Connection to the water mains
Connection to the water mains
by Karl Heinz Asenbaum on Thursday, 3. March 2016 in
Which connection method do you recommend for the water mains?
- I still have not seen a flow-through ionizer that can’t be connected, as a standard, with the delivered diverter valve (diverter aerator). This is therefore the standard method. With it, in a few minutes a layperson can connect the supply hose (feed hose) of the water ionizer. You just adjust the lever and instead of water flowing out of the tap it now flows through the feed water hose through the water ionizer.
- Disadvantages of the faucet aerator: It cannot be connected if a low pressure water boiler is connected. The adjustment of the flow rate requirement comes down to a certain sensitivity. The feed hose connected to the tap disrupts kitchen work and is aesthetically unpleasing to western standards.
- Advantages of the faucet aerator: If you own a mixing tap, you can produce not only cold activated water but also lukewarm water. Attention: Since most flow-through water ionizers are sensitive to hot water (diaphragm melts), you have the danger of overheating and damaging the device. So always allow the water to flow through the tap and test the temperature. The water cannot be warmer than hand-warm (37° C). The manufacturers provide different maximum temperatures, which have to be followed strictly.
- With some devices, which I have named low pressure ionizers, the faucet aerator is the only means to connect it. These devices do not have a built in valve, so the water flows through without hinderance. Therefore they cannot be connected directly to the water mains but need a tap to switch in between, so that the water can’t flow continuously. You can recognise these devices because of soft supply hoses with a diameter of more than 7mm.
- Since 2006 there are also pressure resistant water ionizers, which have a built in valve, so that you can directly connect it with a tee-connector to the angle valve. The water supply of these devices comes through a high pressure hose. To begin with you had devices on the market with a magnetic valve, which did show a few problems.
- A magnetic valve only switches the water flow on or off, it cannot regulate the amount. With pressure fluctuations from the water mains, which can happen any day frequently, you have the possibility of regulating the flow in the ionizer. Since it is decisive that the goal of the flow rate is to reach a certain pH level, this method is aesthetically pleasing yet technically unpleasing. Furthermore, a magnetic valve that is powered electromagnetically is expendable. You have this technology with devices that only offer a 2 year warranty. Since I have extensive experience with these devices I advise against them.
- Preferable are pressure resistant devices with an incorporated dial regulator for the water flow. This allows, like with standard water fittings, a guarantee of 5 – 15 years. Pressure fluctuations can be easily equalised with a flow rate display. This is aesthetically and technically a good solution and then at the height of technology.
- Under the kitchen counter water ionizers mostly have a magnetic valve technology and for other reasons are not recommended, I have nicknamed them, which I have described further on.
Excerpt from the book “Karl Heinz Asenbaum: Electrically activated water – An invention with extraordinary potential.”
Copyright 2016 www.euromultimedia.de
Link to this post | Connecting a water ionizer