Blockages can occur in your plumbing for various reasons. Food, grease and paper products are common causes, but fortunately, you can avoid washing these down drains and they’re relatively easy to clear up. If you have hard water, it’s a different story. You may then be facing issues related to calcium build up in your pipes.
Why Is Calcium a Problem in Your Plumbing?
Calcium is a mineral humans need for good health. However, it can slowly build up in your drains and pipes, eventually causing their interior diameter to narrow. Over time, complete blockages can occur. Calcium build up, or limescale can also accelerate corrosion, reducing the lifespan of pipe materials and increasing the risk of leaks.
How Does Calcium Accumulate in Pipes?
Hard water has a variety of suspended minerals in it that are picked up as groundwater flows through rocks and soil. As water passes through your plumbing system, these minerals slowly precipitate out of the water and stick to the sides of pipes and to material that’s previously adhered to pipe walls. Magnesium and potassium can behave in a similar way. These minerals not only block pipes, but can also cause stains and buildup in sinks, dishwashers, and toilets as well as on your dishes and clothing.
How to Get Rid of Calcium Build Up
The calcium can be dissolved using acids. However, acidic drain cleaners can damage your plumbing and are often toxic. The easiest way to avoid mineral scaling is to install a water softener, which removes harmful minerals from your water supply.
Removing calcium build up is a challenge. Some recommend using vinegar, but this would require replacing all the water in pipes with vinegar and leaving it there for at least 24 hours. The pipes would then need to be completely flushed. Even if this works, a vinegar taste can remain for some time.
But even if you manage to remove the deposits, they are likely to return. Oftentimes, the best option is to replace old piping. For example, replacing old copper pipes with PEX piping that’s more resistant to limescale can resolve the problem. But the most effective method mentioned earlier, is to install a water softening system in your home. The best approach is to have it installed where water enters your home so that it can protect your entire plumbing system.
Schedule Professional Water Softener Installation
Village Plumbing & Air has been serving customers in Houston since 1946. We help with pipe installation and repiping and are available 24/7 to assist you during a plumbing emergency. Equipped with the latest tools and technologies, our plumbers can help keep your drains, pipes, and sewer lines clear.
You can trust our family-operated, woman-owned business to fully address the issue whether it involves frequent drain clogs, a pipe or fixture leak, or an inspection that finds significant limescale in your plumbing. We’ll do what it takes to make improvements and ensure your plumbing system is functional, while financing solutions help you save with benefits such as no down payments and 0% interest. For a lower initial investment, your plumbing can be protected against calcium build up.
To learn more, feel free to request service online or give us a call at 713-526-1491 today!