Acid Neutralizing Filters

Q. How do acid neutralizer filters work"?
A. Acidic waters slowly dissolve the calcium and magnesium media on contact as the water flows through the filter, raising the pH of the water and increasing the alkalinity. This eliminates the effects of corrosive water chemistries and can help to prevent corrosion of piping and fixtures.

Q. Can these systems be used for drinking water?
A. The systems are all made from non-toxic and food grade materials. Neutralizers do not remove any contaminants from water but merely add calcium and magnesium at controlled rates, so they don't purify the water.

Q. Do these systems come in different sizes?
A. Yes. The size of the system is directly proportional to the flow rate of the water, in gallons per minute. The higher the flow rate, the larger the system required.

Q. Do these filters have any special conditions to work properly?
A. Yes! The systems come in two blends, and you should know the pH, alkalinity, hardness, and total dissolved solids. The water must be low in tannins and free of oil. It is also important to know iron and manganese levels.

Q. Can I get assistance in choosing the best neutralizer system for my application?
A. Yes! You should first have your water tested, and then contact our technical staff for help on selecting the best neutralizer filter system for your application by completing our online neutralizer form.

Q. My water also has a very bad odor of sulfur, is this a problem?
A. No. If hydrogen sulfides levels are low, a neutralizing filter system may reduce it but generally you should treat the hydrogen sulfide with ozone or chlorine and greensand filtration.

Q. Are these systems big energy users?
A. No. The control valve uses only about 15 watts of energy to run the timer and backwash valve.

Q. I have very high iron and manganese (greater than .05 ppm), will these filters remove these?
A. Yes, at low levels, but for best results use a greensand filter system or a Birm blend iron filter. In some cases, you can use a Birm Blend filter as a combination acid neutralizer and iron filter, all in one tank. Contact our technical staff for more information on this.

Q. What maintenance is required?
A. Under the right conditions there is little maintenance. Periodically, and depending on raw water pH and the amount of water used, additional mineral is easily added to the filter tank. This is typically once a year for the average home.

Q. Is there a pressure loss through the system?
A. Properly sized, the system produces a very low pressure drop at service flow rates, usually around 5 psi.

Q. Can I route the backwash water to my septic tank?
A. Yes. The backwash water is non-toxic and can be routed to the septic tank with no problem. It can also be routed to landscaping, although the backwash may contain sediment or other particles removed from the water.

Q. How frequently do I have to replace the filter media?
A. The filter media will last for 4 to 8 years depending on usage and conditions. It is easily replaced.

Q. I have also heard of "Up-Flow Neutralizers", what are these?
A. Upflow neutralizers use similar filter media, but instead of a downward flow of water, as with our acid neutralizers, the water flows up through the filter media. These systems are not backwashed, and the media does not filter sediment. Our acid neutralizers also act as filters, removing sediment and oxidized iron particles. By periodically backwashing the filters, the sediment is discharged to drain. Backwashing also serves to clean and to re-classify the filter media. If you really want an upflow filter, we can supply you with the materials to put your own one together. In some cases, if the water is very clean, and there is no power available, we do recommend upflow neutralizers, but in most cases the automatic acid neutralizing filters work much and are much less trouble than an upflow neutralizer, in our experience.