How to Avoid the Effects of Non-Filtered Water on Home Piping

By Hermione Edwards


A lot has been written about the potential harm to the health of individuals as they drink water directly from the tap. Most people know that there are harmful chemicals and contaminants in this water that could damage their health. However, a lot of people do not realize the potential damage that can be caused by non-filtered water to pipes and others household fixtures and appliances.

As it comes from the tap, without any filtration or treatment, the water in many areas of the world is considered to be hard. Estimates of the prevalence of hardness can be as high as eighty percent or more in some areas. Hard means that it contains relatively high concentrations of the chemical elements calcium and magnesium. These minerals can build up in pipes and create many problems.

This concept is very similar to building up of plaque in the blood vessels of the body. Plaque results from high concentration of bad cholesterol and accumulates on the walls of veins or arteries. If this is not treated in a timely manner, it could lead to serious health problems and can even be fatal.

For further illustration of water hardness and its effects, we can look at the functions of small appliances that depend on water for their functioning. For example, a steam iron or coffee maker works better when filled with distilled or purified water. The reason for this is that there will be no residuals of minerals deposited on them to interfere with the operation of these appliances.

Damage can also be caused by hard water to larger appliances or fixtures, such as washing machines, dish washers, and water heaters. These machines might get a possible impairment to their functioning. Another problem will be the reduced flow coming from the supply pipes. This might result in poor machine performance, increased time for operation, or a breakdown.

The usage of counter top or under the sink filtering devices is widespread, but these provide treatment only on a very small scale. They are usually adequate to supply improved quality water for drinking, or to use to make beverages. While this may be a benefit, it does not address the problem of the rest of the house and the plumbing that supplies it when the pipes accumulate mineral deposits.

In order to treat all water in the household, commercial water filters can be used. All activities, such as cooking, dish washing, laundry, as well as drinking, can benefit from this system. Once the negative effects of high mineral content are removed, there can be proper flow with large scale water filtration.

There can be many other problems associated with non-filtered water on home piping. While there is reduced quality of everyday chores and activities, possible malfunctioning of appliances, there is also a risk of complete damage to pipes. If this happens, there will be a need for replacing these pipes and this can be quite expensive. Besides the expense, there will also be a lot of disruption caused to the lifestyle of the residents. On the other hand, if there is a good filtration system installed, the home value can be increased as it will be more attractive for potential buyers.




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