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Finding a Faucet Repair Guy in Town

February 18th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

When you come downstairs in the morning to your kitchen to begin the day and you find you have a leaky faucet, who do you call? How are you going to find someone or some company to come and do your faucet repair in Tucson? If you are on your own for the first time and you are not sure how you are going to find a repairman for your leaky faucet, then you can use the following steps to help you find that person or company.

  1. First, you need to determine who in your area of Greater Tucson is capable of doing the repair. In other words, determine who all of the companies are that can come and make the repair. I would suggest that you use the internet and do a search for plumbing companies in Tucson. This should get you a pretty extensive list that you can then work from.  Or you could search the good old yellow pages directory.
  2. Second, narrow the list. You need to go through the list and eliminate those who are not going to work for you. There are number of reasons that this could be the case. For example, you may want to eliminate someone from the list because they are too far away, they are no longer in business, they appear to be too expensive, or you find some bad reviews on them that convince you that you should not use them.
  3. Third, start to investigate further into those that you have left. If you are not real picky, you can just pick a company. However, if you make these decisions with a little more caution you will want to take the time to look through their sites and find out all that you can about their company.
  4. Lastly, make some calls to the companies that appear to you to be the most promising. It is from this call that you can determine a lot. How professional does the person on the other end of the line seem to be? Do they appear to be friendly and helpful? Can they answer your questions to your satisfaction?

All of these things can play a role in which company you choose to hire to come to your home and do a faucet repair in Tucson at your home. These steps should hopefully help lead you to our company. Of course, we would like that and would love to work with you, but even if not, we hope that we have helped you find the right company for you.

 

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Who Cares About Plumbing Problems?

February 17th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

If you worry when you have plumbing problems then you are doing it wrong. The next time, search for a company that handles plumbing problems in Tucson and call them to come in and handle the issue so that you do not have to worry about it.  

There is something inside of men that drives them to want to fix everything. It is a little voice that tells them that they are capable of doing anything and that macho demeanor that  make them want to be the one that protects the family and repairs whatever needs to be repaired in the home. However, that may not be the best approach for everyone. If you are going to fix the plumbing problems that will also means that you have to worry about them and care about them. That is some stress that you just don’t need to carry.

If you can put aside those natural instincts and rationalize a little bit, you will discover that there is nothing wrong with calling in a professional to help with these issues. In fact, you will determine that it is actually better to let someone else worry about fixing the plumbing so you can enjoy life or simply get the other things done that you need to get done.

Of course, when you are looking for a plumbing company that handles plumbing problems in Tucson, we certainly hope that you look to us in this regard. We have a solid team of professionals that not only understand how to fix the plumbing problems in your home, but they also know how to be professional. They will come into your home with a lot of respect for you and your property. They will consult you with each step to make sure that you know what the problem is and what it will take to fix it. They make sure that you are in charge of making decisions so that you do not have any surprises when they are done and present a bill for you.

Enjoy your life and leave the worrying and caring about the plumbing problems to us. We do that well and you do what you do well. It makes a lot of sense for both of us to have this kind of an arrangement.

 

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Worst Times to Need Water Heater Repair

February 11th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Some things in life just have a hard time understanding that there are convenient and inconvenient times for them to happen. For example, water heater repair during the Christmas holidays is terribly inconvenient. Below is a list of times when it is inconvenient for the water heater or anything else to go out and cause a need for a repair.

  1. The Christmas Holiday season – This has already been mentioned but it truly is among the most inconvenient.

    I'm your water heater and I'll break down whenever I feel like it. You don't have a say in this matter!

  2. Any Sunday – Most plumbers have at least some crew on every day except for Sundays. This makes this day the most inconvenient day of the week for problems.
  3. Late at night – It never fails that all of the problems happen after everything is closed and the same is true for water heaters. It is a strange phenomenon that I cannot explain, but everyone understands because it happens to them like it happens to me.
  4. While you are on vacation – Why the water heater must decide to go out while you are vacation is a mystery to us all, but this is something that happens more than anyone would like to admit.
  5. When money is tight – It is uncanny how emergencies, like a broken water heater, do not happen when you have savings put away for that, but rather they always come when money is the tightest it can be and often to the point of where you are living beyond your means to make ends meet.  This is truly an inconvenient time for the water heater to go down.
  6. While you have guests in town – You can mark it on the calendar and plan on it. If you have invited some guest over to your home to spend a night or two, you will certainly have some type of house emergency and often that is the water heater.
  7. Winter time in general – While this is a bit broad and is far more likely to happen to many more people, it does not make it any less inconvenient. The fact is it is colder in the winter and that makes it tougher to do anything.

 There really are times in life each when things like water heater repair would be just fine. However, it is up to your water heater to cooperate with your plans, but I do not know of many water heaters that will actually cooperate.

 

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Plumbers Versus Electricians

February 10th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

When you are talking about new construction there is a battle that goes on all of the time that many innocent bystanders would not have any idea about. Typically the first contractor onto a job after the footing and foundations have been poured and the framers are done with the first level is the plumbers.  The reason this is the case is because they are the least flexible of any of the main contractors that must install things in the ceiling, walls and floor space. Plumbers have to go where they have to go. Electricians can get their wire to almost anywhere and the heating contractors have some flexibility in how they get their stuff installed.

While this is the way it is supposed to happen, it does not always go according to plan. Many electricians feel as though their job is much easier if they can go first, which it is. They also feel like the plumbers can move the electricians wires out of the way or around their items without much effort and therefore they should be the first ones in. This goes over like a ton of bricks, as you can imagine, with the plumbers.

Sometimes wires are stung where pipes need to go or pipes are in the way of an electrical wire run. This is all part of the battle that goes on constantly with these contractors.

The person that should be stepping forward to handle things like this is the project manager for the general contractor. If they will lay down the law before the job progresses to that point and let electrical and plumbing contractors know that there will be consequences.

Although the problem will never completely go away, it is much better if it is handled correctly from the beginning. Plumbers are good people and so are electricians. However, they both know what they want when they walk onto a job and they both can be feisty about such things. 

In the end it all works out and everyone is working toward a common goal of finishing the project. However, the cycle will continue again. If you are doing a remodeling or construction project at your home or business, it is best to make sure all of the sub-contractors of various specialties are cooperating and communicating.

 

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Roto-Rooter Solutions: Drain Cleaner

February 7th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

When your plumbing is on the fritz, it can seem like nothing could be worse. Water on the floor, broken pipes, impossible clogs, and more plague the homes of families all over every single day. Often times these big out of control plumbing issues could have been prevented with simple maintenance but were overlooked. They fact is that what lies out of sight usually stays out of mind. Plumbing runs through the floors, walls, and ceilings of homes, businesses, connecting to a larger citywide waterway. While we are always close to it, it eludes attention until all heck breaks loose. Roto-Rooter is proud to be a part of the solution with great service, products, and information to offer everybody. Consider the following when choosing a drain cleaner in Tucson to keep your sewer and drains flowing as they should.

A plumber removes the P-trap to gain access to a clogged sink drain

Drains carry water and other fluids from a residence and out to the sewer. If that connection ever gets clogged, it is a recipe for disaster. Over time, gunk and grime build up and cause clogs to form. Especially in drains that collect stray hair, many clogs are difficult to deal with, even when using acid based products to clear. Even if acid based chemicals do the job for you, it is important to remember that these chemicals are very strong and can actually cause serious damage to pipes over time. Some pipes are harmed when lye or acid pass through as layers of plastic are stripped away or the galvanized coating on iron pipes is eroded and flushed away along with the clog. If you are not careful, you may have to replace the entire drain over time.

Back in 1935, the Roto Rooter machine hit the scene with modern drain cleaning capabilities and has since become the number one name in sewer line care. While we offer top of the line products that our customers can use on their own, we also provide information on how to prevent clogs and keep drains clear using fluids and non-toxic chemicals. For example:

 

  • Baking soda and boiling water. If you pour baking soda down a drain that isn’t completely blocked off, it can settle all the way through the clogged mess. The boiling water then changes the acidity of the baking soda and actually breaks down much of the gunk that is stuck.
  • Repeat the steps above adding a cup of vinegar to the mix. It will make the mixture more potent.
  • Use a snake drain cleaner in Tucson. Obviously not a real snake, rather a cable tool that you can use to run the length of the line and scrape away clogs.
  • Finally, if you can’t clear a stubborn clog on your own, call Roto-Rooter – that’s the name, and away go troubles down the drain!

 

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Why Drain Cleaners are Not All the Same

January 28th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

If you have a clogged drain and you are going to head to the store to get some cleaner you may think that it does not matter much which one you get. However, not all drain cleaners are created equally and I would recommend a certain kind for different things.

First, if you have a clog and that is the reason you need a drain cleaner in Tucson I would recommend getting the powder kind of cleaner. The reason I would recommend this is because it is designed to resolve clogged drain issues, no matter how tough. Of course it is a little tougher to use and it is a serious poison danger so if you have any concerns or you have children that are too curious and would get into it then you may not want this. However, if you feel as though you can keep it in a safe place then this is what I would use for clogged drains. Not only would it be a waste of time to try the liquid cleaner first and then end up using this anyways, but it usually will state that you cannot use it if you have already tried the liquid with no success.

If you want to avoid the clogged drain in the first place then use the liquid cleaner on a regular basis as a way to keep the pipes clean and free from clogs. By regularly I would recommend at least once a quarter. It does not need to be done more than that but if you are an obsessive compulsive person you are okay to use it more like on a monthly basis.

Of course, if neither of these are working for you on a really tough clog, then you need to call Roto- Rooter the best Tucson drain cleaner.

 

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Finding Time for Plumbing Repair

January 27th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

When you have a lot of honey do’s on your list you may find it hard to get to the plumbing repair that she has been asking you to do. Of course, if it were something like a clogged toilet it would be an urgent issue, but if is just a slow drain you may find it harder to have the time to do that because you can get along with it just fine for now.

Eventually, the drain that is draining so slowly will just be backed up and clogged. One way to make sure that does not happen is to call us out to take care of that for you. We are happy to do it and it is not going to cost as much as you may think. There is no need to get along with a slow drain when you can have it fixed rather quickly. Give us a call and find out what it will cost. Your wife will be happy that you made that decision and that she does not have to put up with a slow drain for months on end.

There are many other plumbing issues that can be treated that same way. You need to change the mindset that you have to do all of the home repairs and start calling the plumber for the quotes and make decisions based on facts and not your assumptions, because often those assumptions are going to be wrong, based from everything we have ever seen from a long list of satisfied customers.

When the plumber does come over you can feel free to do whatever you need to do. You do not need to feel obligated to help them or be with them all of the time. If you need to be working on other things by all means you can be working on them. That is part of the reason that you hired us in the first place, right?

Now, when you think of plumbing repair, you should think very differently. This new mindset will change many things for you. You will get a lot more done and make a lot more progress on those things that you truly need to do. You will also find that your own personal stress level will go way down because you have lightened your load of the things that you are responsible for. Your wife will really like this and chances are this is going to improve your relationship as well.

 

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Professional Faucet Repair or DIY, That is the Question

January 20th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

There are many things in life that a professional can do for us but we instead choose to do ourselves. Sometimes that is a wise choice and other times it is not the best idea. So, today, the question is should you hire a professional, like us, to do your faucet repair or do you do it yourself? In this case, the answer is really going to lie with you and what you want to do and what you are comfortable with.

Water, as harmless as it seems, can cause a lot of damage. If you are going to fix the faucet on your own you need to be reasonably sure that you can do it without having a major issue in the middle, such as not being able to finish it or worse, having a major water leak that floods your home.

Depending on what needs to be repaired with the faucet it is generally not hard to do, as long as you know what you are doing and how to do it. If you are going to do it yourself I would certainly recommend that you take a little time first to do some research online and find out how the faucet is put together, how it comes apart and how it should function.

Perhaps the hardest part of repairing your own faucet is in the diagnosis of what is causing the problem once you get it apart. How are you going to know what needs to be replaced or repaired? This is the largest issue with doing this repair yourself. There is often no way to know for sure what the issue is without taking it apart. This is why you need to study the faucet and all of its parts online to know what you should see and that way you will know what the problem is when you take it apart. Sometimes it is obvious and other times it is not.

You will want to give yourself plenty of time to complete the faucet repair once you have started to make sure that you are able to complete it and get it back together and working. For this reason it may be a good idea to begin something like this is the morning so that you have plenty of time to get it done. It will be a great feeling when you are able to finish the repair and have the faucet work again like new. You will be a hero to your family and in particular to your wife. But know your skill limits and don’t take on something that is way beyond your capability.

 

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6 Reasons to Ignore Plumbing Problems

January 19th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

We all hate to take time to repair things around the house and there may be a million reasons why you should take on issues immediately when they happen. However, have you ever thought about the reasons why you may want to ignore the problems? Here are a few reasons why you should ignore plumbing problems.

  1. You have always wanted a swimming pool and if you have a leaking line you stand to fill the house and make a rather large swimming pool. This would be an indoor pool at that. Of course, if you take care of the issue at the time it happens you will never know what it is like to have an indoor pool all to yourself.
  2. Ignoring a plumbing issue gives you a lot more time to sit around watching TV. You will never gain that quality time with the TV back if you are working on the plumbing issues right away.  
  3. By ignoring the plumbing issues you can focus on other important things, like a golf game.
  4. Ignoring plumbing problems allows you the time that you may need to convince your wife that you do not know how to handle it.
  5. If you don’t ignore the plumbing issues you will have to fix them or have them fixed by a company like ours.
  6. Lastly, it is good to ignore the plumbing problems when you have too much going on and you are too close to the situation. 

Plumbing is something that generally is pretty reliable, but from time to time there are going to be issues. When they happen it is best to take care of them right away. Although we have made fun of letting plumbing issues go without being fixed, the truth is that is not what you should be doing.  You should plan to have things repaired as quickly as you can.  This will prevent the initial issue from becoming a much larger issue and negatively impacting the site or the business in any way.

Plumbing can also sneak up on you with issues that are a little more hidden, so take the time to check from time to time to make sure that there are no hidden problems as well.

 

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Water Shut-Offs Can Prevent Extensive Plumbing Repairs

December 23rd, 2011 by pabrams

Water is an essential part of our everyday living and is made possible because of continually pressurized water in pipes of our homes and buildings. The pressurized water, though, can also wreak havoc if a pipe bursts or an appliance breaks. When this happens, minor plumbing repairs to Tucson homes can turn into extensive repairs. Knowing how to halt the sudden flow of water can help prevent major damage and costly repairs. There are three major areas where you can shut off water: inside main valve, outside main line, and individual appliance valves.

Inside Main Valve

Inside your house is a water shut-off valve that will deprive the entire house of water. It is usually located in the basement (if equipped) or on a wall near where place where the pipes enter the house. When water is turned off at this location, all water that comes through the house pipes, including outside faucets connected to the house, are without water. It does not impact any sprinklers that are hooked up to city water.

The whole house water shut-off valve is located in the meter box near the curb

Outside Main Valve

The outside main valve is the city water meter. This valve is located in the ground near the street or curb. It is encased in concrete and covered with a heavy lid. You may need a tool to help pry up the lid. To turn the valves on or off, you will need a water key, either a two-pronged fork style or a lug-wrench style depending on the type of valve you have.

Sometimes the valves will be tight and not turn easily due to lack of use. If this is the case, apply reasonable pressure then stop. If you force the valve to turn, you could break it and cause flood to occur at the access point. It is best to contact a Roto Rooter specialist to come and help if you can’t get it to turn.

You should turn the water off at this point if there are any natural or man-made disasters that could potentially weaken the structure of your home.

Individual Appliance Valves

Devices that use water, such as sinks, toilets and washing machines, are all equipped with their own shut-off valve. If one of these devices breaks, turning its shut-off valve will stop the unwanted flow of water. While you wait for the plumbing repairs in your Tucson home to be made, you cans still have water in the rest of the house.

 

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The Need for Sump Pumps in a Desert

December 19th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Water damage, with even as little an amount of water as one inch, can wreak havoc. It can destroy valuable documents and belongings as well as compromise the structure or your building. With the potential for great loss, you may want to consider sump pump installation in Tucson area homes and businesses. Following are four basic facts about sump pumps that can help you determine what is right for you. Until recently, builders rarely built homes in Arizona with basements so many Arizona residents are unfamiliar with sump pumps and their purpose.

A typical sump crock and pump system. Photo credit: Steam Boilers.org

How They Work

Sump pumps are systems that are installed in the basement of a building. A tank is placed underneath the ground at the lowest point in the floor. Water flows into the tank, which can hold up to 25 gallons. Once the water level reaches a certain point, it is pumped out of the tank and away from the foundation of the building.

Basement Water in a Desert

Most of Tucson does not reside on a high water table, so for most of the year, water seeping into the basement is not a problem. However, during the monsoon season from June through September, water in the basement could become a huge problem. When the rain is pouring down, flooding can occur. Also, during this season, the ground can become saturated leaving the water with no place to go. In either of these cases, water can flow into a basement through cracks in the floor or foundation walls, through holes in the walls left by pipes or cables, or through the small joint space where the floor and the wall meet.

Another method where water enters the basement is through a broken pipe. If the broken pipe goes undetected, like during the weekend while a business is closed, the damage can be extensive.

Different Types of Systems

You can get either an electric system or a manual system. With the electric system, the motor is off until the water reaches a certain level in the tank. Once it hits that level, it triggers a switch that turns on the motor and begins to pump the water out of the tank. This is ideal for Tucson residents who won’t need the system for most of the year. With the manual system, it needs to be turned on physically for the motor to work. This type is most often used where electricity is not readily available near the spot where you need to install the system.

Those Who Need a Sump Pump

Professionals recommend sump pump installation for any Tucson building that has a level underneath the ground. This includes basements, crawl spaces, and cellars. Relatively speaking, it is rather inexpensive insurance against basement flooding, either from broken water pipes or monsoon rains. Call a Roto Rooter Rep today for more information.

 

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3 Strategies for Saving Money on Hot Water

December 15th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Regardless of how much you think about hot water while you use it, the impact is still there every time you pay your bills.  Three suggestions to help you reduce the amount of money you spend are to use energy saving approaches, maintain and make necessary water heater repairs in your Tucson home and an energy-efficient water heater when buy a new one.

Energy Saving Tactics

There are three easy ways you can save energy from your hot water heater.

  1. Reduce the amount of heat lost. Hot water that sits in a tank cools down. You can eliminate some of the heat loss by wrapping a water heater blanket around the tank. These blankets are designed to insulate the tank and come in different sizes and styles depending on the capacity of your tank and whether or not it is electric or gas.
  2. Insulate the pipes. Heat is also lost in the pipes that are connected to the water heater. You can reduce this loss by insulating both the cold and hot water pipes for about 6 feet.
  3. Reduce the amount of water you use. There are several simple changes you can make to reduce the amount of hot water you use. For instance, locate and fix any leaky faucets in your house. Install a low-flow shower head. Wash only full batches of clothes and dishes. In addition, when you are in the market for new appliances, look for those that are energy-efficient such as a side-load washing machine.

Regular Repair and Maintenance

As you use your hot water, sediment will naturally build up on the bottom of the tank. Sediment reduces the efficiency of your water heater, making it harder to heat the water. In addition, leaving it there will cause your tank to rust out faster than it would otherwise. Follow the instructions in the owner’s manual to drain and refill the tank or hire a professional to do it for you.

For other minor problems, such as leaky valves, call a Roto Rooter Rep and get your water heater repaired in your Tucson home before the small problems escalate into major problems that can’t be easily fixed.

 

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5 Easy Tips for Maintaining the Garbage Disposal

December 13th, 2011 by pabrams

When the kitchen garbage disposal is running properly, it is a great appliance. It keeps your kitchen smelling fresh and clean. It makes cleaning up

A disposal and double kitchen sink drain

after dinner easy. It even reduces the amount of garbage in the landfills. But when the disposal isn’t working properly, the decaying food remaining in the appliance can make your kitchen or even your whole house stink. It is easy to avoid this problem by regularly following five easy tips recommended by Tucson plumbers.

  1. Use plenty of water. Every time you run your disposal, turn on the cold water while the food is being chopped up. After you hear the grinding of the motor turn into a soft whir, turn off the device and let the water continue to run for about 10 to 20 seconds. The running water will carry any remaining particles out of the disposal and will more completely flush the pipes.
  2. Use cold water. While hot water won’t damage the parts, cold water is better while running the disposal. Hot water will liquefy greases and fats. When they are in liquid form, grease adheres to the blades and will build up on them.
  3. Avoid hard or fibrous foods. Disposals are for foods that grind into bits and pieces easily. Hard seeds, popcorn kernels, peach stones, apple seeds, or bones don’t grind very well, if at all. The smaller pieces can get wedged underneath the blades causing them to jam. Fibrous foods should be avoided, also, because the fibers tend to wrap themselves around the blades causing them to jam, too. Therefore, avoid onion skins, egg shells, celery stalks, corn husks, etc.
  4. Clean the inside. Over time, it is natural for sludge to build up on the sides and blades of your appliance. It is best to avoid using harsh chemicals since they can damage the parts of your device. You can get a natural chemical reaction by putting baking soda down the drain and pouring vinegar on top of it. Another easy method is to combine the sharpening with the cleaning by putting about a cup of rock salt down the drain when you grind up your ice cubes.
  5. Don’t put your hands in the disposal. When wedged food is removed, the sudden release of tension can make the blades spring into action and cause injury. Try using pliers. If that doesn’t work, call a Tucson plumber to come and fix the appliance.

 

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