When it comes to the water that’s running through your home you’re going to have one of two different options. You’re either going to have well water or you’ll have what’s generally considered city water. 
These different types of water may be a personal preference to you or they may be something that you don’t really have a choice over. But what do they mean for your plumbing? Well, if you ask a plumber they can absolutely mean a lot for your Jacksonville, FL home.
Well Water and Your Plumbing
When it comes to well water most people who use it do so because they have a personal preference. But what is it really doing to your home? The truth is that well water is causing a whole lot of things to happen in your home and a lot in your plumbing. That’s why you should be really careful about using it. Well water is going to result commonly in low pH. What this means for you is that it’s going to be extremely acidic. While it’s not acidic enough that you notice it if you drink it, there is enough that it causes damage to your pipes and fixtures and that’s why you should talk with a plumber.
Think about what your pipes are made of and imagine a low level of acid flowing through those pipes. That’s definitely going to cause some damage, right? And even though the acid isn’t enough (or the right type) that’s going to hurt you, it’s definitely going to start wearing away at the inside of your pipes and you’ll end up needing repairs from a plumber a whole lot sooner than you might have thought. But it could actually be worse than that.
The acid that’s getting into your plumbing from your well water can actually damage the fixtures that are attached to it as well. So, if you have well water you may need to replace the faucets and other metal fittings that are throughout your plumbing system. You may need your plumber to do this more frequently than you might have thought because that water is starting to wear away at things from the inside, where you may not even notice the problem is happening until it’s too late. Then you have a mess on your hands or you have particles getting into your water.
You could also notice damage to some of the appliances that you have that are hooked up to your well water. Your washer, refrigerator, icemaker, dishwasher and more could start experiencing some problems as a result of the well water that is coursing through them at any given time. You want to make sure that you’re using this water only if you need to and that you’re taking care of the plumbing and appliances that you have in your home either way. Your plumber will be able to talk to you about the best things you can do to protect your home when you’re using well water.
City Water and Your Plumbing
When it comes to city water you’re generally not going to have as much of that pH problem because the city has to monitor the water and maintain certain levels of everything. But the city water could have other problems as well. If you’ve watched the news recently you know that there are all kinds of areas where the water that is being provided through the traditional water system actually has a number of chemicals or harmful products in it. If that’s the case then your city water could actually be affecting your plumbing as well and a plumber can let you know.
You want to make sure that you’re monitoring the quality of your water and that you’re paying attention to just what’s in it. If you have things like lead or other harmful chemicals getting into the lines it could be harmful for you or it could be harmful for your plumbing (or both) a plumber will be able to take a look at the lines and check the water quality that you have so you can get a better idea of what’s actually happening inside your own Jacksonville, FL home.
Checking Your Plumbing Age
Overall, most types of plumbing should last for quite some time. The exception would be steel which lasts for only about 50 years. You should be able to get quite a lot of wear and use out of other types of pipes so talk with your plumber about any problems. If you’re using well water you may notice that you get less time out of your pipes, especially if you’re using some form of metal. Plastic pipes could actually be more or less resilient depending on the specific makeup of the water and the pipes themselves.
If you have city water, however, that doesn’t mean that your pipes are going to last forever. You could still end up with problems depending on anything that’s happening with the water. Talk with your plumber about checking the water quality and seeing if there’s anything else going into your city water that could actually reduce the lifespan of your pipes as well. You want to make sure that you’re going to get as much out of those pipes as you possibly can and that’s going to require you to pay close attention.
No matter what kind of water you have you could be reducing the length of time that your pipes are going to be good for. Make sure you know what’s going on inside your Jacksonville, FL home and that you’re talking routinely with your plumber about what you should be watching for. You may be able to reduce the risk of problems and damage to your pipes if you’re careful, even if you don’t want to switch away from your well water. Talk with the pros and you can create a plan that’s going to get you the best longevity possible, but keep in mind that the pH you end up with may not be something that you can control. Contact Bert Norman’s Plumbing to schedule an appointment today!