How Hard Water Can Affect Your Pipes

A hard water problem becomes quite evident when you look at its effect on your clothes, dishes, and skin, but it impacts far more than just that. You may not be able to see it, but hard water can do quite a number on your pipes. Here’s exactly how hard water can affect your pipes and what you can do to fix them.

What is hard water?

While you may know the telltale signs of hard water, the actual reason behind it is a bit more elusive. Water becomes hard water when an excess of minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium, are present. This is due to the water cycle—when water goes through the soil, it picks up minerals along the way.

Hard water’s effect on your pipes

You may not see your pipes on a regular basis, but if you have hard water, it will cause damage. The most likely outcome is that you’ll find yourself with clogged pipes. Mineral deposits get left behind when water heats and evaporates, which results in solid limescale. Over time, these accumulations will leave you with clogged pipes that do not work properly. This will cause a whole host of issues, including low water pressure, or the connected appliance simply won’t work anymore.

How you can eliminate hard water

Sometimes, the most insidious problems are the ones you can’t see. You can say the same when it comes to the potential problems hard water poses for your pipes. It’s very possible that you won’t even notice a problem until it escalates. As with any problem in the home, it’s best to take care of it before it becomes a full-blown mess.

A surefire way to eliminate hard water in your pipes is to install a water softener. If you need water testing in Delaware to deal with the problem, Delmarva Water Solutions can help. We have the expertise to end those issues, so you can enjoy high-quality water that won’t mess with your pipes again.