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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: giftedk on April 04, 2007, 10:30:08 pm

Title: merlin system in hard water area
Post by: giftedk on April 04, 2007, 10:30:08 pm
Does anyone in a hard water area use the merlin system.?
mike told me that it would bring my tds reading down to 5oo from 550, but obviously that is not enough.
will i have to attatch a di filter, to take the other 50 out and is the system easy enough to set up?.
Also another thing im thinking is if i get a water softener, will it mean i dont need the di filter therefore saving me on the resin?.
my next door neighbour has a water softener installed, we tds'd it at 475 as opposed to my 550.
Title: Re: merlin system in hard water area
Post by: JM123 on April 05, 2007, 12:26:45 am
I set up a static system for a customer with an inlet of 486ppm, takes his down to 12ppm but he does have good water pressure (60psi) and you've got to remember that tds readings are general - your water is almost certainly made up differently and so the merlin will perform differently, however they have an average rejection of about 95% so I'd say you're looking at output of about 28ppm.  Either way you'll still need to di the water after.

If you want to fit a softener then speak to June at gapswater - she does a very good range of softener's at bargain prices.  However she may recommend a pressure vessel filled with softener salt as a cheaper alternative.
Title: Re: merlin system in hard water area
Post by: Filllllll on April 05, 2007, 12:31:43 am
Hi.
I've been using a merlin for 18 months now with just one change of filter.
The tap water in is 430 tds , so quite hard, and tds out is 25 - 28 tds.The resin then knocks it down to zero.
No water softener or back flushing either but expect to change both membranes (merlin has two) sometime,hopefully not before the recommended two years.
Cheers,Fillllll
Title: Re: merlin system in hard water area
Post by: JM123 on April 05, 2007, 12:43:08 am
Hi Filllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

You do realise that the merlin prefilter should be changed every 19,000 litres (INLET).  You can let them go on a bit longer but 1 change in 18months??  Change the prefilter more often and backflush the merlin every once in a while and your membranes should last a lot longer.  Plus your water production will speed up.
Title: Re: merlin system in hard water area
Post by: Filllllll on April 06, 2007, 08:43:18 am
Hi JM123,
 I appreciate what you're saying about the 19,000 litres in and then changing the filter- on a 3:1 ratio I would need to change the filter every 3-4 weeks.
Also back flushing.I sometimes used to back flush but feel to do it properly I need the back flush kit which I haven't got round to buying yet.
 The membranes still seem to be doing their job o.k. and whilst they are the most expensive thing to change is it that much more cost effective to change the filter every 3 1/2 weeks?After all, the membranes should be changed in 6 months time whether I have the hassle of back flushing and regularly changing the filter or not.

Perhaps I'm too lazy but everything seems to be ticking over nicely.(Its all gonna go to pot now isn't it.)
Cheers,Filllllll
Title: Re: merlin system in hard water area
Post by: Filllllll on April 06, 2007, 08:48:41 am
I forgot to mention too that water production is over the 100 litre per hour mark at 65 tap pressure.
Title: Re: merlin system in hard water area
Post by: JM123 on April 07, 2007, 02:38:47 am
chances are then that your water supply isn't chlorinated - if it was then your membranes would have been ruined by now.  If all is going well with your merlin then stick to what you've been doing.