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PHOENIX PLUMBING TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

FEB 21, 2017

Sometimes, you need a professional plumber—there is no getting around it. But far too often, homeowners overlook their ability to address common plumbing problems themselves. Here is our rundown of top Phoenix plumbing tips for homeowners.

PLUMBING TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION …

Of all the Phoenix plumbing tips we have to offer, the most important one is to be proactive about the whole business. Do not put off tackling plumbing problems until they become disasters. If you notice things like leaking faucets or rocking toilets, handling them promptly will save you a ton of time and money in the long run.

STAINLESS STEEL WASHING MACHINE HOSES

Bursted washing machine hoses are among the most common reasons people need to call plumbers in Phoenix, which is unfortunate because it is an easily avoidable problem. The standard rubber hoses that usually come with the machine are tenuous, at best. For a simple upgrade, visit your local hardware store to pick up some made out of stainless steel instead.

KNOW WHERE YOUR HOME’S MAIN WATER VALVE IS

We cannot count the number of times we have had Phoenix homeowners call us in a panic because their house is flooding before their eyes and they do not know what to do. Outside of your house, there is a valve to shut off the water in your house, temporarily stopping any flooding until someone can locate and address the source of a leak. Find it outside of your house and make sure to show other family members as well. As a bonus plumbing tip, consider shutting off the valve if you will be away from home for an extended period of time as well. Your sprinklers should keep running anyway (the water that runs into your home will be the only water turned off) and you can be assured that a leak or busted pipe will not lead to a nefarious surprise awaiting you when you get back from your trip.

“FLUSHABLE” WIPES ARE ANYTHING BUT

No matter what their marketing departments tell you,flushing wipes is a bad idea. Baby wipes and things like that are one of the main sources of Phoenix plumbing disasters because of their propensity to clog pipes. Just do not do it. If wipes are a must (to each their own), toss them into a trash can instead.

REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE PIPES IN YOUR WALLS

Before you get too gung-ho with your next DIY project, think twice before pounding nails or drilling screws into your walls unless you are absolutely sure that you are not putting your plumbing at risk. Hitting a copper or plastic pipe is not just a plumbing nightmare, it will also call for some new drywall if the water gets too far. Avoid this problem by opting to hang things from walls that are not near sinks or toilets, if possible. Some stud finders that also sense by density. They may help you detect pipes if you insist that something be hung specifically near plumbing fixtures. If you want to be absolutely sure, carefully cut a small hole in the wall—somewhere that will be covered by the prospective wall hanging—and take a look for yourself. Bonus points if you manage to get a picture of the inside of a wall during a bathroom renovation.

OUT OF SITE SHOULDN’T MEAN OUT OF MIND

Most of us give our water heaters little thought until the day they stop working. That is truly unfortunate, because a decent number of our Phoenix plumbing calls come from folks upset because paper plates and cold showers are more than a little inconvenient. One important step to prolonging the life of your water heater is to have it flushed regularly—especially given the prevalence of hard water in the Phoenix area. This is a job that can be done by a professional technician, or for the more ambitious crowd,done yourself with the proper instruction.

KNOW WHEN TO CALL A PROFESSIONAL

Sure, you watched the tutorial on YouTube and all of the parts are readily available at your local Phoenix plumbing aisle. But your plumbing is too important and there is entirely too much risk in terms of potential damage to your home if you undertake a plumbing project that is beyond you. If you do not feel 100 percent comfortable with the task at hand,give us a call. All of our work is fully guaranteed and no job is too big or too small.

Want more plumbing tips? Check out our previous article on the subject and stay tuned for more similar updates in the future.