Resources
Plumbing Topics
Every answer, code page and guide on the site, sorted by the problem you have, the fixture involved, the brand, your situation and Arizona conditions.
Problem
- Clogged and slow drains108Why drains slow down or stop, what you can clear yourself, and when a clog is deeper in the line and needs a cable or hydro jetting.
- Frozen and burst pipes29Valley pipes can freeze in a cold snap and burst without warning. Which pipes are at risk, how to protect them, and what to do when one breaks.
- Gas leaks and carbon monoxide27What to do right away if you smell gas, how leaks are found and tested, and how gas appliances can leak carbon monoxide into a home.
- High water bills32A water bill that jumped with no visible leak usually has a cause you can test for at the meter. How to read the bill and track down the loss.
- No hot water28No hot water, water that runs out fast, or a heater flashing an error code: the usual causes and the checks you can do before you call.
- Noisy pipes and fixtures15Banging pipes, a whistling fill valve, or a popping water heater: what each sound means and which ones need a fix soon.
- Sewer backups and main line problems32Sewage coming up a floor drain or the tub, roots in the lateral, and aging main lines: what causes a backup and how the repair options compare.
- Sewer gas and drain odors53Sewer smells mean a dry trap, a broken seal, a vent problem, or a cracked line. How to find the source in a home or a commercial building.
- Slab leaks15Leaks in pipes under a concrete slab are common in Valley homes. The warning signs, how plumbers pinpoint them, and repair versus reroute.
- Water damage and flooding21Water on the floor or coming through the ceiling: the first steps to limit damage, how insurance treats plumbing leaks, and what the repair covers.
- Water leaks171Dripping faucets, leaks under the sink, pinhole leaks in copper, and hidden leaks in walls and ceilings: how to find them and what each fix involves.
- Water pressure problems68Low pressure at one fixture, the whole house, or only when two things run at once: what each pattern points to and how it gets fixed.
- Water taste, smell and safety65Chlorine taste, cloudy water, slime in drains, arsenic and lead: what is normal for Valley tap water and when testing or treatment makes sense.
Fixture or system
- Backflow preventers88Backflow assemblies protect the public water supply. Which properties need one, RPZ versus double check, and annual testing rules by city.
- Commercial restrooms and kitchens49Flushometers, urinals, mop and hand sinks, ADA restrooms and commercial kitchen plumbing: the fixtures businesses need and the rules behind them.
- Dishwashers, washers and ice makers60Water and drain hookups for dishwashers, washing machines and ice makers: hoses, air gaps, standpipes and the overflow problems they cause.
- Drains, traps and vents136How drain, waste and vent piping works: trap arms, slope, vents, air admittance valves and floor drains, with the code rules behind each.
- Faucets and sinks141Dripping, stiff or low-flow faucets and sinks that drain slowly: how cartridges, aerators and shutoff valves work and how to replace them.
- Garbage disposals26Humming, jammed, smelly or slow garbage disposals: the reset and unjam steps, what never goes down one, and when the unit is done.
- Gas lines and appliances59Gas piping for ranges, dryers, grills and water heaters: materials, sizing, pressure tests, permits and who is allowed to do the work.
- Grease traps and interceptors82Grease traps and gravity interceptors for restaurants: sizing, pumping schedules, city FOG programs, records and what inspectors check.
- Irrigation, pools and outdoor water50Sprinklers, drip lines, pools, misters and hose bibs: the leaks, backflow rules and drain limits that apply to outdoor water in the Valley.
- Private wells14Private and exempt domestic wells: pumps and pressure tanks, drilling notices and capping rules, and testing well water in Arizona.
- Reverse osmosis and filtration46Reverse osmosis, carbon and sediment filters, and UV systems for homes and commercial kitchens: what each removes and how to maintain it.
- Septic systems26Septic tanks and leach fields in the Valley: pumping schedules, failure signs, transfer inspections when you sell, and converting to city sewer.
- Sewer lines and cleanouts131Sewer laterals, cleanouts, backwater valves and camera inspections: who owns which part, how lines fail, and how repair and replacement work.
- Showers and tubs71Shower valves, cartridges, diverters, pan liners and tub drains: the repairs you can do yourself and the code sizes for a new shower.
- Tankless water heaters40Tankless water heaters in hard Valley water: descaling, error codes by brand, venting and gas sizing, and how they compare with a tank.
- Toilets137Running, clogging, leaking and weak-flushing toilets: DIY fixes for flappers and fill valves, flange and wax ring repairs, and code clearances.
- Water heaters174Tank and tankless water heaters: sizing, lifespan in Phoenix hard water, flushing, relief valves, venting, code rules and the problems that mean replace.
- Water pipes and repiping130Copper, PEX, CPVC, galvanized and polybutylene: how long each lasts, signs your pipes are failing, and what a whole-house repipe involves.
- Water softeners51How softeners handle Phoenix hard water, salt-free conditioners, brine and regeneration problems, and programming common control valves.
Brand
- A. O. Smith7A. O. Smith and State water heaters: blinking light codes, gas valve and sensor faults, and how to decide between repair and replacement.
- Bradford White4Bradford White water heaters: status codes, pilot and thermopile problems, and service life in hard Phoenix water.
- Fleck4Fleck softener control valves, including the 5600SXT: programming, manual regeneration, error codes and brine draw problems.
- InSinkErator5InSinkErator garbage disposals: reset and unjam steps, leaks, humming units and when to replace.
- Kinetico6Kinetico non-electric water softeners: how the twin-tank design works, service needs and common problems.
- Kohler4Kohler toilets, faucets and shower valves: common repairs, replacement parts and how to identify your model.
- Moen14Moen faucets and shower valves: cartridge replacement, stiff handles, leaks and temperature problems.
- Navien5Navien tankless water heaters and combi units: error codes, flow and ignition faults, descaling and venting rules.
- Rheem3Rheem and Ruud water heaters: status light and error codes, common failures, and when a repair is worth it versus a replacement.
- Rinnai6Rinnai tankless water heaters: what each error code means, descaling in hard Valley water, and the fixes that need a licensed plumber.
- Watts3Watts backflow assemblies, pressure regulators and valves: testing, rebuild kits and replacement.
Situation
- Buying or selling a home13Sewer scopes, septic transfer inspections, pre-listing checks and what a home inspection misses: the plumbing to look at before you buy or sell.
- Costs, insurance and warranties130What drives the cost of plumbing work, what insurance and home warranties cover, city fees, rebates and tax credits, and how to get a firm quote.
- Fixes you can do yourself21Step-by-step repairs a homeowner can handle, from running toilets to faucet cartridges, and the point where each job needs a licensed plumber.
- Hiring a plumber38How to check an Arizona ROC license, what to ask before you hire, handyman limits, contracts, and what to do if a job goes wrong.
- Maintenance schedules94How often to flush, descale, pump, test and replace: the maintenance schedules that keep Valley plumbing running and avoid emergency calls.
- Plumbing emergencies54Burst pipes, sewer backups, gas smells and no water: what to do in the first minutes, what can wait until morning, and when to call right away.
- Remodels and new construction26Permits, inspections, fixture layouts and code sizes for bathroom and kitchen remodels, additions, tenant improvements and new builds.
- Repair or replace83Lifespans, warning signs and side-by-side comparisons that help you decide whether to repair what you have or replace it.
Arizona conditions
- Desert heat18Triple-digit summers heat cold water lines, bake attic and garage equipment, and stress pipes. What the heat does to plumbing and how to plan for it.
- Hard water95Valley water is among the hardest in the country. How scale shortens water heater and fixture life, and the treatment options that help.
- Monsoon season21Monsoon storms overload sewers, push water back up drains and knock out power. How to prepare your plumbing before the season.
- Water conservation33Water waste rules, city rebates, low-flow fixture requirements, graywater and rainwater harvesting in a desert city running short on water.
- Winter freezes23Most Valley winters bring a few freezing nights. Which pipes are exposed, how to protect them, and how to leave a home empty for the season.
Who it's for
- Landlords, property managers and HOAs37Who pays for which plumbing repair in rentals, condos and HOAs, Arizona landlord duties, water submetering, and planning shutoffs in shared buildings.
- Restaurants and commercial kitchens138Plumbing rules and fixes for restaurants and commercial kitchens: grease interceptors, FOG programs, health inspection items and drain backups.
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