With something like a heater or air conditioner, it’s usually pretty easy to tell when it’s having a problem. Odd sounds, loss of output, and the like are all pretty easily recognizable symptoms of a problem with HVAC systems. With plumbing, however, it can be quite a bit more difficult to identify issues that need to be addressed. Read on to find out more about common plumbing problems, and why you need to have your plumbing inspected at least once a year.
Pinhole Leaks
Pinhole leaks are one of the most damaging problems to plague modern plumbing systems. Caused by a specific type of corrosion called “pitted corrosion,” pinhole leaks are so tiny that they only release one or two drops of water at a time. This means that they take a long time to inflict serious damage, but it also means that they don’t generate any symptoms to warn of their presence. The first warning that most people receive of a pinhole leak in their plumbing is when they notice the extensive water damage the leak has caused over months or years.
Lime Scale
Many areas of the country have to deal with hard water, which is water with a high mineral content. As the water flows through your pipes, it deposits layers of minerals on the inner walls. These layers eventually build up and solidify into a substance called “lime scale,” which restricts the flow of water through the pipes. If caught early enough, this lime scale can be cleaned out of the pipes to return them to full operating capacity. Once it has become sufficiently advanced, however, it is often easier to replace the pipe entirely.
In order to mitigate the damage these problems can cause, you should have your plumbing professionally inspected at least once a year. Call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. We provide plumbing services throughout Bethesda, MD.