The Seattle area has some of the nation’s best drinking water, with much of it from protected watersheds, such as the Cedar and Tolt rivers. These sources provide naturally soft and clean water with minimal treatment needed. You might think that clean, soft water means your home’s plumbing doesn’t need protection.
However, soft water can bring challenges that you need to know about to better protect your investment in your home.
What Makes Seattle’s Water “Soft”?
Water hardness can affect water quality. Water hardness refers to the amount of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, that are present in the water. In other parts of the country, hard water is a common issue, and the mineral buildup it causes can wreak havoc on faucets, pipes, and plumbing appliances.
Seattle’s soft water doesn’t have the same high mineral content. Still, it can affect your pipes in other ways over time, especially if you have a home with an older plumbing system that uses copper or galvanized steel pipes. In pipes made of these materials, soft water can cause more corrosion than hard water. When mineral content is low, the water tends to attract metals from your pipes.
To prevent this from happening, the city of Seattle adds corrosion control agents to the water. Still, it’s not a perfect system, and the risk of corrosion continues to exist. As pipes slowly corrode, they weaken, which can lead to many other issues. When they get bad enough, pipe replacement becomes necessary due to extensive damage.
Common Plumbing Problems Related to Water Quality in Seattle
The most common problem caused by soft water, as already mentioned, is corrosion. When pipes corrode, joints weaken, pinhole leaks can form, and the entire plumbing system is compromised. Often, homeowners don’t notice the problem until there’s water damage behind walls or pooling around the foundation because the leaks have gone undetected for a long time.
Discoloration is another major issue with soft water. This is another result of corrosion. Water can develop a reddish-brown or blue-green tint, and it can even have a metallic taste. As the pipes degrade, they’ll leak tiny amounts of copper or rust into the water, degrading its appearance and taste over time.
Signs Your Plumbing Might Be Affected
Paying attention to the warning signs that your home’s plumbing could be struggling with Seattle’s soft water can help you catch problems earlier. Watch for the following telltale indications.
Low Water Pressure
Is the water coming out of your showerheads or faucets slower than usual? If you have galvanized steel pipes or copper pipes, you might have a hidden leak caused by corrosion. You may also have a blockage caused by pieces of metal that have flaked off.
Frequent Leaks or Drips
A single dripping faucet doesn’t necessarily mean you have a soft water issue. It could just mean you’ve got a worn-out washer. However, if you have multiple leaks, recurring leaks, or issues with many fixtures in your home, you may have a systemic issue and many small pinhole leaks that need to be addressed.
The Age of Your Home
During the 1940s and 1950s, the housing market boomed in response to the end of World War II and the homecoming of veterans. The homes built during this time often had copper and galvanized steel plumbing, and while some have been updated over time, many of these homes still have their original plumbing systems. If you live in an older home and haven’t yet updated its plumbing, you may be at risk of corrosion issues related to soft water.
Seattle and its residents pride themselves on their high-quality water. Still, the reality is that your home’s plumbing system, combined with your home’s age and piping material, can lead to issues caused by soft water. Fortunately, you can avoid most problems if you monitor for signs of issues and take action promptly.
At Rush Plumbing Inc, we understand the specific plumbing challenges faced by Seattle homeowners. We offer a range of residential plumbing services designed to protect your home from the long-term effects of our water quality, including leak detection, comprehensive plumbing inspections, and targeted solutions.
Contact Rush Plumbing Inc today to schedule a plumbing inspection and ensure your home’s plumbing is prepared for Seattle’s exceptional water.
