What Are The Most Common Causes of Pipe Corrosion?

Be it a drainage pipe or the water supply pipe, one of the major issues that plumbers have to deal with is corrosion. It’s a kind of damage where the pipe’s material starts losing its strength, durability and form rusts. It can happen both in the outer and inner walls, so most pipes nowadays are either made from stainless steel or coated with anti-corrosive material. Owing to this, the corrosion rate of the pipes has been reduced by a huge limit. 

However, it is not reduced to zero, so you need to know why a pipe can suffer corrosion. In the below article, we will talk about some of the major causes which corrode the pipe walls, either from the outside or the inside. 

The abnormal pH level of water

One of the major causes of corrosion in pipes is the abnormal pH level of the water, be it the freshwater coming to your home or the drainage water. If the water is acidic with a pH level varying between 2 and 6, the ionized compounds will cause corrosion on the pipe’s inner walls. The lower the pH level, the more acidic will be the water, and hence, the more will be the corrosion level. 

Excessive mineral deposition

Sometimes, the water flowing through the pipes is loaded with chemicals like Calcium Sulphate, Magnesium Bisulphate, etc. These compounds are not soluble in water, and if the temperature is high, they will precipitate out, forming a hard, thick crust on the pipe’s inner walls. Prolonged accumulation of these chemicals can reduce the durability of the material, thereby increasing the corrosion levels. 

Abnormal temperature 

Temperature is an important judging factor when it comes to the corrosion levels in a pipe. When the water temperature is too high, it will damage the surface coating of the pipe’s inner walls, thereby corrupting it. Similarly, the cold, freezing atmospheric temperature can cause leaks and cracks for exposed pipes, which slowly speed up the corrosion. 

Almost zero maintenance

Most times, you don’t pay proper attention to the pipe’s health, and therefore, you ignore the need to call for maintenance services. Well, due to the lack of maintenance, you wouldn’t know the extent of damage your pipe has suffered to date. As a result, the material will continue to erode since the pipes won’t receive the treatment and care they need, 

Conclusion 

Nowadays, several types of pipes are being used to ensure that they last for a long time and deliver wonderful performance. However, if you are negligent towards these corroding factors, you won’t be able to maintain the health of the pipes, and they will collapse much earlier than expected.