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Plumbing Services
Serving Queen Creek, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler & surrounding areas!
Plumbing Services & Products: Residential Plumbing Sales & Service Commercial Plumbing Sales & Service Emergency Service Gas Water Heaters Electric Water Heaters Tankless Water Heaters Water Softeners R.O. Systems Drain Cleaning Gas Piping Garbage Disposals Kitchen & Bath Remodels General Household Plumbing Repairs Recirculating Pumps Water Quality Testing
Plumbing Service Q & A:
Q: How long should my water heater last?
A: The lifespan of a water heater depends largely on the quality of water in your neighborhood as well as the quality of the actual water heater. On the lower end, that may be as little as 5 years, although with quality water, a higher end water heater may easily last twice as long.
Q: Should my water heater be drained?
A: It is recommended a water heater be drained and flushed out at least once every year. As water stagnates in the bottom of the tank, calcium deposits begin accumulating and adversely affect both performance and efficiency. These deposits not only slow down the water heating process, but also decrease the amount of available space for heated water. The result of a badly scaled water heater is less hot water at a higher cost to operate.
Q: Why should I consider a water softener?
A: "Hard Water" is a term used when there is a heavy content of minerals present in your water. Hard water causes scale to form inside pipes, water heaters, showers, fixtures and so on, which can be very harmful to household plumbing and cause premature failure of these items. A quality water softener solves these issues as well as more noticeable details such ridding your home of water spotted dishes, showers, tubs, and countertops.
Q: I live in an older home. Why should I consider a "re-pipe"?
A: At one time, homes were plumbed using galvanized piping, which unlike copper pipe, begins to rust. After years of use, the inner walls of the pipe can become so thick with rust build up, the available area for water to flow can literally be closed up. Not only does heavy rust build up affect the water flow, it also reduces the water quality throughout your home.
Q: What do I do if my toilet keeps filling up or even overflows?
A: If you are able to, lift the lid off the tank and set it aside. Then pull up on the float (this is the plastic ball attached to a long arm near the top of the inside of the tank). Next, look for a shut off handle behind the toilet which allows the toilet tank to fill up. Close this by turning clockwise until it stops and the water to the toilet should shut off.
Q: Why should I have a water quality test?
A: If your water has an unpleasant odor or taste to it and/or you have a white, hard to remove build up around faucets, you should strongly consider a water quality test. Many water treatment products available can solve these problems, as well as reducing water spots on dishes, shower doors, fixtures and can even help clothes keep their color longer.
Plumbing Service Glossary:
"PRV": Pressure Regulating Valve - A plumbing component that can be installed in your incoming water supply to keep the pressure below about 80 PSI. Above this pressure, damage can begin occurring at household fixtures, piping may vibrate or even make banging sounds, leaks may occur, and excess water is often used.
"Tankless water heater": Sometimes referred to as an "Insta-hot" or instantaneous water heater, tankless models use a more modern approach to heating water in that they store no water, but instead superheat cold water as it passes through the tankless unit only when there is demand for hot water. This is a far more efficient means of heating in that no unused water is stored only to be heated and reheated until it is finally used. Another attractive feature is the compact , wall mounted design, which eliminates a full size water tank in your garage or closet.
"Recirc Pump": A recirculating pump is that wonderful feature which can be added to your home which eliminates wasting gallons of water and your valuable time waiting for the hot water to finally arrive. A recirculating pump operates continuously, or by timer if desired, circulating the hot water through your piping in your home so that it is already available for use the moment a hot water faucet, shower or bath is turned on.
"R.O." Reverse Osmosis: A process of producing pure water by forcing impure water through a series of filters and membranes, resulting in a very high quality drinking water far superior to your tap water.
