State Industries SUF 130 THRU 500 manual Vent Condensation, What does the PH Scale MEAN?

VENT CONDENSATION

6” PIPE FIELD SUPPLIED

6” x 4” REDUCER FIELD SUPPLIED

4” PIPE FIELD SUPPLIED

EXHAUST ELBOW

VENT CONNECTION

FACTORY INSTALLED

VENT (EXHAUST) CONNECTION

Failure to properly install the drain line on the condensate elbow will result in a water heater shut down and a “blocked exhaust” fault message.

The average dew point of natural gas flue products is 127°F. Propane flue products is 119°F. With 70°F ambient air temperature and 180°F stored water temperature, exhaust gas will be approximately 140°F.

Q. CAN I DRAIN THIS CONDENSATION TO THE FLOOR DRAIN?

A. The “Corrosion Resistance of Cast Iron Soil Pipe” by the Ductile Metals Association (formally the Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute) states that: “Internal corrosion of cast iron soil pipe and fittings can be caused by strong acids or other reagents having an acidity of pH 4.3 or less if allowed to contact cast iron pipe for an extended period of time without sufficient dilution to raise the pH valve about 4.3. By avoiding low pH discharges, internal corrosion problems can be limited or eliminated, assuring the owner many years of service.”

Q. WHAT ABOUT THE PH VALUES OF CONDENSATE AND SODA POP?

A. The pH of the SUF condensate average 4.5 which is approximately 4 times less concentrated than the limit of 4.3 recommended by the DMA. Any water flow in the drain rapidly dilutes the condensate even more. A can of leading carbonated cola drink measured a pH of 2.5 which is 300 times more concentrated than the SUF condensate.

Q. WHAT DOES THE PH SCALE MEAN?

A. The PH value is a measure of acidity or alkalinity. A pH of 7 is neutral. Numbers from 7 to 1 indicate increasing acidity and numbers from 7 to 14 indicate increasing alkalinity. The pH scale is similar to the Richter scale used to measure earthquakes. Each number indicates a change of 10 times the concentration of the previous value. A pH-6 is 10 times more concentrated than a pH-7, a pH-5 is (10x10) 100 times pH-7 and pH-4 is (10x10x10) 1,000 times pH-7, etc.

Q. WHAT ABOUT CONDENSATE NEUTRALIZERS?

A. Condensate neutralizers are usually not necessary. A condensate neutralizer is easy to make by filling a short length of 2" or 3" PVC pipe with landscape marble chips, capping it and installing it in series with the condensate drain of the equipment. Most commercial neutralizers are off the market because of poor demand for the product. Condensation from the exhaust vent piping and tank internal flue way must be allowed to drain. A “blocked flue” indication will often be your first indication that condensate is not draining.