When it comes to your Phoenix home, the plumbing is not just a convenience, it’s a must have nowadays. We rely on our home’s plumbing to provide us with warm water to shower, to do laundry, to wash dishes, to flush a toilet, and so much more. Having a plumbing issue can majorly impact your household and all of its inhabitants, not to mention your daily routines. The good news is, in most cases, plumbing issues can be avoided. To help you stay alert so you can proactively identify something that may cause a problem down the line, we are going to review the most common plumbing issues found in Phoenix homes.
The Most Common Plumbing Issues in Phoenix Homes
While other areas of the country have to worry about frozen pipes at different points in the year, in Phoenix, that is not something we usually face or need to prepare for; however, we are not off the hook. There are still problems that can arise with your home’s plumbing, and as we stated above, trying to prevent them and noticing them early, can make all the difference. Let’s take a look at some of the most common plumbing issues in Phoenix homes so you know what to keep your eyes peeled for.
- Clogged Toilet: Your Phoenix home’s toilet is perhaps the most crucial part of your bathroom, so if yours is having issues, it can be a major inconvenience. Having a toilet that doesn’t work, or seems to constantly have problems, can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. If your toilet keeps clogging, there can be multiple causes. From having a low-flow toilet to a clogged trap or obstructed plumbing vents, whatever the cause, if you are frequently having to unclog your toilet, it may be time to replace it. Toilet clogs over and over mean that something is not right and you should contact a local plumber to help you find the issue. It may be a simple fix, but it could also be time for a new toilet.
- No Hot Water: One of the most common problems with a water heater, is that it doesn’t live up to its name by providing either too little hot water, or none at all. There are usually signs when your water heater in on its way out. By watching for these signs, you can avoid unexpectedly finding your home without hot water and with a water heater that has stopped working. Before you find yourself taking an ice cold shower, you may notice rusty water, limited hot water, new noises coming from the water heater, leaks around the water heater, or just know that the age of your unit is getting up there and the average lifespan of a water heater is around 10 years.
- Drains Backed Up or Slow Draining: If water has stopped going down a drain, or is draining much slower than normal, regardless if the back up or slowdown is in the kitchen, bathroom, or another drain in your home, it is a problem and usually indicates a larger clog further down the line. Slow or clogged drains occur when something blocks the drain partially or completely. In sinks and showers, hair is often the culprit, but other items, such as a soap residue, food, or a small toy, may enter the drain and block the pipe. You can prevent a kitchen plumbing clog by following these tips and also avoid other blocked drains around your home by being vigilant and ensuring no solid items go down them.
- Leaky Faucets: Leaking faucets and pipes are some of the most common issues in Phoenix homes. Dripping faucets are more of a nuisance and a waste of money than a plumbing emergency, because those drips can add up quickly. Fixing the leaks in your home could save up to 10% on your water bill. A faucet leaking one drip per second adds up to over 3,000 gallons every year, the equivalent of 180 showers. Nationwide, plumbing leaks can account for over 1 trillion gallons of water. Leaking faucets are easy to spot since the water physically drips out of the faucet when it is in the off position. These leaks are usually caused by time and use. If you have leaking pipes, that is something you will want to have resolved right away to avoid further damage to your plumbing and your home.
- Low Water Pressure: Water pressure refers to the amount of force, or pounds per square inch, that water moves through pipes and taps. If the water pressure is too strong it can damage your plumbing and be painful for you, and when too weak, it can cause many other frustrations. In most homes, the water pressure should fall between 30 to 80 PSI, though a more ideal range is about 40 to 60 PSI (the spruce). When someone complains about having low water pressure it is usually at the sink faucet or in the shower. There are several things that can impact your home’s water pressure, some that are in your control and some that are not. Things like the water supplier or city, clogs or blogged pipes, valves not being fully opened, plumbing leaks, and more, can impact how much or how little water you get at a time.
The list of plumbing problems you can face can go on and on: sewer issues, a broken garbage disposal, having no cold water, etc. We will stop here for now, because we just wanted to review the most common plumbing issues in Phoenix homes.
When it comes to your home’s plumbing, you can trust Arizona Comfort Specialists with all of your Phoenix plumbing needs. Contact us today.
