media guard kdf 55 good or bad?

**sss** · 10-23-2012, 08:19 PM

I have been doing some research and I have got some mixed responses about the media guard kdf 55 (chlorine remover) what is the truth should this be installed in a softener or not?

**Akpsdvan** · 10-23-2012, 08:26 PM

Worked with some thing much like media guard thing on the distributor just under the valve that had the kdf in it years ago and the pressure loss and flow lose had the customer asking for it to be removed asap..... never used that idea again.
KDF 55 is great for the removal of chlorine from the water but it would be better used in its own tank with its own valve for back washing.

**Gary Slusser** · 10-24-2012, 07:49 AM

I agree and IMO carbon/charcoal is a much better choice to remove chlorine. It is much less expensive and doesn't require the high gpm backwash that KDF does. But then I'm not a fan of removing chlorine on a whole house basis when you are on a 'city' water system.

**ditttohead** · 10-24-2012, 08:31 AM

The media guard using KDF-55 is an excellent product when applied correctly. KDF has a unique ability to remove chlorine in large volumes for extended periods of time as well as heavy metals removal. The media guard must be applied correctly to function properly.

It should be used on smaller houses, no more than 2 bathrooms.
The DLFC must be changed and sized correctly. a 4-5 GPM is ideal, regardless of the tank size. The backwash is for the media guard, not the softener.
The softener should be sized to regenerate weekly.
It should be changed every 3 years.

If these steps are followed, the media guard is one of the better innovations in the water industry in thepast couple of decades. If these steps are not followed, it will have problems.

**Gary Slusser** · 10-24-2012, 09:34 AM

How about listing the problems that are created with regenerating a small softener with that high a gpm.

**ditttohead** · 10-24-2012, 10:23 AM

Sure,
There is no problem when the media guard is installed. The media guard seperates the backwash into the four chambers seperately and the fine slots do not create any problem with the resin. The backwash rate is for the KDF media guard, not for the resin. The resin will get backwashed just fine. The real problem with the media guards in the past is that people installed them without the higher backwash rate which would cause the KDF to turn into a chunk of cement and would restrict or cut off flow to the house.

Hope this helps,

**sss** · 10-24-2012, 10:56 AM

so carbon is better then kdf 55 to remove chlorine? I thought it was pretty much the same thing.

**ditttohead** · 10-24-2012, 11:04 AM

KDF and Carbon both remove chlorine very well. They are completely different processes, KDF uses redox, GAC uses adsorption. The media guard is a great, cheap way to get rid of 90% of the chlorine in the water. It has its limitations, but in general, the units we put out have a 99% success rate. We have almost no complaints when they are installed and applied correctly. I even have a few on friends and families softeners.

**sss** · 10-24-2012, 02:42 PM

so that means a carbon is a better alternative to KDF right? Should I get a carbon filter instead then?

**ditttohead** · 10-24-2012, 04:59 PM

No, they are totally different and cant really be compared. It depends on your exact application. If you are trying to remove the chlorine from the whole house, I would recommend a large carbon system, not a carbon filter. Otherwise, if you want to keep it simple and low maintenance, the media guard is a great choice. A BB carbon filter has too low of a service flow rate to be recommended, though we sell container loads ofthis filter just for this application, we know it is improper. My own house has a 2 cu. ft. Catalytic GAC system as well as a 30 pound kdf backwashing unit. Heavy metals removal, chlorine removal, chloramine, etc.
What is your exact application so we can recommend you the porper system?

**sss** · 10-24-2012, 06:16 PM

this is the device I am planning to buy from this place since it is located where I am in Ontario, Canada:
http://www.aquatell.com/water-soften...er-64000-grain
I am planning on buying this so final thoughts should I just add the media guard to it or should I just get a whole different system for chlorine removal?

**sss** · 10-24-2012, 08:44 PM

chlorine removal seems pretty difficult...

**sss** · 10-24-2012, 11:39 PM

Looks like all replies stop when you say you are buying from somewhere else. Interesting

**Gary Slusser** · 10-25-2012, 06:21 AM

You have to raise the gpm of the DLFC of the softener to get the KDF backwashed in the Media Guard, that effects the resin backwash rate.

When I say "carbon filter" I mean a backwashed filter, not a disposable cartridge filter.

That will cost you more than a Media Guard but you'll be much happier over time and you'll recover that additional cost in less maintenance costs over the life of the softener.

Not getting a reply as soon as you'd like has nothing to do with where you are thinking of buying something; or what you are buying in this case but would if what you are buying is not well known by those replying to you...