One of the most common household problems in Toronto and Etobicoke is limescale build-up, mostly due to the fact that Toronto has hard water coming into a lot of homes and businesses.
If you live close to Lake Ontario in Toronto or Etobicoke, you may notice this white crust building up on any of the surfaces water touches in your home. Here are a few common problems that come with limescale build-up.
What is limescale?
Limescale is the white, crusty, chalk-like build-up that will show up anywhere that hard water rests and dries. When the water eventually evaporates, it leaves behind any minerals that were dissolved into it.
These minerals are what creates the build-up you see around your house. The good news is that this limescale can be relatively easily cleaned up and removed from your home.
How does limescale damage fixtures and pipes?
Even those homeowners who clean their home on a regular schedule can still experience damage inside their fixtures and pipes from limescale build-up. The build-up can cause a blockage to the passage of water and eventually cause corrosion within the pipes, drains and fixtures.
If the damage is left untreated over a prolonged period of time it may mean that the fixture, pipe, or both, must be replaced. Depending on the severity, this can mean expensive repairs for the homeowner in order to rectify the situation.
Kitchen and bathroom faucets are the most common items affected by limescale and often need to be replaced first.
How to remove limescale
If you have noticed this white build-up around your home, there is an easy way to help remove it with items commonly around the house.
First, create a mixture that is half water and half vinegar or lemon juice (but not both). This mixture’s acidity will help dissolve the minerals in the limescale build-up. You will then need to apply this mixture to the limescale stains and let it rest for a while.
For taps and faucets, you can soak a rag in the cleaning solution and secure it around the fixture. For shower heads, you can put the mixture in a bag and secure the bag with an elastic band, so it will be absorbed and help dissolve the limescale.
After you’ve let the solution sit for a while, you’ll need to wipe off the area with clean water, so more limescale doesn’t build up.
How to prevent limescale build-up
In Toronto and Etobicoke, the water hardness issues are irritating but often do not cause major problems for homeowners. If you, as a homeowner, find that you are often cleaning white rings from around faucets and fixtures in your home, then you may have a good reason for wanting a professional to come in and look at the water flow in your home.
If you notice that the water in your home is not flowing as quickly as it once did and you are constantly cleaning the white build-up from around your home, then you may want to consider investing in a water softener or filter for your home.
Contact D Jason Plumbing today
If you are interested in having a water softener installed to prevent hard water in your home, we can help. Contact us today to speak to a our Etobicoke plumbers.