water softener?

[shaunx]

Hello there,

I have oil heat and city water I am told that the water is hard and will cause the pipes to rot out is this true and is the fix a water softener? Also if the water softener is the fix how much do they cost to install or how hard is it to install and how long do they last?

[awc222]

Hard water will not make pipes "rot". I'm sure what your meaning of rot is as I prefer to use it for fruit, etc. Pipes suffer from either corrosion or scale build up.

Corrosion is often caused by low pH and copper can develop pin holes as the acidic water eats away the pipe and other fixtures. Low pH will cause the copper to turn color, often a turquoise tint. Poorly grounded plumbing can also cause corrosion.

Hard water cause scale build up. This is where the inside diameter of the pipe is reduced due to a build up of hardness deposits, sort of like cholesterol. Water pressure and flow rate are effected.

Guessing at a price of a water softener is nearly impossible and very often they are at no expense. The reason is they save you enough money on soaps, plumbing, moisturizers, fixtures, water heaters, clothing, toilets, shower doors, faucets, dishwashers, and on and on, that in the end they pay for themselves.

Beware, though, you may be getting what you pay for. Going cheap can be very costly. There are some very high quality units out there and then there's the landlord's special.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II