A UV water purification system is one of the most reliable and effective ways to disinfect household water. However, like any water treatment technology, it requires regular annual maintenance to function safely and efficiently.
Unfortunately, many UV systems in New Zealand are sold and installed without any long‑term maintenance plan or after‑sales support. This leaves homeowners unaware that UV systems only stay effective when serviced annually. To ensure your UV filter continues to protect your household, regular maintenance is essential. Proper servicing prevents system failure, maintains strong UV‑C disinfection, and ensures safe, E.coli‑free drinking water year‑round. Below, we break down exactly how UV systems should be maintained and how trusted service providers like Aqua Works keep your system operating safely and effectively.
To help you navigate the full process clearly, the sections that follow guide you step‑by‑step through why maintenance matters, how servicing should be done, and what to expect from a professional UV filter service.
Why Regular UV System Maintenance Is Essential
Regular UV system maintenance is crucial because UV water treatment only works effectively when every component is performing at its designed capacity. Over time, UV lamps lose intensity, quartz sleeves accumulate mineral deposits, and filters become clogged, each of which can severely reduce UV penetration and disinfection power.
To truly keep your family healthy and safe, your UV system must be serviced annually, following manufacturer and Ministry of Health guidelines. Aqua Works provides a comprehensive UV maintenance service, including a WOF-style checklist that verifies every critical step has been completed. With our service, you also benefit from our Aqua Guarantee, E.coli-free, safe drinking water from every tap.
📞 Call Aqua Works on 0800 278 288 to book your annual maintenance and ensure your UV system continues to operate safely and effectively.
How a Proper UV System Service Should Be Performed
To properly service your UV system, you must address every component that affects UV performance, not just the lamp. Effective servicing includes lamp replacement, quartz sleeve cleaning, filter changes, system inspection, and ensuring optimal water clarity.
These steps work together to maintain strong UV-C disinfection and guarantee safe drinking water.
1. Replacing of UV Lamp Annually
Even though the lamp glows, the visible blue light does not represent UV-C strength. UV lamps lose intensity over time:
- New lamp output: approx. 42,000 µW/cm²
- After 12 months: drops to 14,000 µW/cm²
- Minimum required to kill E.coli: 12,000 µW/cm²
Once UV intensity drops below safe levels, the system can no longer inactivate harmful microorganisms, making annual replacement essential.
2. Cleaning or Replacing of Quartz Sleeve
A dirty or cloudy quartz sleeve blocks UV light from penetrating the water. Regular maintenance ensures the sleeve:
- Transmits UV efficiently
- Remains free from mineral build-up
- Does not fracture or leak
3. Replacing Pre-Filters Every 12 Months
Clogged filters reduce water clarity and restrict flow, which can:
- Reduce UV penetration
- Lower the system’s kill rate
- Cause pump strain and premature failure
- Clear water is essential for UV to work effectively.
4. Inspecting the Entire UV System
Proper servicing includes checking:
- Flow rate
- Pressure stability
- System alignment
- Electrical connections
- Sensor functionality
Any issue in these areas can compromise system performance.
📞 Call 0800 AQUA UV to schedule a full UV and filter service and ensure your UV system is maintained correctly.
How a Trained Professional Ensures Proper UV Filter Servicing
UV systems degrade over time due to:
- Internal blackening of the UV lamp
- Reduced glass permeability from UV exposure
- Mineral fouling on the quartz sleeve
- Ministry of Health & Manufacturer Guidelines
The Ministry of Health and UV manufacturers recommend:
- Annual UV lamp replacement
- Cleaning or replacing the quartz sleeve
- UV sensor inspection
- Sterilising the entire UV system and water lines
DIY servicing is risky because incorrect handling may:
- Leave bacteria in the water supply
- Damage fragile UV components
- Cause electrical or plumbing issues
UV servicing is not a DIY task, qualified technicians ensure all safety steps are followed.
How to Ensure Your House Water Lines Stay Sterile During UV Servicing
Most homeowners don’t realise that water pipes build up biofilm, a slimy layer containing bacteria that can cause infections.
Without proper pipe sterilisation:
- Bacteria can be reactivated after UV treatment
- Biofilm can continue contaminating drinking water
- Health risks increase significantly
Aqua Works always sterilises water lines during UV maintenance, ensuring your household has E.coli-free drinking water.
What Can Go Wrong During DIY UV System Servicing
Common DIY problems include:
- Breaking the quartz sleeve
- Using incorrect replacement parts
- Not recognising water turbidity or flow issues
- Causing leaks in the UV chamber
- Mishandling a broken mercury-filled UV lamp
- Incorrect pipe sterilisation, risking septic tank damage
If glass shards from a broken sleeve enter your water supply, call Aqua Works immediately to safely flush and clean the system.
In addition to this risk, the World Health Organization highlights that UV‑C radiation, used inside UV disinfection systems, is highly effective for disinfecting both air and water, but also extremely dangerous when mishandled. According to the WHO, UV‑C exposure can cause skin irritation, eye damage, and increased long‑term risk of skin cancer if not properly controlled. This reinforces why DIY UV servicing is strongly discouraged. Handling UV lamps, sleeves, and electrical components without training can expose you to unnecessary health hazards and compromise the safety of your water supply.
By relying on trained professionals like Aqua Works, you ensure your UV system is serviced with strict safety protocols, proper lamp handling, correct sterilisation procedures, and full compliance with health guidelines, protecting both your household and your health.
📞 Emergency: 0212 787 427
How to Respond When Your UV Filter Starts Beeping
A beeping UV system typically signals that the lamp no longer emits enough UV-C radiation to disinfect water. It can also indicate:
- Sensor malfunction
- Voltage issues
- Internal system faults
If your UV system beeps:
- Do not drink the water until inspected
- Boil water for 2 minutes if needed
- Call Aqua Works for urgent support
📞 0800 AQUA UV
How Aqua Works Performs a Complete UV System Maintenance
Our full UV service is a complete inspection and maintenance of your entire system:
Aqua Works 11-Step UV Maintenance Checklist
- Remove and replace water filters
- Clean and inspect filter housings
- Strip UV system for internal cleaning
- Remove and clean quartz sleeve
- Replace UV lamp
- Reset UV countdown timer
- Sterilise UV system
- Sterilise all household water lines
- Check flow rate and pressure
- Inspect pump and plumbing
- Issue WOF-style maintenance documentation
This ensures your water remains clean, safe, and compliant with NZ drinking water standards.
Which UV Filter Brands Can Be Properly Serviced
We service all major UV filtration systems, including:
| Puretec G & R Series | Bug Buster UV systems | Greenway | Viqua UV |
| Water Guard | Bug Buster UV systems | Wykomar | Aquasheild |
| Alpine Pure | Aqua Filter UV systems | Luminor UV | Splenvue UV |
| Centurion | Aqua Filter UV systems | Davey Sterilfo | Splenvue UV |
How Aqua Works Guarantees E.coli-Free Drinking Water
In our opinion, UV water filtration systems are among the simplest and safest methods for eliminating germs, bacteria, and parasites in drinking water. They are effective not only for private households but also for properties with higher flow-rate needs in commercial applications. Our specialists can recommend the ideal UV system based on your water source, household size, and overall consumption.
To keep enjoying healthy drinking water at home, your UV system must be professionally serviced every 12 months. Annual servicing ensures your lamp emits the correct UV-C intensity, the quartz sleeve is clean, the water lines are sterilised, and the entire system performs to manufacturer and Ministry of Health standards. UV servicing is not a DIY task, incorrect cleaning, missing sterilisation steps, or improper installation can leave you exposed to dangerous microorganisms.
When Aqua Works handles your UV maintenance, you receive our Aqua Guarantee: E.coli-free water that meets New Zealand Drinking Water Standards. This guarantee applies when Aqua Works specifies, installs, and services your UV system at the recommended intervals, as water quality can change over time. For ongoing safety, we also recommend annual testing of your source water.
📞 Call us today at 0800 AQUA UV and book your annual UV maintenance. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with Aqua Works’ certified service and truly safe drinking water.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How often should my UV system be serviced?
Every 12 months.
2. Why is my UV system still glowing even if it’s not working?
The visible light doesn’t indicate UV-C strength, UV output drops after 12 months.
3. Can I replace my UV lamp myself?
Not recommended, UV lamps contain mercury and can be hazardous.
4. Why do my house pipes need sterilising?
To eliminate biofilm that can recontaminate your water.
5. Do you service commercial UV systems?
Yes, Aqua Works services both residential and commercial UV systems.