How Well Water Affects Pipes - Wisler Plumbing & Air

The effect that well water can have on our pipes is something that is greatly overlooked. In fact, most plumbing problems can be prevented by making sure the home has good quality water. People don’t often make the association—when a home’s faucet, toilet, or water heater has issues, it is often simply due to the water quality.

The most important step for homeowners to take is to learn what their water quality actually is. Is it good, fair, or bad? Well water can be especially harmful to the plumbing system. We therefore encourage everyone with well water to test its quality. There are times when people have had to repipe their entire house because they sprung a leak due to the water quality. The pipes have worn down to the point where they are so thin that they must all be replaced. If the issue would have been dealt with proactively, it would’ve saved a significant investment down the road.

Dripping water faucets can also be a sign of poor water quality. If you’re in the city and you have municipal water, chlorine has likely been added to prevent bacteria growth. Chlorine can adversely affect the rubber components of the faucet. As the rubber breaks down, it will eventually cause the faucet to drip.

One of the most common well water issues that we see in our area is low pH. Low pH means that the water is highly acidic, which can cause damage to the pipes and fixtures. It is basically like having rainwater going through the entire plumbing system. The corrosive water will eat through anything made out of metal including the faucets, pipes, and drains. If you learn that your well water is highly acidic, you can deal with it before it becomes a serious headache in the future.

The solution to your water issue largely depends on what’s wrong. Once you’ve tested the water quality, we can prescribe a solution that takes care of the underlying issue. Acidic well water can be treated with a neutralizer that raises the pH, hard water issues can be solved with a water softener, chlorine can be addressed with a carbon filter, and iron can be removed with a filtration system. There are different components that we would use depending on which problems the water has.

Remember, don’t assume that your water is of good quality. If you care about the investment you’ve made in your plumbing system, get it tested to make sure you aren’t causing damage that could have been prevented.

To learn more about how you can get your water’s quality tested, contact us online or give us a call at (540) 483-9382.