Pipe Corrosion: Understanding It and Preventing It
The majority of people take relatively good care of their homes. They look out for their HVAC systems, make sure the interior and exterior are beautified, and so on. But one of the areas that people often do not pay enough attention to is the pipes. In particular, people often forget about pipe corrosion, which can be seriously detrimental to plumbing systems.
One of the reasons why this happens is that these pipes are often out of sight. And, as the saying goes: out of sight, out of mind! However, it is extremely important to monitor and take preventative measures against pipe corrosion, as this is a slow and gradual process. Homeowners should know why pipes corrode, how they can maintain their pipes, and what they should do if they have corroded pipes. Continue reading for all of this information and more!
Why Pipes Corrode in the First Place
The first and most basic question to answer is: why do pipes even corrode in the first place? There are several different reasons why, and often there are multiple causes that speed up the rate of corrosion. Here are some of the most common culprits:
- Acidity - low pH levels mean acidic conditions, which can corrode copper pipes
- Chemical drain cleaners - certain drain cleaners have very harmful chemicals that can corrode the pipes when they are flushed down
- Rusting/oxidation - this often happens in pipes that transport warm water, as heat can accelerate rusting/oxidation, which thins out the pipes
- Water velocity - corrosion can occur if water is moving especially fast, as is the case with closed-loop piping systems
Some of these causes occur naturally, while others are a product of homeowners’ actions. Regardless, they should be on the lookout for corroded pipes and take the right steps to maintain them adequately.
How to Best Maintain Pipes
The next question becomes: what are the right ways to maintain pipes to prevent corrosion? Well, there are many different ways. Here are two of the most common:
- Add water softeners - these target minerals like lime and calcium that may build up in the pipes and lead to corrosion
- Natural drain cleaners - homeowners can try DIY combinations like baking soda and vinegar instead of harmful chemical drain cleaners
While corrosion will and often does still occur even with the use of maintenance techniques, these measures can prolong the life of the home pipes and prevent accelerated corrosion that affects many home piping systems.
How To Best Replace Corroded Pipes
Ultimately, if corrosion occurs, repiping services are the way to go. Remember that homeowners can do all the right things in the world, but corrosion will occur naturally, and it is possible that homeowners inherited debilitated pipes in the first place.
Homeowners should leave this work to plumbing professionals, who will conduct repiping services as safely and efficiently as possible. Plumbers will identify the problematic pipe(s) with these services and determine the best way to replace them with new ones. Given the intricacies of home piping systems, homeowners should leave this work to the professionals!
About C & D Plumbing Inc.
C & D Plumbing Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, FL is a family-owned and operated company that provides quality residential and commercial plumbing solutions. With the motto of “local plumbers, you can trust,” their team of experts provides personalized attention and care, honest services, and guaranteed satisfaction for each of their customers. Call them for plumbing help today!