| In thousands of homes on well water, acidic | | | | the flow rate of the water, in gallons or liters per |
| water causes thinning of copper pipes, pinhole | | | | minute. The higher the flow rate, and the more |
| leaks, and numerous copper pipe leaks over time. | | | | gallons per minute flows through the pipes, the |
| Acidic water filtration systems can easily correct | | | | larger the system required. Generally for most |
| and neutralize a low pH in well water. | | | | homes with 1 bathroom, a 1 cubic foot size |
| The pH scale is a scale from 1 to 14. A neutral pH | | | | system containing 100 lbs of calcite will work well. |
| is 7. A ph of less than 7 is considered acidic. A pH | | | | For homes with 1 to 2 bathrooms, a 1.5 cubic |
| greater than 7 is considered alkaline and is less | | | | foot filter is recommended. For higher flow |
| corrosive to copper pipes than waters with a pH | | | | demands and in homes with 3 to 4 bathrooms |
| of less than 7. | | | | and larger families, a 2.5 cubic foot neutralizer |
| Signs of acid water are corrosion of fixtures, blue | | | | containing 250 lbs of calcite is recommended. |
| staining (from copper pipes) or rust staining (from | | | | Neutralizer filter tanks contain a small amount of |
| iron pipes). Acidic water can also cause pinhole | | | | filter gravel in the bottom of the tank and are |
| leaks and pipe failure over time. By raising the pH | | | | filled to two-thirds full with a blend of calcium and |
| to the range of 7.0 to 7.5 the water can be made | | | | magnesium carbonates made from naturally |
| alkaline which will then reduce or eliminate pipe | | | | occurring minerals. These minerals dissolve into |
| corrosion. | | | | the water, making it less corrosive. More mineral |
| Common causes for acidic water are acid rainfall | | | | can quickly and easily be added to the filter tank, |
| due to atmospheric carbon dioxide and other | | | | typically once per year for most residential |
| airborne pollutants, runoff from mining spoils, and | | | | applications. No special tools are required. |
| decomposition of plant materials. Acidic waters | | | | The neutralizer filter should be installed after the |
| can be of good quality and are typically low in | | | | pressure tank but before any copper piping in the |
| buffering calcium minerals, but are high in dissolved | | | | house. If the pressure tank, check valve and |
| carbon-dioxide gas, which can cause the low pH or | | | | pressure switch are installed with copper piping |
| acidity. | | | | the copper piping should be replaced with PVC or |
| Calcite Neutralizer Filters | | | | stainless steel pipes up to the inlet of neutralizer |
| An acidic water filtration system is also known as | | | | filter. It is OK to have copper pipes installed on |
| a calcite neutralizer filter. One of the most | | | | the outlet of neutralizer filter since the water is |
| convenient methods to raise pH, and add a little | | | | neutralized at this point and the pipe will be |
| hardness and alkalinity is to use a calcite | | | | protected. |
| neutralizer filter. These filters will typically raise the | | | | This type of neutralizer also acts as a filter |
| pH of the water to 7.0 to 8.0 and add 30 to 100 | | | | removing sediment and small amounts of rust |
| ppm of hardness depending on the alkalinity and | | | | from the water, and then backwashing it out |
| water hardness. The water will taste better and in | | | | once every week or so. The most common type |
| most applications no water softener will be | | | | of acid neutralizer filter has an automatic |
| required after the calcite neutralizer filter. | | | | backwash control valve. The frequency and length |
| In neutralizer filters, the acidic water slowly | | | | of the backwash cycle can be easily adjusted on |
| dissolves the calcium and magnesium media on | | | | the control valve. Most backwashing acid |
| contact as the water flows through the filter, | | | | neutralizer filters are set to backwash once a |
| raising the pH of the water and increasing the | | | | week for eight to ten minutes. This backwashing |
| alkalinity. This eliminates the effects of corrosive | | | | cleans the calcite filter media and allows the |
| water chemistries and can help to prevent | | | | mineral media to more easily dissolve into the |
| corrosion of piping and fixtures. | | | | water over time. |
| The size of the system is directly proportional to | | | | |