What Causes Lime Buildup In The Pipes?

It can be quite an unsightly scene to see white buildup all over your bathroom fixtures, drains and appliances. While the cause of this issue is from the natural abundance of minerals like calcium and magnesium in your water, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put bathroom sink repair on your to-do list if you’re experiencing issues. So what causes lime buildup in your pipes? Read on to learn more about the causes, symptoms and remedies. While you can do a lot to clean fixtures and drains, your problem might need the help of a professional. If you’re on the hunt for affordable and reliable plumbers, Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating can help you get the job done in no time. Give us a call today at (972) 291-0740 to schedule an appointment.

Common Causes of Mineral Buildup

Mineral buildup can cause all kinds of problems in your pipes and fixtures. While this problem can appear to come out of nowhere, you’ll find a common source for most issues related to buildup of minerals in your pipes. If you’re experiencing things like limescale in your pipes, it usually means you’ve got hard water. What is hard water? Put simply, it’s water that contains chemicals like magnesium, sodium, calcium and other minerals. Calcium is usually the main culprit when you see limescale forming on your drains and fixtures. While mineral buildup doesn’t pose as serious a threat as other materials like lead or arsenic, recent research tells us that they can still affect your health. If you’re noticing buildup on areas like your faucets, it might be time to take bathroom sink repair seriously. So, what should you be on the lookout for if you think limescale might be the issue?

Signs of Mineral Buildup

As you can imagine, mineral buildup can cause some serious problems to your overall plumbing system. Some common signs of mineral buildup include:

Clogged pipes
Damage to appliances
Damage to plumbing fixtures
Soap scum
Skin irritation

One telltale sign of calcium deposits is limescale. This shows up as white streaks and stains around faucets, toilets, sinks and even your dishwasher. It can even leave stains on your dishes themselves. If you happen to see reddish color in your water, it’s a good sign your tap has rusty water — which might mean your pipes themselves are to blame. To get a full assessment, contact your local plumbing company. They can help you diagnose your issues quickly and accurately.

How to Get Rid of Lime Buildup

When it comes to cleaning up limescale buildup, you’ve got a few options. Keep in mind that to treat your limescale issues at the source, meaning your water source, takes a bit more than just a simple DIY fix. But we’ll get to that a little later. If you’re looking to clean up the build-up on your fixtures, drains and appliances, what can you do?

Cleaning Off Limescale

If you’re looking to clean up limescale buildup in your pipes, a very simple home remedy will easily get the job done. Basically, you’ll be calling on some household staples to make up a chemical concoction that will break down the stubborn mineral buildup. What you’ll need:

Vinegar
Baking soda
Hot water

What you’ll do:

Try and remove as much water from the pipes as possible. Use a plunger drain pump if needed.
Pour baking soda and vinegar into the drain you’re trying to clean.
Keep the drain covered for at least five minutes with a wet cloth.
Wash away the solution with plenty of hot water.
Use a sponge with vinegar to clean any trouble areas around the drain.

If you’re looking to clean off your appliances, the same method can work. Just use a sponge with vinegar to hit stains and dust with baking soda for tough to clean areas.

Cleaning Your Drains Regularly

Buildup is natural for areas with hard water. Even so, you can do a lot to prevent the serious issues caused by mineral build-up by cleaning out your drains regularly. Flushing your drains with the method we described above can be a part of your cleaning schedule with little to no damage to pipes and other fixtures. You can use harsh chemical cleaning solutions to clear your drains, but keep in mind that they come with some downsides. Not only are they corrosive and dangerous to handle, but they may cause long-term damage to your plumbing if you’re not careful. If you are consistently dealing with plumbing issues, getting a hold of your local plumbers in Waxahachie, TX, might be your best bet. These professionals can perform a camera pipe inspection to see what’s really going on in your plumbing and fix the issues.

Hard Water is a Difficult Problem to Fix

Here’s the thing about all these limescale remedies, the only help with pipes that lead away from your home. For pipes that supply your home with water, you don’t want to put anything in them that you might have to drink later. This is especially true for harsh chemicals. To fix these issues, you’ll need to remedy the source of your hard water. This could be as simple as switching your water provider if that option is available in your area. You might also have some luck with water softening equipment. This might include a series of filters at strategic parts of your plumbing system.

Are You Searching for Plumbers in Waxahachie, TX?

Limescale buildup can cause all sorts of issues in your home. From clogged pipes to bathroom sink repair, calcium deposit issues often require the trained hand of a professional. If you’re on the hunt for qualified and affordable plumbers in Waxahachie, TX, make sure to reach out to our team here at Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating. Our professional plumbers can handle everything from routine maintenance to emergency repairs. If limescale is causing you issues, make sure to reach out online to schedule an appointment.