Quartz sleeves protect and insulate germicidal ultraviolet lamps, allowing for high UV output over a range of temperatures. A dirty quartz sleeve blocks UV-C wavelengths from passing into the water, preventing your water purifier from operating properly. Since water quality varies greatly from site to site, it can be difficult to determine when it’s time to clean your quartz sleeves.
Learn more:
How to Know if Quartz Sleeves Aren’t Clean
Method 1: Visually Inspect Your Quartz Sleeves
Remove your your quartz sleeve and inspect it after one month of your purifier’s operation. Watch our instructional videosopen_in_new for help removing sleeves from Atlantic Ultraviolet models. Whether or not your quartz sleeve is coated with debris will determine your cleaning schedule (learn more in the “Frequency of Cleaning” section below).
Method 2: Use a UV-C Monitor
UV Intensity level displayed by an optional monitor will decline from Normal (green) to Low (red). Shop our GUARDIAN™open_in_new.
Method 3: Check Your Sight Port
If your UV purifier has a sight port, a change in the color of light it emits could indicate a dirty quartz sleeve. Normally, it will glow blue, but a dirty sleeve could cause it to glow green and become cloudy.
Method 4: Get Your Water Tested for Bacteria
If regularly testing your water, look for a rise in the total bacteria count from test samples. If that is present, your UV intensity may have decreased due to dirty quartz sleeves.
How to Determine the Frequency of Quartz Sleeve Cleaning
In general, monitor your quartz sleeve after one month of use. If it is found to be coated with debris, check it again in three weeks after cleaning and reinstallation. At a minimum, quartz sleeves should be cleaned 3/4 of the time that it takes for fouling to occur. If quartz sleeve is clear after one month of use, the frequency of cleaning may be extended.
For Water Purifiers with Wiper Mechanisms
If you’re using a UV model with a quartz sleeve wiper, weekly cleaning is the simplest way to make sure that your sleeve remains clean. Monitor UV output weekly, cleaning as needed. If weekly cleaning does not make your quartz sleeve visibly clean, fix low UV output, or remedy failed water test results, carry out the troubleshooting procedure listed below. Contact our UV specialists at (631) 273-0500 or Sales@AtlanticUV.com with any questions.
- Increase your quartz cleaning cycle to twice a week, keeping watch on the indicators listed above (visibly dirty sleeves, UV intensity drop, or a failed water test).
- If desired results are not achieved, quartz sleeve cleaning should be done at about half the time it takes for a significant drop in the UV meter. For example, if the ultraviolet meter drops into the red zone after 96 hours, the cycle time should be set to 48 hours.
- Repeat this procedure, cutting your quartz cleaning schedule in half until your UV monitor shows only a small drop in intensity, or until water tests indicate an acceptable bacteria count.
How to Clean Your Quartz Sleeves
For Models with Wipers
If you own a UV water purifier with wipers, quartz sleeve cleaning can be done in two different ways, depending on the features of your model:
- Use a built-in wiper mechanism: Certain models, like our SANITRON®open_in_new, have a wiper you can push back and forth, gently wiping your quartz sleeve without shutting down water purification.
- Set an automatic wiper schedule: If your model has an automatic wiper cycle, like our MEGATRON®open_in_new, set it for weekly cleaning.
For Models Without Wipers
If you’re using a model without a wiper mechanism, remove your quartz sleeve from the unit and rinse with a mild detergent or food-grade citric acid. Sleeves can be hand wiped or dipped into a cleaning tank, then rinsed with water. For help removing quartz sleeves from our UV water purifiers, see our instructional video seriesopen_in_new.
Learn More & Shop Quartz Sleeves
Our quartz sleeves undergo quality control by our trained staff. They are available in a wide range of diameters, wall thicknesses, open or closed ends, and in virtually any length. Firepolishing and custom fabrication are also available upon request. We stock equivalent replacement sleeves for over 200 equipment brands and 5,000 models of ultraviolet equipment.
Shop at AtlanticUltraviolet.com
- Shop CRYSTAL CLEAR™ Quartz Sleevesopen_in_new
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Contact Us
- Call (631) 273-0500, Monday – Friday 7am to 6pm EST
- Email Sales@AtlanticUV.com
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