Hard water may not seem like a big deal, but it can severely damage plumbing pipes and fixtures. It can also reduce the lifespan of your plumbing system. It’s not enough to treat the symptoms; it’s also important to take steps to prevent the problem from happening. Understanding how hard water affects your system can help you make smart decisions to protect your home from Tucson hard water damage.
What’s Hard Water in Tucson?
The water that runs through your plumbing pipes is typically classified as being soft, moderately hard, hard, or very hard. If it falls into any of the “hard” categories, that means it contains high levels of dissolved minerals, especially magnesium and calcium. The water is usually safe to drink. However, it can significantly damage plumbing systems over time due to the mineral deposits it leaves behind.
What Are Signs I Have Hard Water at My Tucson Home?
It’s typically easy to notice signs that you have hard water at your Tucson home. One of the most obvious is seeing scale buildup, which is a white or yellowish crust, on fixtures. You may also see cloudy spots on glassware, flatware, and dishes, as well as soap scum on your shower walls, sinks, and tubs. Hard water can also damage your clothing, causing it to feel rough and stiff and fade faster.
You may even notice how it affects your body. It can strip natural oils from your hair and skin. This means your hair may become more brittle and your skin could become dry, itchy, and flaky. Hard water could also affect your appliances, causing them to work inefficiently or break down prematurely.
What Fixtures Can Hard Water Affect?
There are various types of fixtures in your home, and hard water could negatively impact all of them. Fixtures include showers, sinks, water heaters, toilets, and tubs, as well as kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room faucets.
How Does Hard Water Damage Plumbing?
The mineral buildup in plumbing can be seriously damaging. It can accumulate in pipes, appliances, faucets, and many other aspects of your system. As mineral buildup accumulates, it can narrow the diameter of pipes, which leads to low water pressure. It could also increase the risk of severe clogs, especially in old systems.
Additionally, hard water can accelerate corrosion. As this happens, the inside of the pipes gets rougher, which contributes to more mineral buildup and clogs. The worse the corrosion gets, the higher the chances of holes and cracks, leading to leaks. However, the problem doesn’t stop there. If leaks go undiagnosed, especially if they’re hidden, they could result in serious problems like structural damage. Leaking water could also cause mold growth, which typically starts within 24 to 48 hours.
How Does Hard Water Affect Appliances?
Hard water can severely damage appliances. For example, it can settle on the bottom of your water heater and disrupt its heating capabilities. This forces the unit to work harder, which unnecessarily increases utility costs. Scale buildup could also decrease the efficiency of other water-using appliances, such as dishwashers, coffee makers, and washing machines. Over time, this could drastically increase the frequency of repairs and reduce the lifespans of your appliances.
How Do I Remove External Signs of Hard Water?
Hard water isn’t just damaging to your fixtures and plumbing system. The scale buildup it leaves behind could also be unsightly, which means having to clean more often. How to remove this buildup depends on what you need to clean.
For example, if you want to clean showerheads and faucets, you can typically use a vinegar soak method. Fill a bag with white vinegar, and use a rubber band to secure it to the fixture for a couple of hours. When you’re done, you can use a soft toothbrush to gently clean the fixture. For other surfaces, you can generally use a soft cloth and a mixture of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Before using any cleaning method, make sure to research your specific surface material to prevent damage. You should also test the solution on a small, inconspicuous area.
Depending on the severity of the scale buildup, you may need to do it more than once to remove it completely. Afterward, you may find yourself repeating the process regularly to prevent the problem from recurring.
How Do I Eliminate Hard Water Damage From Inside My Plumbing Pipes?
Hydro jetting is typically the most effective way of removing mineral buildup in plumbing. It involves professional plumbers using high-powered water to blast through the interior of your pipes, removing much of the buildup inside. This can include scale buildup and sludge on the interior walls, minor tree root intrusion, and existing or forming clogs. As effective as hydro jetting is for removing unwanted debris, it also helps prevent that junk from reaccumulating. Since it involves using high-pressure water and no harsh chemical cleaners, this service is safe for many plumbing systems.
How Can I Prevent Hard Water Damage at My Home?
Water treatment in Tucson is crucial for preventing hard water damage at your home. You can do all the preventive measures, including hydro jetting and cleaning, but those aren’t viable long-term solutions. The best option is to have us install a whole-home water softener. This system works with your plumbing to remove magnesium and calcium from your water supply, turning it from hard water to soft water.
By turning your water from hard to soft, this water treatment solution in Tucson offers numerous benefits. For example, it can increase the lifespan of your appliances, reduce the need for repairs, and prevent unsightly scale buildup on fixtures. Additionally, it can also help your appliances run more efficiently and use less energy, which could help you keep utility costs low. Without drenching your hair and skin in hard water, you might even notice a change in their textures, conditions, and appearances.
Although some homeowners might be tempted to install a whole-home water softener themselves, it’s a task best left to the professionals. Our team can install it safely and test it to make sure it’s operating properly. Additionally, a DIY installation may void the manufacturer’s warranty. Many warranties include terms stating that only professional plumbers can install the softener. If you void the warranty, you may have to pay for future repair costs on your own.
Learn more about how to combat and prevent Tucson hard water damage. Cal’s Plumbing offers hydro jetting, inspections, and water treatment solutions in Tucson, AZ that can help. Call today to schedule an appointment, or book services now through our website.
