Acidic Water Filtration Systems Prevent Copper Pipe Corrosion on Acid Well Water

In thousands of homes on well water, acidic water causes thinning of copper pipes, pinhole leaks, and numerous copper pipe leaks over time. Acidic water filtration systems can easily correct and neutralize a low pH in well water.

The pH scale is a scale from 1 to 14. A neutral pH is 7. A ph of less than 7 is considered acidic. A pH greater than 7 is considered alkaline and is less corrosive to copper pipes than waters with a pH of less than 7.

Signs of acid water are corrosion of fixtures, blue staining (from copper pipes) or rust staining (from iron pipes). Acidic water can also cause pinhole leaks and pipe failure over time. By raising the pH to the range of 7.0 to 7.5 the water can be made alkaline which will then reduce or eliminate pipe corrosion.

Common causes for acidic water are acid rainfall due to atmospheric carbon dioxide and other airborne pollutants, runoff from mining spoils, and decomposition of plant materials. Acidic waters can be of good quality and are typically low in buffering calcium minerals, but are high in dissolved carbon-dioxide gas, which can cause the low pH or acidity.

The size of the system is directly proportional to the flow rate of the water, in gallons or liters per minute. The higher the flow rate, and the more gallons per minute flows through the pipes, the larger the system required. Generally for most homes with 1 bathroom, a 1 cubic foot size system containing 100 lbs of calcite will work well. For homes with 1 to 2 bathrooms, a 1.5 cubic foot filter is recommended. For higher flow demands and in homes with 3 to 4 bathrooms and larger families, a 2.5 cubic foot neutralizer containing 250 lbs of calcite is recommended.
Neutralizer filter tanks contain a small amount of filter gravel in the bottom of the tank and are filled to two-thirds full with a blend of calcium and magnesium carbonates made from naturally occurring minerals. These minerals dissolve into the water, making it less corrosive. More mineral can quickly and easily be added to the filter tank, typically once per year for most residential applications. No special tools are required.

The neutralizer filter should be installed after the pressure tank but before any copper piping in the house. If the pressure tank, check valve and pressure switch are installed with copper piping the copper piping should be replaced with PVC or stainless steel pipes up to the inlet of neutralizer filter. It is OK to have copper pipes installed on the outlet of neutralizer filter since the water is neutralized at this point and the pipe will be protected.

Anti-corrosion Pipes

The Benefits of Epoxy Pipe Lining

Plumbing pipes corrode over time. And neglecting to address this issue until a clog or rupture occurs will cost you a lot. Corroded pipes that burst or backup is an extremely messy, tedious, and invasive repair project. The results can force a person or family out of their home for quite some time, influence tenants to break leases, and even pose health hazards. For this reason, proper and routine plumbing care is necessary to avoid pipe damage and health problems, as well as, to protect your home's structural integrity. One innovative and effective method to preventing pipe corrosion and subsequent problems is epoxy pipe lining. Continue reading to learn more about epoxy pipe lining, how it works, and how it can benefit your home for years to come.

Plumbing Pipe Repair

Epoxy Pipe Lining Pipe repair, also referred to as "re-piping" in the plumbing industry, is not a quick and simple process. In fact, it requires the skills of a true licensed master plumber, not just a standard or contract plumber. These plumbers are fully-certified to manage the most complex and dangerous plumbing services, designs, and repairs. Re-piping is invasive, and simple replaces old piping materials with new ones; new ones that will only need to be replaced over and over again. It requires a long stint of work, time, money, and mess, and doesn't always fix the underlying problem. Fortunately, there is an alternative to re-piping called epoxy pipe lining.

Not only is it efficient and less-evasive, it is cost-effective as well. Rather than starting demolition on location, digging holes and drilling into underground piping, epoxy pipe lining simply uses existing entrance points to access the plumbing pipes that need repaired. This saves a substantial amount of time, labor costs, money, and mess. The epoxy pipe lining inner coating material is safe and non-toxic, keeping drinking water contaminant-free and safe to use for all applications. It inhibits sewage from entering local water systems as well. A master plumber can explain all the details to pipe re-lining and repair in regards to your particular and unique plumbing system.

Anti-corrosion Pipes