pH Level: Do I Need A Water Filtration System?
How Do I Know If I Need A Water Filtration System?
The pH level in water is a value that essentially determines whether your water is hard or soft. The higher the pH level is, the harder the water. A pH of pure water is a 7. When testing your drinking water, we look for the pH level of your water to be between a 7 and 8.5. If your pH level is much lower than this, it is an indication that your water is acidic. The treatment for acidic water is installing a water filtration system.
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with lower numbers being more acidic and higher number being basic.
- 0 – 6.5 is Acidic
- 7 is Neutral
- 5 – 14 is Basic
Using both the pH level and the alkalinity level measurements, we can determine the corrosiveness of your water.
If the pH level in your water is off, you may see some, or all of these symptoms:
- Blue/Green Staining
- Plumbing Or Appliance Leaks
- Dingy Clothing
- Reduced Appliance Efficiency
- Sour/Metallic Taste
If your water’s pH level is a 6.5 or lower, there is the dangerous potential for acid water to leach metal ions (can damage plumbing pipes/fixture). This is why we recommend installing a water filtration system if your water test indicates that you have a low pH level.
Are there health concerns having acidic water?
- Since acidic water can lead to the leaching of metal ions in plumbing fixtures/pipes, there is a big health concern with acidic water is in relation to copper piping. The dissolving of copper piping causes traces of copper to be consumed in your drinking water. Long-term exposure to high levels of copper can lead to serious health problems, like liver or kidney damage.
At Kulk’s Plumbing & Heating, we recommend the Clarifier Series Acid Neutralizer water filtration system for water reports that indicate a pH level lower than 7. This water filtration system can help to treat a variety of common household water conditions like;
- Iron
- Chlorine
- Turbidity
- Low pH
The AN models of The Clarifier Series water filtration system are specifically designed to neutralize acids. The corrosive water is neutralized after passing through a calcium and magnesium-based solution called calcite and/or NZ mix. During the water filtration process, incoming water passes through a tank where water contaminants are then treated. Other models of the Clarifier Series of water filtration systems help to treat other water issues like taste/odor (AC model), and turbidity reduction (MM model).
If you are noticing some of these symptoms indicated above in your drinking water and/or appliance performance, this could be a clear sign of low pH levels. Low pH levels can not only lead to plumbing issues, but also health concerns if exposed for extended periods of time. The first step in determining the issues with your home’s water is performing a water test. From there, we can determine what type of water filtration system you need. If your water is determined to be acidic, we will recommend the Clarifier Series Acid Reducer (AN models).
Contact Kulk’s Plumbing & Heating today to schedule your free water test and let us help provide you with the safest and most efficient water supply.