Homeowners should check annual water quality reports supplied by municipalities. User friendly test kits are also available to detect any impurities in household water.
Water Softener
Hard water has a cloudy texture due to the presence of natural minerals and some debris from the ground. Although elements such as magnesium and calcium are not toxic to humans or pets, they still pose some problems in municipal water supplies. A water softener system can be installed to reduce hardness in the supply pipes.
Solid deposits could accumulate in hot and cold water pipes and interfere with proper flow at fixtures like faucets and showerheads. Mineral and brine tanks generate an ion exchange process that naturally removes dissolved solids from hard water. A softener prevents problems such as dry and brittle skin that results after taking a shower or bath in hard water. Additionally, there is no need to run the dishwashers and washing machines on extra lengthy cycles when soft water is used.
Plumbing System Service
Old iron pipes could significantly reduce the quality of water that is delivered to fixtures inside a home. According to Shorty’s Plumbing & Heating Inc., rust particles can gradually dissolve into the supply pipes that run throughout a house. Even some modern galvanized steel pipes could also create corrosive reactions that release solid particles into the water supply. The installation of copper pipes guarantees to prevent any seeping of rust and other debris into hot and cold water lines inside a residential property.
Small pipe fittings directly underneath fixtures might also have to be replaced to improve water quality. For example, faucet hardware is prone to corrosion and other similar reactions. Valves, gaskets and washers can be easily replaced in order to guarantee the smooth and clean flow of water in faucets. Teflon tape may be wrapped around plumbing pipes and fixture fittings to prevent friction and abrasion.
Filtration Systems
A whole-house water filtration system could be installed to remove more than 99 percent of the most common contaminants found in municipal and private well water. Reverse Osmosis technology is combined with activated carbon to filter out impurities like heavy metals and volatile organic compounds.
UV filters can be installed to kill viruses and bacteria that thrive inside ground water. Sediment filters are also integrated into whole-house filtration systems to remove solid debris like sand grains and other small particles.
A combination of water filtration and softening systems guarantees to improve water quality. Routine maintenance of the plumbing system also minimizes the risk of impurities leaking into supply lines.