by erics on Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:43 pm Proper water filtration and regular filter changes are a requirement to keep your factory
warranty valid and your machine functioning properly. It is highly recommended that you
contact a professional water filtration specialist in your area and have your water tested
to determine the proper filtration system. It is important to note that many municipalities
change their water sources throughout the year, so periodic water tests may be necessary.
Water Standards to keep your warranty valid:
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 30 to 200 ppm (parts per million)
Total Hardness - in ppm Less than 85 ppm
Total Hardness - in grains 3 to 5 grains (divide ppm by 17.1 to get grains)
pH 6 pH to 8 pH
Chloride 0 ppm - any Chlorides can be corrosive and harmful
Total Alkalinity Less than 100 ppm
Chlorine 0 ppm
Iron 0 ppm
A 2 group Synesso is a very capable machine that is worth looking into along with NS Appia and LM Linea or even GB5.
I would put more faith in a water analysis conducted by the end user (you) using relatively inexpensive test strips over a period of a couple of days than a city's water report. A sediment filter is a must - who knows when they are going to dig up pipes that are 100 years old. Further treatment would depend on exactly what your water chemistry is and any business selling espresso machines should be well equipped to test this. If they are not, I would look elsewhere real fast.
