Plumbing is to your home like veins are to your body. Without plumbing, your house won’t operate.
Therefore, keeping your pipes healthy is necessary if you plan on having hassle-free showers, want to wash clothes, and use the toilet. While you might not think about plumbing until a problem occurs, knowing a little bit about the plumbing network and some common issues, you can better maintain the system to avoid issues in the future.
What is the difference between hard and soft water?
Hard water is the excessive presence of calcium and magnesium – two naturally-occurring minerals in water. The higher amount of these minerals that are present in water, the higher it will rank on the hard water scale. While both essential to everyday health, calcium and magnesium are not essential for water usage. In fact, hardness in water can have detrimental effects on your home.
When using water for cleaning purposes, you may notice spots or a film of residue on your dishes, shower, or clothing. Not to mention, you may find particles inside of your appliances like the dishwasher or laundry machine. When hard water is heated, calcium deposits can form. If this builds up, it can greatly damage the performance and lifespan of your appliances. This includes your pipes and even your coffee machine. To make matters worse, your heating costs will skyrocket and the efficiency of your appliances will plummet. If your water is high on the water hardness scale, you might also notice effects on your personal hygiene. Hard water can leave a feeling of residue on your hands, skin, and hair upon washing. As a result, your hair and skin may feel more dry and brittle.
It is up to your water supplier to test water hardness before distributing it to your community. Luckily, you can still combat water hardness by softening your water. Using a water softener can reduce impurities in your water, including calcium and magnesium. What does this mean for you and your home? Cleaner water, appliances, hair, and skin.
Unlike hard water, soft water is free of harsh minerals that can damage your home and your body. In other words, it is more gentle on your body and your home. Without calcium and magnesium, soft water can prevent scale buildup around your home including your appliances and pipes. Best of all, it increases the effectiveness of soap compared to hard water which can inactivate the soap’s ingredients. In regard to health, soft water can combat the dryness and stickiness caused by cold weather, low humidity, and hard water. What does this mean for your body? Softer, silkier hair and skin after every wash. Water softeners can help soften water so you achieve more efficient cleaning in your home.
How do I keep my pipes from freezing?
Pipes may freeze whenever the temperature goes below freezing, which is a certainty in Winnipeg winters. When a home isn’t properly heated, the extreme cold endangers the plumbing. The main concern is that the frozen water expands when it turns to ice, causing pipes to burst. Before any cold weather arrives, thoroughly drain the outside valves then close the interior valve leading inside. You might also want to use faucet insulators.
Why is my toilet so noisy during flushing?
While all toilets make noise when flushed, a sudden change in volume could be because the water flowing into the tank has been restricted somehow. The ballcock assembly, which regulates the water entering the tank could be broken, as well as other parts. If the ballcock isn’t working, you can easily replace the entire assembly.
Why do I keep having drainage problems?
Drainage problems can be the result of clogging. The age of your pipes might also be a factor. Slow drainage might indicate a large clog, roots in the pipeline, or backups from the sewer. If these problems become frequent or worsen, be sure to contact a professional plumber.
Legacy Mechanical would be happy to provide quick, professional plumbing services to Winnipeg and the surrounding area. Give us a call today for your plumbing repairs or projects at (204) 452-9424.