NOTE: How long the calcite media lasts depends
entirely upon the level of water hardness, and can last from 6
months to 2 years.
Whole House Calcite Tank to Raise pH Water Levels
One of the advantages of Calcite is its self-limiting property.
When properly applied, it corrects pH only enough to reach a
non-corrosive equilibrium. It does not overcorrect under normal
conditions. Upon contact with Calcite, acidic waters slowly
dissolve the calcium carbonate to raise the pH, which reduces the
pipe corrosion potential of leaching of copper, lead and other
metals found in typical plumbing systems. Periodic backwashing will
prevent packing, reclassify the bed and maintain high service
rates. Depending on pH, water chemistry and service flow, the
Calcite bed will have to be periodically replenished as the Calcite
is depleted.
CuZn Whole House Refillable Calcite Filter Specifications
- Water flow is up to 8 gpm
- Dimensions are 42" tall x 8" diameter
- Fittings 3/4"inlet and outlet
- Warranty: Tanks carry 10-year pro-rated
What Is Acid Water?
Acid water is water with a potential hydrogen (pH) of less than
7. pH refers to the amount of hydrogen ions mixed in with the
water. pH is measured on a scale from 0 to 14, and 7 represents
neutral where the water is neither alkaline nor acidic.
Zero through 7 indicates acidity, the lower the number the higher
the acidity. Seven through 14 indicates alkalinity, the higher the
number the higher the alkalinity.
Like the Richter scale for measuring earthquake intensity, the
pH scale is logarithmic. A solution with a pH of 8.0 is ten times
more alkaline than a solution with a pH of 7.0. A solution with a
pH of 9.0 is 100 times more alkaline than a solution with a pH of
7.0.
Why Is Acid Water Bad?
Although there are many beneficial uses of acidic water --
it is a natural astringent for washing your face, it can relieve
dry and itchy skin, it can expedite the healing of skin
problems, it can kill bacteria when washing produce, etc. -- a low
pH of less than 6.5 can wreak havoc in your home.
The corrosive nature of acidic water causes metal ions such as
iron, manganese, copper, lead and zinc to leach into the water,
causing elevated levels of toxic metals in your water. 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. It may also cause
aesthetic problems, such as a metallic or sour taste.
How to Raise Water's pH
One of the most convenient methods to raise pH is to use a
calcite, which is a crushed and screened white marble media which
can inexpensively be used to neutralize acidic or low pH waters to
a neutral, less corrosive effluent. A Calcite filter will typically
raise the pH of the water to around 7.0 and add 1-3 grains of
hardness (30 to 50 ppm of hardness) depending on the alkalinity
level and the amount of calcium and magnesium (hardness) of the
water. Calcite has the same properties of Himalayan rock salt in
that when salt rocks are added to water, the rocks stop dissolving
when the water pH hits 7.0. When all the calcite has been
dissolved, that means it is time to add more calcite.
How to Test the pH of Your Water
Watersafe Drinking Water Tests Kits are an affordable revolution
in home water testing. They are a fast -- results in 10 minutes
start to finish -- comprehensive in-home water test method. And
they provide professional lab-quality results that appear right
before your eyes.
The Watersafe Drinking Water Test Kit contains everything you
need to find out simply and accurately if your water contains
unsafe or undesirable levels of 8 common contaminants in city water
and 10 common contaminants in well water.
Backwashing Frequently Asked Questions
Lots of folks have asked questions about the backwashing head on
the whole house system. Here are the five most commonly asked
questions and the answers.
What is backwashing?
Backwashing is the process of forcing water through the filter in
the wrong direction to unclog the dirt and sediment which has
blocked the filter. Backwashing is a common practice for certain
whole house and commercial units which are treating large volumes
of water for utility purposes but it is not a recognized practice
for small point of use drinking water systems.
How many gallons does it use in the
backwash?
Around fifty gallons. It could be slightly more or less depending
upon water pressure.
How long does the backwashing last?
It lasts approximately 10 minutes.
What is the flow rate of the backwash
water?
5-7 gallons per minute flow rate
Does it have to backwash every day?
It's advisable to backwash daily but not mandatory. Often times
systems on municipally treated water backwash once every three or
four days. Systems on wells are urged to backwash daily. The
frequency of backwash depends greatly upon the quality of
water.
What's So Special About CuZn Water
Systems?
Read more about CuZn's patented KDF
FilterFoam and Acid Washed Coconut Shell Carbon Media
How CuZn Water Filtration Media Works
CuZn Water Filters are made in the U.S.A. and are Duty FREE to
Canada.