Plumbing problems: we may need a water softener....or something...HELP!!

[ODogg]

Does anyone know about water ionizers versus filtration versus softeners? What works best to protect our pipes and appliances from corrosion and buildup?

I've had a couple of plumbers come out and give us wildly differing answers on what we need to do to stop our issues. Our issue is pipe build up of deposits in our faucets, pipes, toilets..

We don't care about drinking the water or any issue other than protecting our plumbing..

Thanks for any insight anyone can provide.. We want to get this fixed sooner rather than later as we just bought new faucets and a toilet due to this problem!!


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[HealyMonster]

Re: Plumbing problems: we may need a water softener....or something...HELP!!

Does anyone know about water ionizers versus filtration versus softeners? What works best to protect our pipes and appliances from corrosion and buildup?

I've had a couple of plumbers come out and give us wildly differing answers on what we need to do to stop our issues. Our issue is pipe build up of deposits in our faucets, pipes, toilets..

We don't care about drinking the water or any issue other than protecting our plumbing..

Thanks for any insight anyone can provide.. We want to get this fixed sooner rather than later as we just bought new faucets and a toilet due to this problem!!


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Do you have a well? Or city water

[p_rushing]

Re: Plumbing problems: we may need a water softener....or something...HELP!!

Water filtration and softeners will be best.

Hard water will build up and cause clogs in pipes and leave hard to clean water spots. Too soft water can breakdown the pipes and put deposits into the water.

Ionizers are hit or miss and you can't exactly see if it is working or not. You can't see inside your pipes to see if the build up is going away. So whether they actually do anything or anything of value for the price is debatable. Plus they are suppose to break down metals, which your pipes are metal.

I would put a filtration system as close to where the water line comes into the house as possible. Then also look at softening it, but know what you will be getting into. Feel of water, maintenance, etc.

Find a plumber or water filtration company who is going to test your water and see how hard it is. If they aren't testing it, you may just be throwing money away on stuff you don't need.

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[ODogg]

Re: Plumbing problems: we may need a water softener....or something...HELP!!

Do you have a well? Or city water

City water

[ODogg]

Re: Plumbing problems: we may need a water softener....or something...HELP!!

We had bought a water softener and at the advice of a local plumbing company we sent it back as they said that was not what we needed. Btw that was real fun lugging 100 pounds to the post office btw, then had to take it to UPS as they wouldn't mail it since it was over the weight limit.

This plumber recommended a water ionizer installed for about $800 but I read nothing good online about ionizer in regards to actual proof they would help our situation. And the more I read about this stuff the more confused I get, LOL.

Going to have Culligan come out and do a free water test and find out about renting or leasing to own a water softener at this point instead of just dropping 2k or 3k..

[Phobia]

Re: Plumbing problems: we may need a water softener....or something...HELP!!

I'm guessing you have old school galvanized pipes. If they are really old, 20+ years, it would take a long long time for a softener to remove the build up, if at all(I highly doubt it would). Recent and light flaky build up the softener will remove but thick old hard as rock build up I don't see the softener doing anything for it.

If its copper pipes, then they are pulling your chain because they are not prone to build up. So a water softener won't help you.

I know this because my house has old (1964) galvanized water pipes and I've been through my issues with "build up". If it is galvanized, your best option would be to re-pipe the home.

[IndianBird]

Re: Plumbing problems: we may need a water softener....or something...HELP!!

I'm guessing you have old school galvanized pipes. If they are really old, 20+ years, it would take a long long time for a softener to remove the build up, if at all(I highly doubt it would). Recent and light flaky build up the softener will remove but thick old hard as rock build up I don't see the softener doing anything for it.

If its copper pipes, then they are pulling your chain because they are not prone to build up. So a water softener won't help you.

I know this because my house has old (1964) galvanized water pipes and I've been through my issues with "build up". If it is galvanized, your best option would be to re-pipe the home.

That's exactly what I was going to say. If it's an older home, most likely the damage is done.

[ODogg]

Re: Plumbing problems: we may need a water softener....or something...HELP!!

It's a 1992 build and I really am not sure what the majority of pipes are, I just saw some copper pipes in the basement so I figured that's what they all were


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[p_rushing]

Re: Plumbing problems: we may need a water softener....or something...HELP!!

It's a 1992 build and I really am not sure what the majority of pipes are, I just saw some copper pipes in the basement so I figured that's what they all were


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What is under your sinks or at your water heater? There would be no reason to switch that up just for those connections.

You could also see cpvc, but usually that would only be added later if a home owner didn't want to have to mess with copper. So whatever is there, should be throughout the house.

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[ODogg]

Re: Plumbing problems: we may need a water softener....or something...HELP!!

At the water heater its copper I'm pretty sure, I can take a pic of it later and post it


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