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Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog

How Hard Water Can Destroy Your Plumbing

Before the water that you use in your home comes out of your tap, it is treated by the city you live in. Any harmful chemicals or minerals are removed, then the water is sent into your home. However, there are several mineral types that, while not harmful to you, can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. Water that contains high amounts of these minerals is known as “hard” water, and it’s a pretty big problem for a lot of people across the country. Read on to discover the effects that hard water can have on your plumbing system, and how you can prevent them.

Lime Scale

As hard water flows through your plumbing system, it deposits small amounts of minerals on the inner walls of the pipes. At first, these mineral deposits don’t have much of an effect on the operation of the pipes. Over time, however, the deposits build and build until they form a substance called “lime scale.” Deposits that have grown into lime scale are large enough to actually restrict the flow of water through the pipes, often significantly. If allowed to continue to grow, they may even block the flow of water completely.

If caught early enough, some pipes can have the lime scale removed and return to normal function. In most cases, however, pipes with advanced lime scale need to be replaced.

What to do about it

The best way to treat hard water issues is to prevent them from happening in the first place. You can do this by installing a water filtration system in the main water line that supplies your home. The water filter will remove the minerals in the hard water that cause lime scale, protecting your pipes in the process.

If you think you may have a hard water problem, call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. We provide water filtration services throughout Gaithersburg, MD

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