Commercial hard water treatment
Hard water is the enemy of commercial water systems, but it’s an enemy that is hard to detect until there is a major problem. Hard water erases years of functionality for a variety of appliances and machinery that uses water. Commercial water treatment entails much more than how water tastes. Commercial hard water treatment focuses on protecting and extending the life of a business’ equipment.
What is hard water?
The hardness of water is from the presence of soluble bicarbonates, chlorides and sulfates of calcium and magnesium. Those minerals accumulate on pipes, heating elements and internal surfaces of boilers. This buildup, called scaling, impairs the efficiency of the machines.
Scaling also affects water temperature and makes machines work harder. That bumps up utility fees and water usage fees and causes an average 11% increase in energy consumption, per the American Society of Plumbing Engineers.
Examples of commercial hard water treatment
Water tank failure
Secondwind worked with a company with a 10-year-old twin tank softener system. Only one tank was operational because the controller failed on one of the softener valve heads. This caused intermittent hard water to enter the steam boilers. Steam systems can cost $75,000 to $100,000 to replace and install. Pre-boiler water treatment is critical for protecting and extending the life of the boilers.
The facility needs both tanks because they operate 24 hours per day. With one tank, hard water entered the steam boiler during each regeneration of the single online tank, taking up to three hours each time.
We looked at a replacement water treatment system that would meet their current and projected growth needs. A non-electric, non-metallic valve head is not subject to corrosion, humidity, warm temperature or moisture, making it a perfect solution for this situation where the softener is located in a boiler room.
Hard water in a hotel
About 85% of water in the U.S. is considered hard. Commercial hard water treatment is common for hotels as water is a huge part of business. Hard water in hotels affects pipes, boilers, the staining of appliances and linens and the ability to have effective showers. We helped a Westford, Massachusetts hotel by treating moderately hard water that was causing headaches for the business and customers.
Guest rooms in this hotel use approximately 70 gallons of water per minute, so a consistent and steady flow of clean water is a must. Moderately hard water can be expensive for hotels as their hot water tanks are important pieces of equipment, and hard water damages them quickly. The hotel had two hot water tank failures, and they’re not cheap to replace.
The hotel wanted to ensure more tanks didn’t fail. We implemented a Kinetico brand softener for hardness removal and protection of the hot water system. It has a twin tank design, which provides consistent treated water. One tank cleans itself as the other softens the water. The system has a high-flow rate capable of 70+ gallons per minute with no pressure loss.
In some cases, calcium and hard water only do damage when heated, so we opted for the option of only treating the hot water tanks.
Secondwind Water Systems prides ourselves on our depth of personalized service and system design. We have experience with a large number of treatment systems and technologies, and we have the expertise to customize systems to meet even the most unusual requirements. Our expertise in customizing water treatment systems for complex problems in large or small businesses is just one of the many reasons why we’re the region’s leader in commercial water treatment. Contact us today if you have any concerns about hard water in your business.
