SCOTTSDALE AZ HAS HARD WATER...

water with a high mineral content - and hard water can be a leading cause of plumbing repair.

Minor leaks in your home's plumbing system, which may be caused by hard water conditions, can go undetected for a long time. Over time, these small plumbing leaks can turn into big plumbing problems, or even sudden major leaks. Have your plumbing system inspected on a regular basis to help to detect minor plumbing leaks before they become major problems.

Even when no plumbing leaks can be detected, there may be potential problems. For instance, water from pinhole leaks can evaporate without leaving any evidence of water leakage. While small, the leak may not be detectible, but a larger leak can eventually develop. Check for signs of corrosion, rust, or mineral deposits around fittings, valves, fixtures and along pipes which might indicate a pinhole leak just waiting to develop into a true plumbing leak.

If you have a leak, or see signs of what may be a leak developing, give us a call. Or visit our website for more information: http://www.stevensplumbingac.com/plumbing_plumber_air_conditioner_scottsdale.html

KNOW YOUR HOME'S PLUMBING SYSTEM, AND HOW TO SHUT OFF THE WATER IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Every homeowner should be familiar with the location of the shut-off valves to their home's plumbing system, and should make sure these shut-off valves are in good working order.

In case of an emergency - a water heater leaking, a pipe bursts - or when making minor plumbing repairs, you'll need to be able to shut the water off either to a fixture in your home, or to the entire water plumbing system.

You need to locate the shut-off valve for each plumbing fixture: at every sink, faucet, toilet, etc. You also need to know where the main shut-off valve is, where your plumbing system enters the home.

After locating the valves, be sure each valve is in good working order. Shut-off valves, as they age, can become unfunctional, meaning the might freeze either in the open position - not allowing you to shut off the water should an emergency arise - or they may freeze in the closed position -meaning you won't be able to turn the water back on to that fixture, or to the entire house.

Checking these valves periodically, and making sure they work properly, is just good homeowner maintenance.

ARE YOU NOTICING YOUR HOME'S TAP WATER HAS A
SLIGHTLY UNPLEASANT ODOR?

THAT ODOR MIGHT INDICATE A BACTERIAL
BUILD UP IN YOUR WATER HEATER.

Water Heaters can be a reservoir for odor causing bacterial build-up if they sit idle for any length of time. If you've been away from home and now you're noticing an unpleasant odor from your tap water, there is a solution, and it's something you can do yourself. It's cheap and simple (although it's only temporary).

(CAUTION: Turn off the breaker to your electric water heater, or shut off the gas to gas water heaters before working on your waterheater):

First, shut off the cold water valve to your water heater, then open a hot faucet somewhere in your house to relieve pressure. Drain some water from the tank. Open the plumbing on one side, and dump in a few pints of hydrogen peroxide. Close everything up, turn on the cold water again, and let some water run from all spigots and taps. You should be odor-free until the next time you go out of town and your water heater sits unused. Then you'll have the problem again - but now you know the solution.

By the way: use peroxide, not chlorine bleach. Either will work, but peroxide is much safer.

If you have an odor at only one sink, put the peroxide down the basin overflow, instead of into the water heater. Sometimes bacteria can build up in there, too.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us for more info: www.stevensplumbingac.com/water_heater_repair_sales.html

Plumbing pipes can freeze even in Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ!
Every year, even here in Phoenix and Scottsdale and the neighboring communities where our Arizona winters are mild, we get calls regarding plumbing problems due to frozen pipes. Often, the problems occur in homes that are unoccupied, either a vacant home or a home whose occupants are away for a period of time. The Phoenix-Scottsdale area may not get below freezing temperatures very often, but they do occur. If your pipes are not insulated, they can freeze. Running a steady drip of hot and cold water from your faucets may help keep the pipes from freezing, but even with a small flow of water pipes may freeze. And even insulated pipes can freeze when there is no water flow through the pipes. Err on the side of caution to avoid water damage to your home. Insulate your pipes. When temperatures are at or below freezing, keep a small but steady drip of hot and cold water flowing from your faucets. And, don't turn the thermostat on your home's heating system too low if you're going to be away during the winter season.