Ultraviolet water treatment: the 4 questions about care and maintenance

The UV lamp is the heart of the UV sterilization system. It must be well maintained so that the UV system can prevent harmful viruses and bacteria from remaining in your water. Unlike normal bulbs, they do not burn, but their light intensity decreases (until it loses more than 60% efficiency). Hence the importance of knowing your installation and how to maintain it.

1. How often should a UV water treatment lamp be changed?

UVRER UV lamps have an expected lifespan of 9000 hours. In order to maintain perfect water, you must respect this duration of use. The information is easily accessible on the technical sheet to the manufacturer of your ultraviolet installation.

The disinfection capacity reduces by 10 to 15% once 9000 hours have been exceeded. So don't wait if you want to protect yourself from algae and bacteria.

2. Water sterilization: how do I know if my UV lamp is working?

Even if you have light intensity, it does not mean that your lamp is destroying bacteria properly.

Whether to reuse the water from your tank or for your swimming pool, ongoing maintenance is made easier when your water treatment installation is equipped with an hour meter or a light intensity sensor. It simply indicates the penetration of UV light through the quartz sheath.

These sensors provide a warning signal when the UV dose is too low to ensure adequate disinfection and indicate that it is time to clean the sleeve and/or replace the UV lamp.

3. How to change the UV lamp and quartz of your UV treatment station?

Before you begin, it is advisable to wear gloves during the operation. The goal is to limit the transmission of germs on quartz .

Change the lamp and the quartz is simple:

• Turn off the sterilizer device then let the water drain
• Unplug the UV lamp
• Unscrew the locking ring by hand (using an Allen key depending on the model) then remove it
• Remove the lamp with great care
• Then remove the cable gland (the round metal part), the flat gasket then the O-ring
• Then take out the quartz

Then do the opposite: to keep it straight, insert two fingers inside the tube. Then screw the locking ring back on.

4. What to do to maintain the quartz sheaths of your UV station?

What is a quartz sheath for UV sterilizer?

It is simply the glass tube into which the UV-C lamp is inserted. We speak of sheath or tube depending on custom. This protection coversgradually deposit, which can affect the efficiency of the lamp.

You must therefore ensure that it remains clean. Be very careful when handling, it is very fragile, do not force it.

For a swimming pool or pond, a good cleaning is necessary to recover the initial purity. If she doesn't come back, a change is necessary.

What is the recommendation for cleaning the quartz tube of a UV system?

Generally speaking, it is recommended to clean it twice a year. We nevertheless invite you to check the recommendations of the manufacturer and your installer.

Local specificities must also be taken into account (scale content, limestone, initial water quality, temperature, presence of numerous plants.).

Manual cleaning with a simple product such as household vinegar and a soft cloth is sufficient for routine cleaning. If vinegar is not enough, please try with citric acid.

Take the opportunity to check the general condition (cracks, humidity, etc.) of the tube as well as the O-rings (those which ensure sealing). Good maintenance is the guarantee of the performance of your UV sterilizer and its durability.

Depending on your installation, also remember to check your filtration: do the cartridges need to be replaced before heading out for sunny days?

Conclusion of the maintenance of your UV water treatment plant

UV treatment is relatively easy to maintain. However, you must remember to check regularly to ensure a long life for your installation.

Inspect your entire system (dosing pump, oxygenated and residual water management) so that everything is ready to enjoy quality water.

If you have questions about your swimming pool, pond or rain tank, you can contact Benjamin. He responds to messages within 24 hours.

Also read the article on UV water treatment for swimming pools: an innovative solution to limit the use of a product like chlorine.

Also find our article on maintaining a rainwater recovery tank