We purchased a house built in 1975 with metal pipes. It has a lot of rust and minerals that comes out of the pipes when the plumbing system is idle for a number of days. We decided to install a water softener and now, we're regularly encountering leaks and busted lines. We're assuming that the calcium build up in the old pipes kept the corrosion plugged up. Now that the softened water is running through, it's removing the calcium and allowing water to escape through the corroded pipes. Is this what's happening? I thought the ion exchange could only happen at the WS unit itself.
2007-11-14 02:34:05 · 5 answers · asked by Bionerd 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
you can replace the pipes or have your water company look into a polyphosphate feeder. the polyphosphate will coat the pipes. i only advise this if you also have an R.O. for your drinking and cooking water.
2007-11-14 02:48:39 · answer #1 · answered by Jack the Toad 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Old Water Softener
2016-11-04 02:20:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The soft water is not actually removing the build-up its just that you are no longer constantly depositing a layer of minerals and it is "breaking free". If by metal pipes you mean galvanized pipe, I would reommend replacing as much of it as is reasonable. If you mean copper pipe and your springing leaks, then I would recommend that you have the PH checked in your raw water, as a low PH will dissolve copper (slowly) telltale signs of this are green staining, this is the copper redepositing itself when its exposed to air. which causes the copper to oxidize(and want to stick to something) Sulfur also is very corrosive to any type of metal. I own a water conditioning business and I live in a house with plumbing from 1924. I have replaced as much as I can with copper, when I say as much as is practical I mean that I'm not going to tear out walls over a little sediment, a leak is a different situation though! Ion exchang is happening iside the mineral tank of your uniy and is quite simply the exchange of salt molecules for hardness (calcium) and or iron molecules. The more iron and hardness in your raw water, the more salt is exchanged and added to your treated water.POU (point of use) filter cartridges can be insalled immediately before your shower/sink/toilet fixtures to catch any chunks or tadpoles that wash out of your lines. these are relatively inexpensive and easy to maintan. clear housings will allow you to see when the cartridge needs changed. every time you work on the pipes/ or relieve all the pressure more stuff will fall into your lines. the pressure of the water helps keep it in place. just simply shutting off the water, draining the pressure and then repressurizing is enough to stir up some serious stuff! Let alone banging around and shaking the pipes when you are working on them. I would recommend replacing as mucn as you can and then POU filters if you still get sediment. feeding chemicals is not the solution as these require additional equipment and then you need to remove the chemical before using the water. chemicals will not replace the metal in your pipes!
2007-11-16 09:11:08 · answer #3 · answered by lenny c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be able to find a connection hose that will convert your softener. If the local home store does not have it, you can also use a brass adapter to convert the change.
2016-05-23 03:16:15 · answer #4 · answered by alida 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your right, the softner is removeing the build up causing the pipes to spring leaks, best bet is to replace them with plastic pipes,
2007-11-14 02:41:40 · answer #5 · answered by William B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋