FAQs

How long does a cartridge last ?
Cartridge life depends on a number of factors including what contaminants are in the water and what volume of water is being filtered. A cartridge should be changed when the flow rate drops below an acceptable level or when the tastes and odours return. Record the date of filter installation and then calculate the change date using the recommended cartridge life. Clean Water Concepts records the date of purchase and notifies you when to change filters.

Will Clean Water Concepts' cartridges fit my filter housing ?
We have cartridges to fit most standard housings. The open end always goes up. To be sure, call and we will assist you.

Will a filter reduce my water pressure ?
There is a pressure drop when using a water filter. With use, there will be a build-up of particulates on and in the cartridge which will reduce water flow. At some point this reduction in water flow will indicate that it is time to change the cartridge.

Should I buy a standard filter housing or a deluxe one ?
With the same cartridge in either housing, the performance is identical. The difference is in the ease of installation and the ease of operation / maintenance. A standard unit installed on a main cold water line requires the installation of shut off valves on either side to facilitate cartridge changes. A deluxe unit has a built-in ON / OFF / BYPASS Valve which means fewer parts to install and easier cartridge changes. It also means that when large quantities of water are being used for watering the lawn, etc. the cartridge can be bypassed, therefore extending the life of the cartridge.

How long does it take to install a water filter? It usually takes about 60 minutes. Most of our water filters come with an installation kit. Installation is simple and does not require a plumber.

My water is hard and leaves lime scale deposits, what can I do ?
Our electronic water conditioners will reduce the lime scale deposits.

What is activated carbon?
As water passes over the carbon, the contaminants are reduced. The longer the water can be in contact with the carbon, i.e.. the slower the rate of flow and the fresher the carbon, the better the performance. Activated carbon reduces contaminants, chemicals, tastes, odours, chlorine, and many other toxins.

What does a ceramic cartridge do ? How does a it work?
Ceramic technology is over 150 years old and is used all around the world to provide safe drinking water. The extremely fine pores (less than 0.3 micron in size) trap and disinfect bacteria using silver, trap cysts and are 99.99999% effective. They are also capable of filtering very fine dirt or silt. The core of solid microbloc activated carbon is extremely effective in reducing tastes and odours. In addition, because the cartridge is cleanable and reusable, it provides extended, economical performance.

I want to install a separate faucet at my sink.? What are the advantages of a separate drinking water faucet ?
Our Inline and Countertop Drinking Water Systems come complete with a faucet. With a separate faucet you will only use the filter system for drinking water purposes and thereby extend the life of the cartridge. Also, the separate faucet helps to regulate the flow for improved taste and odour performance.

We use a large amount of water. Your filter looks too small to handle my needs.
Our whole house filters are exactly that: they are capable of handling the total flow requirements of most homes. If you do need more flow then you can put 2 units in the line side by side (parallel) which will double your rate of flow. We also sell a large unit for situations that demand significantly higher rates of flow.

I want to reduce taste and odour from all the water entering my home. Why can't I install a filter housing with a carbon cartridge on my main line ?
You can and some people do this but the performance and the life of the carbon cartridge is shortened. Activated carbon will do a better job of reducing tastes and odours if the rate of flow is slow. Also, since tastes and odours are not usually a problem in other parts of the home, you would be filtering a lot of water that doesn't need to be filtered and therefore "using up" the cartridge more quickly. Also if dirt is a problem then a carbon cartridge might block-up prematurely, with lots of life left in the carbon. To protect against this problem, we advise installing a sediment filter on the main line before a carbon filter to reduce the dirt build-up in the carbon.

I want to eliminate bacteria and cysts from all the water entering my home. Why can't I install a filter housing with a ceramic cartridge on my main line?
A ceramic cartridge is just too dense to be used in that location. It has a typical flow rate of about 1 gpm and this is not enough to handle the main line flow. Also it would block up too quickly and require more frequent cleaning than is reasonable. Only about 2% of all household water is used for drinking and cooking water and that's all that generally needs to be taken care of. Removing bacteria from toilet, tub, shower and washing water is not really necessary