The Importance of Water Filters

2010 has seen a number of my clients who were looking to buy new machines put off their decision making until next year, decisions that have not only impacted the sales department but also our service desk. In these cases, water filters have never played a more important role in keeping our fleet operating efficiently.

Recently I had a meeting with a prospect whose complaint was about the level of calls they have been receiving for their 3 year old machines, sometimes machines faulting on a daily basis. The reason was simple - limescale build up in water valves, causing leaks and faults like no end. The answer? 3M ScaleGuard Pro Water filters were placed on their machines and the piping and valves were replaced, and since then the calls have dropped to once per three months on average.

Clients often ask me why there is such an importance placed on water filters and the above example proves the necessity, especially in hard water areas such as London. From a their point of view, by ensuring the water that trickles through their machines and into their cups of coffee or tea is passed through a filtration system to remove hardness, reliability and machine lifespan are increased significantly and a frequent headache is removed. In turn, a reduction in service calls and part replacements due to wear and tear is a huge cost saving for the operator; the answer isn't always low staffing, but the way in which the service is carried out and what product is used.

So remember, next time a hot drink machine is installed - if a water filter is not attached, don't turn the machine on!