Water Heater Maintenance Service

We can help you extend the life of your water heater with our Water Heater Maintenance Service. This service includes:

• Drain and Flush Water Heater
• Inspect Insulation
• Inspect Connections and Exterior of Tank
• Check Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve
• Check Thermostats and Elements (electric water heaters)
• Check Gas Pressure (gas water heaters)
• Check Thermostat (gas water heaters)
• We provide this service for a low price of $79

SPECIAL OFFER! 
This fall we are offering a Whole House Plumbing Inspection for $59

Add our Water Heater Maintenance Service for $25

Call us today to schedule an appointment.

*Upon inspection of your water heater, we can determine if it should be replaced instead of completing the maintenance service. If we install a replacement water heater, we will cancel the maintenance fee and charge only for the replacement of the water heater.

Water Heaters: What You Should Know

Water heaters make the hot water that is necessary to carry out everyday household tasks like cooking, bathing, and washing clothes. And let's face it, we all know how inconvenient it is when there is no hot water.

Home owners usually have lots of questions when deciding on a water heater. Is a high efficiency gas storage tank for me? Or would the whole-house tankless water heater better serve my family? Depending on the kind of water heater you currently own, your skill level in maintaining that water heater, and your own personal preference, it's best to understand a few things about both types of water heaters.

Most residential homes have a standard storage tank water heater. This type of water heater uses a tank to store water, and keeps the water hot until ready to use. When a hot water tap is turned on in your home, hot water leaves the tank from the top and travels to the area of the house where it's needed. As this happens, new cold water enters the bottom of the tank where it is then heated and stored.

The two most common fuel types for storage tank water heaters are electricity and natural gas. The average life expectancy of a storage tank water heater is 10-12 years. We recommend that you have an annual inspection and preventative maintenance service to extend the life of your water heater. Storage tank water heaters generally have a less expensive, up front cost. Another advantage of storage tank water heaters is that hot water is still available, even if you lose power to your home.

The other water heater option that is growing in popularity is the "tankless" water heater. You can enjoy up to 40% energy savings and endless hot water with this new, "green" technology. Plus, tankless water heaters take up less space than traditional storage tank water heaters, and they have a typical life span of 20 years or longer. If you're environmentally minded, tankless water heaters also produce significantly fewer greenhouse gases than conventional gas or electric storage tank water heaters.

So, the major difference between tankless water heaters and storage tank water heaters is that tankless water heaters heat water only when needed. When water flow is detected by a tankless heater, the unit immediately heats the water as it passes through a heat exchanger. When no more hot water is needed, the tankless unit shuts down and uses no more energy.

If you feel like a new water heater might be in your future, we would love to help you make an informed decision. We’ll work with you to determine the best fit for your home and family. Please feel free to call us to discuss your options and get our professional advice. If you already know you need a new storage tank water heater, we can provide a free estimate over the phone to reduce costs and save time.

Common Plumbing Problems

Plumbing is something that most people view as necessary, so when plumbing problems happen, many homeowners panic. Here are a few of the most common plumbing problems I've found that homeowners deal with:

1.  No Hot Water – This is the most common reason people call plumbers. If you lose hot water, there are a few things you can check before you call us:

• If you have a gas water heater, make sure the pilot light is lit.
• Make sure you have the temperature on the water heater high enough to provide adequate amounts of hot water. I recommend between 130-140 degrees.
• Determine whether the water heater is large enough for your family's needs. If the water starts out hot enough then runs cold after a while, the water heater is working properly. You may just need a bigger one.

2.  Clogged Drains – The second most popular issue people call me about is clogged drains. Honestly, this problem can often be avoided by just being careful about what you put down your drains. Usually the kitchen sink drain is the most clogged drain in the house.

3.  Dripping Faucets – This annoying problem happens as the washers in your faucets start to wear out. A couple of things that will slow this process down is installing a water softener and using less force when you turn your faucets off. 

4.  Leaking Pipes - The plumbing problem that can cause the most extensive damage to floors, walls, and personal belongings is water leaks. It's a really good idea to check your pipes regularly for the beginnings of rust or white lime scale. These can be the early indication of a leak.

5.  Leaking Water Heaters – Truthfully, the best way to deal with a leaking water heater is to replace it. A leaky water heater is usually caused because the bottom of the water storage tank has rusted through. Unfortunately, there is no repair for that. However, there are some things we can do to prolong the life of your water heater, such as installing a water softener and performing a flush out service to remove sediment buildup and reduce corrosion.

6.  Running or Leaking Toilets – If the toilet continues to run into the bowl after it's flushed, or if you hear a low humming sound, that's an indication that some part of the toilet is out of order. Sometimes simply jiggling the handle can fix the problem. If not, give me a call and we'll take a look at it.

7.  Malfunctioning Garbage Disposals – When garbage disposals start acting up, it becomes a messy problem in a hurry. The best way to prevent problems with your garbage disposal is to make sure you run cold water through it before, during, and after you use it.

If you have any questions about how to prevent or repair plumbing problems, just contact us. We are happy to answer any questions and, in most cases, we can quickly diagnose the problem.

Winterize Your Plumbing System

Did you know there are some common plumbing problems you can avoid by taking cues from Mother Nature? Chilly fall temperatures are a gentle reminder that winter can arrive suddenly, especially for my clients in Utah. A few simple preparations now will help prevent big headaches and expensive repairs during the winter months.

Make sure you disconnect outside water hoses, and check to make certain outside faucets aren't dripping or leaking. If you notice a problem, make sure you call us before freezing temperatures arrive. Whether a pipe is made of copper, plastic, or steel, the tiniest crack can still allow enough water to cause serious damage.

Cover any outside faucets using a Styrofoam faucet insulation kit. These are available at home centers like Lowe's and The Home Depot. If your home is has an interior shut-off valve for outside faucets, close it and drain the water from your outside lines. If you need help with this, let me know.

Insulate pipes in unheated areas of your property, such as in your garage and the crawl space under your house. In these areas, it's also a good idea to seal leaks around windows and doors to keep the cold air out.

Your water heater works harder during winter months. To help prevent cold showers on cold days, we can perform a flush out service. Our flush out service will remove sediment buildup, which causes corrosion and shortens the life of your water heater. Sediment buildup also significantly reduces the heating efficiency of your water heater. While we're there, will also test the pressure relief valve, adjust your temperature settings, and check other components of your water heater to make sure everything is in good shape for winter.

If you have a sump pump, you need to clean and inspect the pump and the pit area. Like other water components in your home, sump pumps exposed to extreme cold can freeze, making it impossible for the pump to operate properly.

If you plan to leave home for an extended period of time, make sure you shut off the main water valve to the house and drain your plumbing system by opening the faucets in the house. Also, make sure the heat is left on and set no lower than 55°F. This will help prevent the pipes bursting inside your house while you are away.

WARNING! These tips are only for homes that will be lived in during the winter months! Vacation properties and other homes that will be left unattended for weeks or months require additional steps to prepare them for winter. If you need help winterizing a property that will be vacant during winter months, give us a call.

What You Should Know About Water Softeners

Water Softeners: What You Should Know

Thinking about a water softener? There are several reasons why it's a good idea:

By reducing mineral deposits, water softening systems minimize buildup and reduce the risks of clogs and corrosion, extending the life of the plumbing system and helping fixtures operate more effectively.

Soft water preserves the life of all water-using appliances, such as coffee and ice makers, dishwashers, clothes washers, and water heaters.

Water heaters can heat softened water more quickly than hard water, reducing the yearly energy cost of that appliance by 22%-29%.

Having a water softener in your home reduces greenhouse gases equivalent to removing one SUV from the road for one year.

With a water softener your silverware and glassware comes out cleaner and shinier.

Your hair and skin feels softer, cleaner and smoother with water treated by a water softener.

Hard water treated with a water softener, greatly reduces housework by eliminating the formation of soap curd.

Fabrics are also softer without hard minerals become trapped in them. Fabrics last longer and whites stay white without the dingy gray caused by hard water.

If you'd like to learn more about the benefits of a water softener, or for a free estimate, give Rush Plumbing a call at (480) 233-8342 in Arizona, or (801) 750-9396 in Utah. Mention this blog post and receive 10% off the purchase and installation of your new water softener.