Home Owner Service/Maintenance Information - Important
Your household's plumbing system and water - using appliances, that have been exposed to iron - contaminated water, must be cleaned of the rust and slime that have collected in them...or iron staining will continue to be a problem, even after your new water treatment system is installed.
Be sure to do the following:
Toilet tanks:
Pour 6 ounces of "Iron-Rid" or "Super Iron-Out" (available from Water by George) into the flush tank of the toilet. Let it dissolve, then slightly depress the flush lever to let some of the solution out, so that the water outlet - ports around the rim of the bowl get cleaned. Let the mixture stand overnight and flush to drain in the morning. If iron deposits or stains remain, repeat procedure until toilet tank is clean.
Water heater:
- Gas water heater: make note of temperature setting on gas valve, then turn to "Pilot". Electric water heater: Shut off breaker switch on main fuse panel.
- Turn valve off on cold water line going into heater.
- Hook up 1/2" garden hose to water heater drain valve, then open valve so water will drain to sewer.
- Now, open 2 hot water taps in your house to provide air so the tank can drain properly.
- Once the tank is completely empty, turn on the cold water inlet valve for 30 seconds to stir up the sediment which has collected at the bottom of the tank. Then let the sediment run to drain.
- Repeat this 3 or 4 times or until water runs clear. (Check this periodically catching some water in a small white container).
- When water runs clear, close drain valve, then let heater fill with water until it starts to run out of the open hot water taps. Now, close hot water taps.
- Gas water heater: reset gas control valve to original temperature setting. Electric water heater: turn breaker switch back on at the fuse panel.
- Repeat the above procedure at least twice during the first 6 months after installing your new water treatment equipment. If you have an older water heater you may need to do this more often. (Any water heater, over 3 years old, is considered an older water heater).
- If water heater does not clean out after several attempts, it should probably be replaced.
Note: If a "rotten egg" smell occurs in your hot water, remove and discard the Anode Rode from the water heater. It may be located at the top of the tank or inside the cold water inlet line. At the same time, pour half a gallon of household bleach into the heater tank and let stand for one hour before draining. Do not replace the Anode Rod.
Water Softener:
Please refer to instruction supplied with "Super Iron-Out" or "Iron-Rid".
Washing machine and dishwasher:
With machine empty, add 6 ounces of "Super Iron-Out" instead of soap. Run machine through a normal cycle. Repeat the process is necessary. Also, clean out the sediment screen at the water inlet fitting on the machine's water pump.
Leaky taps and toilets:
Replace old tap washer and toilet valves to correct any leaks or raw, rusty water will be drawn into pipes when filter is backwashing. This will then cause rust-stains in sinks and toilet bowls.
Tap screens and Aerators:
Remove and clean any crud or rust particles from all tap screens and aerators. They should then stay clean indefinitely.
Old bypass valves:
If rusty water shows up anywhere, after the above clean up has been done, please check for a defective bypass valve that may still be plumbed in the lines where an old water softener or iron filter was located.