Why Limescale Can Be A Problem
Do you have faucets in your home that are covered with a white substance? This is called limescale, and is a problem where minerals accumulate in your water. It can cause various plumbing issues in your home that you may want to avoid:
Water Pressure Problems
The most obvious way that you'll feel the effects of limescale is with water pressure. You may have noticed that your kitchen sink faucet has water flowing out slower than usual, or that your shower head is producing water that trickles out instead of spraying forcefully. That is because limescale can create blockages in the pipe, especially at faucets where the restriction of water flow is most noticeable.
Plumbing Line Backups
Do you have plumbing in your home that is constantly backing up? This could be due to limescale. You'll really notice this in your bathtub if you have water that takes a very long time to go down the tub drain. It can also happen in your kitchen sink, where the water slowly empties when you finish using the water.
While you can snake the drain to break up the limescale inside the pipes, it is not a long term solution to a limescale problem. You'll want to work with a local plumber to prevent the limescale from collecting and causing these drain backup problems.
Dirty Dishes
Have you noticed the dishes in your home never seem to get clean, and it doesn't matter if you wash them by hand or run them through the dishwasher? This is because limescale can leave those minerals behind on your dishes, and it will not become apparent until the water dries and leaves a white residue on the clean dishes. You'll need to take steps to remove the limescale from the water to prevent this from happening.
Preventing Limescale
The best way to prevent limescale problems in your home is by treating the water before it makes its way through your plumbing. This can be done by installing a whole home water softener, which will ensure that limescale will not affect every faucet within your home.
You can have water softeners installed on individual faucets that you use frequently, such as your kitchen sink, but it won't help with your shower or washing machine. This can be a more affordable solution, as long as you are prepared to deal with removing limescale once you notice it building up.