Your plumbing system is vital in your home since the pipes carry and transport water inside and outside your house. The water coming from your plumbing pipes is used almost every time, even at night, through washing the dishes, laundry, bath, watering the plants, and cleaning in general. So, it would help if you took care of your plumbing system so that no problem will arise affecting your activities or duties that rely on water coming into the house.
Calcium Build-up; what is it?
Calcium build-up is one of the problems you might experience on your plumbing pipes. For us humans, calcium is one of the things we need to have healthy bones and teeth. However, calcium should not be present in your plumbing pipes because it will clog your drain and pipes, which will worsen if not resolved. If left untreated, corrosion or blockages will occur in your plumbing system.
Calcium build-up is a hard, chalky, or crusty deposit found on water drains, pipes, faucets, and showerheads. The water that went through a calcium build-up contains a high content of minerals that are not harmful to humans but a big problem to your plumbing pipes.
Calcium Build-up; what is the cause?
The leading cause of the calcium build-up on your plumbing systems and faucets is the “Hard Water” flowing into your plumbing system into your home, which is possible if the area where the location of your house has a high content of minerals in its water. Water becomes “Hard Water” when it contains a higher content of minerals such as calcium that does affect not only your plumbing system but also the water itself.
Other minerals found in Hard Water
Calcium is not only a mineral found in Hard waters; other minerals, such as magnesium and iron, may also be present and may vary depending on the location of your house. This information is worth knowing, especially if you or the other people in your home are allergic to a mineral.
The Signs of having Calcium Build-up
Calcium Build-up is the kind of problem that you need to solve as soon as possible because blockages, corrosion, and permanent damage will indeed happen if left untreated. So, you need to know the signs when calcium build-up is present; the signs are the following:
- Clogged drains in certain places in your house.
- The white powder-like substance builds up on your appliances and plumbing attachments.
- Since water is running on your plumbing system, there is a chance that little pieces of calcium build-up might come along with the water.
- White gunk that is coming out from the faucet when used.
How to deal with Calcium Build-up
Now that you know about calcium build-up and its possible problems, you must know how to solve these problems and prevent them from happening.
The common problem on drainpipes by a calcium build-up is a blockage inside. This simple problem needs only a simple solution, such as pouring certain substances into the drain. Here are the substances you can use to break down the calcium build-up blocking your plumbing pipes:
- Vinegar, Baking Soda, or Lemon Juice
- Calcium, Lime, and Rust remover (CLR)
- Hot Water
In removing blockages in faucets and showerheads, a good solution is to cover the faucet or showerhead with a bag filled with water and vinegar and let the solution clear the blockages.
The methods mentioned above are short-term solutions. You can do these monthly methods to prevent calcium build-up from being a significant problem in your household. There is no problem with doing short-term solutions, but there are long-term solutions that you can do if you don’t have the time to do a monthly fix to your calcium dual-up problem.
Long Term Solutions
Invest in a water softener system: The water softener system is a device that you put on your water system that filters the minerals that come with the water with the help of a process called ion exchange. With this system, the hard water will now be considered soft water.
Replace old pipes with PEX pipes: Plastic pipes such as PEX or PVC pipes are more resistant to calcium build-ups because calcium can easily attach to pipes made with copper, metal, and galvanized steel. Replacing old pipes will be a breeze when you have many surface mount access panels in your house.
Final Thoughts
Your plumbing system is essential to your home because water has become a vital part of your everyday life, and having a problem with this will heavily affect your daily life. If you have tried all these tips and methods and the problem persists, call yourself a plumbing professional and let them handle it professionally and precisely.
