When it comes to caring for your home’s plumbing system, there are a number of potential problems to be aware of. One of the most common and problematic is the presence of hard water. Millions of homeowners have to deal with this problem, even though they might not even be aware of it.
It’s important to know about hard water and its symptoms, if you have any chance of keeping your plumbing system in good condition. Keep reading to learn more about this problem, and its solution—Albuquerque water softeners.
What Is Hard Water?
This is the term given to describe water with a high level of magnesium and calcium particles present in it. These aren’t harmful to you, personally, though they can cause issues such as making your hair more brittle out of the shower, and leaving your skin dry—it probably will even taste a bit funny.
The real danger, however, of hard water is to your plumbing system. After years of exposure to hard water, the walls of your pipes start to accumulate these mineral deposits, and this is referred to as lime scale.
The Impact of Lime Scale
So, why does it matter if you have lime scale growing in your home’s plumbing system? Well, the more it builds up within your plumbing, the more it restricts the flow of water through them. This decreases your water pressure, and therefore makes it harder for your plumbing to operate as it should.
Even worse, if the lime scale isn’t caught and removed, it will eventually harden over time, making it almost impossible to remove the scale without further damaging the pipes it’s attached to. In order to truly protect your plumbing system from hard water and its effects, you’ll need to take preventive measures.
The Solution to Hard Water
As we alluded to above, the best was to address hard water is by preventing it from the start, with the installation of a water softener. This water treatment system was developed especially for treating the minerals that contribute to hard water. There are different types of water softeners, but they all operate by neutralizing the magnesium and calcium particles in the water in some way. This “softens” the water, so that lime scale doesn’t form in the pipes.
If you’re unsure whether or not you have hard water, there are a couple things you can look for. Take a peak around your faucets as well as you bathtub and shower, for any chalky white substance. This is lime scale, and if it’s present in these areas it’s a safe bet that it’s likely in your pipes, too.
Be sure take notice if your water pressure seems to be dropping, too. If you experience a slow drop in water pressure over time, it’s a sign that your pipes are slowly clogging up, and the culprit may certainly be lime scale from hard water. Of course, you can contact our team, too, if you’re unsure a water softener will benefit you.
Contact Axiom Home Services, Inc. for reliable water treatment services and more!