TrueSpring
Product Support
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About The TrueSpring Kitchen Countertop/BEV100
- Is the TrueSpring Kitchen Countertop/Bev100 system difficult to install and maintain?
- How long will my pre-filter last before it needs to be replaced?
- How long can I expect the reverse osmosis membrane to last?
- How can I monitor the performance of my system?
- Will hot water damage my system?
- Does your system turn itself off when the tank is full?
- Is it normal for a small stream of water to flow from the bottom of the faucet coupler?
- I have a modern faucet with a spray-head/aerator that pulls out on a hose, how will your system attach?
- How many gallons of tap water are used to make a gallon of pure water?
- How should I store my purified water?
- How should I store my unit when it is not in use?
- I have very low water pressure in my house (or RV), will your system still work?
- How will I know if there is a problem with the reverse osmosis membrane?
- Will I lose valuable trace minerals by drinking extremely pure TrueSpring BEV quality water?
- Why is your system more expensive than standard reverse osmosis systems?
Q: Is the TrueSpring Kitchen Countertop/Bev100 system difficult to install and maintain?
A: The TrueSpring BEV100 systems are extremely easy to install—all that is required is replacement of the existing aerator on your faucet with the one provided. This takes only a few minutes. Maintenance is simple and straight-forward as well. You can see for yourself just how easy it is to own and use a BEV100 system by reviewing the Installation & Maintenance video.
Q: How long will my pre-filter last before it needs to be replaced?
A: The sediment and carbon pre-filter in your TrueSpring Kitchen Countertop/Bev100 system is designed to be replaced annually. Tap water quality varies greatly from location to location, so there is no way to predict individual filter life without knowing more about the water entering the system. Annual replacement will ensure your system operates at maximum efficiency and will extend the life of the reverse osmosis membrane.
Q: How long can I expect the reverse osmosis membrane to last?
A: The reverse osmosis membrane in your TrueSpring Kitchen Countertop/Bev100 system will continue to perform to BEV standards for 2-4 years, depending on the quality of the water entering the system. Annual replacement of the sediment and carbon pre-filter will help extend the functional life of the membrane, as will following the flushing procedure as outlined in the owners manual.
Q: How can I monitor the performance of my system?
A: The most effective method of monitoring your TrueSpring Kitchen Countertop/Bev100 System is to measure the resistivity (conductivity) of the purified water and compare it to the feed (tap) water. This simple, straight forward test is performed easily using one of the Primo™ TDS meters we offer. This method does not test every BEV parameter, but will provide an indication of the performance of your system.
(Poor rejection rates may be an indication of a plugged pre-filter, so check that filter first.)
Since the TrueSpring BEV systems are multi-phase configurations, after two years it is instructive to test the performance of the Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane separately from the complete system. Our RO membranes can be expected to last 2-4 years, sometimes much longer. We normally recommend replacing the RO membrane every 3 years, but if you choose to monitor membrane performance yourself, you can get the maximum life from the membrane.
Similarly, one may find they can extend the life of the deionization module longer than the recommended annual replacement cycle using a TDS meter. However, the pre-filters should be changed annually regardless of usage scenarios.
A large increase in the production rate is also an indication of membrane failure, and can often be traced to the membrane having been subjected to either hot or freezing water.
Q: Will hot water damage my system?
A: YES! Hot water over 100° F will damage the RO membrane and lead to poor rejection of the contaminants in your water. Make sure to use only COLD water in your TrueSpring Kitchen Countertop/BEV100 System.
Q: Does your system turn itself off when the tank is full?
A: No, the TrueSpring Kitchen Countertop/BEV100 Systems do not have an automatic shutoff feature. The 100-Series housing contains an “overflow gutter” so that excess production flows down the drain via the quick-connect coupler.
Q: Is it normal for a small stream of water to flow from the bottom of the faucet coupler?
A: Yes. To keep reverse osmosis membranes from fouling, water must continuously be washing over the membrane surface, carrying away concentrated contaminants. Your TrueSpring Kitchen Countertop/BEV100 System uses 2.5-3 gallons of tap water to produce one gallon of pure BEV quality water. (Making a full tank of water uses less water than a typical 5-minute shower.)
Q: I have one of the modern faucets with a spray-head/aerator combination that pulls out on a hose, how will your system attach?
A: Our systems ship with faucet adaptors that fit a great majority of faucets, and we have an international adaptor set available as well.
Some spray-head/aerator combination units do not have replaceable aerators, or do not allow enough room for the quick-connect coupler to seat fully when attached. In these cases, a BEV-100 system is a better solution. We do have kits available to allow the more permanent installation of a 100-Series to be disconnected once installed. You won’t have to leave your TrueSpring BEV system behind when you move.
Q: How many gallons of tap water are used to make a gallon of pure water?
A: Your TrueSpring Kitchen Countertop/BEV100 System uses 2.5 – 3 gallons of tap water to produce 1 gallon of pure BEV quality water. This translates into less water than a typical 5-minute shower. In normal usage, the amount of water used to produce pure BEV quality drinking water will not even register on a monthly water bill.
Additionally, the brine water which flows down the drain during the course of pure water production has been filtered by our carbon pre-filter. This means the waste water has fewer organic contaminants than the water that originally entered the system.
Q: How should I store my purified water?
A: We recommend using a sealable glass container. Used gallon fruit juice bottles are an excellent choice. We also recommend containers made of 100% LEXAN®, like those available under the Nalgene® brand. If you store or transport your BEV quality water in plastic or polycarbonate containers, be sure to keep the containers out of direct sunlight.
Q: How should I store my unit when not in use?
A: If your unit is out of service for several days (while you are vacationing, for example) no special precautions are required. However, we do recommend you flush the unit for 10 minutes when you return the system to production.
Q: I have very low water pressure in my house (or RV), will your system still work?
A: In order to overcome the natural osmotic force, there must be enough water pressure to drive the reverse osmotic process. This normally equates to at least 40 psi.
When low pressure is a problem, the TrueSpring BP-100 booster pump is the solution. This elegant, virtually silent pump will boost the feed water pressure to 100 psi, allowing your system to operate at peak efficiency.
Q: How will I know if there is a problem with the reverse osmosis membrane?
A: The best method is to measure the resistivity (conductivity) of the purified water and compare it to the feed (tap) water.
Poor rejection rates may also be an indication of a plugged pre-filter, so check that filter first. A large increase in the production rate is also an indication of membrane failure, and can often be traced to the membrane having been subjected to either freezing or hot water.
Q: Will I lose valuable trace minerals by drinking extremely pure TrueSpring BEV quality water?
A: NO! Tap water is a poor source for obtaining necessary trace minerals. Please take a moment to consider..
1) Inorganic minerals are poorly utilized by the body. The most beneficial and bio-available minerals are obtained from eating plants grown in rich, organic soils.
2) The amount and quality of the minerals in tap water varies greatly from location to location.
3) Even in cities where the tap water contains very, very large quantities of dissolved minerals, you would have to consume huge quantities of water to obtain enough minerals to meet any established minimum daily requirements.
— As an example, the city of Lubbock, TX has what is considered very, very hard water with a high amount of dissolved minerals. With an average of 60 milligrams/liter of calcium, one would have to consume over 5 gallons of Lubbock tap water to meet the minimum daily requirement for calcium. Obviously, the most frequent recommendation of 8 glasses per day (which is a low recommendation in our opinion) has no chance of providing a meaningful contribution to your daily calcium intake. The same is generally true for other minerals.
Q: Why is your system more expensive than other reverse osmosis systems?
A: Our systems, which include reverse osmosis as one of three purification methods, offer several significant advantages:
- We outperform every other residential water treatment product on the market. Other manufacturers boast of contaminant level reduction but we are convinced reduction is not enough. Since many contaminants act as strong alergenic substances, we believe they should be eliminated to the very best possible capacity.
- We include a carefully engineered mixed bed deionization column downstream from the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. This benefits you by removing all the contaminants not removed by the RO process. Our systems perform very close to laboratory systems costing thousands more.
- Our deionization module also includes two stages designed to prevent any backward migration of contaminants or microorganisms into the system. The last thing you need is for bacteria to enter the system from accidentally bumping a chicken up against the spigot while preparing it for cooking. No other manufacturer includes this kind of precaution.
- We use a privately manufactured RO membrane with exceptionally high rejection rates. Other manufacturers use standard, off-the-shelf membranes that vary greatly in performance and rejection rates in real-world installations.
- Our proprietary components were designed to overcome the limitations of other off-the-shelf components used in standard RO systems. Our flush valve, for example, eliminates the need to use a capillary flow restrictor—a part prone to fouling which causes premature system failures.
- Our 100-Series cabinet not only looks terrific in any kitchen environment, it is made of the highest quality non-leaching GE® plastics. The one-piece injection molded design is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Other countertop RO system housings are prone to warping, cracking, and discoloration over time.
- We use steam washed, compression packed, bituminous grade granular activated carbon instead of cheaper coconut shell carbon which can contain phosphates, metals, and arsenic. Coconut shell carbon is better suited to separation of gasses and not water treatment. If city water supplies need to remove chemicals, like Cincinnati treats for benzene, they use container loads of coal based (i.e. bituminous)…not coconut shell.
- Every component in our systems has been carefully chosen for its purpose. We use only the highest quality parts made in the USA, and we don’t cut corners to save a few pennies. If we can’t find the right component, we manufacture it ourselves or contract to have it made to our specifications.
- Finally, we offer the very best warranty in the industry. If you maintain your system, we will replace or repair any component that might fail for as long as you own the system. (With the normal exclusions for abuse.)
