Frequently Asked Questions

Browse some FAQ's and feel free to contact us if your question is not answered here!

A thin plumbing pipe used as a section divider.

What is tds?

Total Dissolved Solids... essentially, a measure of anything dissolved in water that is not an H2O molecule. see our TDS page for more details. More often than not, if you see staining in a toilet bowl, it is caused by TDS.

When do I add salt?

Ideally, the brine tank would be at least 50% full but if you can see water, it's time to add salt.
We recommend salt crystals, not salt pellets (due to potential bricking).

When do I change my filter?

We, generally, recommend changing your canister filter every 3 - 6 months but it always depends on your situation.
Check the inside of the Filter. Is it still white? If so, you may be able to go longer between changes. If not, you may need to change more often. This is the case if you're experiencing pressure loss or water discoloration, as well.
However, even if the filter is clean, we recommend a minimum of six months between changes due to microorganism growth. Your particular cadence will depend on your water and usage but the above are general guidelines.

What type of grease goes on an o-ring?

please be sure that the rubber o-ring on your canister is lubricated with food safe silicone grease and that it's correctly seated and not kinked. do not use petrolium-based grease, which degrades the o-ring, causing failures.

How do I set the time on the valve?

Please see our Troubleshooting page for step-by-step instructions. If you're still having trouble, please feel free to give us a call 828-683-5400

What do you test for?

We test for Iron (Total & Ferrous), pH, Hardness, TDS, hydrogen sulfide, and chlorine.

What do I do if I leave on vacation?

We recommend leaving the filtration in service, even if you wish to valve off the water to the house, post-filtration.

What if I have well or pressure tank work done?

Filtration needs to be bypassed until work is completed and pressure tank is flushed for at least 10 minutes.
*If the well is chlorinated, the filtration may need to stay bypassed even longer because chlorine will damage some filtration. See our troubleshooting page for instructions on bypassing the filtration and feel free to call us for more details.

How do I remember when my service is due?

We have been sending postcard reminders in the mail but we're transitioning to email reminders, which are sent at the beginning of the month service is due.

How far do you travel?

Generally, we travel up to an hour from our office (171 Weaverville Rd, Asheville, NC 28804). However, we are sometimes able to make exceptions and travel further, but there may be an additional charge.

How do I bypass my filtration?

Locate the red bypass knobs behind the valve head(s) and turn each knob 90 degrees. See our Troubleshooting page for more details.

Why is my water pressure low?

If you have a canister filter, check to see if the filter is stopped up. See our Troubleshooting page for instructions on changing your canister filter. If you're on a Well, see our Well Water page for troubleshooting (bottom of page).

What happens if I lose power?

Even though our valves are equipped with battery back-ups, power surges and outages can still effect the time and may need to be reset to the correct time. Please see our Troubleshooting page for instructions.

How loud is the equipment?

Each system varies - from barely audible to fairly loud. If noise is potentially an issue, we recommend installing filtration equipment in a pump house or sound-dampened space.

Do you sell water?

We do not sell water. We install and service water filtration equipment so that our customers can potentially drink their own filtered water.

How much does filtration cost?

We quote each system individually but installed costs range from $600 to >$20,000.

What's your service charge?

Our standard service charge is $175.00, plus $25/valve, if applicable. It is our commitment to our customers to keep this charge as low as possible, but several conditions effect this price.

What does routine maintenance look like?

Routine filter changes, annual UV bulb changes, media replenishment (neutralizer), annual valve inspection & configuration, periodic re-bedding (Iron media 3-5 years), etc. will keep our systems performing for lifetimes!

Can I install my own filtration?

We recommend our water treatment equipment be installed by a professional plumber but it does not have to be us. All of our equipment is available for purchase at our Asheville store but we cannot guarantee optimal performance unless we handle the installation and annual maintenance of our equipment.

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