Category: Plumbing Services

When temperatures outside dip, there’s nothing better than a hot shower to take off the winter chill. However, there are important reasons why you should lower the temperature on your home’s water heater. Here are the three “S” reasons why you should consider lowering your water heater temperatures and how to do it.

Safety

Depending on the type of water heater you have, some are automatically set to 140 degrees. At that temperature, you are at risk for scalding. Consider dialing back your water heater temperature to 120 degrees to minimize that risk.

Savings

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can realize up to 22% of energy savings when you turn down your water heater temperature. The savings come from reducing standby loss, which is the heat lost from the water heater into the environment.

The average household with a water heater temperature set to 140 degrees losses up to $61 annually in standby heat loss. If you opt to lower your water heater temperature, additional savings can come from the reduced energy required to heat the same amount of water to 120 degrees instead of 140 degrees.

Experts also recommend turning down your water heater to its lowest settings if you plan to be away for an extended period.

Sediment

Sediment buildup in your home’s water heater is a big factor in water heater tank corrosion which can shorten the life of your unit. Water temperature set above 120 degrees contributes to the accumulation of hard water mineral sediment. Sediment buildup can also cause your water heater to work harder and need more energy to operate.

How To Lower Your Water Heater Temperature

Turning down the temperature on your water heater is fairly simple.

1. Read your water heater’s instruction manual to find your water heater’s thermostat and operation instructions. Electric water heaters might have two thermostats, and both will need adjusting.
2. Find the current temperature of your water at its hottest point by testing a faucet located farthest from the water heater with a thermometer.
3. Dial back your water heater if the water temperature registers higher than 120 degrees.
4. Retest the same faucet after waiting a few hours.
5. Repeat the steps to get the water to the desired temperature.

If you’re looking to save money on your energy bill or looking to extend the life of your water heater, consider turning your water heater temperature down. You might also consider a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters don’t store heated water but rather generate hot water only when it is needed.

Whether you need to repair or replace your traditional water heater or you need help choosing a tankless water heater that is right for you, the professionals at Len The Plumber can help. Contact us online or call [site_info_phone_number] today,

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July’s temperatures may be hot, but that doesn’t mean you want a cold shower! Let’s break down why your shower isn’t heating up.

Check Your Water Heater

Is your chilly shower more of a wake-up call for bigger issues? Check to see if your hot water problem is only with your shower or if you are having issues with hot water at all your fixtures. A whole-house hot water malfunction points to an issue with your hot water heater.

That problem could be as simple as a temperature gauge issue or a blown fuse. Defective parts, sediment build-up, or other breakdowns might be causing the issue. Regular maintenance of your home’s water heater can help to make sure it is working effectively and efficiently.

In the case of electric water heaters, a failed heating element or tripped circuit could also be to blame. Electric water heater servicing is best left to the professionals to diagnose and fix your hot water issue.

Evaluate Your Valve

Your hot water problem might be right inside your shower. A shower valve helps to create the perfect blend of hot and cold water. A worn or broken shower valve can disrupt that perfect shower water cocktail. Pieces of the valve can also dislodge and create a blockage. If you’re handy you can remove the shower valve and replace the broken components but because of its positioning it may be difficult to access and it may be best to call in a professional.

Your Anti-Scald Device is Keeping You Cold

Hot water is flowing from your sinks but not your shower? The issue could be your safety feature that makes sure your hot water isn’t scalding hot is set at too high a limit. The anti-scald device is in place to limit how far your shower handle can rotate in the hot water direction. The fix is to remove your handle and find the anti-scald device sitting directly under the faucet head. Adjust the device and test the result before reassembling.

Shower Capacity

If your hot shower is cut short, you might discover your hot water heater can’t keep up with demand. Consider timing the use of your large appliances to allow your hot water heater to catch up with demand or consider increasing the size of the tank or switching to a tankless water heater.

If you want to keep cool this summer, hit the pool or run through the sprinklers. If you want a hot, relaxing shower and your home’s shower is giving you the cold shoulder, call the experts at Len The Plumber. Our professionals deliver prompt, same day service, so you can get right back into your shower routine.

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The flush of your toilet is a familiar sound, so when it starts to gurgle or bubble, it’s obvious that something isn’t right. Gurgling noises are not as uncommon as they might sound. Still, that doesn’t mean you should ignore the signs that something is wrong with your toilet. If you’ve noticed that your toilet has started to gurgle or bubble after flushing, it’s only a matter of time before more strange symptoms start to affect your plumbing system, such as a water backup.

Avoid the cost of expensive water backup services by ensuring your toilet health the moment it begins to make unusual noises. This guide will help you identify the root cause of your toilet troubles and some easy fixes you can try before calling in the professionals at Len The Plumber.

What Causes a Toilet to Gurgle or Bubble?

When a toilet gurgles or bubbles, it generally means one thing: There’s a blockage in your system. For water and waste to flow through your plumbing system, the air pressure must be at a specific level. Negative air pressure or suction caused by blockages can cause air to escape and the toilet to back up, causing gurgling noises or bubbling water. The following are just some of the most common places that a blockage could exist in your system:

The toilet: Toilet blockages can be easily spotted by identifying floating objects in the toilet water.The toilet drain: When things are flushed down the toilet that shouldn’t be flushed, the toilet drain can become clogged.The main sewer drain: All of the drains in your home lead to the main sewer drain, so a blockage there will impact nearly all of the plumbing fixtures in your home.The vent stack: Malfunctioning plumbing appliances might be caused by a clogged vent stack on your roof, leading to negative air pressure and a gurgling toilet.

Whatever the main cause of your gurgling toilet may be, there are steps that you can take as a homeowner to attempt to remedy the issue before calling in the professionals.

3 Easy Fixes for a Faulty Toilet

If your toilet is gurgling, there are some DIY plumbing tricks you can try that may provide the relief your system needs:

Plunging: Before you begin plunging away on your toilet, be sure to seal off nearby drains so the air in your pipes can’t escape there. This will force the air to escape through your toilet, so you can easily bring up whatever is clogging the system.Using a plumbing snake: If plunging fails, you can try to snake your drain through the toilet bowl. Standard drain snakes (augers) reach 5 to 15 feet; however, you can rent a motorized auger to reach up to 100 feet or more for difficult-to-reach clogs.Calling your neighbors: It might seem strange, but making a quick call to your neighbors can actually be beneficial. If one or more of your neighbors also have gurgling toilets, there might be a problem with the sewer main, which is the responsibility of the city sewer authority.

When you’ve exhausted your avenues for relief to no avail, all hope isn’t lost yet: You just need to contact knowledgeable professionalsto get the job done right. Len The Plumber has a team of top-quality plumbing experts available to quickly and efficiently fix your gurgling toilet in no time.

When to Contact the Plumbing Pros for a Gurgling Toilet

Don’t let a gurgling toilet lead to further plumbing problems in your home. At Len The Plumber, our plumbers are expertly trained in the most advanced industry tools and techniques to deliver the long-lasting toilet repairs you need to restore your system to working condition.

Allow our team to bring reliability back to your plumbing system by scheduling toilet repair today!

Plumbing leaks come in many different forms and sizes, with the faucet leak being the most common. Allowing your faucet to slowly drip day after day can lead to a bigger plumbing nightmare that you can avoid altogether. Here is what’s causing that troublesome leak in your bathroom or kitchen:

Damaged & Worn Parts

Do you have a steady drip coming from your faucet that makes you want to rip the fixture right off the sink? All signs point to the washer within the faucet that will need to be replaced. However, if you have a compression faucet, sometimes the seals can become damaged as it is constantly holding back the water pressure when the faucet is closed. For those with cartridge faucets, the cartridge itself or the moving parts (O-rings, inlet and outlet seals) may also need to be replaced.

High Water Pressure

Does your faucet leak during specific times of the day, like at night or when no other plumbing fixture is being used? This could mean that your water pressure is too high, and it becomes a problem when no other faucets or plumbing fixtures are being used in your home (or throughout the neighborhood). Small leaks can start in your faucet, eventually leading to pinhole leaks in the piping, worsening over time. Consider calling a plumber to have your water pressure evaluated and restored to a proper level.

Cracks in the Plumbing

When a plumbing pipe has a crack or the fitting is loose, it will leak here and at the faucet that is closest to the leak. If you notice that your faucet has a slow but steady leak, inspect the piping underneath the sink. Check to see if there are any small cracks, holes, or loose fittings where the pipes connect. The leak could also be behind the walls, so make sure you have your plumbing inspected by a professional plumber if you’re unsure.

Why Should You Care About Leaky Faucets, Anyway?

Homeowners often vastly underestimate the impact of even a single leaky faucet in the home. Putting aside the possibility of a leaky faucet suggesting some other plumbing issue, a single leaky faucet could contribute to as much as 10% of your water bill.

And that’s just the beginning of the problem. Sinks aren’t designed for a slow, steady drip of water, and a leak can cause all sorts of strange things to happen, especially if your water is hard enough that the drip starts leaving mineral stains and buildup where it’s flowing. This can leave you with a difficult mess to clean up, damaged sealants, or even damage that warrants a sink replacement.

Finally, those homeowners mindful of the environment should know that when totaled, household leaks can reach staggering numbers, wasting thousands upon thousands of gallons of water over the course of a year, enough to fill a bath hundreds of times.

Trust Len The Plumber for Faucet Leaks

When you discover a faucet leak in your home, make sure you have it repaired immediately – before it develops into a headache you don’t need to have. Reach out to the team at Len The Plumber, and rest easy knowing that we won’t just fix your leak; we’ll figure out why it happened and fix the root of the problem.

So, when your leaky faucet needs repair or replacement, contact the professionals at Len The Plumber. To learn more or schedule an appointment, give us a call at (800) 950-4619.

Your home’s plumbing works hard every day and while some of your products and fixtures may need to be replaced sooner than others, it’s no pipe dream to have your home’s pipes and fixtures perform well for decades. Caring for your home’s plumbing can keep yours running past the average life span. Here’s an idea of how long your home’s plumbing should last.

Pipes: Know What You Have

Knowing the type of plumbing in your home makes a difference in knowing how long you can expect it to last without starting to be compromised. Your home inspection report or your new home’s documents and warranties will give you a good idea about the type of plumbing system you have and when it was installed. You can also pay for a thorough inspection of your plumbing system to get a true status of its viability.

On average supply pipes that are brass, iron or steel can have a viable lifespan of 50-70 years; copper is 70-80 or more years. PVC piping has a shorter lifespan of fewer than 50 years.

Some homes in the Mid-Atlantic build in the 1970s-90s used a briefly popular product called polybutylene piping which was thought to be easier to plumb because it was made from pliable plastic. The product became susceptible to breaking and is often removed from a home as a preventative measure. An inspection can determine if your polybutylene piping is failing.

Hot Water Heaters

Your water heater cranks every day to make sure you get that hot shower in the morning. While the number of people in the home makes a difference in your hot water heater’s workday, here’s a look at how long you can expect before replacing your hot water heater.

Tankless hot water heater: 20 yearsTraditional hot water heater: 12 yearsHeat pump water heaters: 10 years

Toilets

A malfunctioning toilet can be a major home meltdown. Toilets can last nearly 50 years but that doesn’t mean all its internal components. A toilet operation is fairly simple, but it does contain about a dozen moving parts. It isn’t unusual to have to replace some of the components during the lifespan of the toilet but cracked bowls or issues with successful flushing may mean it’s time for a new toilet.

If your toilet is manufactured before 1994, it might be a good idea to proactively swap it out. Older toilets use more gallons of water than necessary causing your water bill to inflate. A new toilet may offset the cost of that high water bill.

Faucets

Kitchen faucets have evolved with smart technology and touchless technology, but we can all agree a functioning faucet is a major necessity in the kitchen. Over time faucets can create a build-up of mineral deposits from the hard water we use in our homes. A simple cartridge repair can do the trick. But, if you find rust coming from your faucet or consistent leaking, it might be time for a new faucet. A faucet’s useful lifespan can vary depending on manufacturer, but the average is about 12 years.

Sump Pumps

One of your home’s plumbing MVPs is the sump pump. Designed to keep your basement dry in the event of heavy rains, your sump pump’s average lifespan is about 10 years. If you suspect yours is approaching that age, it is best to get it inspected. A non-operating sump pump can put you in a lot of hot water, fast.

Well Pumps

If your home is on a well, your well pump is the most important component to keep your water running. A well pump can last 8-15 years, depending on your water usage, number of people living in the house, sediment levels, and your area water levels.

Putting off plumbing repairs or replacement is never a good idea. Failed plumbing can lead to major home damage meaning that small replacement job just turned into a major insurance nightmare. At Len The Plumber, our expertise helps you know whether your plumbing issue is one that can be repaired or if replacement is the best solution.

Finding a fast, easy way to clean your garbage disposal might seem like a dream come true, but viral video hacks claiming to leave your system cleaner can end up doing more harm than good. Before you head to TikTok for a crash course in cleaning your garbage disposal, you might want to read up on why plumbing professionals advise against using these methods and what you can do instead to get your system squeaky clean!

Why These Garbage Disposal Cleaning Hacks Don’t Work the Way You Think

The Ice Method

Search for a garbage disposal cleaning hack online, and you’ll likely be led to a series of viral TikTok videos of various DIYers shoving as many ice cubes as possible into their systems. After running the disposal, they turn on the hot water, causing a nasty, brown liquid to bubble up from the disposal. According to the videos, this liquid is evidence that the hack is doing its job and pulling the gunk from your drain. However, that’s not exactly the truth.

Stuffing ice cubes down the disposal to full capacity can actually clog your drain line. When this happens, and the hot water is turned on while your disposal is in use, the dark water that bubbles to the surface is actually wastewater backing up into your sink — gross.

The Bleach Method

Some homeowners may think that sending bleach, ammonia, or other abrasive liquids down their garbage disposal systems might be the most effective way to clean them. However, these cleaning agents can do more damage to your septic tank, pipes, and disposal impellers due to their increased corrosiveness compared to other cleaning methods. Over time, using these substances repeatedly to clean your system can eat away at the garbage disposal and your pipes, leading them to break down prematurely.

The Hand Method

While it’s rare that homeowners attempt to dislodge whatever blockage is affecting their garbage disposal by inserting their hands into their systems, it has happened. Contrary to popular belief, garbage disposals do not have blades. Instead, they have impellers that use centrifugal force to spin food against a stationary grind ring. You might not amputate a finger by sticking your hand down the disposal as you might think, but you still could end up with a nasty injury.

How To Clean Your Garbage Disposal the Right Way

If you’re looking for a fast, easy way to clean your garbage disposal, plumbers recommend following the steps below:

• Step one: Add a few ice cubes to your disposal.
• Step two: Sprinkle in some coarse rock or sea salt and a few lemon wedges.
• Step three: Turn on the cold water and run the disposal until the ice is cleared.

By adding the salt, you’ll be able to clean the disposal blades more effectively. The lemon wedges work to neutralize odors so that your sink smells citrusy fresh. Making this a part of your kitchen cleaning routine is a great way to keep strong odors from stinking up your culinary space. By incorporating this cleaning routine and keeping certain materials from entering your disposal in the first place, you’ll be able to keep your garbage disposal running smoothly for years to come.

When To Contact a Plumber for Garbage Disposal Service

Sometimes, the only way to remove a clog from your garbage disposal is through professional assistance. If your garbage disposal needs repair or maintenance, Len The Plumber has the plumbing experts you need to get the job done right.

Call us at (800) 950-4619 to schedule garbage disposal services in your home today!

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Are you thinking about upgrading your water heater? You should take the time to brush up on everything water heater-related. Buying a new water heater is something you do about once a decade. There are many changes that happen in the industry during this downtime. If you want to do it right, then we’re prepared to help you with the process.

We know what it takes to get an excellent water heater in Buckeye, AZ. If you want to have a great option for your home, we’re here to make sure that you get it. We’re here to give you the low down on water heaters today.

What to Consider

Here are a few things you should consider before you buy yourself a new water heater.

The Type of System

There are a few different types of systems you can choose from when you work with our team. Here’s the low down on a few:

Tank Water Heaters: The standard water heaters you’re used to. They’re reliable and more efficient than ever now thanks to advancements in the industry.Tankless Water Heaters: These are the systems you should choose if you’re concerned with home energy efficiency.Hybrid Water Heaters: Hybrid water heaters give you the best of both worlds. You can marry the efficiency of a heat pump water heater with the power of a standard water heater.Heat Pump Water Heaters: Heat pump water heaters use the same technology that heat pumps do. Heat pump water heaters move warmth where you need it rather than generating it. These systems save you energy and money in the process.

The Fuel Source

You can choose either electric or gas water heaters. While we typically recommend gas-powered water heaters, electric-powered ones can do the job as well. Discuss your specific needs with our team members.

Your Efficiency Needs

What are your efficiency needs? If you’ve wanted to save yourself some money on your water or energy bill, then this might be the time to upgrade to a more energy-efficient system. We’re here to consult with you about this.

The Space Available

Do you have the proper space available for the water heater that you want? If you don’t, this should be something that you factor into your purchase. Not every home has the room to house a large, standard water heater, and that’s okay. This might be the push you need to go tankless. We’re prepared to discuss your options and work with you.

Your Home Needs

The size of your house and the amount of people in it affect how your home performs. If you live in a large home that houses five people, you’re going to need more hot water than someone who lives in a small home that only houses two.

We make sure to factor this in and run the right calculations. Our professionals have the experience necessary to factor in your home sizing needs. Make sure you get in touch with our professionals for the proper service.

Contact the Trusted Plumber—the team you can trust for your plumbing services.

Today, we’d like to discuss hard water in your home.

We get a lot of questions surrounding hard water. We know it’s a topic that is a little confusing from the vantage point of homeowners. It’s not always something you’re going to notice right away. If you’re wondering if you’re struggling with hard water at home, we’re going to help you determine this today.

If you read through this blog and realize that you are, in fact, struggling with hard water, then you should schedule an appointment with one of our plumbers in Buckeye, AZ. We’re here to make sure that hard water never becomes a detriment to your home.

Do You Have Hard Water?

If you’re struggling with hard water, you might notice these symptoms:

1. Scummy Appliances

Have you noticed that your shower, tub, or even sink fixtures have become increasingly hard for you to fix? This is a problem that stems from hard water.

Hard water leaves residue around your home that presents itself in this way. Spot the signs and make sure that you’re noting them. Don’t think this is just an aesthetic issue. This is something that’s building up within your pipes as well.

2. Dry Skin, Hair, and Nails

Your skin feels like it’s about to peel off, your hair feels like hay, and your nails are brittle. If nothing has changed about the way that you’re taking care of yourself, then you probably have an issue with hard water.

3. Spots on Your Dishes

You take your plates out of the dishwasher and notice these annoying little spots. You’re always scraping them off or having to follow behind your dishwasher to make sure things are actually clean. These spots on your dishes are a symptom of a hard water issue.

4. Your Clothes Are Scratchy

Your clothes are always scratchy after you take them out of the dryer. Did you know that this could actually be due to hard water? Hard water affects your laundry too. Don’t try to drown your clothes in fabric softener. Address the issue at its core.

5. Your Location

Some areas are more prone to hard water than others. Hard water is common in most homes across the country, and Buckeye is no different. If you think you’re struggling with hard water in this area, then you’re probably on the right track.

What Are Your Solutions?

If you think you’re struggling with hard water in your home, start off with water testing services.

Water testing is the best place to begin because it’s a chance for our experts to pinpoint exactly what’s going on with your home. You might think you have hard water and actually have it, but only address that need and bypass another quality issue with the water. Water testing makes sure that you address everything that needs proper care.

The next step is choosing the right water softener system for your home. Water softeners remove the minerals that make your water “hard.” If you’re looking for a system that’s going to get rid of your hard water for the long term, then this is the system to choose for your home.

Contact The Trusted Plumber today to schedule an appointment with our professionals.

There are some peculiar things going on with your water heater and you’re questioning what’s going on.

We know that you’re not waking up in the morning with the first thought on your mind being your water heater. If we’re being realistic, you might not think about your water heater at all in a day.

We want to put it at the forefront of your mind today, though. Most of the problems with your water heater start long before you notice them. Today, we’re going to hip you to some signs that your water heater in Glendale, AZ might give you trouble.

Troubling Signs for Your Water Heater

Here are some signs that your water heater is about to give you a headache. If you notice any of this going on, it’s important to schedule an appointment with our team members.

You Don’t Have Enough Hot Water

You run out of hot water every time you need it. It’s as if your water heater is quitting halfway through the job. This points to a severe capacity issue. This will worsen until you barely have any hot water in your home. We can fix this for you.

Leaks

You hear a sizzling sound from your water heater because there’s hot water leaking out of the system. A leaking water heater is a problem because it’s going to be hard for you to get comfortable water temperatures. It’s also going to be a problem because of potential water damage. Don’t risk serious home damage or internal failure with your water heater due to leaks.

Water Temperature Is Inconsistent

Do you stand in the shower and get scorched out of nowhere by the temperature of the water? What about the opposite: you’re lathering up under a warm stream of water it suddenly goes cold? Both are extreme issues that point to a water heater problem. We’ll look at your thermostat and make sure it’s set up to work well. Then we’ll assess your capacity needs.

You Hear Odd Sounds

The funny thing about water heaters is that they can start to make noise when they’re having trouble. It’s as if they’re literally trying to reach out and speak to you. Watch out for some unusual noises like cracking, rumbling, screeching, banging, and more.

Odd sounds are bad no matter what they are. You should report this problem to a professional no matter what it is. We can guarantee this problem will snowball into a bigger issue and we’d like to prevent that.

Reduced Water Flow

When you hop into the shower and lather up, you notice that the shower doesn’t really act like a shower anymore. It feels more like a watering can is being poured over the top of your head.

Reduced water flow is a clear sign that the water heater is struggling capacity-wise. The water heater may have a build-up of sediment at the bottom. If this gets extreme, you’ll notice that your water heater’s capacity is greatly reduced. We’re prepared to help correct this.

Trust The Trusted Plumber. Schedule an appointment with us today for your water heater repair needs.

If you’re asking this question, it means you’re likely looking at water heaters in Surprise, AZ as a replacement for your old one. If this is the first time you’ve considered a tankless water heater, we understand why you have plenty of questions and maybe a touch of skepticism. After all, many installers talk up the huge benefits of going with a tankless water heater—we certainly have

But any reputable plumbing contractor will tell you that a tankless water heater isn’t the right installation for every home and every situation. Sometimes the right storage tank water heater will do a great job for a household. 

Tankless water heaters do have several drawbacks that may affect your decision to purchase one. Some of these won’t apply to your house, or the benefits will far outweigh them. Make sure you work with our professionals to help you with the choice so you have the best water heater for your home. 

The price

This is simple: tankless water heaters are more expensive units than conventional storage tank water heaters. Because of their high energy efficiency and extended service lives, tankless systems can pay back their cost over only a few years. However, the initial price may not match your current budget plans. Talk to our technicians about the long-term savings and your best options.

Efficiency concerns in larger homes

A tankless water heater is best suited for small and medium-sized households. This is because, although they won’t run out of hot water, they can be overwhelmed if multiple hot water taps are on at the same time. If your household has multiple showers running in the morning or you have several hot water-appliances that must run simultaneously, it may cut into a tankless water heater’s efficiency. One solution is to install more than one tankless water heater for a larger house, but this also affects the budget. 

Hard water concerns

If a home has hard water, it may have a negative effect on a tankless water heater. Hard water in general is harmful to any type of water heater, but even a small amount of mineral deposits inside a tankless unit will harm water flow. For homes with hard water that don’t already have a water softener installed, it may be necessary to include a water softener installation along with the new tankless water heater.

Slower hot water delivery

A storage tank water heater has a supply of hot water ready to send to the taps. A tankless water heater must heat up water when the taps come on, so there is usually a longer delay from when the tap turns on until the water reaches it. 

Temperature fluctuations

The water temperature coming from a tankless water heater has more fluctuations than from storage tank water heaters. You might feel an initial rush of hot water, only to have it lose temperature and quickly heat up again. Most people soon become used to this, but it is technically a drawback.

Find out more about the ideal new water heater for your house. Just Trust The Trusted Plumber!

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