Practice Tips #128: Self Contained Water Systems

Providing Water to Your Delivery Unit

When you invest in a self contained water bottle system, you are exchanging one water source for another. The line for your city water is now attached to the bottle. The bottle system services your handpieces, syringe, water quick disconnect, and ultrasonic scaler if it is attached to the unit. You should be able to completely shut off your water in your junction box. This is the perfect way to bring water to a new operatory that may not be equipped with plumbing.

Bottled Water vs City Water Systems

Self contained clean water systems are one of the easiest systems to use and maintain. You can control the quality of water that goes through your unit and directly to your patients. By using distilled water, you keep the minerals out of your unit from building up. You can even fill the bottles with tap water, but you now have control over your water lines.

Econo II Clean Water System for Bottled Water

One of our more popular systems is the Single Econo II for bottle water only (#49-18). This complete economic system is all you will ever need. It is simple, easy, has a gauge, and takes any of the size water bottles that we offer. The gauge helps determine the air pressure in the bottle, which in turn forces the water out of the bottle and provides the force of the water. You should never need more than 35 psi of air in the bottle, in order to provide a smooth and efficient stream of water for your unit.  

Preventing Biofilm

Keep your lines clear from biofilm build up, by using maintenance tablets (#30-627 or #30-636) or water purification cartridges (#49-305 or #49-307) in the bottles on a daily basis. This helps to maintain the water lines. However, before starting this regime, you need to shock your water system (#49-21 or #30-635) to remove the existing biofilm. The maintenance tablets and tubes inhibit the growth of more biofilm, but it does not take away the biofilm that is already there. The product we carry takes a night to complete the job, but it clears your lines and prepares them for daily maintenance cleaners.

Flushing & Purging

Always flush out the water in the lines both in the morning and between patients. Daily maintenance can also include air purging in the evenings or at least on weekends if units are not in use. Some self-contained units have an air purge toggle for your convenience, while the rest all have the ability to air purge with an empty pressurized bottle. 

  • Take your handpieces out of the holders just as you would for a water purge.
  • Do NOT forget to purge your air/water syringe and your scaler. 
  • Blow your lines out and clear them of water. It is not a perfect science, but it is going to take out most of the water in the lines, putting you ahead of the game. 
  • Nightly, take the bottle off the system and empty it if water is in the bottle. Let it air dry. Do NOT leave standing water in the bottle overnight.

A clean water system will help keep your practice operating no matter what the plumbing system is like. Just make sure to follow our guidelines and keep your water clean for all patients. Learn more about water compliance in Practice Tips #120. For more dental equipment routine maintenance tips, read Practice Tips #34. It has things you and your practice should do daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually to stay on top of cleaning and maintenance.

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