Behind the beautiful facades of old buildings lies a hidden threat unknown to many owners: the slow decay of piping and water infrastructure. Limescale and corrosion build up gradually, finally manifesting in decreased water pressure and the unsettling sight of reddish-colored rusty water. In the worst-case scenarios, this requires complete building shutdown and renovation.
Fortunately, an increasing number of plumbing experts have discovered AQUA4D®, a cost-effective and sustainable solution to this often underestimated problem. Valais-based Pascal Oggier is now suggesting deployment of this Swiss technology in more and more situations, having been convinced of its efficacy. “It’s truly impressive how our buildings have witnessed lime breakdown and softening, thanks to this advanced system we installed, he says. “After exploring various options without much success, we identified this technology as the perfect fit and have already implemented this solution in countless locations.”
Mastering Limescale with Precision Treatment
Let’s take a closer look at what makes this system so supremely effective. Rather than resorting to chemicals, this is a physical water treatment device which subtly modifies water structure as it passes through. This breaks down excess minerals within the water, and over 6-12 months gradually eliminates deposits. All without adversely affecting water taste or quality, and without any disturbance for residents.
AQUA4D® Buildings & Industry has already installed over 3,000 systems in its Swiss homeland. The installation of one or more so-called “monitoring tubes” at a customer’s site allows the professionals involved, with very little effort and whenever they want, to check the exact condition of the inside of the pipes and compare it with the situation before the system was installed. In this process, an old calcified and/or corroded piece of pipe is cut out of the existing line by the plumbing installer, the condition is photographed and documented, and this is then installed in the line again. This is done simultaneously with the installation of the AQUA4D® system. After 12 months and then again after 24 months, the “monitoring tube” is removed, photographed and compared with the original condition. The subsequent technical report of these inspections is available to all parties involved.
With many products, laboratory reports and analyses are often offered to show that these water treatment devices would work. However, Markus Schwery and the company’s team know that these often say nothing about effectiveness in practice. “Many years ago, due to many dubious results on the market, the SVGW strongly recommended that building owners install such a monitoring tube in water treatment systems and also demand a take-back guarantee. This is exactly the recommendation we pass on to our customers and since then we have never had to discuss the effectiveness of our technology because it is so clear to everyone involved.”
What counts in the end is the success in practice. With the consistent installation of one or more of these monitoring tubes in the buildings, AQUA4D® can prove the strong improvement of the condition of the water pipes.
We asked Markus Schwery whether ion exchangers, so-called softeners, are considered as competition on the market. “People don’t like to change their habits, that’s why you can still find this actually outdated technology on the market, despite high maintenance costs, and despite the fact that these systems cannot break down lime,” reports Schwery. “In case of corrosion problems, they are not and cannot be used at all. They extract the natural calcium and magnesium from the water, which provide some protection against corrosion. These minerals are then replaced with sodium, chemically altering the water.” With AQUA4D®, the water itself is physically treated rather than chemically altered, and nothing is added or taken away from the water. And this all without using chemical agents and with little maintenance required. “On the one hand, ion exchangers need regular maintenance, otherwise they become breeding grounds for bacteria; on the other hand, these devices require a lot of precious drinking water to carry out the rinsing process. If the lime content in the water varies, which is more and more the case nowadays due to the mixing of drinking water from different plants, the ion exchangers reach their technical limits. Often the water, which has a strong change in taste, is no longer drinkable, also for health reasons.”
The danger of corrosion in water pipes
If reddish-colored water comes out of the faucet, it is often only a matter of time before the first pipes are rusted through. In the worst case, the building is no longer habitable for a length of time, as the walls have to be broken open to replace water pipes – an expensive affair, in addition to all the other inconveniences for residents and owners.
AQUA4D® systems have been employed to great success in such cases. In one example at a large residential house in St. Gallen, renovation of the piping systems was estimated to cost 214,000 CHF. On the other hand, sandblasting and epoxy spraying would have saved complete renovation yet still estimated to cost 141,000 CHF. In stark contrast, installation of an AQUA4D® F-B 03 system, including plumber/electrician costs, was a comparatively cost-effective 15,500 CHF.
For these reasons and more, many call AQUA4D® the most ecological and economical water treatment system on the market.
New webinar series for Buildings professionals starting in February 2021.
As this Swiss technology is not yet known to many professionals in their home country, this year a series of interactive training courses will be held via the Internet especially for Swiss sanitary installers and planners, as well as real estate professionals. Participants will be able to ask questions and discuss among themselves. The AQUA4D company will also invite external experts as speakers. Anyone can participate in this series of webinars free of charge and regardless of their location. They will take place on a Tuesday from 13h30 to 14h30 in the middle of each month, for the first time on February 16, 2021.
Switzerland
Sustainable Buildings
AQUA4D Webinar Highlights: Sustainable Maintenance of Water Pipes in Older Buildings