Culligan Blog

Culligan is spread all over the country but today our hearts are in Oklahoma. In response to the devastating tornadoes, Culligan is partnering with Convoy of Hope, a first responder in times of natural disasters, to bring water to the Oklahoma area. Convoy of Hope has been working nonstop to bring food, water and supplies since the tornadoes struck and will continue to do so in the weeks and months to come.

Convoy of Hope delivered the first truckload of Culligan water to Moore, Oklahoma last night along with food and other supplies. Culligan is preparing to send an additional truckload of water today and one at the end of the week.

If you wish to donate to the Oklahoma tornado relief, you can make a secure online donation through Convoy of Hope. For more details, visit https://donate.convoyofhope.org/okc-midwest-tornado-response.

Memorial Day is right around the corner and we can’t wait for the first holiday weekend of the summer! With barbecues, the lake and family traditions, it just may be one of our favorite holidays of the year. That’s why we can’t leave our favorite beverage out of the equation. Here are 5 ways you can enhance your Memorial Day experience with better water:

1. Great-tasting, Refreshing, Ice Cold water. With so many fun beverages to drink on Memorial Day, don’t forget your faithful friend – an ice cold, tall glass of water. It’s always a good idea to alternate whatever you are drinking with a glass of water so you stay hydrated and feel fresh all weekend. The Culligan Aqua-Cleer® Drinking Water System will filter any sediment and impurities that give your water a bad taste. You can also choose Culligan bottled water delivery service to have better tasting water delivered right to your door. However you choose to get better tasting water, you’ll thank us next Tuesday morning.


2. Brew Better Beverages. Whether you enjoy your tea sweet or not, this favorite summer beverage can taste better with better water. Consider making tea with filtered water instead of using plain tap water. You can use the water from your bottled water cooler, or your in-home water filter. Either will provide you great water as a base for making even better tea.


3. Wash Your Veggies. A staple in a Memorial Day cookout is veggies, both grilled and served raw with a dip. But if you don’t like the taste of your water, you may be transferring some of that taste to your food by washing your vegetables in it. The next time you think about rinsing your food, consider using better water than what comes out of your tap.


4. Free Up Space for a Watermelon. Not enough room in the refrigerator or cooler for the watermelon? Get the bottles of water or the filtration pitcher out of your fridge, and use a Culligan bottled water dispenser, or have a chiller installed with your drinking water system. Both are great and now you have room for two watermelons. Best Memorial Day ever!


5. Don’t Forget the Ice! During a hot summer cookout, you could consume more ice than you think. You can make the crystal clear ice cubes you get from the store right at home by using water purified by a Culligan reverse osmosis system installed under your sink by the Culligan Man. Or you can make ice cubes with filtered water brought right to your door with Culligan's water bottle delivery service.

If you want to get the most out of your water this Memorial Day Weekend, call your local Culligan Man. He will set you up with what you need for better drinking water, better ice and more room in your fridge!

We at Culligan wish you a Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Stay safe and hydrated.

by Timothy Heidemann, Product Technical Support Specialist

Whether it’s for drinking, or just for general use (cleaning, cooking, showering, etc.), we want the best water possible, plain and simple. When the quality of that water, or its source, comes in to question, the do-it-yourselfers of the world want to take matters into their own hands. After carefully picking out a Culligan water filtration product for your home and installing it, you kick back, relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor (great-tasting water that is). Don’t you wish your water would taste just like that for years and years to come? Well, with a little bit of maintenance, it can. Just like changing the oil in your car, your new water filtration product requires a little maintenance for you to enjoy its full benefits.

But, let’s be honest. Nobody likes a chore, especially one that stands in the way of your favorite beverage. So let’s go over the basics so you can see just how simple and easy it is to maintain your drinking water filter system whether it’s a drinking water pitcher or an under-the-sink water filtration system.

Most filter maintenance includes replacing the filter cartridge. The cartridge element of a water filter is manufactured to have an approximate lifespan measured in both gallons and months. Cartridge life varies in accordance with two key factors: the quality of the water that is being filtered, and the amount of water that is being consumed on a daily basis. However, this raises a very good question. Unless you have your own in-home water lab, what determines when it’s time to replace the cartridge? The rate of water flow is a key indicator. As sediment and particulate matter accumulate, the cartridge will clog and the water pressure will drop. For drinking water filters using carbon (GAC) media, a change in the taste/odor of the water is another key indicator. But those changes typically occur slowly, making it more likely that you will gradually become accustomed to the change, rather than notice it. Be sure to mark your calendar at each cartridge change – the date you replaced the cartridge and its expiration date as indicated on the product box. That way you will know exactly when you need to replace it. Be careful not to excessively stretch the life of the filter past its estimated life span as it may alter the quality of your water.

Along with replacing filters, you will also want to perform regular filter maintenance. At the very least, scheduled maintenance should include the inspection of the O-Ring gaskets, which are used to prevent leakage, to ensure that they are properly lubricated. Always use silicone lubricant, and not petroleum jelly. While petroleum jelly works in a pinch, the petroleum corrodes the O-Ring over time. Regular sanitization of the inside of the filter housing is also a good idea. Housing sumps should be regularly disinfected with bleach. It doesn’t hurt to put some bleach in the housing and run water through it to disinfect the entire housing, cap assembly, line, and water dispenser. Take this opportunity to look for signs of wear or stress marks that could lead to cracks. Cracks in the system can lead to leaks which can be a tough clean up. Remember to regularly check your unit once it is installed. Make the time to do the maintenance in order to maintain water quality. If you have questions about filter maintenance, your local Culligan Man is a trusted professional that knows about the product and your area’s water quality. He’ll be the perfect person to help you out.

Alas, nothing lasts forever. DIY water filtration systems should be replaced every 5-10 years depending on the application and the quality of the water. Water changes constantly as municipal water treatment facilities try to keep up with growing populations, property development, and aging infrastructures. Adverse weather can also provoke drastic water treatment measures that can wreak havoc on a water filter. A good way to make sure your water filter is meeting your specific needs is to have your water tested every one to two years. That way you will know exactly what is in your water and if your water filter is providing the type and amount of filtration you need. As is true with many of life’s mundane activities, it simply boils down to making the time to get educated and assume responsibility of the situation.

If you have any questions about water filtration and your specific needs, contact your local Culligan Man.

Timothy has been a member of the Culligan International team since 2009 in the Tech Services – Retail Products Division.

Pop quiz. What is the best way to keep your water tasting great all the time – from the minute you install a drinking water system to months or years later? Well, if you were paying attention in class yesterday here on the Culligan blog, NSF talked about water filtration maintenance and how important it is to replace your water filter according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. If you wait long past the manufacturer recommended time frame to replace your water filter, you run the risk of the water filter not functioning as intended, possibly lessening the water quality.

In order to maintain quality water long after you have installed a drinking water system, manufacturers recommend a time frame for replacing water filters. This is usually based on water usage – but that can vary between families and households and keeping up with how much water has passed through your water filter can be a chore that is easily forgotten. To make it easier to remember when to change your water filters, our Culligan engineers have determined time frames on our water filtration products so that you know exactly when to replace them. These recommendations will always come with your Owner’s Guide – so that is a good thing to keep tucked away in your catch-all drawer. Your local Culligan Man also has inside knowledge on your local water conditions, and will work with you to recommend a schedule based upon your water and how much you use.

Culligan product engineers recommend the following for Culligan water filtration products:

Culligan Aqua-Cleer® Advanced Drinking Water System

This customizable drinking water filter requires regular replacement of all filters (there are 14 to choose from). It is recommended to replace the carbon and particulate filters once a year. The reverse osmosis membrane should be replaced every 3-5 years. Your local Culligan Man can include your home as part of his route and change the water filters on your system upon your request. Contact your Culligan Man today to learn how to get the most from your drinking water systems.

Culligan AC-30 Good Water Machine®

The Culligan AC-30 is a three-filters-in-one water filtration system. It’s recommended that you replace the particle filter, the activated carbon filter, and the polishing filter once a year. You will also want to check on the system’s reverse osmosis filter annually. We recommend letting your Culligan Man take care of replacing the water filters on the Good Water Machine. You can trust his knowledge and experience to keep the system operating properly.

Culligan Preferred Series

This advanced water filtration series uses different sizes of filters to remove bad odor and taste from your water. Replacing these water filters depends on the water filter size and the amount of water you are using:

• Preferred 150 – every 750 gallons or one year
• Preferred 250 – every 1000 gallons or one year
• Preferred 350 – every 300 gallons or one year

Of course, if you notice a change in taste or odor in your water before the recommended replacement time in any water filter system, you should go ahead and replace the filter. Varying levels of contaminants and water usage can affect how often you will need to replace your filter. If you notice a significant shorter than expected filter life, check the quality of the water that is coming through your filter. You can have your water tested or request a municipal water quality report to determine if there has been a change in your water that could affect the life of the filter.

Additionally, if there is a water service interruption to your home, or if there is a “boil advisory” issued for your area, contact your local Culligan dealer for advice on what to do with your filtration system. He will be able to provide you direction as to the best steps to ensure great water.

If you have any questions about water filtration, call your local Culligan Man. You can trust that your system will remain operating in prime condition with him.

by Rick Andrew, Global Business Development, NSF International

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every tool and product we bought required absolutely no maintenance and it would work forever? It absolutely would! And while today’s designers and engineers continually work to reduce and simplify the maintenance that we need to perform on all of life’s wonderful gadgets and devices, it is unlikely that maintenance will ever be eliminated. At some point, batteries need to be charged or even changed, systems need to be upgraded, fluids need to be changed, and... filters need to be changed.

No matter what kind of filter, it needs some type of maintenance. Oil filters in automobiles, furnace filters, and yes, the filters in your household water treatment system. One reason for filters needing to be changed is obvious – eventually, filters become clogged. Once they are clogged, then oil, or air, or water does not flow through, at least not easily.

But there is another important reason to change water filters. This one has to do with the functionality of the activated carbon inside them. The activated carbon uses a process called, “adsorption” to attract certain contaminants and reduce their concentrations in water. As the carbon adsorbs more and more of these contaminants, it eventually becomes saturated. And once it is saturated, it will no longer function correctly.

It is important to understand this, because saturation of the activated carbon will not be obvious in any way. This is why it is so important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding replacement frequency. Although it may not be obvious, the filter may no longer be performing its intended function until it is replaced.

By the way, as a side note, the testing and certification of these filters under the NSF/ANSI standards for reduction of contaminants requires that the end point of the testing be based on the manufacturer’s recommended replacement frequency. So, for filters certified by NSF International, you can rest assured that the filter will function as advertised throughout the manufacturer’s recommended life.

Rick Andrew is the Global Business Development Director for NSF International’s Water Programs. He has previously served as General Manager, Operations Manager and Technical Manager for NSF’s Drinking Water Treatment Units (POU/POE) Program. Andrew has a Bachelor’s Degree in chemistry and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He can be reached at (800) NSF-MARK or Andrew@nsf.org.

Every town has its pride – from sports team colors to sandy beaches to sightseeing skyscrapers where you can view multiple states just by climbing to the top. But we think there is an underdog out there that a town in Wisconsin can now boast: Best Drinking Water in Rural America. Earlier this year, a gold medal was awarded to Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin for having the Best Tasting Water in Rural America. This coveted award was given at the National Rural Water Association’s Water Rally as part of the Great American Water Taste Test. Water samples from across the country were sent in and judged by a panel on clarity, bouquet and taste.

To share the secrets of the award winning water, we reached out to Lorie Coon, General Manager, and Bob Anderson, Water Technician, of Culligan Total Water of Baraboo, Wisconsin.

“Prairie du Sac runs along the Wisconsin River bordering Sauk and Dane County. The city employees who are responsible for the treatment of the city water are well trained to maintain the city water from all contaminants. They do a great job!” said Coon and Anderson.

They then went into more detail about the Prairie du Sac water itself, "The water’s chlorine levels are at just a trace and the TDS (total dissolved solids) level is at about 240.” When water goes through a municipal water treatment plant, a small amount of chlorine is added to disinfect the water to make sure it is appropriately cleaned and maintains EPA standards. Sometimes chlorine can leave a taste in your home’s tap water and it may be necessary to reduce its presence with a water filter. Since Prairie du Sac has only a trace amount, this may not affect the taste of the water. TDS is the level of dissolved ions in your water including lead, iron and calcium which can sometimes leave a salty, bitter, metallic, or overall bad taste in your water.

“With all of these factors combined, it leads up to great tasting drinking water. They test the water very regularly” to help maintain its gold-medal quality.

If you want even better-tasting water, call your local Culligan Man. He can perform a water test to determine the levels of hardness, TDS and chlorine in your water and can customize a solution to reduce the presence of each in your water.

Do you think your city or town should win Best Drinking Water in Rural America next year? Head over to Facebook or tweet us @CulliganMan to tell us why!

Source:

• http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/02/14/who-has-the-best-tasting-water-in-rural-america/
• http://www.wqa.org/sitelogic.cfm?ID=472/

Join Culligan as we toast in celebration of all the moms out there for Mother’s Day this Sunday, May 12! We want to raise a glass of water to you – the super woman who does it all. It seems mothers are always there to give good advice and know how to cure nearly everything from a headache to a fever to a runny nose. How does she know all of that? We think we may have discovered mom’s strongest ally in the fight to proper health and it’s just who you think it is – water.

Just like mom, water may know the cure to a lot of health ailments. Drinking water can help you burn fat, break a fever, improve your complexion, dry a stuffy nose, fight a stomachache, boost your mood and even may help cure headaches (1). According to researchers, about seven glasses of water a day may ease pain and improve the quality of life in those who regularly suffer from headaches (2).

Drinking water is also one of the cheapest and quickest cures when you are feeling sleepy. Fatigue is actually one of the first signs that you may be dehydrated (3). In fact, even a small drop in your body’s water levels can impair your thinking (3).

We’re glad mom had all of the answers, and equally grateful that we can join forces with her by drinking water to help improve the state of our health. We’ll drink (water) to that!

1. http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/drinking-water-1
2. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2186830/Suffering-headaches-Leave-painkillers-just-drink-water.html
3. http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/how-to-get-more-energy