{"id":22172,"date":"2020-10-12T13:38:05","date_gmt":"2020-10-12T17:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.filtersfast.com\/blog\/?p=22172"},"modified":"2023-09-26T09:47:27","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T13:47:27","slug":"optimizing-water-quality-for-foodservice-steam-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.filtersfast.com\/blog\/optimizing-water-quality-for-foodservice-steam-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Optimizing Water Quality for Foodservice Steam Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE PROTECTION AND PROFITABILITY OF PURER STEAM<\/h2>\n

Combi ovens and steamers provide restaurants and other food service operations with versatile, efficient, predictable results at the push of a button. But have you ever considered the full benefit of water quality on your steam equipment? In order to find the right water treatment system for your business, it\u2019s important to understand how steam equipment and water quality relate to each other, and how they impact the success and profitability of your operation.<\/p>\n

\"Someone<\/p>\n

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Equipment Performance<\/h3>\n

Scale buildup from unfiltered water can damage steam equipment and can have a significant effect on efficiency: just an eighth of an inch of scale can increase steamer energy usage by 25%.* Properly treated water reduces scale buildup and helps reduce corrosion. This means less time and less money spent on service interruptions, inefficiencies, and repairs.<\/p>\n

*Source: Scale Deposits and Efficiency Loss<\/a> – Johnston Boiler, 2020<\/p>\n

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Warranty Compliance<\/h3>\n

Water composition and the physics involved with different methods of generating steam can be complex. So much so that many equipment manufacturers have stringent water quality standards that must be adhered to under their warranty agreements. Water treatment systems protect an operation\u2019s bottom line by ensuring warranty compliance for expensive equipment.<\/p>\n

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Need help finding the right water treatment system for your business?<\/strong>
\nInterested in special pricing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Email b2bsale@filtersfast.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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WATER TESTING AND WHAT IT REVEALS<\/h2>\n

\"Test<\/p>\n

Water\u2019s characteristics and its common contaminants<\/h3>\n

Steam is 100% water, but water itself isn\u2019t just H2O. Water is a natural solvent, carrying away particles of whatever it encounters along its way to the tap. It\u2019s these particulates, chemicals, and contaminants that can positively or negatively impact food quality and equipment performance.<\/p>\n

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)<\/strong> A combined measure of all organic and inorganic substances dissolved in the water, including minerals, salts, metals, and other particulates.
\nParticulates Fine sediment, rust, and other particles that provide a catalyst for scale buildup and wear on equipment.<\/p>\n

Hard Minerals<\/strong> Evaporation causes dissolved calcium and magnesium ions to build up as limescale in boilers and steam generators. This rock-like scale acts as an insulating layer, preventing the efficient transfer of heat. It increases maintenance frequency and can reduce equipment life by years.<\/p>\n

Chlorine<\/strong> While added chlorine makes water safe to drink, it also contributes to corrosion in steam equipment and can impart an offensive taste and odor which can affect food quality.<\/p>\n

Silica<\/strong> Even small amounts of silica can form a very hard mineral scale that is difficult to remove. Unlike calcium and magnesium ions, silica cannot be removed through ion exchange.
\nIron In addition to giving the water an unpleasant metallic taste, iron in the water that’s made into steam is a recipe for corrosion.<\/p>\n

Chlorides<\/strong> Even at low levels, chloride ions can penetrate the passive film on stainless steel and trigger corrosion in steam equipment. In steam equipment, corrosion can be rapid, destructive, and expensive, drastically reducing equipment life.<\/p>\n

Alkalinity<\/strong> Alkalinity is water\u2019s capacity to neutralize acid. High alkalinity can indicate an increased potential for hard minerals to form scale; low alkalinity can indicate an increased potential for corrosion.
\npH Water\u2019s balance of acid and alkaline substances can be an indication of whether it will be scale-forming or corrosive.<\/p>\n

The first step in finding the right water treatment solution for your business is conducting a comprehensive on-site water analysis to determine the specific level of particulates, chemicals, and contaminants in their water. A water analysis is a “snapshot” of water characteristics at the time and place the sample was drawn. Although municipal water reports have value by measuring general safety and potability, they commonly combine samples from multiple sources and may not take seasonal changes into account. Therefore, municipal water reports alone may not provide an accurate picture of the water at a specific location.<\/p>\n

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Some questions to consider:<\/h3>\n