A Technical Sales Approach

Visual inspections and tests to perform when visiting customers

By Nathan Olszak

In this changing market, one thing is certain: We are all in need of better, faster information. More customers today are requesting solutions to their water treatment equipment problems and they are expecting this information in a timely manner.

I have noticed that there is a similarity between sales calls and audits performed on existing equipment, and tests and audits performed on equipment pretty much remain the same on every call. For each call, I am armed with a test kit, pen and paper-and that is all I need.

The following is a list of visual inspections and tests to perform on equipment and why these should be performed. Use this as a guide when visiting with your customers.

Softener System Inspections

Check exterior piping and tanks for leaks. By making sure there are not any leaks present that could become big gushes of water, you can save a lot of time and help your customer take care of a small issue before it becomes a large one.

Check the water level in the brine tank. A high water level can mean that the brine valve is leaking. If the brine valve is not fixed, it will eventually fail and continue to overfill the tank causing the salt to dissolve and waste to drain.

Check pressure gauges. Checking the pressure gauges on the inlet and outlet can determine various things. Many controllers and systems today need minimal pressure to operate properly. A high pressure loss could result in clogged distributors, valves not opening, valves not closing and resin breaking down.

Check the control. Many electronic controllers today offer the ability to view a lot of valuable information, for example: average usage for seven days a week; peak flows and at what times they occur; how many gallons remain; and at what capacity a system is set (i.e., how many gallons or grains of capacity). Knowing this information can help determine if the system is working beyond its designed capacity or if the system resin is breaking down.

Check the control valves. Checking the control valves can determine if there are signs of wear and tear. Checking the weep holes on an Aquamatic valve or the piston assembly on a Fleck valve can help avoid future problems. If the weep hole is leaking, you then know it is time to start thinking about rebuilding the valve.

Check the drain. Check the drain to see not only if it is leaking but also if there are signs of resin in or around the drain. If resin is present, it may be showing signs of degradation, and further inspection inside of the tank may be necessary. The other reason to inspect the drain-to see if it is leaking-is because if a softener is not in regeneration, there should not be water flowing to the drain. If it is, this is a sign that the valves are failing and you will need to repair or rebuild them.

On a nest of a valve or multiport valve system, testing the drain water for hardness can help you determine which valve has failed-if it is hard, then it is the backwash valve; if it is soft, then it is the flush valve.

Water Testing

Test for hardness. Testing both the inlet and outlet for hardness can help determine several things. Testing the inlet can first determine the hardness level. Armed with this information, you can determine if the electronic controller is set properly. If the controller is set lower (meaning the gallons/capacity is at a lower output than what the system is capable of doing) it may mean that the resin is losing capacity and needs to be tested or replaced.

If you find that the resin is breaking down, based on current capacity and demand you can figure out what the system is wasting in water usage and salt. By testing the outlet of the softener, you can determine if it is producing soft water.

On larger systems, testing at the bottom of the tank-if accessible-can determine if there is a valve problem.

Test for conductivity. Testing conductivity from the inlet and outlet will help determine whether or not the softener has gone through a complete regeneration and if the salt has been rinsed out from the softener before it has come online.

Test for iron. One good reason to test for iron is because of changes in the influent water. Iron is not good for resin and can hinder its performance, especially if it is oxidized iron. Clear-water iron can be removed by some resins up to a certain amount. Check with your resin distributor before determining what resin is good for your system.

A Better Understanding

After performing these tests, you will have a better understanding of how the equipment is performing and what is in need of repair. Knowing what is wrong, or what could potentially go wrong, will give you the upper hand when explaining to your customer what needs to be done and the reasons why.

Once your inspection is complete, talk to your customer and explain exactly what you found and whether or not they will need to take action.