Do Water Softeners Prevent Leaks?

CONTENTS

• What is a water softener?
• What are the benefits of a water softener?
• Can a water softener prevent leaks and floods?
• How to prevent leaks and floods in your home
• What to do if your pipes leak
• Get in touch

Water pipes naturally corrode over time, even without excessive use or pouring waste down the drains. Pipes have a lifespan and some are more susceptible to corrosion if your property has hard water to rely on. A water softener is a simple solution to this big problem caused by hard water.

When hard water leads to leaks or floods in your home, you can count on ICE Cleaning's team to deliver high-quality water damage cleaning services. We effectively contain a leak before it gets out of control and successfully dry your property to make it safe again.

Read on to learn more about water softeners and how they can prevent leaks in your home.

What is a water softener?

Water softeners use technology to remove harsh minerals from your water supply. They work with the water supply, softening the water before it reaches taps or shower heads.

Installing one of these devices in your home interacts with the water supply by replacing harsh minerals with softer ones like sodium or potassium. This is known as an ion exchange, which attracts and holds positively charged ions that can stain your pipes.

Water softeners use a mineral tank and a brine tank, working in combination to attract the positive ions in an ion exchange using a heavy brine solution from the tank. For the best results, the brine tank requires manual refilling with either solar or evaporated salt.

What are the benefits of a water softener?

Areas more likely to have hard water are in South East England and Ireland, meaning they experience more issues in their water supply that include a decreased quality of their drinking water.

Hard water can cause stains on various surfaces, which are more prominent in the bathroom, where water is sprayed often against these surfaces.

A water softener prevents these issues, reducing the likelihood of limescale and increasing the lifespan of various water-based appliances across your home.

You will see fewer stains in the bathroom, feeling a positive change in your health and hygiene. Ultimately, water softeners improve your home life whilst keeping maintenance and cleaning costs low.

Can a water softener prevent leaks and floods?

If you continue using hard water in your home, many pipes and appliances throughout could be vulnerable to damage or breaking down. The harsh minerals in your pipes will cause an accumulation of limescale, creating a build-up of pressure and corrosion.

This eventually results in the pipework either bursting or leaking, which can cause further issues such as flooding or mould. Appliances like the dishwasher or washing machine may be prone to breaking and leaking when hard water has broken down the vital components of the machine.

Leaking and flooding due to hard water is common in water-based appliances, making them costly to repair or replace. A water softener can prevent these issues and increase the lifespan of your home's water supply and network.

How to prevent leaks and floods in your home

Regular property maintenance is important regardless of whether you own a water softener. However, if this device is out of your budget, there are other ways you can prevent leaks and floods within your home:

• Servicing your boiler regularly
• Identify where the stopcock is in case of an emergency
• Check the water pressure often
• Check for leaks regularly under sinks, appliances, or in bathrooms
• Insulate your pipes
• Clear your home's gutters often
• Service your sump pump once a year to ensure it works
• Install a device to detect water leaks
• Identify signs of damp and mould
• Check your attic or roof often

What to do if your pipes leak

A pipe that causes a leak or a flood of water can cause panic, and without prompt intervention, it could escalate into an issue that causes wood rot, structural issues, and mould growth.

You must act fast when you see water leaking from your appliances or you suspect an internal issue has occurred in the pipes. When this happens, you should:

• Turn off the water supply
• Identify the source of the leak or flood
• Clean up the water using absorbent materials or a mop
• Open the doors and windows, and use fans to circulate air and dry the area
• Purchase a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity and prevent mould from growing
• Call your local water company for advice
• Contact a water clean-up service company

Water damage caused by leaks or internal flooding can be hard to clean by yourself, especially if you believe the water to be contaminated with waste. Attempting to clean it yourself may result in sickness or structural damage, so seeking professional help is the best route for you.

Get in touch

If you have experienced a leak or flooding in your home, our technicians here at ICE Cleaning can help. Our high-quality water damage restoration services will help you to contain, clean, dry, and decontaminate any property damaged by a leak.

Get in touch with our team at 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to find out more. We are available to take your call 24/7, 365 days a year, including bank holidays and weekends.