Service and maintenance

Yes, this is essential. Although a UV-C lamp will still emit visible light after its specified lifespan has expired, the intensity of the UV radiation decreases significantly. Once the lifespan has expired, the UV intensity is no longer strong enough to guarantee reliable disinfection. To ensure the safety and proper operation of your system, you should replace the lamp on time, regardless of whether it is still working.

A UV-C lamp should be replaced in the following two situations:

• When it reaches its maximum lifespan: Depending on the type of lamp in your system, the average lifespan is 8.000 or 16.000 operating hours. After this period, the intensity of the UV radiation can no longer be guaranteed.
• In the event of a fault: If the lamp is faulty, the control unit will display a notification. In that case, the lamp must be replaced immediately to ensure the continuity of the disinfection process.

To ensure the reliable operation of your UV system, it is essential to replace certain parts periodically. Below is an overview of the parts and the recommended replacement intervals:

• UV-C lamps: A standard lamp should be replaced after 8.000 operating hours (approximately 1 year of continues use). Longlife lamps should be replaced after 16.000 operating hours (approximately 2 years).
• Quartz sleeves: These should be replaced at least once every 4 years. If they become heavily contaminated, more frequent replacement may be necessary. Please note: if the quartz sleeve is removed, for example for cleaning, you should always replace the O-ring as well.
• Lamp cables: Replace the UV-C lamp cable at least every 4 years, or immediately after a water leak has occurred. A damaged lamp cable can negatively affect the operation the lamp and cause further damage to the control unit.
• UV sensors: These have a replacement interval of 4 years. The same applies here: if the sensor is removed, always replace the O-ring to prevent future leaks.
• Reactor coupling sets: Plastic (black) coupling sets should be replaced every 4 years. Metal couplings do not have a fixed replacement interval.
• Flowplates: The flowplate should be replaced at least every 6 years.

We recommend following these replacement intervals to prevent unplanned downtime and ensure that the disinfection performance of your UV system remains at its optimum.

Regular and timely maintenance is crucial for the optimum and reliable operation of your UV system. By maintaining the system in accordance with the prescribed guidelines, the following three points are ensured:

• Guaranteed disinfection: You can be confident that the UV-C radiation remains powerful enough to effectively neutralise micro-organisms.
• Retention of certification: In many sectors, a certified system is mandatory; only with proper maintenance does this certification remain valid.
• Lifespan of the system: By replacing spare parts on time, you prevent consequential damage to costly components and avoid unplanned downtime.

Contamination on the quartz sleeve has a direct effect on the UV intensity. As soon as deposits form on the glass, the UV-C light is less able to penetrate the water, reducing the effectiveness of the disinfection process.

For optimum performance, we recommend the following:

• Regular cleaning: Clean the quartz sleeve during every maintenance job using a soft, dry (paper) cloth.
• Avoid grease marks: Never touch the quartz sleeve with your bare hands. The natural oils from your skin can become permanently baked onto the glass due to the heat generated by the lamp, permanently reducing UV transmission. Always use the gloves supplied with the system, or other clean fabric gloves.
• Timely replacement: Replace the quartz sleeve at least once every 4 years to prevent age-related wear and invisible material degradation. You can also read the factsheet on the ageing of quartz sleeves here.

To determine which parts are suitable for your UV system, we need the serial number of the system. Every UV system is uniquely configured, and with this number our sales department (or your dealer’s sales department) can determine exactly which components (such as the lamp type, the quartz sleeve or the right cable) are required for your specific system.

Our tip for a quick response: When ordering or requesting spare parts, always provide the serial number shown on the nameplate of the reactor or the control unit. This ensures that you receive the correct components and helps prevent delays to your maintenance process.

UV-C lamps contain tiny amounts mercury and must therefore not be disposed of with the regular household or company waste. Used UV-C lamps that remain intact fall under the category of hazardous household waste (HHW) and can be taken to an authorised collection point or your local recycling centre. If a UV-C lamp is accidentally broken, different guidelines apply. Because the used quartz glass has a different melting point from standard glass, it is not suitable for glass recycling and must not be placed in a glass recycling bin. In such cases, the broken pieces should be safely packaged and disposed of with residual waste. We recommend ventilating the area for thirty minutes if a UV-C lamp breaks and avoiding direct skin contact with the debris. This is because tiny amounts of harmful mercury may be released.

If you are unable to dispose of the lamp in a responsible way, collect your used UV-C lamps and return them to us in one batch. We will ensure they are recycled correctly. Please see this page for more information.