| On private water systems, one of the | | | | properties of Calcite, increasing the |
| most common causes of corrosion is | | | | ability to correct low pH. |
| acidic water. Water that has a pH value | | | | How to Install Calcite Neutralizer |
| of less than 7.0 is considered to be | | | | Filters |
| acidic. The ideal pH for most domestic | | | | Calcite neutralizer filters are easy to |
| supplies is between 7.0 and 8.0 on the | | | | install. They need to be located in the |
| pH scale. | | | | piping after the pressure tank on a well |
| Signs of acid water are corrosion of | | | | water system, but before the copper |
| fixtures, pinhole leaks in plumbing, and | | | | household piping. If the pressure tank |
| blue staining (from copper pipes) or | | | | is piped with copper, it is best to |
| rust staining (from iron pipes). Often | | | | remove any copper piping before the |
| these waters are great for drinking or | | | | neutralizer and replace with PVC, PEX, |
| household use, but are low in buffering | | | | or stainless steel piping, in order to |
| calcium minerals, and contain dissolved | | | | avoid the corrosive effects of the |
| carbon-dioxide gas, which can cause a | | | | acidic water. |
| low pH and acid condition. Without | | | | Neutralizer filter tanks for home water |
| treatment, these waters can be | | | | systems typically measure 10 or 12 |
| contaminated with copper, lead and other | | | | inches in diameter and 48 to 54 inches |
| metals from piping, fixtures and | | | | in height. The tanks have a center tube |
| appliances, turning good water into | | | | about 1 inch in diameter, called the |
| contaminated drinking water. | | | | distributor tube, which have a screen at |
| Treatment is accomplished by | | | | the bottom of the tube. When the |
| neutralizing the water with the use of | | | | neutralizer tanks are assembled, the |
| an automatic neutralizer filter. These | | | | distributor tube is first placed in the |
| are water filter tanks filled with a | | | | tank and some tape or a cap put on the |
| media blend of calcium and magnesium | | | | top of the tube to prevent media or |
| carbonates made from naturally occurring | | | | gravel from entering the tube when the |
| minerals. This media, one brand of which | | | | filter is built. Approximately 10 to |
| is called Calcite, slowly dissolves into | | | | 20 pounds of aquarium gravel 1/4 inch in |
| the water, raising the pH and making it | | | | diameter is first poured into the tank |
| less corrosive. | | | | to cover the bottom distributor screen. |
| More mineral can quickly and easily be | | | | The calcite media, which looks like |
| added as needed to the filter tank. This | | | | white sand, is then poured in until the |
| is typically done once per year for most | | | | depth of the media reaches about |
| residential applications. No special | | | | two-thirds of the tank. |
| tools are required. This type of | | | | The top one third of the tank is left as |
| neutralizer also acts as a filter | | | | free space. This free space allows the |
| removing sediment and small amounts of | | | | media to expand when the neutralizer is |
| iron. | | | | backwashed. |
| Calcite Media | | | | Neutralizer filters need to be connected |
| Calcite is a crushed and screened white | | | | to a drain to allow the filters to |
| marble media which can inexpensively be | | | | backwash. The backwashing is done |
| used to neutralize acidic or low pH | | | | automatically based on a simple timer |
| waters to a neutral, less corrosive | | | | typically once every one to two weeks. |
| effluent. | | | | This flushes out any sediment or iron |
| Calcite is a naturally occurring calcium | | | | that the neutralizer filter has trapped |
| carbonate media. One of the advantages | | | | and keeps the calcite clean and properly |
| of Calcite is that it will only dissolve | | | | settled so it can filter and raise the |
| until the water reaches a neutral pH. It | | | | pH in an optimum manner. |
| does not over-correct under normal | | | | Up-Flow Neutralizers |
| conditions. | | | | An effective neutralizer filter uses an |
| Upon contact with Calcite, acidic waters | | | | automatic backwash control valve, which |
| slowly dissolve the calcium carbonate to | | | | allows the owner to have the neutralizer |
| raise the pH which reduces the potential | | | | tank be automatically cleaned every one |
| leaching of copper, lead and other | | | | to two weeks. |
| metals found in typical plumbing | | | | In some cases, no backwash control valve |
| systems. Periodic backwashing will | | | | is used and instead of the water first |
| prevent packing, reclassify the bed and | | | | flowing down through the media and up |
| maintain high service rates. | | | | the distributor tube, the piping is |
| As the calcium carbonate media | | | | installed so the water flows down the |
| neutralizes the water, it will increase | | | | distributor tube and up through the |
| hardness and a softener in some rare | | | | media. This is called an "up-flow |
| cases becomes necessary after the | | | | neutralizer" and they are not |
| neutralizing filter. However this is | | | | backwashed. |
| unusual and only occurs on water that is | | | | There are some disadvantages to up-flow |
| very low in hardness and alkalinity. | | | | neutraliers despite the lower costs. In |
| Most homeowners rarely find they need a | | | | some cases calcite media can wash out of |
| softener. | | | | the neutralizer and enter the home water |
| Calcite can be effectively combined with | | | | piping system causing damage. If the |
| Clack Corosex to combine the high flow | | | | water flow is not sufficient the media |
| neutralization properties of Corosex, | | | | can become solidified in places, causing |
| along with the slower reacting low flow | | | | the water to bypass the media. |