Water quality is a very important factor to consider when sizing, purchasing and installing a solar hot water heater.  We at SunMaxx understand this need, and work with our customers to test and, if needed, improve the quality of their water before they purchase and install a SunMaxx Solar Hot Water Heater.

Why should I be concerned with water quality when I am buying a SunMaxx Solar Hot Water Heater?
Most water supplies in the United States have naturally occurring hardness minerals in them.  These minerals are most often Calcium and Magnesium, and after they are dissolved in water, they have the tendency to gravitate towards, and accumulate on heated surfaces.  These minerals are most noticeable as a white or reddish crust on objects often in contact with heated water (such as an old tea kettle, or spots on your glass or silverware).  Another sign is crust on your shower head or faucet.  Often referred to as lime scale, these minerals can be cleaned with many household cleaners, but they do not address the problems that are caused by hard water and hot water heating.

It is inevitable that in ALL heating devices, mineral hardness will degrade the device’s efficiency over time.  And, the higher the mineral content, the faster the performance and efficiency will degrade, of course.  If you have ever stood next to a gas hot water heater and heard it pop and gurgle, you have heard the effects of this mineral buildup on a hot water heater.  In fact, the most common cause of the need to replace the electrical elements of a heater is the mineral build up.  This mineral build up acts as a sort of insulation, and eventually will completely stop the heat transfer intended to take place in your hot water heater.

Just imagine boiling a pot of hot water on a stove, with the pot on a brick.  This is essentially what your hot water heater is attempting to do when these hardness minerals overrun your hot water heater.

What can I do?
There is a solution to this problem, and that is an ION EXCHANGE Water Softener.  Water Softeners remove these harmful minerals before they can enter the water heating device, in this case, your SunMaxx Solar Hot Water Heater.  The SunMaxx Team strongly recommends that you contact your local water department to verify the hardness of your local water, or contact a WATER TREATMENT PROFESSIONAL.  They will be able to determine your level of contamination, and properly size an Ion Exchange water softener for you. Another excellent source of information is the Water Quality Association. You can contact them at www.wqa.org.

Why are you telling me this?
At this time SunMaxx does not sell water softeners, nor do we have any financial arrangement or dealings with any water treatment company.  We do, however, understand the importance of your water quality to the efficiency and performance of you SunMaxx Solar Hot Water Heater.  We do sell Hot Water Heaters, and we want SunMaxx Solar Hot Water Heaters to be the most important, and cost-effective investment that you make in your home and your future.  In fact, we are committed to that goal, and are dedicated to providing you with all of the information that you need to make sure that you get the right SunMaxx Solar Hot Water Heater for your needs, and that you have the knowledge you need to make that investment pay off.