Fredericksburg Plumber How Professional Plumbers Can Help You | Page 9

How to Avoid Leaking
Pipes
• Soften the Water
o Many times leaky pipes occur because the pipe is being worn away by the
amount of water flowing through. The issue is never really the amount of water
itself but the type of water. Often times due to the diluting of water your
plumbing water can turn into what is called hard water. Hard water occurs
simply when there are too many minerals flowing through the plumbing which
will cause the water to become hard. Magnesium and calcium are common
in hard water and are the direct result of basic everyday activities such as
doing the laundry and taking a bath. Simple everyday activity like these things
will sometimes lead to the water becoming hard. Hard water can lead to
anything from plumbing corrosion to stopping your plumbing fixture from
working because it is full of hard water. Using salt free softener and pouring
vinegar down the pipes can counteract the hard water effects.
• Watch for Aging Pipes
o The age of a home may determine whether the pipes need to be replaced or
not. If the home is 70 years old, more than likely the plumbing might be that
age as well. This isn’t a guaranteed factor but it can determine if the water line
will need to be replaced or not.