Why Water is Bad for Your Plumbing?
The title of this blog is saying that water is bad for your plumbing.
Yes. This is true.
Water is meant to pass through your plumbing pipes, but that doesn’t mean it won’t damage them. Before you think we’re crazy — we want to explain to you what we mean…
Not All Water is the Same
When we say water is bad for your plumbing, we’re not talking about ALL water. What we’re talking about is hard water, which is terrible for your plumbing!
Water will become hard when it absorbs minerals (like calcium and magnesium). Hardness is measured in milligrams of minerals per liter.
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Water is considered moderately hard when it contains 60 – 120 mg/L.
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Water is considered hard when it contains 121 – 180 mg/L.
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Water is considered very hard when it contains more than 181 mg/L.
If you’re unsure if your home’s water is considered “hard,” have it tested by your local plumber — however, you’ll usually know if you do based on the problems it can cause…
Problems Hard Water Can Cause
If you live in a home with hard water, you’ll experience some, if not all, of these problems:
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Soap scum and suds are created when you use soap with hard water (including laundry)
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Water spots will be visible on glasses, dishware, utensils, etc.
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A shiny film (along with scale buildup) will be present on fixtures and surfaces within bathrooms and kitchens
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Limescale buildup will be present on faucets, fixtures, and plumbing pipes
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Faucets and plumbing fixtures will release a slower flow of water due to mineral buildup within plumbing pipes
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Plumbing fixtures like water heaters will experience a shortened lifespan
How Hard Water Can Damage Your Plumbing
Over time, as hard water passes through your plumbing, the minerals will begin to build up within the pipes. As a result, you will experience:
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Increased frequency of clogs
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Increased frequency of leaks
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A decrease in the flow of water from faucets and fixtures
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Decreased drain speed
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Decreased lifespan of your plumbing fixtures.
When you think about why you would call a plumber, it’s usually to have them repair a plumbing fixture, fix a leak, or unclog a drain.
If hard water causes all of these problems, shouldn’t you do something about it before these problems occur?
For those who are living with hard water — you don’t have to! There are many ways in which your water can be treated, turning your hard water into “soft” water.
Water conditioning is something every home should look into. You’ll thank us later…
