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What Does the NSF Label on My Pentair/Everpure Water Filter Mean?

 Millions of people take the safety of their food, water and consumer products for granted on a daily basis. Why? Because of three letters: NSF. Founded in 1944 as the National Sanitation Foundation, the foundation changed it’s name to NSF International in 1990 as they expanded services beyond sanitation and into global markets. NSF certification is your key to making sure that the products you use meet strict standards for public health protection. Choosing a product certified by NSF lets you know the company complies with strict standards and procedures imposed by NSF.

There are important reasons to look for NSF certification when purchasing a water filter;

  • Performance claims may be based on internal testing only.
  • Sometimes stated capacities are misleading.
  • In capacity claims it’s not always clear what percentage of chemical contaminants are actually reduced.

NSF Certification ensures that:

  • The contaminant reduction claims certified are true and accurate.
  • The materials of construction do not add anything unwanted to the water such as lead.
  • The system is structurally sound.
  • Advertising claims are true and accurate.

From extensive product testing and material analyses to unannounced plant inspections, every aspect of a product’s development is thoroughly evaluated before it can earn our certification. Most importantly, NSF certification is not a one-time event, but involves regular on-site inspections of manufacturing facilities and regular re-testing of products to ensure that they continue to meet the same high standards required to maintain certification over time. If for any reason a product fails to meet one or more certification criteria, NSF will take enforcement actions to protect you, including product recall, public notification or de-certification. If you have any questions about the quality of the filter that you are currently using and whether or not that filter has an NSF certification please ask us about your filter  below or call our team at 800-942-7873.

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How Often Do I Change My Water Filter?

One of the most common questions we hear from our customers is in regards to how frequently a water filter cartridge should be changed. Whether it’s a standard sediment or carbon filter, every customer has one key priority in mind: How Long Will I Have Dependably Clean, Great Tasting Water? In other words, how can I be sure that my filter is still reducing the impurities that can impact the flavor of my water? Our standard answer: It depends. The frequency of filter changes depends upon your water quality and your water usage. For example, if there are a lot of sediment particulates in your water, then you will have to change your filters more frequently than someone with little to no sediment. If you are a large restaurant consuming large amounts of water a minute or a hospital with large ice machines, then your usage will demand more frequent filter changes. Having said that, we suggest replacement schedules that are generally as follows: Everpure High Flow CRS Quad MC2 System The most common Everpure Filtration System, mainly seen in the back of the house of restaurants should be changed every 6 months, or every 36,000 gallons. The EC210 prefilter, to the left of the MC2 filters, should be changed more frequently to extend the life of the MC2 filters. We recommend every 3-4 months.       Insurice Triple PF i4000(2) System w/ 20″ Prefilter For water filtration on ice machines, sometimes it can be difficult knowing when to change the filters, especially if you see no difference in the ice. But even if the ice is fine, deep inside the machine inches of scale can be forming and ruining your machine. That’s why it is important to keep a filter change out schedule. We recommend every 6 months or however many gallons are specified on the water filters. For the system pictured to the left, the Insurice Triple PF i4000(2), change those filters every 36,000 gallons of use. Again, changing the prefilter will give your primary cartridges longer life. You should also replace your water filters whenever you notice a decline in performance, whether it is a drop in flow rate and/or pressure, or an unusual taste in the water. You should also, per the CDC, replace your water filter after any boil water advisory alert is lifted in your area. Remember: taste and odor may tip you off to the presence of chlorine in your water, but most contaminants are tasteless and odorless. For the benefit of our customers, we have set-up automatic electronic reminders that are sent when we see that their filters are due to be replaced, based on order history.  We can even set-up Auto-Ship for customers that know they will need water filters by a certain date, but may not remember to place an order. If you have a water filter or filter model not included in the list above, and have a question regarding how often you should replace your filter, I invite you to submit a question below or call our team at 1-800-942-7873. Click here to ask us a question!

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The Best Espresso in Town!

Every single morning before arriving to work, Amy stops by her local Starbucks and orders her usual venti latte. They know her there by name and are happy to send her on her way with her triple espresso shot drink. Amy said that her morning espresso kick starts her day and without it, well, you would probably find her half asleep at her desk, struggling to focus on her work.

Espresso can be a vital part of someone’s day, like Amy. Did you know that over 55% of the US drink espresso? That percentage is equivalent to 150 million people! That’s A LOT of espresso! 

Did you also know that Espresso is 90% water! It is a key essential ingredient in espresso preparation. So having a water filtration system becomes a must, especially in areas with hard water. Not having filtered water will affect the taste of your espresso as well as the lifespan of your equipment.  So what is the best water filtration system for your espresso machine?   Well, here’s a couple options to consider: The Claris System 5-Stage Filtration Process

  • Pre-filtration
  • Carbonate hardness adjustment
  • Fine filtration
  • Highly efficient carbon block removes harmful contaminant and unpleasant odors and tastes
  • Solid membrane filter removes particles down to 5 micron for highest equipment protection
  • Operates in vertical or horizontal position

 

3 -Stage Blending: Softens, Buffers, and Filters Water
  • Utilizes ion exchange resin with buffering capabilities and high capacity coconut carbon filtration
  • A small amount of carbon filtered water bypasses softening resin to allow proper initial hardness. 
  • Buffering prevents water from becoming too acidic. 
  • It also reduces hardness in water that can cause minerals to build-up in espresso equipment. 
  • It also reduces chlorine, off tastes and odors. Cartridge replacement is simple, quick and clean. 
*The QC7I-Twin ESO7 System is pictured to the right.
Depending on your espresso machine and water quality needs, your commercial water filtration system may differ. Give us a call and we’ll be glad to help you in sizing the right system.
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Coke Freestyle and Everpure!

Ever since Coca-Cola came out with their new Freestyle Coke Machine, we’ve been getting call after call on Everpure’s CLM filtration systems! WHY? Because Everpure CLM has recently been validated by a third party lab to meet the tccc specifications for point of use filtration systems for the Freestyle machines! Hooray!! Being an Everpure master distributor, we are proud to carry this line of CLM water filter systems. But why the CLM line? What is CLM? I’m glad you asked! CLM is short for chloramine. As you might know, chloramine is a chemical compound made by reacting ammonia with the active ingredient in chlorine bleach. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, chloramines provide better protection against bacterial regrowth in water system. But chloramines can still effect the taste and odor of your water and can cause, through time, damage to your water applications. The specifications for the Coke Freestyle machine requires all taste and odor to be removed, the chlorine/chloramine levels to be less then 0.5 ppm, and sediment removal. Everpure’s CLM line meets all the filtration requirements for the Freestyle machine. It reduces chloramines, chlorine and other offensive contaminants that can adversely effect the taste and odor of the beverage. It’s sub-micron technology reduces dirt and particles 1/2 micron in size.  It improves the taste of fountain beverages and helps retain the drink’s carbonation. Have you ever received a complaint that your soda taste flat? Well, here’s your solution! The CLM line also protects your drink system’s seals, pump, tubing and small orifices from clogging, corrosion and abrasive wear. It is also NSF certified under NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53. The CLM line comes in single, twin, triple and quad systems. We also have systems with a pre-filtration option. So if you are apart of a restaurant using a Coca-cola Freestyle machine or you currently service a Freestyle machine, contact us today for more information on Everpure’s CLM line and how we can help you. You can also check out our CLM line on our website! Click here: EVERPURE’S CLM LINE!

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What Your Unfiltered Water Contains…

Think about where your water comes from….and we don’t just mean the sink! Expand your mind and remember that water comes from unclean, natural resources like rivers and lakes, which contain pollution and contaminants that are unfit for consumption. To be clean, the water should undergo a number of treatments necessary to make it drinkable.

Specifically in tap water is:

  • Toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, copper, cadmium and aluminum
  • Volatile organic chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Chemicals from irresponsible manufacturers
  • Personal care chemicals
  • Household cleaning products
  • Water treatment additives such as chlorine, fluoride, and other toxic chemicals
  • Bacteria and viruses such as giardia, cryptosporidium, coliform and E-coli
  • Toxic Heavy Metals

Water purifiers are specifically designed to eliminate or reduce these certain pollutants that are in our drinking water. They also improve the quality and taste of the water by eliminating its chlorine content. It is virtually impossible to know what is in tap water at any given time because municipal water quality as well as private well water varies from place to place, season to season, and house to house. Even if all of the toxic metals could be completely filtered at the local water treatment facility, they could still end up in your drinking water because rust and sediment build up in the water pipes within our homes. Even this minimal exposure can cause symptoms similar to the flu, such as headaches, diarrhea, cramps, nausea or vomiting. The only way we can have any control over the quality of water we drink is by having a personal water filter system. Filtered drinking water is the most reliable and least expensive way to get healthy water!

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Everpure Claris Water Filter Monitor

The Everpure Claris Flow Meter is an Everpure Claris water filter monitor system that was developed to monitor the usage rate of the Claris water filter system. The Claris Flow Meter is used to determine the best cartridge replacement interval for a person’s Claris water filter system by continually measuring the filtrate volume and then calculating the remaining filtration capacity. The Claris flow sensor provides several pieces of information to the user. First, the Claris flow sensor will alert a user when it is time to change the filter cartridge. The Claris Flowmeter will also inform the user of the residual capacity of the installed filter cartridge and the total filtrate volume since the Claris filter monitoring system was installed. Finally, the Everpure Claris flowmeter will inform users of the filtrate volume of the previous five installed filter cartridges and the operation time of the previous five installed filter cartridges.

Benefits

The Everpure Claris water filter monitor system has several specifications that make it one of the best filter monitoring products on the market. The sensor unit has an operating pressure of 2 to 8 bars and a flow rate of 10 to 100. The Claris Flowmeter has a water temperature range of 39 to 86 degree Fahrenheit and an ambient temperature range of 39 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The Everpure Claris filter monitor uses a 3/8“ BSP F nut for an in connection and a 3/8“ BSP M for an out connection. The Claris Flow Sensor has dimensions of 3.15″ x 1.81″ x 1.69″ and a horizontal installation is recommended.

Installation Tips

To install the Claris flow sensor system, a person should first decide if they are mounting the product to the wall. In order to mount the system to the wall, a person should first make sure the device is securely mounted and then screw it into place. Once meter is placed, the user must make sure that its shut off valve is installed upstream of the filter. Upon installation, purchasers should review the Installation, Operation & Maintenance Manual for programming and startup information.

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Canadian Firm Pioneers Green Water Technology

One of the classic problems plaguing mankind in the modern age is the facilitation of infrastructure, that is, the purveyance of essential services, in a way that negatively affects the environment and others as little as possible. The utilization of nearly every resource we use – from the most obvious, gasoline, to those less-often considered such as this one: water – exhibits negative externalities on the environment. Traditional water services make quite a bit of use of fossil fuels. In many states, it’s coal and oil which power water treatment plants (either directly or indirectly), gasoline or diesel which is burned in transport trucks, and electricity, however it may be procured, which heats water throughout our homes. Recognizing this, one Canadian water-treatment company has taken a step in the right direction. Tec-Water Supplies, Inc., of Saskatchewan, Canada has suggested the use of surface water as a main drinking water source instead of ground water. Doing so promises to supply entire communities with water on an “as needed” basis, from local supplies. This will reduce the need for staffing at larger, remote water treatments plants, and will cut transport costs and pollution. Tec-Water’s patented technology, named the “Floc System 100” removes the turbidity usually present in local surface water which made it impossible to process. So impressed with the prospect of supplying entire communities with local drinking water is the Canadian government that they’ve granted Tec-Water $120,000 to conduct a field-test demonstration at the “Sun Dale” resort community on “Last Resort Lake,” in the middle of the province. The test of 300 homes is hoped to form the foundation for a larger-scale implementation of the technology. As quick as we are to create environmental problems, we can solve them when we just try hard enough. Tec-Water Systems, Inc. proved it.

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Alaska Residents Get Creative with Water Filtration

As the direct result of petroleum contamination, “North Pole,” Alaska residents have been forced to “think outside the box” when it comes to their water supply. Thanks to a combination of readily available commercial water filtration technologies, these citizens have successfully lowered the level toxic contaminants to non-detectable levels. It seems that over the past decade, sulfolane, a chemical used in the refinement of oil, had been seeping into groundwater and private water wells. While the exact cause of the contamination is yet to be determined, the most likely cause is a gasoline spill which occurred within the town limits over a decade ago. The contamination was discovered recently, and has been detected in hundreds of homes in the area, at readings between 50 ppb and 250 ppb – levels above federally recommended concentrations, but not enough to make laboratory animals sick. In response to this problem, Flint Hills Resources, the firm which in 2004 bought the refinery responsible for the spills has developed some innovating solutions. By partnering with Fairbanks-based “Ecowater Systems,” Flint Hills Resources has conceived a point-of-entry water filtration unit to address the problem. In this unit, the contaminated water is first processed by sediment filter. Secondly, it is softened using a standard ion-exchange system. Next, a hydrogen peroxide pump breaks down the sulfolane, after which point a combination mixing chamber and charcoal filter gives the drinking water a final clean. The system has so far been successfully been implemented in 5 “test homes” in the area. Flint Hills Resources, which is currently providing bottled water to affected residents hopes to implement similar water filtration systems in more than 150 homes within the next few months.

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Point of Entry Filters (POE) vs. Point of Use Filters (POU)

In many commercial applications, several water filters, including those which are dedicated to specific pieces of machinery, are needed. In these cases, individual filters, known as “point of use” (POU) water filters are located inline just before the water is dispersed or enters the machinery for which the water is intended. As POU filters are usually application specific, they can be tailored to the needs of the user, and are often used in place of a generic reverse osmosis system. This fact makes a standard POU water filter easier to maintain, but usually more expensive. Because of this, it behooves the business owner to take measures against the premature degradation of the POU water filter. The easiest way to accomplish this is to install a “point of entry” (POE) water filter. POE water filters perform water filtration for the entire commercial water service. They are responsible for purifying the water supply to all faucets, pieces of machinery, and toilets. The advantage of this approach to water filtration is first that only one system must be purchased for an entire service, and second, that it greatly improves the life of any other filters present down-line. The most popular POE filters used are either sediment prefilters, or carbon filters.

  • Sediment filters are responsible for removing sediment that can clog softeners, prematurely foul carbon filters, or ruin the down-line plumbing. In addition, they reduce TDS (total dissolved solids) or many other harmful chemicals like nitrate, nitrites, etc.
  • Carbon filters are effective for certain trouble water conditions such as bad taste or odor.

Still other POE filters are designed as an entire system. These units typically employ a four-stage filtration process. The first stage of filtration removes sediment in the water that may clog the filter, reducing its effectiveness. The second stage uses a chemical process called water atomization to alter the molecular structure of chlorine and turn it into the harmless molecule, zinc chloride. The third and fourth stages of filtration involve activated carbon filters to filter pesticides, and other harmful chemicals. By removing chlorine and other harmful chemicals at the point-of-entry, the whole service is provided with cleaner, healthier water at a reduced cost to the business owner. Pre-filters are typically much less expensive than down-line, application specific filters, making their replacement cheaper than that of the filters the POE filter is saving.