Frequently Asked Questions

If you can't figure it out: feel free to contact us!

Dutch drinking water companies can filter most of the pollution from water. With that, we do very well in the Netherlands compared to other countries. However, they cannot remove everything from the water. Small amounts still remain. These include medicine and hormone residues, chemicals, pesticides and, for example, the substances used in the GenX process.

RIVM determines the safe amount of each substance. The quantity of that specific substance at which there is no danger to public health. The RIVM does not look at the effect of the combination of different substances.

There have been studies of the effects of substances smaller than what a government deems safe. One such study can be found here.

With the Aqualine systems, we are able to remove up to 99.99% of this contamination. With this, we go one step further than the drinking water companies. Anything that doesn't enter your body can't cause anything in your body.

All AQV products are guaranteed free of harmful substances such as BPA (Bisphenol A), phthalates and other toxic substances.

If you go away for a few days then make sure the lower tank is completely filled with water. Part of the multistage filter and part of the mineral stones/Cormac ring are impregnated with colloidal silver which prevents bacterial action. Preferably put the AQV system in a dark/cool place during your absence.

Going away for a few weeks. Then remove the multi-step filter and pH ring from your system and put them (wet) in a plastic bag and put them in the refrigerator. Empty the collection tank and place the stones, for example, on a piece of kitchen roll so they can dry.

The manufacturer indicates that the multi-step filter should be replaced every year or at least after 2,000 liters of water. Part of the multi-step filter is filled with activated carbon. Carbon is susceptible to bacterial growth. In Germany, it is required by law to replace filters containing carbon every six months. Part of the carbon in our filters is impregnated with colloidal silver to prevent bacterial growth. Therefore, we can use them for an average of one year. The 2,000 liters is intended for people who filter a lot of water. They will need to replace the filter within a year.

The combination of a 0.2 micron (0.0002 mm) ceramic pre-filter and the different layers in the multi-step filter allow you to filter about 1.5 liters of water per hour. If new filters are installed, it may take a little longer at first because the filters have to become saturated.

In the multi-step filter we use very fine carbon. This creates a huge filter surface the size of many soccer fields.

It takes a little longer for this carbon to saturate. Before using a new multistage filter, you should place it horizontally in a bowl of water for at least 10 minutes. The filter should be held completely under water during this time. In between, you should rotate it a few times. You do this to get rid of any air and to saturate the carbon with water. If the filter floats on the surface then there is still air in it.

If you have not done this or have not done it long enough then the water will start to form channels in the carbon. Sometimes the water starts overflowing right away but usually this happens 4 to 6 weeks after the new filter is installed. Sometimes it even overflows the outside of the system and gives a leak.

Recommendation: remove the multistage filter from the system, shake it back and forth briefly, and place the filter horizontally in a bowl of water for at least 10 minutes. The filter should be held under water during this time. Then replace it.

During installation, an air bubble may have formed between the ceramic filter and the multi-step filter. On the AQV 5, 12 and 18, lift the top tank a bit to allow air to enter. On the Neos, you lift the ceramic filter a bit. You will usually see air bubbles coming out from under the filter.

This is caused by the green algae. Algae spores are everywhere in the water and in the air. These spores also get on the ceramic pre-filter of your AQV system which sometimes causes the filter to develop a green deposit. This deposit forms only on the outside of the filter. It forms from a combination of heat and sometimes sunlight (on the AQV systems with a transparent upper tank). This deposit is easily removed with the scouring portion of a scouring pad. Gently "scour" the white ceramic bulb to remove the green deposits while holding the bulb under a running tap. While doing so, hold both the bulb and the plastic base firmly. This type of algae is not harmful to your health.

In an occasional case, algae formation may be visible in the storage tank. This is usually seen first on a lighter area in the tank (solenoid valve, multi-step filter). Because algae spores are in the tap water and in the air, you can't avoid "bringing" these spores into your system as well. You rinse your filter, pH ring and stones with tap water. When you put the tank together, spores are already entering your tank through the air. None of this is a problem if the system is used regularly. The system is then flushed and supplied with fresh water. It can become a problem if the system is too much in (sun) light or near a heat source (stove, oven). The combination of light and heat can cause algae formation. Therefore, keep the system out of direct light or a heat source as much as possible.

Recommendation: Bring water to a boil. Remove the multi-step filter, pH rings and stones from the lower tank. Place the mineral stones in the pan and add a teaspoon of salt. Let the water boil for at least 10 minutes. Fill the storage tank one-third full with lukewarm water and add a splash of natural vinegar or sodium bicarbonate. Use a soft cloth to wipe the outside of the filter and the inside of the tank with this mixture. After cleaning, drain the mixture through the faucet. While shaking, rinse the pH ring under a running faucet. Rinse the inside of the tank and filter before reinstalling everything.

Tap water contains dissolved and undissolved calcium. The undissolved calcium causes the hard calcium layer on the heating element in your kettle or coffee maker. This calcium is stopped by the ceramic pre-filter in our AQV systems. The dissolved calcium is not a problem in your appliances but can sometimes cause a slight deposit. You can easily clean this with a dilution of about 25% vinegar. Then rinse the bottle well.

Preferably use a glass or stainless steel bottle. Bottles made of polycarbonate or Tritan are also suitable. Do not use PET bottles because they can give off substances to the alkaline water, negatively affecting the quality.

In an emergency, you can use the AQV 5, 12, 18 and Neos to filter ditch or rainwater. These systems are designed for countries where people do not have the luxury of drinking from the tap. Here you should keep in mind that the ceramic filter will get dirty faster. The passage opening is only 0.2 microns (0.0002 mm). Ditch or rain water often contains dust particles and other coarser particles that will clog this filter faster. Pour the water through a double-folded tea towel or sheet before pouring it into the top tank. Clean the filter regularly with an abrasive sponge (rough side). You should keep in mind that both the ceramic and multi-step filter will get dirty faster and thus need to be replaced more often. Assume that after about 600/700 liters both filters need to be replaced.

Basically, you clean the Aqualine/AQV water filter system when you replace the filters or if something is going on such as:

Upper tank
If white lime particles or dust particles are floating in the upper tank, flush them away under a running tap. The upper tank is easy to remove. If necessary, the inside of the upper tank may be cleaned with a brush or cloth.

The holes in the ceramic filter are only 0.0002 mm "big. Loose particles in the upper tank can clog the holes, causing the water to pass through the filter more slowly.

If the ceramic filter turns green from algae, orange/brown from calcium or black from mold then the filter is doing its job well. These deposits are only on the outside of the filter because the holes are too small for these substances to pass through.

To clean it, remove the filter from the upper tank by loosening the wing nut at the bottom of the tank.

Then hold the plastic base and filter with 1 hand. Hold the filter under a running tap and with the scouring part of a scouring pad, scour the filter with regular motions until white comes out from under the discoloration again. Then rinse the filter well under the faucet before replacing it.

Bottom Tank
'Old' Water. The water in the lower tank is mixed with the new filtered water so there is never any 'old' water left. The brown stones are impregnated with silver. This ensures that no bacteria can multiply in the stagnant water. As a result, this water stays fresh for weeks.

The lower tank does not need to be emptied first. When this tank is half empty, the upper tank can be filled and everything will drip nicely again. The contents of the upper tank are half the contents of the lower tank.

Calcium/magnesium
Sometimes a white haze can be seen on the water or small white flakes float in the water. This is caused by a temporary excess of calcium and magnesium in the water. Drinking water companies sometimes temporarily add extra calcium to the drinking water to keep the pH of the water from becoming too acidic. Some of this calcium passes through the filter and enters the lower tank. This temporarily upsets the balance of the water in the lower tank, causing the haze or flakes. The quickest way to get rid of this is to drain the water from the lower tank, rinse out the tank and filter new water.

In an occasional case, there is also some calcium/magnesium scale on the inside of the tank, on the bottom or on the stones. The scale on the tank can be easily removed with water and vinegar. If there is a somewhat harder layer on the bottom let it soak in water and vinegar then after a while it can be easily removed.

Musty taste to water
The stones give off minerals but also have the job of keeping the water fresh. Magnesium/calcium deposits can impair the stones' ability to do their job, causing the water to taste different. Deposits on the stones can be removed by placing the stones in a pan of water, adding a teaspoon of salt to the water (can be any kind of salt but no more than 1 teaspoon) and then boiling the stones for 15 minutes. Then let the stones cool down before placing the stones in the lower tank.

Algae scale
In our drinking water but also in the air we breathe there are traces of algae. If your water filter is not exposed to too much light or in a warm place and new water is filtered every 2 to 3 days, you will have little or no problems with algae. There are people who in the 20-plus years we have been selling these systems have never had algae in the tank. There are people who have algae in their tank every few months. Algae need light and warmth to grow. You see the same thing in nature. During warmer periods there are more algae in the water. Those are the periods to be extra vigilant for algae formation.

Algae formation starts with small green specks on the outside of the multistage filter, on the stones or on the knurled magnetic head of the tap on the inside of the tank. As soon as you see these speckles, the stones, pH ring (on alkaline systems) and multi-step filter should be removed from the lower tank. Visible green algae on the stones should be removed with a brush. Then boil the stones in a pan of water for at least 15 minutes to which you have added 1 teaspoon of salt (may be any kind of salt but no more than 1 teaspoon).

Fill the bottom tank a quarter full of lukewarm water and add a generous splash of natural vinegar. Use this mixture to wipe the inside of the tank and the outside of the filter with a cloth. Then drain the mixture through the faucet to remove any traces in the faucet. The pH ring can only be cleaned under a running tap. Never boil this ring out.

 

If the filters are in their original packaging, they will keep indefinitely if stored in a dark and cool place.

If the multistep filter and pH ring have been in use they can be stored in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to six months.

Microplastics refer to pieces of plastic with a size of 0.05 - 5 mm.

The pre-filter of our Aqualine/AQV water filters has holes of 0.0002 mm.

So our Aqualine/AQV filters easily stop microplastics.

If you have any other questions, please contact us.
We will be happy to help you!
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