If you are in the market for buying or renting a home there are a few things you should be on the look out for.

Take a minute to watch our home buyers guide video and learn the main problems new homeowners run into with their appliances and plumbing fixtures after moving into a new home. These checklist items can potentially help keep you on the lookout and avoid plumbing problems when browsing for your own future home.

The first fixtures you will want to check are the faucets. The easiest place to do that is the bathroom because then you can check the bathtub, drains and toilet all in the same place.

When checking your faucets, start with the handles. Make sure they don’t stick, if they are too hard to turn or too loose then something could be going wrong that you are not able to see. Then make sure you have a nice, even water flow. The water shouldn’t be spraying in all different directions but also shouldn’t be in one direct forceful stream.

Once you make sure the pressure is adjusted, it’s time to check the temperature. Leave the water running for a few minutes on cold and then on hot to make sure you have the right adjustments. Especially as we move into the colder months you will want to make sure the water heater is working well.

As important as it is that water flows through the faucet, it is equally important that the water flows through the drain. Is the water draining a little slow or is it even draining at all?

You will also want to make sure you look for dampness and corrosion underneath the sink and around any pipes that you have access too, whether it’s the bathroom or kitchen sink, toilet or even any pipes outside the home. Make sure you get any leak fixed right away because even the tiniest of leaks can turn into a very big problem.

So that is a few tips you can check for around any house you are looking to rent or purchase, but remember not every problem is visible. It is always best to have a professional plumber check for any major problems like ones you would have with your hot water heater.

This month we are offering a special on service to your water heater. Call us at 480-812-1855 for a FREE Water Heater Flush and 14 point inspection with any other plumbing repair. A $99 value. Find more deals on our website at www.benfranklinplumbingaz.com and by signing up for our newsletter!

The Big Blue Truck, our warehouse on wheels!  Yes, this big blue truck really does carry 90% of all you need for your Phoenix Arizona plumbing repairs. Including Water Heaters, Toilets and drain machines. Many people are way to busy to wait for a plumber to go get parts, not with our service, we can carry thousands of parts to be sure we get your plumbing repair fixed right away.

The Big Blue Truck

• Have you seen this truck around your streets?
• Did you know that only a few plumbers really qualify to drive this truck?
  • All our plumbers are drug free and tested regularly!!
  • All our plumbers are background checked for your safety and protection!!
  • All our plumbers are fully trained at all plumbing repairs including drains, water heaters and water treatment services.
  • All our plumbers will smell good and keep your home clean.
  • All our plumbers will wear shoe covers to protect your home.
  • All our plumbers prepare in weekly in house training to be ready for every job.
  • All our plumbers will offer all options available for every job.
  • All our plumbers have hundreds of happy comments from prior customers.

Have you seen what the inside of The Big Blue Trucks?

For a plumber to be ready for any job 24/7 takes a lot of preparation, imagine if a restaurant had to bring the whole kitchen and cook to the home to serve the family dinner, what would it take before they arrive to be sure they are ready for anything that is ordered off the menu?

Not all plumbers are the same, it is hard work, but we find very important to have the right trucks, the right stock and the right experience ready for our customers needs before arriving at the home.

Our plumbers must keep the big blue trucks clean and organized, have you ever tried to work in a messy kitchen or at a desk that has many stacks of papers? Most people find that it takes more time to get the job done right. Our plumbers trucks are organized from the start and they take the time every day to keep them clean to make sure each of our jobs are done correctly every time.

I hope you enjoyed to learn more about our Big Blue Trucks and continue to notice them  driving around the streets of all our valley cities including  Chandler and Scottsdale AZ.

Spring is steadily approaching and travelers are migrating down south to soak up the sun. During the spring holiday seasons, more than 90 million American’s will be traveling, according to Good Housekeeping.

How many visitors? The average holiday party consists of twelve people. The average person uses the restroom between six and eight times per day, that can result in as many as 96 extra flushes.

Toilets will have extra use over the coming weeks and months as we move into Spring Breaks, Spring Training and Easter. Everyone thinks of the perfect outings and travel destinations, vacuuming floors and shining the silverware, but no one seems to think about giving their toilet a check up before guests arrive

I want to make sure my readers know how to avoid an unwanted plumbing disaster over the next couple of weeks. Below are my top 5 holiday plumbing checklist items.

1. Flush toilets in the guest bathroom at least once per day for a week leading up to guests arrival. Most guest bathrooms go months without being used. Flushing early will ensure that the toilets plumbing is still functioning and gets a warm-up prior to heavy use.

2. Washing machines, dishwashers, kitchen sinks, showers and water heaters get lots of extra use as well. We suggest turning the water heater up slightly (no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid scolding) and space out the use of the shower and other appliances that require large amounts of hot water.

3. Soak each shower head in vinegar overnight and scrub off excess mineral deposits in the morning. This will help maximize water pressure. Simply tie a plastic bag filled with a cup of vinegar and water around the shower-head before bed and remove in the morning.

4. Treat the kitchen sink with care. Wipe all grease and oils from pots and scrap all hash and stringy foods such as turkey skin, carrot skins, potato skins and cheese, all of which can lead to clogs, from the dishes before placing them in the sink to be cleaned.

5. Dispose of liquid fats in a jar in the trash rather than pouring them down the drain. It’s also important to run cold water down the drain for thirty seconds before and after use, and always exercise portion control; never put large amounts of food down the disposal at one time. Keep a close eye on potential clogging agents and avoiding pushing the fixtures’ limits will keep the kitchen sink and disposal in top shape.

I can’t stress enough how crucial it is to spend some time thinking about your home’s plumbing systems and paying attention to how they are being used and will be used during this season. Everyone’s had the holiday plumbing disasters, and they can be prevented quite simply.

When making a checklist for the coming weeks, adding these simple steps will take away many potential stresses of the season. It’s a win-win situation for both guests and hosts.

For more information about Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber please visit: www.benfranklinplumbingaz.com or call 602-485-1111.