A leading problem when it comes to water flow actually occurs outside of the home. Although it’s hard to believe, tree roots are actually one of the leading causes behind clogged or broken sewer lines.

Tree roots usually navigate towards nutrients, which the pipes carrying sewage out of your home are full of.

Although most homes nowadays are built with plastic PVC or ABS pipes with glued joints for sewer drains, older homes in the Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa or Scottsdale area were built with sewer drains made of clay or orangeburg, a cardboard type pipe. The PVC or ABS pipes are more industrious and can tolerate the outside pressures that a tree root may exert.

With clay or orangeburg pipes, over time the clay or cardboard type pipe ages or the ground shifts and settles degrading the pipes in the process. If the older pipes even have a slight crack the roots of the tree can find their way in. Once inside the tree roots will grow thick and spread out eventually clogging your drain by their mass or the debris that is caught in the roots disposed from the home.  A complete blockage of the pipes will occur if it goes unchecked and eventually the pipes will completely break apart.

This current photo from a home here in Tempe that had continued problems with their drains backing up, until one day, the pipe just could not drain anymore, the roots took over completely.

So as we move into the hottest months of the year we urge homeowners to contact their local plumber as each homeowner is responsible for maintaining their sewer pipes. Remember even though the pipe is buried and out of sight, does not mean there is not a problem so make sure you schedule a regular cleaning and catch any problem before it’s too late.

• SAVE TODAY-MENTION THIS DRAIN BLOG WHEN BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT AND RECIEVE A FREE DRAIN CAMERA AND LOCATE WITH ANY OTHER PLUMBING SERVICE COMPLETED, A $200.00 value, not to be combined with any other discounts or specials, expires 09/30/11.

Plumbing is often overlooked in preparing your home before heading out on vacation.  Plumbing should be a priority, just as you prepare your ac unit or your pool before leaving. 

Don CeSar Beach Resort, St. Petes Beach, FL

I’m sure you know someone who has shared a painful water leak disaster story occuring while they were away. Having a mess on your hands and missing work is no fun. We want to help you avoid an unhappy ending to a great vacation and coming home to water damage or mold surprises. 

Most insurance companies will tell you that their number one homeowner’s claim is water damage and the top 3 items that cause these claims are:

• Washing Machine Valves or hose failure
• Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System that gets older and the lines break
• Sink or toilet valves breaking off and leaking

All of these plumbing problems can incur a high amount of damage when no one catches the leak quickly.  Don’t become part of these statistics.

Here are a few helpful plumbing tips for your home located in Gilbert, Scottsdale, Glendale, or any other town in the Phoenix metro area. 

Top 10 Plumbing Tips Before You Leave on Vacation: 

1. Turn off your plumbing main shut off  valve to your plumbing system.  There will still be water in the water system, but no more will enter into the system while your gone.  Please be sure the plumbing main shut off valve is working properly. Only turn it off  if nothing needs water around the home while your gone. Don’t forget your pool fill or any pumps you may have that need water while your away.
2. If you can’t turn off your main plumbing shut off valve. You can shut off individual valves under your sinks, behind your toilets, at the Reverse Osmosis unit, behind the refrigerator and behind the washing machine.  But only turn off the valves that are in good working order. 
3. If you turned off your plumbing main shut off valve, this is still a good time to look at all your shut off valves and supply lines under your sinks and toilets to be sure none are wet or leaking before leaving.
4. If you have plumbing behind your refrigerator, pull the refrigerator out and check to be sure nothing is wet or corroded.
5. Look all around your water heater and water softener, to be sure  you see no wetness or water leaking. These also have their own shut off valves, that can be turned off to lessen the chance of water damage.  
6. If the water heater is in good condition, turn the thermostat to vacation on a gas water heater. On an electric water heater turn the  breaker off at your main electrical breaker box, to avoid wasting energy for heating water while your gone.
7. Add water to all drains, and BioBen, if you have it, before leaving to keep them wet and avoid odors when you return.
8. Walk around the outside of the home, make sure nothing is leaking before you leave the house.
9. If you have a drinking water system, make sure your drinking water system is newer, as older lines on these units  crack and break and are often the culprit causing water damage in many homes. Some of these systems can be turned off indivdually at the valve under the sink to lessen the possibility water damage. 
10. Have someone come in and walk around the home to check that nothing has broken or continues to run while your gone.

During the visual review of your plumbing system before you leave, none of your plumbing system should be corroded or wet, some plumbing parts will appear ok until you touch or shut them off.  All  parts of your plumbing system should be in good working order, able to be turned on and off without breaking, and problem parts should be replaced.

Older plumbing system can fail anytime.  But when you’re gone for consecutive days and something does break it will cause far more damage than when you’re home, able to spot and stop the break quickly. 

When you return home, remember what areas of your plumbing system you turned off and turn them all back on.  Please know that once water is turned back on you will get some bursts of air… that is normal.  Don’t get too scared from the blasts. It startles me every time even though I know it is coming. Leave the water run until the air blasts stop. 

We want you to enjoy your vacation and come home with great memories to share with your family and friends (not the story of how you found water damage and broken plumbing upon your return). 

If you feel uncomfortable reviewing your plumbing system, mention this blog, and we’ll provide you a free home inspection.  To help prevent broken plumbing and water damage while your away,  just call us at 602-485 -1111. And if you need a good plumber you can count on while you’re away please keep our number handy, we are here 24/7 to help in any plumbing emergency. 

Upcoming Blogs: 

* Cutest Photo Contest 

*Best Way To Clean Your Toilet

Tankless gas water heaters with an energy factor of =>0.82 qualify for the Arizona Cash For Appliance Rebate on April 12, 2010.  Moving to a tankless gas water heater has many benefits and the rebate offer makes this the perfect time to consider them.  The Arizona rebate is $300.00, not including the Federal Tax Credit of 30% - up to $1500.00.  On top of this we match the Arizona rebate giving you another $300.00  from Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber.  This offer is available during the month of April for all Phoenix Homeowers in and around the Phoenix area.  

Right now is the time to consider changing from a tank style water heater to a new gas tankless water heater or move up to a better performing gas tankless water heater.  Be informed when shopping as not all tankless gas water heaters are equal.  You’ll want to match your capacity requirements, get the gas line feeds installed professionally and understand why or why not the unit you consider is eligible for the rebates.  It is important to be sure the best model is selected for your individual home plumbing system and hot water needs. 

Why Go Tankless?

1) Save Money and Energy:

• Don’t pay for hot water you don’t use. If you’re not home using a faucet you aren’t paying for hot water with tankless.  With a tank style water heater it always keeps the water hot if you use it or not, eating a hole in your pocket and feeding the utility company.
• Save hundreds of dollars a year, depending on how much hot water is used, says Energy Star.
• 83%-94% heating efficiency compared to 60% of a tank style water heater, says Noritz Water Heaters.
• Tankless gas water heaters will last up to 20 years or more, with proper installation, maintenance and water treatment.

2) Space Saving Benefits:

• Gain additional storage space.  You may be able to fit another car  in your garage.
• Have the choice to relocate the placement of your water heater to another area, indoors or out.
• Tankless water heaters are wall hung  so floor spac is freed up.

3) Other Addtional Benefits:

• Easy to change temperature settings.
• Enjoy a great volume of hot water with multiple fixtures simultaneously in use (with the right tankless model). Imagine everyone gets to take a hot shower…even if you have those large shower heads or body bars.  
• Recirculation compatible – to provide instant hot water!
• No dirty tanks, you will always be using a clean supply of water. 
• No risk of a large tank to rust out and leak.
• Use of Pop-In Parts, the ability to replace parts instead of having to replace the whole tank.

Arizona Cash For Appliance Rebate Reservation Website or Rebate Reservation Phone Number 1-877-397-5336, effective April 12, 2010 at 6am.

Some Important Details of the Arizona Cash for Appliance Rebate program:

• Only $6.2 million for all appliance reservations is available.
• A new reservation is required for each appliance category wanted.
• One rebate per household per category.
• A waiting list will be available, if the money runs out,  just in case a reservation opens up.
• Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is a qualified retailer and licensed contractor to help all Phoenix area Homeowners with their new water heater purchase and installation.

SPECIAL OFFER*: $200.00-$425.00 instant rebate from Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber. We are A+ rated and a two time Ethics award winner from the Better Business Bureau.

Contact us  by phone 602-904-7252 or click on our website  for local Phoenix area homeowner service in April and get a match towards the Arizona State Rebate amount on your new qualifying water heater.  This will give you an additional $200.00 to $425.00 as a immediate rebate towards your purchase.  Feel free to share this offer with anyone you know in the Phoenix area needing a new water heater or wants to save money on utilities.

*Contact us for details.

Look for my past blog on the qualifying High Efficient Gas Tank Style Water Heater and any new updates on the Arizona Rebate Program.