Venting

Condensate neutralizers for tankless water heaters

A neutralizer raises the pH of a condensing heater's acidic condensate before it reaches the drain; the media is replaced as it is used up.

By Tanklessly Editorial · Updated October 2026

The short answer

Condensing heaters pull so much heat from the exhaust that water condenses out of it, and that condensate is acidic. A neutralizer is a cartridge of media (usually calcium carbonate) on the drain line that raises its pH before it reaches the drain. The media dissolves slowly and is refilled or replaced; follow the heater maker's and local code requirements.

In the catalog

BangaRang CN220BR Condensate Neutralizer, Calefactio CS6 Condensate Neutralizer and PENTASOO 804000074 Condensate Neutralizer.

Products mentioned

Questions readers ask

Does a condensing tankless water heater need a neutralizer?
Its condensate is acidic, so a neutralizer is commonly fitted; local code and the heater's manual decide.