How Hard Water Damages Pipes and Appliances

Dealing with hard water in your home is exactly how it sounds: hard. The extra minerals in the water might be safe to drink, but they’ll show no mercy to your pipes and appliances.

Here’s how hard water damage to plumbing in New River Valley, Virginia homes can be an expensive headache that, fortunately, can be managed with the right water-treatment plan.

An Overclocked Water Heater

Water heaters are often one of the most expensive appliances to run in a home. Hard water makes them even more costly. The heavy minerals sit at the bottom of the heater, creating a layer of sediment that grows over time. The buildup eventually becomes a barrier between the heating element and the water itself.

This layer of insulation will force your heater to work harder to get the water to the right temperature, as the heat has to make its way through the sediment first.

As a result, your water heater will use much more electricity or gas, which is an expensive short-term problem. The overuse will also cause the heating element to wear out faster, which is an expensive long-term problem. Water treatment to eliminate these minerals is a solution to both.

A Slow Demise for Your Appliances and Fixtures

Not all of the minerals will sink to the bottom of your water heater. A good percentage will end up traveling through your pipes and fixtures, like your sinks and showerheads.

Most of the more obvious hard water damage to plumbing in Virginia homes is from this scale buildup you can see. But this issue isn’t just costly. It’s frankly annoying. Your showerhead’s water pressure will feel weaker than it used to, and it might take an unusually long time to run your dishwasher or do a load of laundry.

These may sound like minor inconveniences, but they add up to a considerable amount of lost time and money throughout the year. Eventually, those encrusted fixtures will become essentially useless, and you’ll be stuck paying a plumber to come out and install new ones.

Prevent Hard Water Damage to Plumbing in Virginia Homes With Aqua Clear

Clogged pipes and ruined appliances aren’t inevitable. You can protect the most vulnerable parts of your home with a customized water-treatment plan.

Contact Aqua Clear today to learn more about our services and schedule a visit from a skilled water-treatment expert.