Rust is a noticeable and common part of life. You can see it on almost every metal you lay your eyes on as not only it is not natural but it is also inevitable. Rusting is a chemical reaction that occurs when corroding steel material is exposed to oxygen and water. Its scientific term is hydrous iron oxide and is considered a common chemical.
From iron pipes to steel pipes, every metal exposed to water is not safe from rusting. Rusting does not necessarily determine the quality of a pipe, it is somehow a physical manifestation of the age of the pipe that can help you determine if maintenance is needed.
Rusting is a normal process and has no proven direct risks to one’s health. So, if you are seeing some rusting in your drainage or water pipes, there is no need to panic and rush to the emergency room.
However, rusty pipes at home are also not necessarily safe and convenient if you want to maintain a clean and healthy lifestyle. Therefore, rusty pipes should not be left untreated.
Pipe replacement can be expensive for some, but this also means that investing in quality home materials is a way to provide a safe environment for your family and avoid issues that can have serious implications in the long run.
And so, if you are still unsure of getting your rusty pipes treated, here are some ways rusty pipe issues at home can affect your way of living:
It Causes Skin Problems
A large number of pipes and water system materials such as alloys contain iron. When you use water flowing from these pipes to wash your face or shower, you are also exposing your skin to an iron-filled substance.
Irons are known chemicals that can clog pores. This means that it can block your pores from maintaining a healthy sebum production- overproduction of sebum can lead to acne. For people who have sensitive and oily, iron in your skin can also aggravate these symptoms.
It Can Discolor Clothes and Towels
The reddish and brownish water that comes out of rusty pipes can be off-putting to look at especially when you bathe or brush your teeth with it. However, for households where this quality of water is normal, it doesn’t mean that its effects are not visible immediately.
Washing your clothes and other linens with water can discolor and even stain them. Since rusty water is also considered to be hard water, it can also harden your sheets and blankets which can result in a decreased quality of sleep.
Additionally, since discoloration in water can be strong, it can also stain your ceramic and porcelain kitchenware and utensils, especially when they are originally lightly colored.
It Changes Food and Water Taste
While there are no proven health risks from ingesting rusty or iron-filled food and water, it does not mean that it makes your eating experience good either. In fact, water contaminated with iron can taste bitter or have a metallic taste. To make things worst, since rusty water is prone to discoloration, soups and beverages can noticeably change in color.
Even if you prepare the most tasteful meal for your family or have an astounding skill in culinary arts, these minor differences in the quality of food can discourage you and your family to enjoy a meal.
It Can Accelerate Clogging and Leakage
When bits of rust wears off and accumulate in your drainage pipes, clogging can happen. The iron particles from rust can also stick and build up on pipes which leads to lower water pressure. These things can also contribute to faster corrosion of your pipes which can post more serious threats to your safety when rusty water leaks.
Having pipe issues does not only affect simple activities at home like taking a shower, washing the dishes, or cooking a meal, it can also affect the condition of your house. This can cause you to need major renovations or repairs which can cost you more than you imagine.
It Can Lead To Bacteria Build Up
Since rust can greatly affect the quality of your pipes, pipes will corrode and get damaged immediately, these can lead to leaks that expose your water lines to dirt and bacteria that can be possibly gotten from drainage systems.
Cleaning your body, drinking, and cooking water with harmful bacteria can lead to health issues such as viruses and infections. Although it is established that rust does not have any direct health implications, its secondary effects can be more harmful as different diseases can be contracted from the toxic substances caused by leakages.
Key Takeaway
Rusting is something that might be overlooked by anyone in their household just because they normally see it which should not be the case. As simple and common as it looks, rusting can be a determinant factor for you to replace your pipes or even invest in water filtration systems.
The leaks and pipe damages, low water pressure, and overall issues in the quality of water can be frustrating problems to deal with at home, and repeatedly experiencing them for long periods of time can do you and your family more harm than good.
At the end of the day, one way to live comfortably at home is having the assurance that you are living in a safe and healthy environment. To do this, you have to prepare yourself for household maintenance projects such as pipe replacements that can improve your lifestyle and prevent you from more costs in the future.
