What Is Pipe Descaling & How Does It Work?

If you have a low water pressure or chronic drain clogs, it could be due to sediment and mineral buildup within your pipes known as scaling.

Scaling can occur when the water supply in your area has what’s known as “hard water.” Hard water is safe to consume and use – and may even have health benefits – but it gets its name the natural presence of dissolved minerals like calcium or magnesium carbonates.

Over time, dissolved minerals reaccumulate along the interior surfaces of your pipes, reducing the pipe’s flow capacity and leading to problems like low water pressure, slow drainage, frequent clogs, backups, and more.

How Do I Get Rid of Scaling in My Pipes?

Pipe descaling is the process a plumber uses to break up this accumulation and help water flow into and out of your home more freely.

For mild or moderate scaling, a plumber might scrape the inside of your pipes with abrasive tools to break upscaling. They might also use special chemical cleaners not typically available to consumers.

For more severe cases of scaling, a plumber might choose hydro jetting to break up the mineral accumulation. This treatment option involves shooting a stream of water with a force of around 3,500 psi at deposits to free them from the interior surface of your pipes.

Sometimes a combination of these descaling methods is necessary to restore function to your home’s plumbing system.

Descaling Is Good for You & Your Pipes

Most homes built before the mid-1970s were built with cast iron pipes. These are more prone to scaling than more modern materials, although most pipes can potentially develop scaling. Cast iron pipes are more susceptible because as iron oxide forms, it tends to create the right conditions for dissolved minerals in hard water to accumulate.

When there is any amount of scaling forming within pipes, descaling is good. It can make sure your pipes are functioning as they were intended, which can reduce the risk of more severe problems like cracks or breaks forming. Descaling also lets homeowners remediate their plumbing system without digging up their yards or removing drywall to replace piping with severe buildup.

Need to Call a Plumber?

If you’ve slow drains or low water pressure in your home, scaling may be to blame. Don’t try to handle this on your own with drain cleaners from the hardware store – these caustic chemicals can damage your pipes without providing the level of descaling you need to restore function to your pipes.

The best thing to do is to call a professional plumber for help. We at 911 Sewer Specialists can perform a video inspection to assess the extent of your scaling. We’ll then determine which is the most effective method of descaling to use that protects your pipes while providing long-lasting benefits.