Nortec Industries GSTC Indoor, GSTC Outdoor 10-20, aWater hardness bSilica content cChlorides

1.WATER CONDITIONS VS. HUMIDIFIER CLEANING REQUIREMENTS

(1)The GS Series humidifiers are to operate on cold potable, De-Ionized (DI) or Reverse-Osmosis (RO) water supply and since the output of all GS Series humidifiers is pure clean steam, minerals from the incoming water are left behind. These minerals will eventually coat the tank walls or settle to the bottom of the tank. The mineral content of the incoming water, the unit running time, output capacity setting and blowdown rate ultimately determine time between each cleaning.

(2)The Gas Steam humidifier will periodically “blowdown” or skim water from the tank to reduce the concentration of total dissolved solids that accumulate during long- term operation. The Gas Steam humidifiers are shipped from the factory set at 25% of output. This setting ensures that scale build-up will be minimized for most water conditions. The amount of blowdown is field adjustable.

(3)The unit also monitors operation time and will indicate to the user when maintenance is required. This time is adjustable to adapt to your water conditions but is set from the factory at 500 hours of 100% operation.

(4)Three parameters will help determine the proper blowdown setting of the Gas Steam humidifier.

(a)Water hardness

(b)Silica content

(c)Chlorides

(5)Due to the wide range of water conditions found throughout North America it is important that the blowdown is set according to the local water conditions. By water conditions we are referring to the hardness of the water supplied to the humidifier. The hardness is measured in grains per gallon. It is also important to test for silica content. Silicates may cause foaming and contribute to scale buildup in the humidifier tank and float chamber. When excessive foaming occurs. Consult factory for possible solutions.

(6)If you are unaware of the hardness or silica content of your water supply, there are many “do it yourself” kits, which can be purchased, or there are several companies that will perform the tests for a reasonable price. You can even contact your municipality for your water condition.

(7)It is possible to reduce this setting according to observation and guidelines in the blowdown setting table found in the GS Installation Manual (Form # XX-287). Also, when high silica content has been identified, the humidifier tank and float chamber will require increased maintenance and the blowdown setting should be increased to maximum setting. In this case silica content may determine the appropriate blowdown setting.

(8)Softened water is recommended if the incoming water has a hardness in excess of 8 grains/gal (136 ppm).

(9)Reverse osmosis (RO) water can provide very long times between cleaning since it is cleaner than softened water. Deionized (DI) water can reduce the

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