The Sureway Advantage

We have something different to offer that sets us apart in six main areas:

1. We observe the electrical code of Alberta
2. We observe the plumbing code of Alberta
3. We do detailed installations
4. We have excellent quality control and innovative designs
5. We offer a unique Scheduled Maintenance Program
6. We promote environmental benefits

This applies to installation of filters and softeners in city water application where the supply piping to the house is in copper.

•  it is illegal to interrupt the continuity of the electrical ground when using plastic pipe
  
•  most manufacturers of water treatment equipment supply instructions for installers to run a jumper cable as illustrated.
  
•  a #6 ground cable is connected to two brass clamps
  
•  this is critical because telephone and gas lines are usually grounded to the copper pipe in older homes
  
•  this is often ignored as illustrated in the photo                               

Illegal Ground Interruption	Proper Ground

This applies to the running of drain lines for softeners, filters and reverse osmosis units.

The code requires an AIR GAP between the end of a drain line and a floor drain.  It is also illegal to run a drain into a vent stack or a clean-out.


illegal reverse osmosis drain	replacement unit	legal drain

CROSS CONNECTIONS as they are known in the plumbing code allow potable water systems to be exposed to harmful  bacteria and sewer gas.  While you can smell raw sewage, methane gas is colorless and odorless and very  dangerous.

That is why you have traps throughout the home under every sink and in the drainage system.  Additionally we have dealt with situations where bacteria have grown backwards through a water softener drain line and into the potable water supply.

The accompanying photos show some common violations of the code and how we fix them.  It is acceptable to run drain  lines to a standpipe that is already available, such as those for a washing machine.  In most cases we build a standpipe  that exceeds code by a large margin.

illegal softener drain	legal softener drain	illegal iron filter drain	legal iron filter drain

(close up of above drain)	illegal softener drain disabled the sewer backup valve , note the pinched line	legal drain to stand pipe

As mentioned in other sections, we take the time to do it right.

Reverse Osmosis Installations: • innovative design using manifolds • a dedicated line to multiple devices as follows

e.g. furnace humidifier:	e.g.  bar sink	e.g. kitchen faucet
	e.g.  ensuite faucet	e.g. brushed nickel faucet

•       each line in the manifold has it's own shut-off valve clearly labeled.
  

• twin storage tanks, if more capacity is needed.	• under-the-sink reverse osmosis option.

•    a ball valve supply instead of leak prone needle valves.
                                               
  

  problematic needle valve	high quality ball valve

an optional booster pump for higher production rates and/or an optional ultraviolet sterilizer for added bacterial safety.

We have a detailed approach to manufacturing.  Our use of generic tanks with an industry standard thread size allows us to upgrade in the future as new control valves become available.

Based on over 31 years experience, we have avoided many service headaches by replacing standard per-packaged parts with commercial components that we’ve adapted and assembled ourselves.
                            

Example 1: Water Softeners    A. Mechanical metered control valves: OPTION 1: Suretec standard 10 gallon per minute flow rate residential valve.

OPTION 2:  Hi-Capacity, commercial valve with 19 gpm flow rate.


B. Brine platforms which prevent clogging of the brine intake.                                         



Brine Platform	Platform with brine well	Brine Tank - top view




C. Commercial brine safety floats that are more reliable than standard residential products.
They prevent overflow if the control valve were to malfunction or if the power were to fail during brine refill.




Example 2:  Whole House Carbon Filters
Protect your water softener from chlorine damage to the resin and distributor tube.  The photo on the right illustrates how chlorine destroyed a distributor tube resulting in expensive repairs.

We keep track of the schedule.  How important is regular sanitizing?  See the photo of “bacterial” growth on the top seal  of a neglected reverse osmosis filter.
This happened to a residential client  who delayed service for 13 months.  We won’t let a “bacteria farm” develop in your equipment.

Food for thought; can you imagine:

• The positive impact on the North Saskatchewan River in the city of Edmonton alone, if approximately a million people cut their use of soaps, shampoos, and cleaning products by 80% by using a water softener?

• The positive impact on our landfills if these same persons reduced their number of soap containers by 80%?

• The reduced plastics if bottled water users (the small containers) took reverse osmosis water from home in a safe portable stainless steel container?

• The reduction in pollution if every business and home had a reverse osmosis unit; eliminating all those fuel-guzzling bottled water delivery trucks on the road?

• The reduction in natural gas consumption if every home and business cut their hot water heating costs by 33% with a water softener?

• The savings to the Health Care System if people quit bathing in and ingesting chemicals in our water?

If you are concerned about the environment:  go green; go Sureway.

"You only get one chance to do it right the first time."

© Sureway Water Systems