The Causes of Lime Scale
Hard water is water that contains high levels of both magnesium and calcium. It’s common in specific geographic areas throughout the country, specifically where water percolates through sediment layers containing concentrations of those minerals before reaching the groundwater. When the water is siphoned from that area, it takes the minerals with it. This isn’t physically dangerous to you (though it can damage your hair if you wash it often enough). The real threat, though, is to your pipes.
The Problem with Lime Scale
As the hard water flows through your pipes, it deposits small amounts of these minerals on the walls. These mineral deposits build up over time, eventually becoming lime scale. Lime scale restricts the flow of water through the pipe, which is barely noticeable at first and then gets gradually worse. By the time you notice a substantial decrease in water pressure from your pipes, it’s likely that the lime scale is already quite advanced.
If lime scale is caught early enough, as during a plumbing maintenance appointment, it can often be removed fairly easily. The big issue is that if the lime scale is left alone to develop for a long enough period of time, it will solidify and harden. This kind of lime scale is almost impossible to remove without damaging the pipe, which often means that the entire pipe needs to be replaced. This is what you need to be very aware of. If you know, or suspect, that you have a hard water problem in your home, do not wait to deal with it. The best way to combat lime scale is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Water Treatment Systems
There are a variety of water treatment systems that are designed to combat hard water, known as water softeners. One of the most popular is the reverse osmosis system, which uses an ultrathin, semipermeable membrane to filter the water. Water molecules are small enough to pass through the membrane and into the plumbing system. Other particles, like calcium and magnesium, are blocked and diverted. This allows you to protect your home’s plumbing system, without needing to have lime scale scraped out of the pipes once a year and without needing to install individual filters on all of your faucets. There are many more types of water softeners, of course. Consult with a professional to determine the best one for you.
Magnolia Plumbing, Heating & Cooling provides a full range of water softening services throughout Springfield, VA. If you need hard water softening services, we can help you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.
