Category: Plumbing Service & Repair Phoenix AZ

Discovering an emergency water leak in your home is more than an annoyance. If you don’t fix it quickly, it can lead to a repair bill that is in the thousands. In addition to ruining your flooring, carpet, walls, and possessions, it can also cause dangerous mold to grow.

Do you have a leaky pipe or faucet in your home? No need to fear! Just follow these tips until you can find a professional to fix it.

Turn off the Water

After identifying where the source of the emergency water leak is located, the first thing you should do is shut off your home’s main water valve. While this doesn’t solve the problem, it does allow you to stop the leak from causing any more damage. In some cases, you won’t need to turn off the water for the entire house. For instance, if you have a leaky faucet or toilet, simply turn off the emergency valves located beneath the sink or behind the toilet.

Dry the Area to Prevent Damage

Even if you catch the leak before your whole home is flooded, any water that seeps into your carpet or through the floorboards can lead to serious damage. The key to preventing damage is to dry any wet areas as quickly as possible. Depending on the extent of the leak, you may need to rent a combination wet and dry vacuum or high-power fans. Be sure to properly vent any area you want to dry to speed up the process.

A Few Temporary Fixes for an Emergency Water Leak

Now that you’ve stopped the leak from spreading and causing harm to your home, you will need to fix the leak, at least temporarily, so that you can continue to use the water in your home. Here are a few easy ways to fix your leak until you can find a plumber to come to your home.

Epoxy

Ask your local hardware store for epoxy glue that is suitable for fixing leaks. After you apply the epoxy to the hole in the pipe, you will need to allow it to set, which can take some time. Be sure to follow the instructions on the epoxy container.

Rubber and Clamps

If you have an old piece of rubber lying around and a clamp, you can plug the hole until you can find a more permanent solution. Take the rubber and cut it to size so that you can wrap it around the pipe and over the leak. Then set the clamp to hold it in place. You will need to make sure that the clamps are as tight as possible to prevent water from seeping through.

The Pencil Trick

Another way to plug an emergency water leak requires a pencil and some plumber’s tape. If your leak is coming from a small hole, stick the tip of a pencil into it until it feels secure, then break off the tip and wrap the pipe with plumber’s tape to keep it in place.

Got a Leaky Pipe? Talk to the Professionals at Custom Plumbing of Arizona

If you have an emergency water leak, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will help fix your leak quickly and professionally so that you don’t have to worry about taking on more water damage.

Posted on Author Vince VinceCategories Blog, Plumbing Service & Repair Phoenix AZTags

At Custom Plumbing of Arizona, slab leaks are one of the most destructive problems that we help our clients solve. Our slab leak detection service gets to the root of the problem quickly so that we can stop the damage before it gets too bad.

Want to learn more about this serious problem so you can be prepared? Keep reading our blog below.

What Is a Slab Leak?

A slab leak is plumber-speak for when a water line below the concrete foundation of a building has developed a leak. These leaks can occur on the pressure or drainage side of a home or business. Leaks that develop on the pressure side are usually easier to detect, but they can cause significant damage if you don’t know the signs. On the drainage side of the building, slab leak detection can be a bit more difficult. Such leaks can go on for years and literally cause the foundation of a home or commercial building to collapse from the erosion.

Common Slab Leak Causes

It’s not always possible to determine what causes a slab leak, but here are a few common causes.

Damage from Installation

It’s not uncommon for pipes to sustain damage that goes undetected when they are installed, whether this is during home building or pipe replacement. It is also possible that the pipes were installed incorrectly from the beginning. When this happens, serious problems can occur.

Shifting Foundation

The solid ground your home or business sits on might seem pretty solid to you, but it is, in fact, constantly shifting. When the ground surrounding your home begins to move, your pipes could become damaged from changes in pressure.

Corrosion

Perhaps the number one cause of slab leaks is everyday, normal corrosion. Not only can your pipes react to the water running through them, but also they can react to the soil where they are buried.

Signs You Have a Slab Leak

If you think that you have a slab leak on your hands, keep an eye out for the following signs:

  • An unexplained increase in your water consumption
  • Moisture under carpeting
  • Visible mold or the smell of mold
  • Low water pressure
  • Cracks in the walls of your foundation

There are many other things that could signal that you have a leak beneath your home or business’s foundation, such as the sound of running water when your water is turned off or standing water around the outside of the building in question. If you are unsure about something that is happening with your plumbing, you should contact a professional.

Ask Us about Our Slab Leak Detection Services

If you think your home or business might have a slab leak, don’t waste another second. Get in touch with Custom Plumbing of Arizona today and prevent irreparable damage from occurring with our slab leak detection services.

Posted on Author Vince VinceCategories Blog, Commercial Plumbing Service, Plumbing Service & Repair Phoenix AZ, Residential Plumbing ServicesTags

It doesn’t take a lot of water to cause a lot of damage to your home or belongings. That’s why you need to fix any leaky pipes as soon as possible. If you can’t do it on your own, you need to find an emergency plumber in Phoenix fast.

The first thing you need to know is how to spot the signs of a leaky pipe. If your leaky pipe runs horizontally across the ceiling it will be pretty easy to spot—either the water will drip through the ceiling material or will form a bulge that is difficult to miss. For pipes running vertically and horizontally in the walls, it can be a little trickier to notice. Be on the lookout for discoloration or bubbling where the wall meets the floor as well as damp carpeting and mold.

Once you realize that you have a leaky pipe, it’s time to take action.

Emergency Plumber Phoenix: Find the Leak

The first thing that you’ll have to do is find where the leak is coming from in your wall or ceiling. To do so, you’ll unfortunately have to remove a portion of the wall or ceiling so that you can locate the pipe in question. Once you find where the water is dripping, trace the flow of water back to its source—you’ll be able to see where the leak is by following the water until the pipe becomes dry.

Emergency Plumber Phoenix: Turn off the Water

Now that you know which pipe is leaking you can start to make repairs. Before doing any work, you need to turn off the main water supply. You can imagine what might happen if you fail to shut off the water—your leak could turn into a flood. If you don’t know where the water shut-off valve is located in your home, you can usually find it in close proximity to your water meter. If the leak is severe and you can’t find the shut-off valve, call an emergency plumber in phoenix.

Emergency Plumber Phoenix: Fix the Leak

After shutting off the water, it’s time for the tricky part. Now you can start repairing the leak. When repairing a leaky pipe, the first thing you need to check is whether any threaded fittings are tightened. You’ll need to be careful, however, because as you tighten one end, the other end might loosen. If you have no experience with these types of fittings, it might be best to contact a plumber.

The leak could also be coming from a hole in the pipe itself. When this happens, you have a few options. First, you might try using epoxy to plug the leak. Be sure to dry the area where you are applying the epoxy so it can set correctly. You could also try replacing the section of pipe that has the leak, but without the proper training, you are better off fixing a piece of rubber in place with hose clamps until you can get a professional plumber to take a look.

Emergency Plumber Phoenix: Get the Professional Help You Need

If you have a leak, don’t wait. Contact an emergency plumber in Phoenix today at Custom Plumbing of Arizona.

Posted on Author Vince VinceCategories Blog, Emergency Plumber, Plumbing Service & Repair Phoenix AZTags

How to Unclog a Shower Drain: 3 Simple Things to Try

When it comes to your bathroom, is there anything more annoying than showering with a clogged drain? You’re supposed to be getting clean, yet there you are standing in three inches of dirty, disgusting water. Lucky for you, you can get rid of that clog pretty easily. If you want to learn how to unclog your shower, you’ve come to the right place.

Here are three simple ways to get your shower in working order again.

How to Unclog a Shower Drain Method 1: Plunger

Depending on what is causing your clogged shower, you might be able to simply use a plunger to dislodge it. This is a good place to start because it takes minimal effort. Use your plunger as you would when unclogging your toilet. It often helps to add water to the shower before plunging. Once you have an inch or so of water, place the plunger over the drain and start plunging. Try this method two or three times before moving on to the next one.

How to Unclog a Shower Drain Method 2: Remove the Clog Manually

If plunging your clog doesn’t work, then it might be time to try to remove the clog with your hands. First, remove the metal cover from your drain. You may need to remove a screw or pry the cover off. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions before trying to remove your drain cover to prevent damage. Because you will have to use your hands, you might want to wear rubber gloves. Once you locate the clog, try to reach it with your fingers. If you can’t reach it, try bending a coat hanger so that it has a small hook on one end, then insert it into the drain and pull it out once it feels like you’ve hooked the clog.

For clogs that are deeper, method three below should be your next step.

How to Unclog a Shower Drain Method 3: Specialty Chemicals

If you can’t plunge or manually remove the blockage in your shower drain, you might need to resort to chemicals that are designed to loosen clogs. You can find these at most hardware and grocery stores. Before beginning, it’s important to know that drain cleaners can damage your house’s plumbing. Use this method sparingly.

To unclog your shower using a chemical drain cleaner, follow the instructions on the bottle.

Don’t Know How to Unclog a Shower Drain? Let the Professionals Help

If you don’t want to get your hands dirty or don’t want to risk damaging your pipes, get in touch with the professionals at Custom Plumbing of Arizona. We have the practical knowledge that you need to get your water flowing again. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Posted on Author Vince VinceCategories Blog, Emergency Plumber, Plumbing Service & Repair Phoenix AZ, Residential Plumbing ServicesTags

24-Hour Plumber: 5 Warm-Weather Plumbing Problems to Watch for this Summer

As we breeze through the summer months, you’ve probably got nothing but good thoughts of barbecue and vacation on your mind. What could go wrong? Well, as plumbers, we can tell you there’s actually a lot that could douse your summer fun in seconds.

When warmer temperatures hit, people tend to spend time doing activities that they don’t normally do when cooler weather prevails. The weather is hotter. People go outside more and more dirt gets into the plumbing.

Here’s what can happen if you’re not careful:

#1: Pipe Breakdowns

If you have older metal pipes, the sun’s intense heat and UV rays can cause them to expand, causing leaks or pipe breaks. Some leaks are more visible than others. With leaks you cannot easily see, you may instead want to check your water bill and see if it is much higher than normal. During hot and dry summer months, you are also likely to use more water—not only to cool yourself off but to water your plants. Using hoses or sprinklers more often can place stress on your pipes, increasing the risk for irrigation system breakdowns.

#2: Clogged Toilets

During the summer, the toilets seem to get extra use. Why? During the spring and fall months, your kids are at school. But in the summer, that’s seven to ten hours of extra time that the toilets in your home could be used. Multiplied by the number of children you have, that’s a lot of extra time spent on the throne, which means more potential for clogs.

Most clogged toilets are easy to clear with a plunger, but sometimes you need to call in a 24-hour plumber.

#3: Washing Machine Wear and Tear

Your washing machine may take on extra loads during the summer, too. The kids are more likely to be outside playing. There’s a lot of yard work to do in the summer, as well, which means the kids aren’t the only ones playing in the dirt. You’ve got to wash away all the sweat and dust somehow! If your washing machine is acting up, stop the cycle immediately until you can call someone in for repairs.

#4: Blocked Garbage Disposals

Nothing says summer like a nice backyard cookout. Unfortunately, not everyone understands that you can’t just stuff those watermelon rinds down the garbage disposal. In fact, did you know that even though fruits and vegetables are organic, they might not be good for your disposal? The hard texture of things like apple cores can actually damage the blades of your disposal, which can cause clogs. Be sure to tell your family about proper disposal use so that you don’t have to call a 24-hour plumber in to fix it for you.

#5: Clogged Shower Drains

When people go out in nature more often during the hot days of summer, they are more likely to shower more often, too. The things that we track into the shower, like dirt, sand, and pebbles, can leave you standing in a pool of water the next time you need to get clean. It’s best to make sure that your feet and legs are rinsed off outside prior to hopping into the shower if you get extra dirty at the beach or on a hike.

Are You Experiencing Any of These Plumbing Problems This Summer? Call a 24-Hour Plumber

If you need help resolving problems with your plumbing like those we mentioned above this summer, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We will help keep your pipes working and your floors dry. Get in touch with us today and tell us about the plumbing problems you’re experiencing so that we can send someone to you.

Posted on Author Vince VinceCategories Blog, Emergency Plumber, Plumbing Service & Repair Phoenix AZ, Residential Plumbing ServicesTags