Acid Neutralizer & Water Softener Package Deals

Why combine a neutralizer and softener?

Calcite raises pH by dissolving into the water, and that adds about 3 to 6 grains per gallon of hardness. Most acidic wells start soft: across the acidic wells in our lab-tested water reports, the median hardness was 2.4 grains per gallon, and about one in seven was already at 7 or more. Seven grains is where water-using appliance manufacturers recommend softening, so a well that starts at 2 to 4 grains can cross that line once the neutralizer is in.

1) Corrosion protection: The acid neutralizer raises pH into a safe range, helping prevent pipe corrosion, pinhole leaks, and metallic taste.

2) Scale control: The water softener prevents scale buildup that restricts flow, reduces appliance life, and makes soaps and detergents less effective.

3) Sizing: The neutralizer is sized by your pH and household size. A non-backwashing neutralizer never backwashes, so flow rate does not size it. The softener is sized by your hardness in grains per gallon, counted after the neutralizer's 3 to 6 grains, and the number of people in the home. The goal is not the biggest system; it is the right pair for your water.

4) Order: The neutralizer goes before the softener. If you also need an iron filter, the order is neutralizer, iron filter, then softener. Choose a backwashing pair only when iron is above 0.5 ppm or you have heavy sediment.

What ships and who installs it

What ships: the neutralizer tank, the softener mineral tank and brine tank, each valve with its bypass valve pre-installed, and the calcite and softener resin in separate bags, loaded into the tanks at install. Every tank ships empty. Drain tubing is not included: the softener needs 1/2 inch tubing to a drain and an outlet nearby, while a non-backwashing neutralizer needs neither. We recommend installation by a licensed plumber; Aidan supports your plumber by phone at 800-460-5810.

If you have a recent water test, call with your pH, hardness, and the number of people in the home, and we will confirm whether you need the pair or just the neutralizer. If you have not tested yet, we will tell you what to test first.