Q. What is Ultraviolet?
A. Sunlight has long since been known to kill micro-organisms. The rays from the Sun contain the UV Spectrum used in Ultraviolet Water Treatment Systems--although at much lower intensities. It is also referred to as either the Germicidal Spectrum or Frequency. The frequency used in killing micro-organisms is 254 nanometers (nm). The UV lamps that Noah uses are designed specifically to have the highest amount of UV energy at this frequency.

Q. How is Ultraviolet strength measured?
A. The UV light, 254 nm, is measured in water treatment as Microwatts per Centimeter squared. The United States Department of Health has determined that a UV system should provide a minimum of 16,000 Microwatts per Centimeter Square.

Q. Is the UV light exposed directly to the water?
A. Yes. The UV light is in the center of the filter; therefore, is exposed directly to the water. The best way to penetrate water with the UV light is to expose outward radiants into the water.

Q. What is the Quartz Sleeve?
A. The Quartz Sleeve serves three purposes.: 1. To isolate the lamp from the water so the electrical contacts are not shorted out by the water; 2. To create a thermal barrier allowing the lamp to maintain its ideal operating temperature of 104 Degrees Fahrenheit; and, 3. To allow maximum transmission of the UV energy into the water. The Quartz Sleeve is made of pure-fused Quartz which has a transmission rate of approximately 98 percent.

Q. How is a Quartz Sleeve cleaned?
A. The Quartz Sleeve should be wiped down with a damp cloth each time the filter is changed. There is no need to remove the Quartz Sleeve for this cleaning process. If there are any scale or hard water deposits on the Quartz Sleeve, they can be removed by using a vinegar solution or a weak acid solution.

Q. How long does a UV lamp operate?
A. The UV light used by Noah is designed to operate for one (1) year under continuous operation. The lamp will slowly lose energy during this period; therefore, the lamp should be changed annually to guarantee the amount of UV energy available is sufficient enough to kill any micro-organisms.

Q. Does UV purification alone make the water taste better?
No. The UV energy entering into the water has no effect on the taste and odor of the water with the exception that certain chemicals will oxidize under the UV light. The taste may change due to this oxidization. This oxidization only takes place when the water is standing for a long period of time in front of the UV lamp.

Q. Should UV be used with other forms of filtration?
A. Yes. Because UV does not change the quality of the water other than killing the bacteria, it is always recommended to have an additional Carbon or Sediment Filter with a UV system. All Noah systems have these filter systems built in with the Ultraviolet light.

Q. When used with other filters, where should the UV be placed?
A. It is always recommended that the Ultraviolet system be the last water treatment device before point-of-use. Any filter or other water treatment device may cause re- contamination.

Q. What causes the black particles to appear in the water when using a Carbon filter?
A. The black particles that appear in the water are from the Carbon filter. During transit, Carbon filters generally give off small amounts of Carbon particles. These particles will be flushed out during the initial use of the system.

Q. Is Ultraviolet as harmful as Radiation?
A. No. The UV light only penetrates the water and is very much like sunlight. There is no residue or residual of any kind in the water that has been treated with the Ultraviolet light. All Noah systems are designed so that no exposure to the UV light is possible. Always use caution when servicing a UV system so you are not exposed directly to the UV light.

Q. May I run hot water through my system?
A. Noah does not recommend using hot water or water greater than 100 Degrees Fahrenheit through the UV system. At higher temperatures, the plastics may soften, distort, or weaken; therefore, defecting the system .

Q. If the UV lamp is darkened, is it defective?
A. No. Darkening at the ends of the UV lamp is normal. The UV lamps rarely fail, and failure is usually caused by a too low or too high voltage. It is extremely important that the lamp be changed each year.

Q. What is the difference between hard and soft glass UV lamps?
A. Noah systems exclusively use hard glass for lamp and Quartz Sleeve. Hard glass is pure-fused Quartz and maintains its ability to transmit UV light over a longer period of time. Soft glass lamps use a glass more like normal window glass, and the UV light causes this glass to solarize and inhibits the transmission of UV light. Normally, soft glass lamps do not last more than three (3) months. Hard glass lamps are designed to operate for at least one (1) year.

Q. Why is Teflon used with the EPCB Filter?
A. Teflon is used in the EPCB Filter to allow a double pass, or extended pass, of the water along the UV lamp. Very few materials are transparent to the UV light. Pure- fused Quartz and Teflon allow transmission of UV light. This is a patented application of the Teflon Sleeve within the filter. The letters EPCB stand for Extended Pass Carbon Block.