• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Your H2Home

For All Your Home Water And Plumbing Needs

  • About
  • Water Heaters
    • Tankless Water Heaters
      • Product Reviews
        • Is the Stiebel Eltron 36 Plus Tempra Worth It? Read My Review!
        • The Ecosmart ECO 27 Is Popular, But Is It Worth It? Read The Review!
        • The 3 Best Takagi Tankless Water Heaters | Our Can’t Miss Picks
        • What’s the Best Rheem Tankless Water Heater? Wrong Question
        • How to Pick the Best Rinnai Tankless Water Heater for You
        • Is the RL75 worth it? Here’s Our Review to Help Decide!
        • Want to Know If the RUC98iN Is Worth It? Read On to Find Out!
      • Buyer’s Guides
        • A Tankless Water Heater Showdown | Rinnai vs Rheem!
        • The 5 Best Electric Tankless Water Heaters for Endless Hot Water
        • Enjoy Endless Hot Water | The 5 Best Whole House Tankless Water Heaters
        • Which is the Best Propane Tankless Water Heater for You?
        • What Is the Best Tankless Water Heater for an RV?
        • Enjoy Endless Hot Water with a Portable Tankless Water Heater
        • Enjoy Endless Hot Water | Best Point of Use Small Tankless Water Heaters
      • Info Guides
        • How to Size A Tankless Water Heater | Our Buying Guide
        • Tankless Water Heater Pros and Cons | What You Need to Know
        • We Compared Gas vs Electric Tankless Water Heaters | The Result?
        • Descaling a Tankless Water Heater Is Important But It’s Also Easy
        • Before You Install Your Tankless Water Heater You Need to Read This!
        • How Much Does It Cost to Install a Tankless Water Heater?
        • Does Hard Water Affect Tankless Water Heaters? Do You Need a Softener?
        • Condensing vs Non Condensing Tankless Water Heaters
        • Yes, You Can Use A Tankless Water Heater In A Cold Climate!
        • No Electricity? No Problem! Tips On How To Use Your Water Heater In A Blackout
      • Tankless Water Heater Accessories
        • What Kind of Venting Kit Does Your Tankless Water Heater Need?
        • Make Your Own Condensate Neutralizer Capsule
        • Keep Your Tankless Running With A Tankless Water Heater Flush Kit
        • Does A Tankless Water Heater Need A Filter? Yes, It Does!
        • Sorry, But Tankless Water Heaters Don’t Give You Instant Hot Water
    • Boilers/Tank Storage
      • What Type Of Heater Do You Need For Hydronic Floor Heating?
      • What Kind Of Thermostat Is Best For Your Radiant Floor Heating System?
      • Why Is Your Water Heater Overheating And How You Can Fix It
      • How To Tell If Your Water Heater Is Going Bad And When To Replace It
  • Water Pumps
    • Info Guides
      • The Pros and Cons of Instant Hot Water Recirculating Pumps
    • Buyer’s Guides
      • Stop Wasting Water and Buy the Best Hot Water Recirculating Pump | Our Top Reviews!
  • Well Water
    • Info Guides
      • Worried About Pathogens in Your Well Water? Test for Coliform Bacteria First
      • Got Coliform? Time To Shock Your Well To Get Rid Of Bacteria
      • Is Well Water Worth it? The City vs Well Water Debate
      • With A Few Pointers You Can Have A Tankless Water Heater With A Well
      • How To Know If Your Well Is Running Dry: The Warning Signs
      • How Long Does A Water Well Pump Last? Here Is The Average Lifespan
  • Water Quality
    • How To Remineralize Water From RO Systems The Easy Way
    • Is RO Water Safe To Drink? Here Are The Pros And Cons
    • Chlorine Side Effects In Drinking Water | How Much Is Too Much?
    • Never Suffer From Chloramine In Tap Water Again! Here’s How To Remove It
    • Testing For Arsenic In Well Water Is Quick, Easy And Cheap
    • Is Drinking Well Water Healthy? Is It Safe?
    • How Safe Are Plastic Water Bottles? Are There Side Effects?
    • Plastic Water Bottle Alternatives: How To Replace Bottled Water
  • Water Filters
    • Are Shower Head Filters Worth It? Should You Use One?
    • Tired Of Dry Skin and Hair? Try The Best Shower Head Filter!
    • Removing Arsenic From Your Drinking Water Is Simple With These Filter Systems
    • Looking To Remove Coliform From Your Well? Use The Best Filters
    • Removing Iron From Well Water: The Best Whole House Filters
    • Are Charcoal Filters Safe? Or, Are There Side Effects?
    • Do Brita Filters Work? The Truth About How Effective They Are
    • Do You Need A Water Softener? What Are The Alternatives?
    • Who Wins? An Aquasana vs Berkey Water Filters Comparison
    • Want To Remove Fluoride? Use The Best Filters To Get Rid Of It
    • Is Zero Water More Effective Than Brita? Our Full Comparison
Home » Info Guides » Make Your Own Condensate Neutralizer Capsule

Make Your Own Condensate Neutralizer Capsule

June 14, 2019 by Nick LoPresti Leave a Comment

You’ve just bought a condensing tankless water heater and are starting to realize that it’s getting expensive.

Between the installation and the unit itself it can add up quick.

Then, on top of it you need a condensate neutralizing trap. The thought of spending more money on one has you thinking twice about your purchase.

Have no fear!

The tankless water heater is an awesome purchase you won’t regret. Not only that, but there is a very cheap solution to buying a condensate neutralizing trap.

You can easily and economically make your own condensate neutralizer trap!

Here is a very handy guide on how to DIY a capsule yourself to safely drain away your condensate from your tankless water heater.

Before I get into the instructions with a helpful video, let’s go over a few things you need to keep in mind before you make a homemade condensate neutralizer.

# Preview Product Rating Price
1 Rinnai 809000114 Condensate Neutralizer Refill, Small Rinnai 809000114 Condensate Neutralizer Refill, Small 97 Reviews $24.50 Check It Out On Amazon
2 50 lb. Bag of Limestone Chips (1 Bag) 50 lb. Bag of Limestone Chips (1 Bag) No ratings yet $278.00 Check It Out On Amazon
3 CHEMSORB an - Acid Neutralizing Absorbent, 1 Gal. Bag, SP60AN-L1B, Fast-Acting Acid Neutralizer Absorbent Spill Response, Safe Color Changing Technology, Silica Free Neutralizer, Laboratories, Yellow CHEMSORB an - Acid Neutralizing Absorbent, 1 Gal. Bag, SP60AN-L1B, Fast-Acting Acid Neutralizer... 13 Reviews $16.14 Check It Out On Amazon
4 Saniflo 042 Neutralizer Granules for SaniCondens Best Saniflo 042 Neutralizer Granules for SaniCondens Best 23 Reviews $38.25 Check It Out On Amazon

In this article:

  • Is a condensate neutralizer necessary?
  • How the neutralizer trap works
  • What kind of material does the trap need?
  • How often should you change the condensate neutralizer?
  • How to make a condensate neutralizer box
  • Step By Step Guide to DIY Condensate Box or Capsule
  • Final Thoughts
DIY tankless water heater installation

Is a condensate neutralizer necessary?

Yes, you definitely need to have a condensate neutralizer if you have a condensing tankless water heater for two possible reasons. One, your local ordinances may require it. Two, you’ll damage your drains as the condensate is highly acidic.

You may be tempted to just let it drain away, but you’ll end up spending more money in the long run by needing to replace your drains after a while.

And, your city may require a neutralizer so that their pipes don’t get damaged by your runoff.

If you haven’t bought your tankless water heater yet and wonder which kind you should get then head over to my article I wrote about the differences between condensing and non condensing. This will give you a better understanding of the kind you need.

How the neutralizer trap works

As your acidic discharge enters the capsule, it encounters the media. Then the media, whichever one you choose, will turn change the pH of the water from acid to base, thus neutralizing it. It’s the calcium carbonate present in those stones is what changes the acidity.

Save $$$ Every Year By Ditching Bottled Water! Check Out This Gravity Filter!

What kind of material does the trap need?

Either marble or limestone work just fine with a couple of caveats. You can use the same crushed limestone that you see on some driveways, or marble for landscaping, but the calcium carbonate content varies so there is no way to have an accurate idea of how well they will work.

Plus, larger chips are not as effective in general.

The key is to look for small chips. Larger chips won’t give you as much fill in the capsule and will instead have air pockets. The smaller chips will fill the container more fully.

I recommend going to Amazon to pick these up so you can avoid having to buy a gigantic bag from your local big box store.

Having a pelletized lime type material is the way to go in my opinion.

There is a special type from Saniflo that allows the drainage to pass through easier since they are shaped like little balls. The shape also makes it easier to fill your trap, and the amount of calcium carbonate is higher than limestone chips.

How often should you change the condensate neutralizer?

You should plan on changing your filler for the condensate capsule at least once per year.

I wouldn’t have that set in stone however. Especially since many condensing tankless water heaters can really concentrate the amount of corrosive acids that accumulate like nitric, nitrous, sulfuric, and sulfurous and hydrochloric acids.

I recommend testing the runoff periodically with a pH tester to see what the levels are as it runs off into the drain.

Using a pH reader like this one from Vantakool, you can make sure that the water has been neutralized.

What should the pH be when it goes into the drain?

Look for a pH of over 5. 5 or 6 is about the same pH as rain water and won’t do any damage. Even a pH as high as 4 can be corrosive to your pipes. If you test and it is under 5 then I would change out that filler before it gets very corrosive.

Basically, you should add changing your filler for the trap part of your general tankless water heater maintenance schedule. If you want to know more about how to take care of your tankless water heater then follow that link to a detailed article I wrote about everything you need to know about how to maintain yours.

How to make a condensate neutralizer box

If you want to save some money, it is actually very easy to make your own condensate neutralizer box.

With some PVC, a 5 gallon painter’s bucket and some limestone or marble chips, you can do a really easy DIY version.

Here are the materials you’ll need:

  • 5 gallon painter’s bucket with lid (or a 15 to 20 inch long PVC pipe with end caps)
  • 2 nylon hose barbs – ½ inch width male
  • Liquid cement
  • 1 bag of marble or limestone chips

Step By Step Guide to DIY Condensate Box or Capsule

Time needed: 1 hour.

DIY Condensate Neutralizer

  1. Make a Plan

    Whether you are going to use a bucket or a PVC pipe figure out where you will be adding the connectors for the pipe to attach.
    If you use a PVC pipe, make sure it is a 4” and is at least 15 inches long. You’ll want to make sure that the entrance hole is higher than the exit so it drains properly.

  2. Drill the Holes

    Assuming you are using ½ inch hose barbs, then you will need a 23/32 taper drill bit to make your holes.
    Just make your holes in the spot where you need the water to enter and exit the box.

  3. Get Some Glue

    Have your liquid cement ready and use the wand to apply the glue around the holes. Then add a bit to the hose barbs themselves.
    Snugly attach the barbs to the pipe or bucket lid and bucket.

  4. Fill with Media

    If you are using a PVC pipe then fill it with the chips. Either limestone or marble as they will neutralize the condensate. How much you need depends on how big the space is. If you are using a bucket you only need to fill it a few inches deep. A pipe should be totally filled.

  5. Seal it Up

    Now just close the PVC pipe with the caps or put the lid on the bucket. Don’t seal these with cement as you will need to open them to refill.

  6. Check the pH

    How often do you need to change the condensate neutralizer? You should check once a year what the pH is. A good indicator is between 6 and 8, so if it goes lower than 5 you will need to refill the condensate material.

Take a look at this video to learn how to make a condensate neutralizer capsule.

Final Thoughts

I have to admit I am not the most handy guy out there and yet, I feel like building my own DIY condensate neutralizer capsule is not at all difficult. Just about anybody can do it.

Is it worth it to build your own?

If you love the idea of saving money by making your own solutions to problems then I think it’s definitely worth it.

If you are busy, like I am, then buying one already made may be the way to go since your time is also money.

Check out these ones from Amazon that you can buy set up and ready to go.

Otherwise, take some satisfaction in knowing you are self sufficient and keep some more of your hard earned money in your pocket.

If you need some help with this then let me know. Drop a comment in the box below and I will get back to you ASAP!

water heaters
Spread the love
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Filed Under: Info Guides, Tankless Water Heater Accessories, Tankless Water Heaters

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Share the joy

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Find an Article

About

If you have questions and need an easy to understand answer then this website was written with you in mind.

I’m just a regular guy, with a regular job and a family.

I had questions and had trouble finding all the answers in one place. So, I made this site to help others that were in the same boat as I was.

Hopefully, you find it useful!

 

Recent Articles

Enjoy Endless Hot Water | The 5 Best Whole House Tankless Water Heaters

How To Ruin A Furnace: Use The Wrong Smart Thermostat

How To Decide Between A Water Softener vs Conditioner

How To Remineralize Water From RO Systems The Easy Way

Is Zero Water More Effective Than Brita? Our Full Comparison

Footer

YourH2Home is your go to site to get the most up to date information on all your water system needs.

Our guides are objective and thorough to help you make an informed decision before you make a purchase.

Share the joy

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Search the site

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

AMAZON.COM DISCLOSURE

YourH2Home is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to [(amazon.com, amazonsupply.com, or myhabit.com)

© Copyright 2018 YourH2Home · All Rights Reserved ·