How Hard Water Affects Your Sacramento Plumbing System

Hard water can significantly negatively impact your home’s plumbing system. It often causes issues with the functioning and longevity of your pipes, appliances, and fixtures. In the city of Sacramento, this hard water is a common problem for many homeowners. Understanding how hard water truly affects your plumbing system and what can be done to mitigate these effects is important. At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Sacramento, we can help!

To Understand the Effects, You Need to Understand the Cause

What Is Hard Water?

Water with high mineral content is what hard water is in a nutshell. Typically, these minerals are magnesium and calcium. While it’s true that these chemicals are not harmful to human beings and are, in fact, a healthy benefit for many Americans, they can cause detrimental issues in home plumbing systems.

Does Sacramento Have Hard Water?

Sacramento does have hard water. Sacramento homeowners draw a water supply from local groundwater or rivers, usually the American River. The proximity to both of these sources often results in hard water. The water in Sacramento contains high levels of certain dissolved minerals, including magnesium and calcium. These minerals can cause scale build-up and other issues.

The Effects of Hard Water on Plumbing

Unfortunately, hard water can substantially affect the health and lifespan of your home’s plumbing system. Below are three common problems caused by the hard water in the Sacramento area:

• Stains: When hard water leaks into your home, it can leave behind ugly stains. These stains may appear on your fixtures, appliances, and places that regularly contact this water, such as your shower or sinks. These stains are not only ugly, but they can also be hard to get rid of.
• Scaling: Over the years, the minerals in hard water can cause a build-up known as scaling inside your pipes. This scaling can lead to drain clogs and reduce water flow through your home. Scaling can also impact the efficiency of certain appliances, such as dishwashing machines or laundry machines.
• Corrosion: Sacramento's hard water can sometimes cause corrosion of fixtures and pipes, which can, in turn, lead to more harmful damage, such as leaks or burst pipes. This corrosion can sometimes cause your plumbing system to fail.

How to Lessen the Impact of Hard Water on Your Plumbing

When dealing with hard water, homeowners often face two choices: invest in a water softener that reduces minerals or a descaler that alters the structure of minerals. These appliances come with lists of pros and cons and work differently.

• Water Softener: This device removes minerals from your water and replaces them with sodium ions. Benefits of these appliances include a long lifespan, making dishes and clothes appear cleaner, softening your skin and hair, and often reducing the need for certain plumbing maintenance. Drawbacks, however, include having increased sodium levels in your water. Water softeners can also wastewater through the necessary regeneration cycle.
• Descalers: Unlike water softeners, these devices do not remove minerals from the water. Rather, they alter the structure of minerals, making them less likely to cause build-up in your home’s plumbing system. The advantages of these appliances include that they are often lower maintenance, do not require salt, do not produce wastewater, and are cost-effective. Disadvantages include the fact that they cannot remove the minerals from your water, are not suited for all plumbing systems, and are not as effective as water softeners.

Contact Mr. Rooter Today for Hard Water Plumbing Solutions