Online shopping has practically become the norm. It’s usually easy, convenient and, quite frequently, cheaper. It’s easy to understand why it would be tempting. However, when shopping online for UV lamps, there are some things you need to watch out for.
In the water treatment industry, as in many others, there are manufacturers that focus on offering off-brand after-market parts. Often, these parts are produced overseas and may be quite a lot cheaper, especially when sold on-line. But as the old adage goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The reason many non-OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or off-brand lamps are often cheap is because the quality is well below OEM standards. If you buy a non-VIQUA lamp for your VIQUA system, there’s absolutely no guarantee that these off-brand after-market lamps are made to our own specifications and very high standards – in fact, we can almost guarantee they aren’t.
VIQUA UV systems are engineered, tested, and certified as a complete unit – including the lamp. So if you use a non-VIQUA lamp in your VIQUA UV system, you can affect your VIQUA UV warranty coverage. The most common fault with non-VIQUA lamps is misaligned lamp pins. While that may seem like a minor difference, misaligned pins can damage the lamp connector, which can cause the system to overheat or short-circuit, which is a fire risk.
Beyond alignment, inconsistencies in pin specifications like size, length, and amount of solder used can compromise your UV system’s performance. The technique used to make VIQUA lamp pins, for instance, prevents possible arcing which, again, could damage your UV system and void the warranty.
While it’s reassuring to know that your UV system is under warranty, it’s far more important to know that your water is fully disinfected. If you choose a non-VIQUA lamp, you could be compromising on safety.
So what should you look for when shopping online for a replacement lamp for your VIQUA UV system?
- Purchase from a VIQUA Certified Internet Reseller. These suppliers have already been vetted by VIQUA, so you can trust that you are getting a lamp made for your VIQUA UV system.
- Check prices from other sellers. If you find an outlier – one that’s significantly cheaper than most- then you’re not getting a bargain because you’re likely not getting a real VIQUA lamp.
- Carefully check product images for VIQUA branding. Check for one of the logos below – not just the part number – when choosing your lamp.
- Before installing your lamp, check for the logo on the actual lamp to make sure it’s a real VIQUA lamp. In fact, this is always a good practice regardless of where you purchase your replacement lamps.
