of chlorine do Aquasana Whole Home Systems remove? And for how long?
— The EQ-1000 is certified to NSF standard 42 by an independent lab, Pace Analytic, for the reduction of >97% of chlorine for 1,000,000 gallons.
12. Does the EQ-1000 remove calcium?
— No. The KDF medium in the top tank of these systems change the structure of calcium into a form of calcium called aragonite, which has trouble sticking to the inner walls of plumbing and therefore reduces the possibility of scale buildup in plumbing.
13. What is the flow rate of the EQ-1000?
— All Aquasana Whole House Systems perform at approximately 7 gallons per minute (gpm).
14. Will I experience a drop in water pressure after installing the EQ-1000?
— As long as your home is less than 3500 sq. ft. and you have 3-1/2 bathrooms or fewer, you should not experience any noticeable drops in pressure. If you have a larger home, we can build a custom system to deal with the typical water capacity of your home.
15. What is chloramine, and does the EQ-1000 remove it?
— Chloramine is a disinfection agent used as an alternative to chlorine in some city water treatment facilities. They use chloramines for two big reasons: (1) chloramine is less reactive, so it does not create as many disinfection by-products as chlorine, and (2) chloramine is more persistent, and remains in the treated water through the distribution network all the way to the taps in the homes the treatment facility serves. The EQ-1000 is certified for the removal of chlorine, and the process of removing chlorine is similar in most respects to the process used to remove chloramine. The key difference is that chloramine exhausts the standard activated carbon in the bottom and top tank of the unit quickly, making the EQ-1000 a little less effective at removing it*. For customers with chloramine in their water, we have created a product with media that is more effective at addressing chloramines. The part number for this system upgrade is EQ-400, and it is available for purchase by calling the Aquasana Water Specialists at 866.662.6885.
16. Does the EQ-1000 remove bacteria or viruses?
— No, if you are concerned about bacteria or viruses in your water supply, we recommend that you add a 0.35-sub-micron post-filter and an ultraviolet light sanitation system after the EQ-1000. The AQ-UV-20 ultraviolet light sanitation system uses ultra violet radiation to sanitize drinking water as it passes through the system, which changes the DNA structure of microbiological contaminants and some cysts. UV light radiation also prevents bacteria and viruses from reproducing, and microbiological contaminants cannot survive without constant reproduction.
The AQ-UV-20 will not sanitize properly without a sub-micron filter. If sub-micron filter is not used before the UV system, microbiological contaminants can hide behind microscopic particulates, which will cause the UV radiation to lose its effectiveness. This is known as a shadowing effect. A 0.35-sub-micron filter must be used before the UV system to prevent the shadowing effect.
17. Do I need a licensed plumber to install the EQ-1000?
— Yes, it is necessary that you have a licensed plumber install the system for you, to ensure that the system is installed properly. Since most licensed plumbers carry insurance to cover any damages caused by an installation error, having a licensed plumber install the system for you will give you the security that the work was done properly and that the installation is backed up by the plumbing company’s insurance plan. Not having the system installed by a licensed plumber will void the warranty of the EQ-1000.
18. Is the SimplySoft also a filter?
— No, the Aquasana SimplySoft is not a filter. It does not filter out chemicals, VOC’s, or chlorine. However, it’s also more than just a softener. Aquasana SimplySoft uses innovative SLOW PHOS salt-free water softening technology to naturally condition your water and protect your pipes from corrosion without the use of added sodium. As its name implies, SLOW PHOS uses food grade polyphosphate beads engineered to dissolve at a controlled (or “slow”) concentration to effectively target scale producing hard mineral carbonate crystals including calcium, magnesium, and barium (Ca, Mg, and Ba). SLOW PHOS technology works by altering the ionic charge of these carbonate crystals to reduce their attraction to one another in your water. By altering their ionic charge, hard minerals will no longer clump or pack together and create scale (Ca, Mg, and Ba buildup). In addition, SLOW PHOS phosphates act as a protective barrier in your plumbing to protect from pipe corrosion. Unlike salt-based water softeners, Aquasana SimplySoft SLOW PHOS technology will not demineralize your water nor will it negatively affect the environment by adding excessive amounts of sodium into our communal water system.
19. What makes SimplySoft different from other water softeners?
— Common salt-based water softeners demineralize water by replacing natural, healthy minerals with sodium (salt) ions, which can be harmful to consume. Aquasana SimplySoft uses innovative SLOW PHOS salt-free water softening technology to naturally condition your water without the use of added sodium.
The World Health Organization (WHO) released a study on drinking water reporting sufficient evidence that there are various health risks associated with drinking demineralized water.
The Aquasana SimplySoft Salt-Free Water Softener employs NSF certified SLOW PHOS slowly-soluble polyphosphate beads engineered to prevent scale formation and corrosion by altering the charge of hard mineral ions including calcium, magnesium, and barium. This process allows beneficial minerals to remain in your water and eliminates the negative impact of salt waste on the environment.
20. What replacement parts or maintenance is needed for the SimplySoft System?
— The Aquasana SimplySoft Salt-Free Water Softener beads are good for 50,000 gallons or 6 months time span. The system requires the purchase of replacement cartridges twice a year to work at optimal performance.
21. Is the simply soft better for the environment?
— Due to the detrimental effects salt-based softeners have on the environment, many states and counties have actually banned the use of salt-based water softeners. Salt-based water softeners that use a process of ion exchange require a large amount of highly concentrated salt solution to replace the natural minerals in your water with sodium. This process results in waste water discharge that is harmful to the environment and reduces the reusability of treated wastewater.
* Not part of NSF certification