How can I ecologically and economically solve limescale and corrosion problems in older buildings? This question is asked by many property owners and managers. Because they know the problem can become huge when the pipes become more and more clogged, or gradually rust. This is exactly what happens, hidden from view, when water pressure drops, or reddish colored rusty water repeatedly makes us hesitate to drink it.
More and more sanitary plumbers know the solution, and how they can prevent unloved cleaning and repair work by installing a technically advanced system. Pascal Oggier of Oggier Haustechnik GmbH says in an interview, “You can see an improvement in all buildings, how the lime has been broken down, and how the remaining lime has already softened, and the system is working.” When asked how he came up with this solution, he replies, “We had been looking for a product for quite some time and tested different ones, which didn’t work so well. We then got in touch with Markus Schwery, Sales Manager Switzerland of the company AQUA4D®. Based on his information, we assessed this technology as a good product. Together we did the first projects and had success. So it developed further and until today we could already realize many plants.”
Control of limescale decomposition in control pipes
According to Markus Schwery, AQUA4D® has already installed over 3,000 systems in Switzerland alone. This in older buildings as well as in new buildings. He and his staff always recommend the installation of one or more control pipes to the customers. This allows the professionals involved, with very little effort and whenever they want, to check the exact condition of the inside of the pipes and compare it with the situation before the system was installed. In this process, an old calcified and/or corroded piece of pipe is cut out of the existing line by the plumbing installer, the condition is photographed and documented, and this is then installed in the line again. This is done simultaneously with the installation of the AQUA4D® system. After 12 months and then again after 24 months, the control pipe is removed, photographed and compared with the original condition. The subsequent technical report of these inspections is available to all parties involved.
With many products, laboratory reports and analyses are often offered to show that these water treatment devices would work. However, Markus Schwery and the company’s scientific team know that these often say nothing about effectiveness in practice. “Many years ago, due to many dubious results on the market, the SVGW strongly recommended that building owners install such a control pipe in water treatment systems and also demand a take-back guarantee. This is exactly the recommendation we pass on to our customers and since then we have never had to discuss the effectiveness of our technology because it is so clear to everyone involved.”
What counts in the end is the success in practice. With the consistent installation of one or more control pipes in the buildings, the company AQUA4D® can prove the strong improvement of the condition of the water pipes.
We asked Markus Schwery whether ion exchangers, so-called softening plants would be any competition at all on the market. “People don’t like to change their habits, that’s why you can still find this actually outdated technology on the market, despite high maintenance costs, and despite the fact that these systems cannot break down lime. In case of corrosion problems, they are not and cannot be used at all. They extract the natural calcium and magnesium from the water, which provide some protection against corrosion. These minerals are then replaced with sodium, chemically altering the water. Professionals are aware that ion exchangers can cause some problems. On the one hand, they need regular maintenance, otherwise they become breeding grounds for bacteria; on the other hand, these devices require a lot of precious drinking water to carry out the rinsing process. If the lime content in the water varies, which is more and more the case nowadays due to the mixing of drinking water from different plants, the ion exchangers reach their technical limits. Often the water, which has a strong change in taste, is no longer drinkable, also for health reasons.”
The danger of corrosion in water pipes
If reddish-colored water comes out of the faucet, it is often only a matter of time before the first pipes are rusted through. From this point on, the homeowner has almost the same problem as with blockages caused by lime. In the worst case, the building is no longer habitable for some time, as the walls have to be broken open to replace water pipes. An expensive affair, in addition to all the other inconveniences for residents and owners.
AQUA4D® systems are also very often used for this problem1) . This with great success. The control reports document the high efficiency in case of corrosion due to aggressive water. The products, which are entirely manufactured in Switzerland, are exported to more than 40 countries worldwide. A considerable part is used in the agricultural sector, where large flow rates are required for irrigation and these are routed over long distances. In agriculture, AQUA4D® has established itself worldwide as a unique solution. These installations are also about better dissolving minerals, whether it is calcium, which clogs irrigation nozzles, or fertilizers and sodium chlorides, which salinate soils.
New webinar series for Buildings professionals starting in February 2021.
As this Swiss technology is not yet known to many professionals in their home country, this year a series of interactive training courses will be held via the Internet especially for Swiss sanitary installers and planners, as well as real estate professionals. Participants will be able to ask questions and discuss among themselves. The AQUA4D company will also invite external experts as speakers. Anyone can participate in this series of webinars free of charge and regardless of their location. They will take place on a Tuesday from 13h30 to 14h30 in the middle of each month, for the first time on February 16, 2021.
Switzerland
Sustainable Buildings
AQUA4D Webinar Highlights: Sustainable Maintenance of Water Pipes in Older Buildings