mineral deposits on plumbing

[imported_bdweller]

The well water supply to my house is high in mineral deposits. We are near the Chesapeake Bay and the shell deposits in the ground apparently contribute alot to the water composition. Anyway, does anyone know if these deposits can have a negative effect on copper pipes, and, if they do, how long would it take for it to become a serious problem? I have considered getting a water softener, but I'm not sure I want to spend the money if the effect of the deposits is minimal. Thanks

[Wgoodrich]

The mineral deposits unconditioned will immediately start building on your insides of your pipes whether plastic or metal the minute you start running water through those lines. How long will it take to build up enough in your pipes to affect flow of water depends on how hard your water is and how much water is being used and speed of flow also can be an affect.

Water heater on the other hand if you have pretty hard water and use a lot of water the water heater can fill with deposits as much as a third of the tank in a years times again depending on the amount of water used and the hardness of your water and speed of flow and in this case temerature of water all would affect the speed the deposits build in that water heater.

Also hard water deposits can reduce the life expectancy of a refrigerator icemaker to 1/3 the life expectancy of conditioned water to the icemaker. Conditioned water is not normally tasted in ice.

Also the effort required to clean toilets and showers etc. using hard water can triple compared to conditioned water.



New houses are often plumbed with a cold hard water line to the kitchen sink. Many people do not like the taste of conditioned water yet just as many people do not like the taste of hard water, depending on what type water you are raised with.

Hope this helps

Wg