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