You may have never had to think about whether your water is “hard” or “soft.” The idea might seem preposterous to you. How could water be hard anyway? The hardness of water refers to minerals that may be in it, such as calcium, lime, or iron. If water has more than one grain per gallon, it is considered hard.
The best way to know the hardness of your water is to call in someone to test it. You can find out exactly what minerals are in it and to what extent. But before you have your water tested, you can be pretty sure that you have hard water if you have buildup around your faucets and fixtures, if you have slow-trickling shower heads and faucets.
Hard water is more than just a nuisance. It can actually harm your pipes. Here’s how:
Buildup Forms in the Pipes
Hard water has a lot of minerals in it, and they don’t always flow through the pipes and out the fixtures. Often, these minerals are heavy enough that they fall to the bottom of the pipes. Over time, minerals can build up inside the pipes and can obstruct the flow of the water. That makes it harder for the water to pass through, which will make it harder for you to enjoy the right water pressure from your faucets.
In the worst-case scenario, the water pressure can build up in your pipes because of he smaller space, and that can put stress on your pipes. They could loosen from their connectors, creating leaks, or they could even burst.
Minerals Collect on Faucets and Fixtures
Minerals don’t just build up in the pipes – they can also buildup inside or around your faucets and fixtures. You can get scale around your toilet or your tub, creating unsightly stains that make your bathroom look dirty or old. The buildup can also result in lower flow from your fixtures, which can make it harder for you to do the things you need to do, like clean your clothes or dishes. This buildup can be very difficult to remove, resulting in you having to replace some fixtures.
Scale Builds Up in Water Heaters
Hard water takes a toll on water heaters, leaving behind scale. The problem only worsens as the temperature rises. The hotter the temperature, the more minerals are likely to be left behind. You’ll know that you have a lot of scale in your water heater when you hear a lot of popping and crackling from the heater. Cleaning this scale from inside your water heater is nearly impossible, so hard water shortens the life span of your water heater.
Damages from Soft Water
Soft water can also damage your plumbing, but it doesn’t have nearly the same negative impact as hard water. Soft water can leave behind pits in the copper tubing of traditional boilers. However, hard water can also block up that tubing with mineral deposits. If you have a boiler, you need to monitor the pH closely to keep it at optimum levels.
Salt from softener can end up in septic system, which can disrupt the balance of bacteria there. The water softener uses salt to rinse out the system, and that can empty into your drains and go into your septic. You can minimize this impact by switching to an electronic control for your softener rather than a mechanical timer, thereby reducing the amount of times that the system flushes itself.
If you have hard water, it can do serious damage to your plumbing system over time. It’s important that you use a water softener and take other measures to mitigate the impact of the hard water. Just make sure you are working with an experienced plumber who can counsel you on the maintaining the optimal health of your water and your plumbing.
If your plumbing has already been damaged from hard water, Integrity Repipe can give you a fresh start. Our re-piping specialists can help you choose the best piping for your home to minimize the impact of mineral buildup and corrosion so that your plumbing system has a longer life. You’ll experience fewer problems with water pressure, smelly water, bad-tasting water, and other issues that can come with hard water. Call us today to schedule a consultation with one of our re-piping specialists.
Published by – Integrity Repipe Inc
Integrity Repipe Inc – Mission Viejo, CA
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