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Pex vs. Copper Piping

The plumbing that extends throughout your home must be reliable and long-lasting. Plumbing leaks can damage your floors, walls and ceilings, so you need to make sure that your pipes can withstand decades of use without costly repairs. When it comes to your hot and cold-water pipes, your two primary choices are copper pipes or PEX, which is a cross-linked polyethylene product. Each type of pipe has its benefits and drawbacks that you should know

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How Do I Know If My Home Needs New Piping?

Some plumbing pipes are rated to last for several decades. However, certain factors can cause them to wear out sooner than expected. Corrosion, clogging, soil shifting, and high water pressure can all lead to premature failure. Here are some of the key signs that your home needs new piping. Recurrent Plumbing Leaks In some instances, a plumbing leak can be isolated to just one area of the home. Your plumber may be able to fix

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How Often Does a Home Need New Pipes?

With adequate maintenance, a pipe can last anywhere from 20 years to almost a century before it needs to be replaced. However, depending on its condition, you may need to replace it long before it reaches the end of its useful life. Let’s take a look at a few variables to consider when determining if your home needs new pipes. Are the Pipes Showing Signs of Damage? A damaged pipe can cause water leaks and

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Can my pipes be repaired or do I need to replace?

When the pipes in your home experience issues like leaking or low water pressure, you might debate about whether you should repair or replace them. These tips can help you determine when you should hire a company like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing for pipe repairs and when you should hire it for pipe replacement. When to Repair Your Home’s Pipes Pipe repairs can address minor to moderate issues you experience with your home’s plumbing. These plumbing

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Why Does Soft Water Feel Slimy in the Shower?

Do you have soft water? You may have noticed that your skin feels slimy or slippery when you wash your hands or take a shower. This is a common sensation and is a normal effect of soft water interacting with your skin and soap. It helps to understand the factors that cause this sensation and why soft water is still a favorable choice for many people. The Science Behind Soft Water Causing Slipperiness Hard water

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Is the Water in Lakeland Hard or Soft?

The water quality is different in many cities in Florida. Lakeland is one of them. According to data, the city has hard water. Hard water is water that contains many minerals. Whilst there is no threat to drinking hard water, there are some problems that can occur. What Is Hard Water? Minerals such as calcium and magnesium are prevalent in hard water. Lakeland has a lot of homes with hard water because the water contains

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How often do I have to add salt to my water softener?

If you have a salt-based water softener, adding salt at the right time will keep it running properly. The size of the brine tank, age of the system, relative water hardness, and amount of water you use will factor into its salt usage and impact how frequently you’ll need to top off its salt supply. Maintaining your system will ensure that you always have soft water available when you need it. How Do I Maintain

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How to Test for Hard Water

Little frustrations may be signs of big problems. If your favorite t-shirt always feels stiff and you’re constantly descaling the coffeemaker, you may have a hard water problem. What Is Hard Water? Hard water is water with high mineral content. Water picks up these minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium, naturally from soil and rocks before entering any public water system. People using water from private wells are more likely to deal with this issue because

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What is hard water?

Hard water is well water, spring water, or city water with a high mineral content. Though the water is clear, it picks up hard minerals like calcium and magnesium when it passes over soil and rocks on its way to the municipal supply. The minerals dissolve and harden the water as it travels through the ground. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, over 85% of American homes have hard water. Its mineral concentration levels can

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