UV Sterilization
UV Sterilization | Water Purification | Plumbing | Rockwood
Imagine turning on any tap in your Rockwood home and knowing the water is as pure as nature intended. HEP’s UV sterilization systems bathe every drop in intense ultraviolet light, destroying up to 99.99 % of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa without changing taste or introducing chemicals. Our licensed plumbers integrate these compact units right into your existing lines, so you enjoy continuous, eco-friendly water purification with zero hassle.
From single-family homes to cottages on Watts Bar Lake, we custom-size each installation, test flow rates, and back it with 24/7 local support. Whether you’re concerned about well contaminants or simply want the cleanest water possible, HEP delivers crystal-clear peace of mind—installed today, protected for years to come.
FAQs
How does a UV sterilization system work to purify my Rockwood home’s water?
A UV sterilizer uses ultraviolet light at a specific wavelength (254 nm) to penetrate the cells of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. The UV energy destroys their DNA, rendering them unable to reproduce or cause infection. The process happens inside a stainless-steel chamber through which water passes in a thin film, ensuring every drop is exposed to sufficient UV dosage. No chemicals are added, and the taste, odor, and pH of your water remain unchanged.
What contaminants can UV treatment remove, and what can’t it address?
UV systems are exceptionally effective against living microorganisms—E. coli, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Salmonella, and most waterborne viruses. However, UV does not remove dissolved contaminants such as heavy metals, nitrates, pesticides, or hardness minerals. For complete purification, UV is often paired with sediment pre-filters (to reduce turbidity) and activated carbon or reverse-osmosis units (to target chemical impurities).
Is UV sterilization safe for my plumbing and the environment?
Yes. UV treatment is a physical, not chemical, process. It produces no harmful by-products, eliminates the need for chlorine disinfection, and won’t corrode pipes or create taste/odor issues. Because the lamp is housed in a quartz sleeve, only light—not heat—contacts the water, preserving plumbing integrity. Environmentally, UV leaves no residual disinfectant in discharged water and consumes relatively little electricity (comparable to a 40-60 W bulb).
How often do I need to service or replace parts of my UV system?
Key maintenance involves: (1) Lamp replacement every 9–12 months (UV intensity declines over time even if the lamp still glows). (2) Quartz sleeve cleaning every 6–12 months, or more often if your water is hard or iron-rich, to remove scale that can block UV light. (3) Pre-filter cartridge changes every 3–6 months to keep turbidity below 5 NTU. Our Rockwood technicians can set up an annual maintenance plan to handle all replacements, verify dosage, and reset alarms.
Will a UV water purifier affect my water pressure?
Properly sized UV systems cause only a minor pressure drop—typically 1–5 psi—because water flows straight through a smooth stainless chamber. When we specify equipment for Rockwood homes, we match lamp power and chamber diameter to your household’s peak flow rate (e.g., 10 gpm for most 3-bathroom homes) so there’s no perceptible loss of pressure at faucets or showers.
What’s involved in installing a UV sterilizer in Rockwood, and how long does it take?
Installation usually takes 2–3 hours. Our licensed plumbers mount the stainless chamber horizontally or vertically on the main water line after the pressure tank (for wells) or after the municipal supply’s entry point. We add a sediment pre-filter, connect the ballast to a standard 120 V outlet, and program the lamp-change timer. After leak testing and verifying UV intensity, we provide a start-up disinfection of the plumbing. You can use your water immediately once the system is powered on.