Field Testing

Checking carbon

Using the 5 in 1 test strip also shows Chlorine levels. If any traces of Chlorine is detected, carbon needs to be changed.

Carbon should ALWAYS be changed annually even if no traces of Chlorine appear in testing to avoid cross contamination from bacteria growth.

Free Chlorine (0-10 mg/L)
Total Chlorine (0-10 mg/L)
The formula for checking for Chloramines:
Total Chlorine – Free Chlorine = Chloramines
Chloramine levels not exceed 0.2 ppm. If the level is above 0.2 ppm, the corrosion process begins.
** Most test kits, including the one above, test a minimum of 0.5 ppm. If your test results read 0.0 ppm when subtracting the free Chlorine from the total Chlorine.

Grains of hardness

Using the 5 in 1 test strip also shows grains of hardness
Total Hardness (as CaCO3, 0-25 gpg and 0-425 mg/L)
No need to lower the grains of hardness like other water treatments because our Filtersorb SP3 media works up to 26 grains of hardness without a change in capacity. Most other water treatments work between 7 – 15 grains of hardness.

Chlorides

Symptom: Extreme corrosion
For Chloride testing (about $55 for 40 strip bottle)
Hach 2744940 Chloride Test Strips Low Range (Range 30 to 600 mg/L)
Hach 2751340 Chloride Test Strips High Range (Range 300 to 6,000 mg/L)
Chlorides and high temperatures intensify the corrosion of plumbing and kitchen equipment
For treatment use Filtersorb CT (available in quick change and drop in inserts)
Removal needs Reverse Osmosis followed by Corrtrapp

Copper

Symptom: Blue / green staining
Use Copper test strips (about $30 for 25 strips)
Hach Copper Test Strips, 0-3 mg/L
For treatment use Ferrolox (available on in big blue drop ins)
Ferrolox should ALWAYS be changed annually even if no traces of Copper appear in testing to avoid cross contamination from bacteria growth.

Iron

Symptom: Orange / red staining
Use Iron test strips (about $30 for 25 strips)
Iron Test Strips (Total Dissolved Iron), 0-5 mg/L
For treatment use Katalox Light (available in quick change and drop in inserts)
Katalox Light should ALWAYS be changed annually even if no traces of Iron of heavy metals appear in testing to avoid cross contamination from bacteria growth.

Manganese

Symptom: Black staining
Use Manganese test strips (about $30 for 24 strips)
Manganese Check Water Test Kit
For treatment use Katalox Light (available in quick change and drop in inserts)
Katalox Light should ALWAYS be changed annually even if no traces of Manganese appear in testing to avoid cross contamination from bacteria growth.

Hydrogen Sulfide

Symptom: Rotten egg smell
Hydrogen Sulfide Test Kit (about $15 for 30 – 50 strips)
Low Range Hydrogen Sulfide Water Test – Sensitivity: 0, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 ppm (mg/L)
Hydrogen Sulfide Water Test Kit – Sensitivity: 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 80 ppm (mg/L)
For treatment use Katalox Light (available in quick change and drop in inserts)
Katalox Light should ALWAYS be changed annually even if no traces of Hydrogen Sulfide appear in testing to avoid cross contamination from bacteria growth.