If you’re not living in a brand new house, we recommend you check pipes around your home for corrosion. Corroding pipes leak water, which is bad for the environment and your house. You want to remediate your corrosion problems before they get out of hand and you need to do major repairs and replacements. You can learn a lot about your water supply by looking at your pipes, if you know what to look for, and that’s why we’re here.
Scale is what we call the minerals that build up on your pipes and surfaces; they are left behind as residue from your water when it’s not being properly softened to have the minerals removed. In a nutshell, scale will clog pipes, creating all sorts of problems in your plumbing.
Corrosion is when acidity from your water slowly erodes and breaks down the materials of your pipelines. Corrosion means weakened pipes, which leads to leaking and, if it rots out the inside of your pipes, a burst mess.
Let’s get down to business. Here are some steps you can take yourself to check for scale and corrosion on your pipelines and plumbing.
Know your pipe materials. Some pipes are corrosion proof or corrosion resistant, cutting down on the valuable time and energy you would need to check them.
Test Your Water. Water testing can tell you a lot about what to expect in your plumbing. If you think your property might be suffering from a case of hard water, test your water for calcium, magnesium, aluminum or even manganese. All of these can form scale on your pipes. If you fear that your water might be corroding pipes, check your water for copper. Solid pH testing will also help to determine how corrosive your water is – typically a pH lower than 6 is considered acidic and a threat to your pipes.
Check for Blue or Blue-Green Stains on Your Pipes. This is a tell-tale sign of corrosion and is indicative of the trace amounts of copper in the corroded materials left behind on your pipes.
Also Check for Rust. Rust is just as much a telltale sign of corrosion as blue or blue-green stains on your pipes. If you have galvanized pipes, you can easily check for rust by looking in your toilet tank.
Having Plumbing Work Done? Take advantage of that opportunity to look at the insides of your pipes as the professional works. You can easily tell whether there’s corrosion or scaling present in your pipes this way, and usually a plumber will be happy to help you out.
Check for Any Leaks. Any leaks at all can be a sign of internal corrosion or a buildup of scale, which can cause water pressure buildups in your plumbing. Be wary of any leak.
Have any more questions? We want you to have safe water and a working well. We even offer emergency services. Call us today for more information.
