Glamorous shiny faucets are the essence of modern-style homes. However, all metals are vulnerable to corrosion. Rust from your faucets can even stain other parts of your bathroom, such as your sink, with a hideous orange-brown color.
To figure out what causes your faucets to rust, we interviewed our expert team of professional plumbers in Rockwall, TX, at Wasden Plumbing. In this article, we share with you everything we learned.
What is Rust?
Rust is a chemical compound of iron that forms when the iron is exposed to water and oxygen for long periods. This process is called oxidation. All metals are prone to oxidation. For example, aluminum doesn’t look glossy like other metals do because it oxidizes very quickly, and the top layer we see is an oxide of aluminum.
What Causes Rust?
Iron oxidizes and forms rust when it’s exposed to water and oxygen. However, some factors can speed up this process.
pH of Water
pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. In its pure form, water has a pH of 7, which is neutral. A pH value higher than 7 makes the water more alkaline, while a pH lower than 7 makes it more acidic.
However, water is never in its pure form. Water is a universal solvent. It can dissolve a variety of chemicals from its surroundings. If nothing else, it can dissolve gasses in the air, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen dissolve in water to form carbonic acid and nitric acid, which lower the water’s pH and make it more acidic.
Your tap water may also have dissolved some alkaline substances along the way, shifting the pH balance in the other direction. These small variations in pH are not noticeable to us, but over time, they can corrode your faucet and even your plumbing.
Hardness of Water
Hardness measures the amount of salt dissolved in your tap water. For example, water from a newly dug well is harder than line water. Hard water doesn’t directly corrode your faucets but can worsen the rust. When hard water evaporates, it leaves behind the salt dissolved in it. Over time, this can corrode your faucets.
How to Remove and Prevent Rust?
Applying vinegar or lemon to your faucet and scrubbing it can effectively remove rust from your faucets. You can also use a commercially available rust cleaner.
Choosing faucets that are right for your house is the best way to prevent rust. Some alloys are more resistant to some causes of rust than others. Depending on the water you get in your area, professional plumbing service in Rockwall, TX, can help you choose the right faucets.
At Wasden Plumbing, we’re the no. 1 plumbing company in Rockwall, TX, with over 20 years of serving the city. We’re also the first plumbing service in Rockwall, TX, that offers emergency plumbing 24/7.
Want to keep your faucets and your plumbing rust-free? Get in touch now!
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