“Hard water” is a problem that too many homeowners are familiar with. It cannot really affect your health (for the most part), but it can do a number on your plumbing system. When you have hard water, the scale it leaves behind can wreck pipes and fixtures. Too often, homeowners find themselves replacing plumbing components before their time is truly up. And it’s a very big threat to your water heater, a large plumbing necessity you rely on each and every day.
How Hard Water Affects Your Plumbing
Hard water is characterized by the amount of mineral content in the water supply. If you have hard water, it means there is a high concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium. You might notice that the hard water residue, the white chalky substance known as scale, gets left behind on the drains or near the faucets. This same residue builds up in the pipes, and eventually you may just have to replace them in order to restore the right amount of water pressure to your home.
Scale and Your Water Heater
One of the ways people often find out that hard water has become a serious issue is when they start to hear the effects of hard water as they heat their water. The scale settles at the bottom of your water heater tank, and you hear a booming or banging noise as the steam bubbles attempt to rise past the sediment.
However, you might not notice any problem getting hot water to your faucets and showers. This doesn’t mean that your water heater is okay. If you leave the problem alone for too long, you might experience a system breakdown later on. The scale reduces the volume and increases pressure in the tank, and it could cause wear at the bottom of the unit, eventually leading to major leaks.
Have a technician visit your home if you suspect your water heater has sediment, and find out if flushing the tank will do the trick.
Call the super friendly team at Admiral Plumbing Services, LLC for exceptional service in Port Saint Lucie.
