The Impact of Hard Water on Your Plumbing System

Your plumbing system is installed in the house for two reasons: distributing water supply and disposing of wastewater. Yet nothing can be more alarming than plumbing issues, such as water leaks, low water pressure, damaged components, or worst, flooding. Yes, there are various reasons your plumbing system gets subject to wear and tear, but did you know that hard water can be one of the culprits?

In this article, we’ll share with you the impact of hard water on your plumbing system. Keep on reading as well to see how you can address this plumbing problem through emergency plumbers.

What Is Hard Water?

Simply put, hard water is fluids with high mineral content. It has a high concentration of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals in the water for the most part. It is formed whenever the water filters through limestone, chalk, or gypsum deposits. As you may or may not be aware, these deposits consist of calcium and magnesium that get mixed with water, resulting in hard water.

In general, hard water isn’t detrimental to the human body when drunk, but it can especially be harmful to your plumbing system. If left unattended for long periods, it can cause corrosion, clogging, and even leakages to your plumbing system. When confronted with a plumbing emergency in Calgary, be sure to contact our plumbers immediately at 24 Hour Plumbing & Heating, as we offer a 24-hour plumbing service with quick and reliable repairs!

How Does Hard Water Impact Your Plumbing System?

Now, let’s take a look at how hard water can affect your plumbing system. Take note of the following details:

1. Scale buildup: This accumulation happens when calcium and magnesium ions react with your soap chemical compounds. As a result, salts are formed, and they settle in your plumbing system as limescale. Then, these deposits can cause corrosion and lead to the deterioration of your plumbing system.
2. Clogged plumbing: When the limescale deposits get accumulated inside the plumbing pipes, they can form layers covering the plumbing walls and escalate to potential clogging.
3. Changing water pressure: In line with clogged plumbing systems, the mineral buildup can reduce the pipe’s diameter and cause some water pressure changes.
4. Significant damages: If the problems above are left unattended, they all can escalate to severe plumbing damages. The last thing you’ll ever want to happen at home is to deal with a broken pipe or burst of water.

How Can You Address a Hard-Water Problem?

If you’re looking for practical ways to address a hard water problem at home, here’s what you can do:

1. Boil ‘temporary’ hard water, as doing so can precipitate the dissolved minerals out of the water.
2. Remove soap scum with the use of hard water cleaning solutions.
3. Use washing soda if you’re doing the laundry as it’s best for softening hard water.
4. Use white vinegar to get rid of hard water stains.
5. Install a water softener in your faucet.
6. Have proper disposal of wastes in your plumbing system, whether in the kitchen sink, shower drains, or toilet.

Conclusion

At this point, you now know that something as simple as hard water can cause issues and damages to your home’s plumbing system. To that end, be sure to consider all the valuable information above and follow the recommended tips. If you’re confronted with some plumbing problems, get in touch with a professional emergency plumber as soon as possible to remedy the situation!
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Do you want to avoid a plumbing emergency in Calgary through regular maintenance? Then you have come to the right place! We provide 24/7 expert plumbing and HVAC services across North America for both commercial and residential properties. Connect with us today to book an appointment or learn more about our services!