• Filters can be replaced before set service intervals if poor flow or testing indicate expiry.
• Filter cartridges are usually changed within 1-2 years, membranes usually between 3-5 years.
• We usually remind clients when filter cartridges and/or softener servicing is due.
• Use RO filter systems and UV sterilisers on soft water. Change UV lamps each year.
• Refill full softener cation resin every ten to twenty years to fully renew the softener's performance.
• Well systems require a customised service interval based on system performance from year to year.
• All equipment details and water source details are reviewed upon equipment installation.

* It is recommended to perform interim water analyses on many wells for the first few years.

We will remind clients of service intervals due, eg. for specialist well water treatment systems :

• clean screens / injectors
• test for water hardness
• check all valve settings
• check water pressure
• check flow rate & history
• check flow metering
• re-test regeneration
• clean / sterilise salt tanks
• complete basic checks
• catalyst and media refills
• replace any worn seals
• check water parameters

Equipment is best located in cavity wall built garages with sealed windows and doors or inside pump sheds, boiler houses or inside weather-proof Keter cabinets with padlocks fitted which will avoid the need for lagging of pipes or frost stats in over 99% of cases with -10C low temperatures. In previous winters, temperatures dropped to -15C to 20C in some parts of Galway so it is better to be safe with frost stats added to Keter cabinets and some of the more exposed sheds and garages.

Frost stats can be used to protect equipment at higher altitudes, or in less sheltered locations such as metal garages, wooden sheds or outbuildings with loose fitting doors or windows, or if wind chill temperatures drop below -10 to -15 degrees celcius, or when premises are vacated for prolonged periods.

Frost stats with lamps from 100 to 250 watt bulbs can be retrofitted to existing outdoor cabinet installations. (Double electrical sockets are fitted in virtually all of our installations.)

**Due to equipment manufacturers' warranty exclusions and because of unpredictable weather conditions, the effects of frost on any equipment are explicitly excluded from all equipment warranty cover.

Avoiding pipework, pump and equipment damage

1. Between zero and minus 5 degrees, households are unlikely to be affected by temporary frost even if short sections of pipe are indirectly exposed to the elements as long as water is in regular use. However, water pumps and water systems should be housed in sealed sheds, garages or enclosures with tight fitting doors and windows.
2. For lower temperatures or for peace of mind in any conditions, a frost stat can be installed by the customer with a 100 / 250 watt bulb for small enclosures or 500 to 2000 watt lamps and fan heaters for larger sheds and outbuildings. In virtually all cases, up to minus 5 degrees and towards minus 10 degrees these should not be needed, except ...
   a) well water that is sourced from exceptionally cold conditions below ground.
   b) outbuildings with single block wall construction or those made from wood or metal.
   c) outbuildings with loose fitting doors and windows or without doors and windows.
   d) premises left unoccupied for several days.
   e) premises in higher altitudes or those exposed to the elements in hilly areas.

(or a combination of some or all of the above.)

Rather than leaving kitchen cold taps trickling overnight on cold spells below minus 5C to prevent shallow buried pipes from freezing, instead put the plug in a bath and run the bath cold tap at a rate of half a litre per minute. Use the water collected in the bath to occasionally flush toilets as required. Also program washing machines and dishwashers on time lapsed settings to wash during 12am to 2am or 4am to 6am (allow for the occasional backwashing of water softeners at 2am to 3.30am).

Houses collectively running their taps overnight on local water supplies in cold spells will heavily reduce the local water supply pressure - the indication of this may be seen by water levels in water softener salt bins rising to higher levels or overfilling, this is due to water softeners being unable to siphon water back out of brine tanks when water pressure becomes low. Water treatment systems may temporarily lose effective capacity to soften after a few hours if taps are left running heavily within a household.

Garden taps or kitchen cold taps left fully running at up to 15 - 20 litres per minute in any 24 hour period can use up to 30,000 litres of wasted water which is equal to the average water use of 120 households, enough to equal the daily water use of many large villages or major city housing estates. Many schemes have been shut down completely during recent cold spells with reservoir levels heavily depleted caused by as low as one in ten houses running taps fully.

Equipment manufacturers have warranty exclusions when it comes to damage by frost, so try to avoid pump and water treatment system damage by following all our guidelines. Many insurance companies cover the damage caused by freezing temperatures.

Pricing for the supply and installation of new well water pumps can exceed 500 euros and call outs to rectify frost affected pipework or equipment can exceed 100 euros so do not delay in checking if all equipment is adequately protected throughout adverse weather conditions.

Galway Water operate a full 365 day call out service if required including Xmas day and New Years day for emergencies.

The most common water leaks often found are mainly caused by badly adjusted or worn out float valves in the cisterns of toilets silently flowing into the toilet bowl, which are often left unchecked year after year.

Pipe bursts and leaking pipes are less common, except during prolonged spells of cold weather when temperatures fall below minus 5 and more widespread when below minus 10 degrees. See frost.

Long term water leaks and minor water seepage often found in toilets can vary from as much as 100 litres up to 6,000 litres per day. Even when thousands of litres per day are being lost through toilets, leaks are often difficult to notice and even when found are not perceived to be much of a problem.

The main problem with long term water leaks means that household water use of 250 litres per day for the average family, can easily become ten fold this level and therefore water metering and water billing can then rise dramatically.

The cost of running water softeners to keep up with added leaks mean that salt use can rise markedly. Only metered water softeners will compensate for water usage or water leakage variations although they cannot register flows or leaks below one litre per minute which can add up to 1400 litres per day.

If a water softener seems to soften on an irregular basis, then the cause is usually a minor water leak. When metered water softeners start using much higher levels of salt, then it is usually a water leak over 1 litre per minute. Multiple toilet leaks can occur at the same time, so careful checks are required.

The best methods to check for toilet leaks is either to pour some food colouring into the top of the toilet cistern and watch to see if the colour starts to seep down into the bowl below, or get some dry tissue and place the tissue at the back of the bowl to see if it gets wet.

* Report urgencies by times listed below, for round trips of up to 50miles.

(Same day - call before 6pm) = Dislocated, severed or burst mains pipe feed of Galway Water installed water treatment system inside premises (if awkward access to isolation valve).

(Same day - call before noon) = Dislocated, severed or burst mains pipe feed to, or interruption of water supply caused by Galway Water installed water treatment system inside or outside premises.

(2 days or sooner response time) = Interruption of water to mini filter dispenser tap caused by Galway Water installed cartridge type filter systems.

(2 day or sooner response time) = Interruption of mains supply caused by Galway Water installed water treatment systems operating outside advisory guidelines or warranty terms.

(7 days or sooner response time) = Interruption of mini filter dispenser tap caused by Galway Water installed filters operated outside advisory guidelines. Chargeable callouts.

(7 days or sooner response time) = Warranty exclusions such as wrong salt, leaking toilets or low water pressure affecting Galway Water installed equipment. Chargeable callouts.

(10 days or sooner response time) = Any issues affecting DIY supplied GWS equipment not installed by Galway Water trained installers. Chargeable callouts.

Using our installation service, full warranty update intervals will extend up to

• 10 to 40 years for all Galway Water installed water softeners, 5 to 10 years for all Galway Water installed commercial systems, 5 to 20 years for all Galway Water installed well water systems and 5 to 10 years for Galway Water installed reverse osmosis systems when operated and serviced within warranty guidelines. (1 to 2 year pre-filter changes on well water / mains water required depending on advisory intervals outlined after first year of operation.)
• Free on site callouts, parts and labour in case of any system faults (rev osmosis upgrade / main service every 5 years)

Drinking water systems such as reverse osmosis will satisfy all strict INAB laboratory water testing

• Water quality will meet all strict HSE, EU and EPA limits during warranty cover

Manufacturer's warranty for diy sales, self service, part NSF systems

• 10 years: vessels, 5 years: controls, 1 year: reverse osmosis, 1 year: standard systems

Aftersales support for Galway Water installed water softeners will be available

• 7 days a week, 365 days a year with same day callouts offered for all urgent matters (see "Urgencies")

Exclusions: All consumables, including but not limited to; filter cartridges, UV lamps, batteries and salt. Irregularities in flow, leaks or parameters having a manufacturer's stated adverse effect or adverse water pressure below 22psi or above 66 psi. Misuse, damage, neglect, alteration, third party servicing, fire, frost and lightning. Failure to conduct regular servicing as necessary. The expense of engineer call outs if we find no fault caused by our equipment.