Home Page Have questions? Just Ask! Explanations for frequently used water treatment terms. Fast answers to common questions! Need help finding your way? Check the alphabetical and categorized list of subjects. Shop at SEARS.com for Kenmore Water Treatment Products!
Having trouble deciding what your water problem is? Look here for symptoms, explanations, and Kenmore Water Solutions...
An online catalog of Kenmore Quality Water Products, with descriptions, prices, purchasing instructions...
Troubleshooting and installation guides, manuals, and online customer support...
Information on SEARS FREE water test, YOUR city's water and water quality...
UNDERSTANDING YOUR
FREE WATER TEST RESULTS
How the product works and troubleshooting info with a colorful, interactive animation...
  • Hardness
    Measured in grains per gallon (GPG), is the amount of calcium and magnesium in a water supply. The Water Quality Association classifies degrees of hardness as shown:

    Soft Water
    0 to 1.0 GPG
    Slightly Hard Water
    1.1 to 3.5 GPG
    Moderately Hard Water
    3.5 to 7.0 GPG
    Hard Water
    7.1 to 10.5 GPG
    Extremely Hard Water
    10.6 and more GPG

    These hardness minerals are responsible for soap curd, bathtub ring and numerous other household cleaning problems. The extent of these problems will depend on the level of hardness impurities in the water. Softening of the water will reduce or help eliminate these problems; help lower water heating costs, provide soap savings and ease household cleaning problems.

  • Clear Water Iron
    is clear when drawn, but when exposed to air develops a rusty or red color. Clear water iron in water is measured in parts per million (ppm). Iron is most commonly found in three forms: clear water, red water and bacterial. When present at levels of 0.3 ppm or higher, iron may cause yellow or rusty staining on fixtures and clothing. Iron is found in two forms; ferrous (clear), or ferric (red). Limited amounts of clear water iron can be removed by a water softener. Red water iron, on the other hand, must be removed by filtration. High amounts of iron can be treated by water filtration, using either an oxidizing filter or a solution dispensing system feeding chlorine followed by a clarifying filter.

  • Acidity in water is measured as a pH scale. The pH value is measured on a scale of 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. Degrees of acidity are:

    Slightly Acidic
    6.8 to 6.9
    Moderately Acidic
    6.0 to 6.7
    Extremely Acidic
    4.0 to 5.9

    Waters having a pH value of less than 7.0 are considered acidic. Acid water, or low pH water, shortens the life of iron and copper plumbing, and causes rusty or blue/green stains on plumbing fixtures. A pH of 6.8 to 6.9 is slightly acidic and can be treated with a phosphate crystal cartridge. A pH of 6.0 to 6.7 is moderately acidic and can be treated either with a neutralizer filter, a solution dispensing system feeding a neutralizing compound, and a blending tank.

HOME         ASK US!         GLOSSARY         FAQ's         SITE INDEX         SEARS.COM
PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS         PRODUCT LIST         CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE         FACTS & TESTING
VIEW PRODUCT & TROUBLESHOOTING ANIMATIONS

© EcoWater 2008. The Sears and Kenmore trademarks are registered and used under license from Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Please review our Privacy Policy.