The Real Cost of Metal Corrosion

The sight of eroding pipes is never easy to look at and is frankly quite an eyesore. Corrosion of metals can be seen all over, from rusted-out bicycle wheels to the leaky washing machine that just flooded your basement. In the same way, eroding pipes and metallic corrosion are not only a threat to obvious metals but those out of sight as well. In this blog post, we will take a look at the real cost of metal corrosion.

Corrosion vs. Erosion

Upon first glance, corrosion and erosion may seem like the same exact process. However, these two differ greatly in their reactions. While they both reach the same state of a rusted-out, dangerous breakdown of material, they get there in different ways. Erosion is simply changing the physical matter. In pipes, this is in reference to the decay over time of the material. This can be over several years, but physical conditions may cause a pipe to break down, either from the inside or outside.

Corrosion, on the other hand, refers to a chemical process that breaks down a certain material to produce another. This is the process of rusting, or metals being slowly transformed into the brittle red texture we see in many old cars. Corrosion and erosion are both harmful to materials, but it is important to understand that they work differently.

How Corrosion Affects the United States

It’s obvious that corrosion and erosion are everywhere and affect our roads, water systems, vehicles, and our homes. The United States in particular has had quite a large history of using hefty sums to prevent these infrastructural issues. About $300 billion are spent on recovering metal corrosion in a single year. Considering how huge this issue is in our nation, specific construction measures should be utilized to prevent pipe corrosion.

How Corrosion Affects Your Home

Though we do not see them, our homes are filled with pipes. Pipelines are often right below the surface of our walls, roads, and homes. The wide network of pipes ensures us running water and heating. Thus, a corrosion problem could be a disaster just waiting to happen. Corrosion breaks down the integrity of pipes, and a burst could cost thousands in repair fees.

Since pipes are necessary to bring water and heat to our homes, it is vital to include pipeline corrosion protection in your water and heating systems. A fix could be as simple as a pipe wear pad, which provides extra support to prevent corrosion. Before your eroding pipes or corrosion issue costs you far too much in repairs, give us a call to ensure long-term pipeline integrity for your home.