Spring 2012
Plumbing Emergency Tips
When you have a plumbing emergency, it’s always best to call a professional as soon as you can; however, there are some immediate steps you can take to prevent major damage to your home. For instance, shutting off the main water valve is one way to keep the water from creating more problems in your home. From overflowing toilets to broken water lines, learn what measures to take in case of a plumbing emergency.
Improving the Quality of Water with Water Softeners
Hard water is a persistent problem for millions of homeowners. Excess minerals from the water supply can be deposited in your pipes or come through your faucets and cause damage to your fixtures. Water softeners make it possible to remove the minerals in of your tap water and ensure a nice even pH balance. Here are some ways that water softeners can increase the quality of your water.
Why You Need Water Softeners
When we say someone has hard water, we refer to the mineral content of that water - specifically calcium and magnesium (along with some other common ground water minerals). Hard water is anything rated at 7-10.5 grains per gallon of water (1 grain is 64.8 milligrams of calcium carbonate). If your water matches this definition, it can cause a number of problems for you.
First, it can create a scale buildup on your pipes and fixtures. Anything in your home that uses water regularly will develop this scale buildup, and while it is frustrating on a coffee pot or kettle it can be damaging if it builds up in your pipes. With time, scale build up can lead to clogged pipes, loss of heat or cracks in the pipes due to excessive pressure.
Another unfortunate side effect of hard water is that soap is less effective. It won’t lather properly and therefore won’t work as effectively in your dishwasher or for bathing.
What Water Softeners Do
The solution to these problems is a good water softener. Water softeners replace the calcium and magnesium ions clogging up your water with sodium, which doesn’t settle and therefore moves directly through pipes and fixtures. Before you worry about the addition of sodium to your water, know that most water softeners only add about 1.5 milligrams per ounce of sodium to your water – well below safe standards set by the Food and Drug Administration.
By removing the excess minerals from your water, you ensure that water will flow smoothly between the source and your fixtures. This reduces the risk of scale buildup in your pipes, damage to your fixtures, and possible issues with low pH balance.
Hard water doesn’t have to be a problem you must live with. If you are concerned about its effect on your home’s water supply, consider the benefits offered by modern water softeners.
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