Benefits of a Neutralizing Condensate Pump

As the world grows and evolves so do the consumer demands. The efficiency of a 1950’s air conditioner and heating system are no longer expectable quality for 2020. Modern air conditioning systems and heating systems have been developed to be meet the needs and demands – creating highly efficient condensate pumps for the highly efficient air conditioners and heating systems.

If they are so efficient, why neutralize? -  The condensing technology saves energy by maximizing the amount of heat energy transferred to the water during the combustion process. A by-product or result of this high-efficiency process is water, or condensate, that tends to be acidic because of the chemical reaction caused by the heat of the gas burner. The higher the efficiency rating, the higher the acid level in the water runoff.

If this runoff drains through a home’s or a building’s plumbing system, piping could corrode over time. Pumping the waste outdoors or into sanitary sewers could contaminate the groundwater or degrade the local water infrastructure. For homes with septic tanks, condensate waste might also destroy the good bacteria that is essential to keeping the system operating properly.

“Many times, condensate cannot drain adequately via gravity, usually because the application lacks conventional, below-floor drainage,” explains Saniflo CEO Regis Saragosti. “This problem can cause property damage or even create health hazards by adversely affecting indoor air quality.”

All condensate pumps should be installed with a neutralizing filter or neutralizer when connected to any high efficiency, condensing boilers or furnaces.

This year Saniflo added a new condensate pump option to the Sanicondens range, totaling at three condensate pumps in the condensate pump series. Saniflo added the Sanicondens Best Flat to the Sanicondens and the Sanicondens Best.

Depending on what appliance you’d like to install, determines the best condensate pump for you.

The first in the range, is the Sanicondens, the most straightforward of the three pumps. The Sanicondens pumps away from condensing boilers and air conditioners without neutralizing. While both the Sanicondens Best, and the Sanicondens Best Flat are 2-in-1 neutralizing condensate pumps that are able to neutralize acidic gray water.

The Sanicondens Best Flat is indeed like the Sanicondens Best being a neutralizing pump, but there is more! In addition to incorporating most of the same features as the Sanicondens Best, this new more powerful pump offers a more compact look, a larger volume and the ability to handle multiple mechanical systems, while still protecting drain lines from corrosive condensate.

Sanicondens Best Flat is designed to have nearly double the tank volume and capable of serving multiple mechanical systems, up to a total of 500,000 Btu per hour.

The built-in tank of the Sanicondens Best Flat has a capacity of 0.9 gallons, or nearly a half-gallon more than the 0.55-gallon tank in the Sanicondens Best. This larger volume creates longer contact between the condensate and the neutralizing pellets, allowing the unit to handle fixtures with higher BTU outputs.

This neutralizer system conforms to many state and local codes requiring condensate treatment, the Sanicondens Best Flat incorporates many other important features found in the predecessor model.

You can compare the difference between the three condensate pumps below:

If you have any questions or concerns, you can always call our technical hotline at 800-363-5874 to find out which of our products would work best.