Limescale is a serious issue that affects many homes. If left unchecked, limescale can build inside your pipes and eventually begin to clog them and reduce water flow and pressure. Limescale also collects inside plumbing fixtures and appliances and can easily cause them to break down and need repairs. With these issues in mind, here is a quick overview of what causes limescale and how you can prevent it.
What Causes Limescale?
Limescale results from hard water, which means that the water has a higher concentration of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. Whenever you use your plumbing, some of these minerals will solidify into hard deposits, usually referred to as limescale. These mineral deposits will quickly start to clog your faucets and showerheads, and they will also leave water spots and scale on your tiles, shower door, and even your dishes. The mineral deposits can also clog up the water lines in your dishwasher, washing machine, and even your coffee maker, which can lead to leaks and various other issues.
How a Water Softener Can Help Prevent Limescale
Although Hauppauge and the rest of Long Island generally has fairly soft water compared to other parts of the country, limescale is still a common issue. This means that it is a good idea to take steps to prevent limescale in order to protect your plumbing and appliances. The only real way to do this is to install a water softener. Not only will the softener prevent limescale issues, but it will also help to make your water taste better.
Water softeners work by capturing the dissolved minerals and removing them from the water before it flows into the rest of your plumbing system. Inside the softener tank are thousands of small resin beads. As water flows down through the beads, they attract and hold onto the minerals. The resin beads are negatively charged, while the magnesium and calcium ions in the water have a positive charge. This means that the minerals are attracted and stick to the resin beads so that almost all of the minerals are filtered out of the water.
At Fix-A-Leak Plumbing & Heating, we install and service a wide range of plumbing appliances, including water softeners, water heaters, sump pumps, and sewage ejector pumps as well as all types of bathroom and kitchen plumbing fixtures. We also install and service boilers, thermostats, and gas lines, and we specialize in leak detection, drain cleaning, and a full range of other plumbing services. To learn more about the benefits of a water softener or arrange for any plumbing service you need in the Hauppauge, NY area, give us a call today.
