If your yard regularly accumulates pools of water when it rains, this could be an indicator of drainage issues. Most often this stems from an inadequate slope or pitch to direct runoff away from your home.
Standing water can also be an indicator of an area with hardpacked soil that doesn’t drain easily; to address such problems, French drains, catch basins and proper grading solutions may help.
Mineral Buildup
Mineral deposits left by hard water can build up in your pipes, leading to clogs, decreased water flow and eventually pipe failure. To combat this issue, switching out metal pipes for PEX plastic ones that are more resistant to mineral build-up; you could also invest in whole house water softening systems to safeguard home plumbing fixtures against hard water’s damaging effects.
Hard water can be defined as groundwater with high concentrations of calcium and magnesium hardness minerals such as calcium carbonate. When these hardness minerals deposit onto surfaces in your home that come in contact with this hard water supply – such as sink drains and faucets – they deposit as deposits that, when dry, form crusty chalky deposits called lime scale that restrict water flow while hasten rusting in pipes leading to costly repairs for homeowners.
Limescale can also wreak havoc with your plumbing fixtures, leading to them to malfunction or fail altogether. Lime scale deposits on rubber washers in faucets and shower heads may become damaged over time due to hard water’s harsh treatment; leaks or poor performance could result. Furthermore, if your home contains copper pipes that have become compromised due to hard water use, this could potentially rupture and create costly repair bills in the form of ruptured pipes that need costly replacement.
If your hard water has caused issues with drains or fixtures, using an all-natural drain cleaner that won’t harm the pipes is the answer. White vinegar works wonders at breaking up and dissolving lime deposits without resorting to harsh chemicals found in store-bought cleaners. If you want to unblock drains, you can try soaking them overnight with white vinegar and baking soda solutions may break them up and dissolve them more efficiently than conventional drain cleaners do.
Small Objects
Geophysicist or not, it should be obvious that puddles and lakes are signs of drainage problems on commercial properties. But other issues might not be so obvious; for example if your landscape grading slopes toward your building or water pools near buildings then an underlying issue needs attention. By attending to small problems before they become major issues you’ll save both time and money while leaving an excellent impression with those visiting your facility.
Tree Roots
Roots of trees are frequently underappreciated. Although their role is essential, often being responsible for absorption of water and minerals as well as anchoring it down, their needs often go ignored – particularly in urban landscapes where trees are frequently planted near roads or driveways that prevent their roots from reaching deeper into the soil to absorb oxygen and sustain healthy root growth. Girdling, rotting, moisture loss are other issues associated with tree roots but most problematic is soil compaction that reduces or completely blocks oxygen from reaching roots thereby suffocating their ability to absorb oxygen.
Tree roots typically extend 18-24 inches beneath the soil’s surface and can grow twice as far. Their length varies greatly from canopy or branch length, growing irregularly across vertical, horizontal, diagonal and even subterranean surfaces. Roots are vulnerable to damage from lawn mowers/weed whackers/cars and construction crews as well as being susceptible to diseases and conditions like Armillaria root rot, fungi infection and vascular wilts which threaten them further.
If your tree roots are becoming an issue, it’s essential that you reach out to a landscaping or tree-trimming professional immediately. If the roots have started encroaching onto underground pipes, relocation or removal may be necessary in order to prevent costly plumbing repairs and leaks in both residential and commercial properties.
Attractive tree roots may create trip hazards and block sewer lines and drainage ditches. If you observe any signs that point toward this issue, it’s wise to contact a landscaping or tree-trimming professional as soon as possible to prevent further damage and save money. Experts can diagnose the problem and recommend an effective solution before it worsens further. In certain situations, depending on where your clog or leak lies, city workers may even help resolve it on your behalf by working with plumbing and construction contractors to address it expediently.
Soap Scum
Soap scum is a white or gray filmy layer found across many surfaces in your bathroom, such as tubs, showers, sinks and doors. It is composed of both soap particles and minerals from your water supply (calcium and magnesium particles in particular), bonding together to form sticky, hard-to-remove residue which often builds up in showers and bathtubs.
Soap scum forms on tub and shower surfaces, door frames, glass shower screens and the inside of your washer, making removal difficult and often unsightly. However, it poses no health or safety risk and is caused by minerals present in hard water sources as well as body oils, dirt and bits of dead skin that settle onto surfaces over time. You can remove soap scum using either commercial solutions such as Baking Soda + Distilled Vinegar, or homemade combinations like Baking Soda + Vinegar which works just as quickly.
Clean soap scum regularly to stop it from building up and keep surrounding areas tidy. You can do this using either commercial soap scum removers, homemade baking soda and vinegar solutions or by installing an automatic shower cleaner in your bathroom. For thick scum build-ups you may have to let sit a while before cleaning it away.
Ideal, bathroom surfaces should be regularly cleaned to avoid build-up and make scrubbing easier, although weekly cleaning should suffice if this isn’t feasible. Products specifically designed to remove soap scum can help shorten your time spent cleaning; you can find both natural and chemical versions online or at local hardware stores.
If you opt for natural cleaners, be sure to test a small area first to ensure it’s safe before applying it more broadly. Chemical products should always be adhered to as per instructions on their label, while hard water conditions could necessitate purchasing a water softener as prevention against soap scum build-up – saving both time and effort spent scrubbing daily as well as having to replace showerheads or faucet handles due to excessive hardness damage.