Ask any number of window manufacturers and they’ll tell you that the water you use for cleaning can affect the outcome of your maintenance session. While water serves as a universal solvent, its quality can have a big effect on how clean the windows turn out. In this post, Window World of Boston, a top window cleaning specialist, shares how water quality can affect your window cleaning project.
What Is Water Quality?
Water can be polluted by the elements and other byproducts such as sewage and industrial waste. Water quality is determined by its chemical, physical and biological contents. The major pollutants that deteriorate water quality are bacteria, viruses, salts and pesticides.
When water quality is being tested, variables such as pH level, color, odor, taste and alkalinity are measured. The presence of bacteria, metals and other organic compounds are also tested. The level of contamination that’s allowed will differ from country to country. This is why window installation contractors only use water that’s within a certain quality threshold.
Hard Water & Total Dissolved Solids
As minerals dissolve, they increase the “hardness” of water, which makes it ineffective at cleaning. Magnesium and calcium in particular are responsible for decreasing the cleansing effects of soapy water. Hard water also forms hard deposits on certain surfaces, like boilers and bathtub rims. Total dissolved solids are materials that also appear in water. These materials can cause spots and streaks to appear on glass when it dries. They’re measured by “parts per million”, or PPM. Water that won’t cause stains or streaks will be rated below 20 PPM.
Quality Tests
Window cleaners use home water titration kits to measure water hardness. They can also use reverse osmosis to cleanse and purify the water used for cleaning. They’ll pour it through a semipermeable membrane until the impurities are eliminated.
As one of the leading roofing and window installation companies, you can rely on Window World of Boston for your next home improvement project. Give us a call at (781) 262-3925 (Woburn), (781) 343-7129 (Pembroke), and (508) 845-6676 (Shrewsbury). You can also fill out our contact form to get a free estimate.
