Pipe corrosion is a serious concern since it has the potential to cause your plumbing to start leaking. Most homes nowadays have copper water lines because copper is fairly resistant to corrosion. Nonetheless, even copper pipes can still corrode over time, which is why you should try to take steps to limit corrosion and decrease the chances of plumbing leaks.
Make Sure Pipes Are Insulated
Insulating your pipes is important for several reasons. The first is that it helps to prevent them from freezing, which can result in the pipes bursting and causing a major flood. Another reason is that it helps to prevent the outside of your cold-water pipes from corroding during the winter when your heating is running.
If you have copper cold-water pipes that aren’t insulated, the moisture in the warm air surrounding them can cause condensation to form on the pipes. Over time, this condensation can result in corrosion on the exterior of the pipes that weakens them and makes them more likely to develop leaks. As long as the pipes are fully insulated, air won’t be able to directly come into contact with them, and no condensation should form.
One last reason that insulating your pipes is useful is that it helps prevent abrasion. Pipes often shudder when you turn the water off. This is a consequence of the water suddenly getting blocked off and reversing direction. That shuddering can cause a pipe to rub, scrape, or bang against the wall, floor joist, etc., and result in the pipe getting weakened.
Try to Limit Your Hot Water Usage
One thing you may not be aware of is that hot water is much more corrosive than cold water. Water always contains some dissolved gases and minerals that react with metal pipes and lead to oxidation and corrosion. While these chemical reactions always occur, high temperatures speed up the rate at which they do and lead to increased oxidation that causes the metal to corrode more.
This is why hot-water pipes are generally more prone to leaking than cold-water pipes. The best way to minimize corrosion in your hot-water pipes is to try and limit how much hot water you use. This can be accomplished by taking shorter showers and using the cold or warm settings on your washing machine as much as you can.
Flush Your Water Heater
Sediment buildup is an issue that impacts every tank water heater. When water is heated, some of the dissolved minerals it contains end up precipitating or solidifying. This is why you usually end up with a film of mineral deposits in a pot when you boil water for any length of time.
These mineral deposits collect inside a water heater tank over time and create a layer of sediment. If you don’t remove all of the sediment at least once or twice a year by flushing the tank, your water heater will eventually not work as well and start using more energy.
The other issue is that some of the sediment can get stirred up when you’re using hot water and replacement cold water is flowing into the bottom of the tank. This can lead to some of the sediment getting drawn out of the tank and flowing through your hot-water lines.
As the sediment flows through the pipes, it then rubs against the sides of the pipes and causes them to become weaker and more corroded. This issue is yet another reason why hot water pipes are often more prone to leaking.
Install a Water Softener
One of the best ways to reduce pipe corrosion throughout the year is with a water softener. The purpose of a water softener is to remove all of the calcium and magnesium particles in hard water, which is important for a few reasons. One is just that it improves the taste of your water. Softening your water also prevents mineral deposits from building up and clogging or choking off your plumbing appliances and pipes.
In addition, a water softener is extremely useful for preventing your pipes from corroding. Again, that’s because it eliminates all of the minerals that would otherwise react with metal pipes and cause them to oxidize and corrode.
The way traditional water softeners work is that they contain charged beads of resin that attract the minerals in the water. Those minerals cling to the beads since they are oppositely charged. The minerals then begin taking the place of the salt molecules. The result is that all of the minerals are removed and replaced with a minimal amount of sodium. The softener tank is then occasionally flushed with a brine solution, which causes the beads to let go of the minerals so those get washed down the drain.
There are also water conditioners that serve a similar purpose of preventing some hard-water issues. More commonly known as salt-free water softeners, these units don’t actually remove minerals from water in the way a traditional water softener does.
Instead, they just use a chemical process that keeps most of the minerals dissolved to minimize the deposits or limescale they leave behind. The only issue with this type of unit is that it can’t prevent corrosion since the minerals are still present within the water and can still react with your metal pipes.
Monitor Your Water Pressure
This last one isn’t technically about minimizing corrosion, but it’s still important for reducing the chances of your plumbing leaking. High water pressure is a more serious concern than you may realize. When your water pressure is higher, it results in water flowing through your pipes much faster.
The increased speed then results in the water producing much more turbulence as it makes its way through your plumbing system. That means the minerals corrode and eat away at your pipes even more than normal.
Tackling issues with high water pressure is as simple as having a professional plumber install a pressure regulator. This regulator is just a valve that partially reduces water flow into the house and maintains the pressure at a set level. It can also open as needed in case the pressure coming into your house ever drops.
Upgrade to PEX Piping
The best thing you can do to prevent corrosion and decrease the chances of leaks is to upgrade your plumbing system with PEX piping. PEX is a type of flexible pipe made out of cross-threaded polyurethane. The fact that the pipes are plastic means that minerals and impurities don’t create the same type of chemical reactions you would get with copper or any other type of metal.
Another major benefit is that PEX pipes are highly unlikely to burst if they freeze since they can expand much more than metal, preventing a need for pipe repairs at times when other materials would fail. The final reason PEX is so common when repiping a house these days is that it costs far less and is much easier to install than copper pipes.
If you’re dealing with a leak or looking for help preventing your pipes from corroding, On Time Experts is here to help. We’ve been serving Garland and the DFW Metroplex for nearly 45 years and are ready to handle any of your plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or indoor air quality needs. To get the best service and support in the area, contact us today.
