What You May Want to Know Before Buying a PTLevel

Posted on May 10, 2023May 10, 2023 by parem_admin

What Customers Want to Know Before Buying a PTLevel

Many customers have a few extra questions before purchasing their first PTLevel, and we want to answer those questions! Below are a few frequently-asked questions, what you want to know, before buying a PTLevel.

What You May Want to Know Before Buying – What’s the Range?

What is the range on the PTLevel?

Long Range Wireless PTLevel: The range on the Long Range Wireless PTLevel can be up to 1km! Factors such as grade (is the transmitter installed below grade?), obstructions (are there any large cement or metal obstructions between the Receiver and Transmitter?), line of sight (are there trees and hills in the way?) can lower the range.

Concerned? If our device doesn’t work for your scenario, we have a 30 day money-back guarantee (minus the cost of shipping). Before buying a PTLevel, review the distance between the tank and where you will plug in the Receiver to determine if there are any major obstacles.

WiFi Wired PTLevel: The Wired WiFi PTLevel requires a strong WiFi signal (70%+) at your tank.

Once your device is setup, you’ll be able to check the WiFi signal right from your dashboard.

What Customers Want to Know Before Buying – Will It Work in My Tank?

What kind of tanks can I measure with the PTLevel?

Some customers have the question, “will this work for my tank?” before buying. The Long Range Wireless PTLevel and the WiFi Wired PTLevel are both designed for a multitude of tank sizes and kinds. Basically, they will measure any liquid that has a consistent density and is between the depth of 1.5” and 18′. Note: The standard length of tubing is 13′, so if you need additional tubing make sure to order that when you check out!

The most common tanks are rain water harvesting systems, cisterns, wells, dug wells, ponds, tanks, chemical tanks, septics, sumps, reverse osmosis tanks, fertilizer tanks, peroxide tanks, and reservoirs. Before buying a PTLevel, if you intend to install it in a spetic tank we recommend you review the septic tank installation here and reach out to us with any questions.

The Pressure Chamber is made out of chemical resistant materials and is potable-water safe. The pressure tubing used is 5/32″OD ether based polyurethane and is also chemical resistant and potable water safe.

What Customers Want to Know Before Buying – Wireless or WiFi?

Which device is right for me?

What Customers Want to Know Before Buying – Maintenance

How often do I need to do maintenance?

Many customers want to know how much maintenance they will need to be doing before buying a PTLevel. Once every three months or seasonally we suggest that you pull the tubing and weight out of the tank. Let it drain for a second or two and give it a quick inspection. If you have a clear tube, check to see if there is any water or moisture in it. If there is, please see this article: Low or 0% Readings . Then just simply drop the weight back into the tank.

If you have the Wireless PTLevel, just be sure to press on the “Connect” button on the transmitter to get the latest reading. Calibrate if desired.

What Customers Want to Know Before Buying – All About Support

What happens if I have a problem?

We’re only a click away! For real, put in a Support Ticket here if you need help. We also have lots of Support Articles to help guide you through set up, troubleshooting, etc! If you put in a ticket, our team will get back to you within about 24-48 hours and is made up of Technicians, Sales, and Developers right here in Ontario, Canada. We want to make it right!

What You May Want to Know Before Buying – The WebApp

You have a WebApp, not an App, what does that mean for me?

First, let’s start with explaining what an App is. A Mobile App runs on your actual device (such as your phone). Although there are many benefits to a Mobile App such as not requiring internet, there are many limits especially to to the PTLevel. Since the PTLevel updates its level data via the cloud, internet will always be required to view PTLevel data when you are not within your WIFI connection.

A WebApp requires internet access to work. A WebApp is also adaptive to any environment (such as tablet, phone, computer, android, iPhone, etc!) This allows the PTLevel WebApp to work on any device you have now or in the future without new downloads, updates, etc.

Without downloading anything, the WebApp is available instantly when you set up your PTLevel. To login to your WebApp visit ptdevices.com. Before buying a PTLevel, people often want to know if their device is compatible with the PTLevel, and we can asnwer “yes” everytime!

Just like a Mobile App, a WebApp shortcut can be added to your phone/tablet home screen and will look and feel just like a Mobile App. To setup a shortcut, check out this article.

What Customers Want to Know Before Buying – Warranty

What is the warranty?

We have a great warranty on everything we manufacture. Customers want to know if we stand behind our product before they purchase and if they can get ahold of us if something isn’t right with their PTLevel. We stand behind our craftmanship which is why we offer a 2 year warranty against any manufactured defect and a 30 day full refund (minus shipping costs) if the device doesn’t work for your scenario. Read all about it here!

What You May Want to Know Before Buying – I Have More Questions

You didn’t answer my question…

No worries, we have lots more information to help you! Visit our Support Page here and search the articles for what you are looking for. For example, search “Alexa” to see all of the articles related to our Amazon Alexa integration or “Low Reading” to find our troubleshooting information!

So what do customers want to know before buying a PTLevel? A lot of things that we would be happy to answer! Please reach out to us so we can answer your questions!

And yes you can order a new pressure chamber if you dropped it into your tank and can’t get it out… And yes you can order new tubing if you cut it with the lawn mower by accident… If you need new parts, send us a support ticket!

5 tips for getting the most accurate readings from a PTLevel

Posted on April 26, 2023May 10, 2023 by parem_admin

5 tips for getting the most accurate readings from a PTLevel

Long Range Wireless PTLevel monitors are an essential tool for monitoring water levels in wells, cisterns, tanks, and septics. They are incredibly useful for tracking water levels (and other liquid levels) remotely by saving time and preventing running out of water. Here are 5 tips to get the most out of your Long Range Wireless PTLevel:

First, it is essential to understand how the PTLevel works. PTLevel’s measure the pressure at the bottom of a tank via a pressure chamber which creates an air pocket and then a sensor measuring the pressure the air pocket creates compares the data to the atmospheric pressure. The pressure chamber is installed at the bottom of the tank, the transmitter then sends this data wirelessly to the receiver which displays it via your ptdevices.com account and WebApp.

Second, put in the right dimensions and calibrate. To ensure the most accurate readings from your PTLevel monitor, it is vital to enter the correct dimensions of your well or cistern into the monitor. This will ensure that the monitor can accurately calculate the depth of the liquid. Calibration is also essential to ensure that the monitor is measuring the pressure correctly. Calibration should be done after installation, and at least once a year, or more frequently if there is a significant change in temperature. It is best to calibrate your PTLevel when your tank is 100%. Your tank must be at least 25% full to calibrate. Having an accurate calibration is key to getting accurate data from your cistern or well.

Third, do quarterly maintenance. Maintenance for the PTLevel is incredibly simple; just lift the pressure chamber out of the liquid and let the pressure chamber drain. Then carefully lower the pressure chamber back in the liquid to create a new air pocket. Press the button on the transmitter and you’re all set. Quarterly maintenance is essential to keep your PTLevel monitor giving the most accurate readings from your cistern, well, or tank.

Fourth, prevent damage to the pressure tubing (commonly caused by kids, pets, lawn mowers). Damage to the pressure tubing can cause inaccurate readings from your cistern or tank. Even a small hole in the air tubing will cause low or zero pressure readings. If you have damaged your tubing or pressure chamber, reach out to our support team at support.paremtech.com.

And finally, change your batteries every 2 years. PTLevel monitors rely on batteries to function, and these batteries do not need to be changed often, only about once every 2 years. Your ptdevices.com account will indicate when your batteries are low, but it’s always good to have a new set of batteries on hand (4xAA).

Following the tips outlined above will ensure that you get the most accurate readings from your PTLevel monitor, which will help you make informed decisions about your water supply. And as always, we are ready to help if you run into problems. Please visit our support page at https://paremtech.com/need_help/!

How to clean a cistern

Posted on October 24, 2019May 10, 2023 by parem_admin

How to clean a cistern

Whether you have a plastic or cement cistern, rain water collection system, or other water tank; consistent and regular maintenance is important to maintain clean and safe water. We highly recommend you consider hiring a professional to clean your tank. They often have experience and tools that are just unmatched by the DIY’er. But if you’re up for the challenge, here are some frequently asked questions about how to clean a cistern to help you tackle the job yourself!

How to clean your cistern — Frequently asked questions on how to clean your cistern

Question: How often should a cistern be cleaned?

Answer: The quick answer is, you should be cleaning your cistern yearly. But there are a variety of factors that can affect the cleanliness of a cistern. Cisterns get “dirty” for several reasons such as hauled water vs rain water collection, different climates, and the material the cistern is made out of (cement vs plastic tank). Because of these reasons, cisterns will need to be cleaned more or less often.

Generally, if you only have water hauled to you and you are not collecting any water that isn’t already purified in some way, your cistern will need to be cleaned less often, likely every 2-3 years. This also depends on local contaminants and the material your cistern is made out of.

If you are collecting rain water, your cistern should be cleaned more often. Usually cleaning is recommended yearly but you may want to clean the cistern more frequently.

Different climates can also affect bacteria levels, sediments, and other water contaminants. Since there are too many climates to mention, it is best to do your own research on your climate to determine what contaminants may be affecting your water.

And finally, the material your cistern is made out of may also affect the frequency of a needed cistern cleaning. A cement cistern is porous, and will likely contribute to more sediment and sludge. A plastic tank will still need to be cleaned regularly and may be more prone to algae build up.

Always clean your cistern if the water starts to look, smell, or taste different.

Question: How do you clean a cistern?

Answer: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a written a great article on the subject. Please visit here for their maintenance advice on cisterns and other rain catchment systems.

Step 1. Remove all debris and water from the cistern as well as debris from water collection points (eg if you collect rain water, clean your eaves troughs). This step applies to all cisterns, wells, rain water collection systems, and other liquid tanks.

Step 2. For cement cisterns, scrub the inside of the cistern with a stiff brush and a solution of 1 cup of bleach mixed with 10 gallons of water. Since bleach isn’t recommended for plastic cisterns, contact the manufacturer of your plastic cistern, or read the instruction manual on what your manufacturer recommends. Be mindful of your air quality when you’re in a cistern! Breathing in fumes from chemicals can be dangerous, and sometimes even fatal. Always read and follow all instructions on the materials you are using.

Step 3. Rinse cistern with clean, safe water, and then drain. If you still smell bleach, rinse the tank once or twice more.

Step 4. Refill the cistern with clean, safe water.

When it doubt, reach out to a professional to have your cistern cleaned. Cistern cleaning professionals have the tools, experience, and knowledge to do a great job for you! They can often use a pressure washer, reducing the need for chemicals as well as use a wet vacuum to suck out all debris and sludge. The professionals will inspect your cistern for cracks and other defects. Go to Google Maps, and then type in “cistern cleaners near me” to find some local providers.

Question: Can I use bleach in my cistern?

Answer: If you have a cement cistern, bleach is often the recommended chemical to use for cleaning, and sometimes even maintaining clean water. You can do your own research on whether you feel like bleach is the right solution for you, but here are the recommended solutions:

For cleaning: 1 cup of bleach per 10 gallons of water
For maintenance: 1 tablespoon of 5%-8.25% liquid bleach for every 100 gallons of water

Bleach is not recommended for plastic cisterns or tanks.

Question: Do all cisterns need to be cleaned?

Answer: Yes. Cisterns are designed to hold standing water and whenever there is standing water there is opportunity for bacteria growth and dirt and debris to collect. Also, wildlife will often find a way to get into water systems which can create even more risk for bacteria growth and debris that you don’t want to drink or use.

We hope some of these questions and answers were helpful to you. If you’re looking for a water level monitoring solution, please check out our products page here.