The next time your favorite plumber arrives to solve a problem, ask your plumber these five questions. Proactive repair of these five items can help you avoid potentially thousands of dollars in damage.
- Where is my main water shutoff? Does it work? If your plumbing leaks, it can take you valuable time to locate your main water shutoff. During that time, water keeps flowing and damage often results. After you locate it, turn it off to verify that it shuts off completely. Many valves don’t function properly and may only shut off partially, if at all. Here’s a short YouTube video that explains how to find your main water shutoff.
- Are there cleanouts on my sewer line and where are they? If your home was built before the late ‘70s, you may not have a sewer cleanout. This video tells you what to look for, but you may not know the location of your sewer line. In that case, give us a call and we can assist. You may need to install a cleanout, but you’ll be glad you did if tree roots or other blockages occur in your lateral sewer line.
- Should I replace my water heater’s anode? Your anode is both the guts and the glory of your water heater. The anode is a diverter – it works to draw corrosive elements toward it instead of corrosion attaching to the walls of your tank. Your plumber may even refer to them as “sacrificial anode rods,” because to their detriment, they retain corrosive elements and help inhibit overall tank rusting. How frequently you replace the anode depends on your home’s overall water quality. You should inspect your anode rod initially three years after tank installation and annually thereafter. If you use a water-softening system in your home, inspect your anode annually.
- Is it time to replace my water heater? Most water heaters have a sticker showing the date manufactured. It does not, however, show the date installed. Water heaters last between eight to twelve years, so an average age is about ten years. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety lists water heater failures as one of the top five sources of residential water damage. The average cost to repair the damage from a water heater failure is $4,444 after applying your deductible. The Insurance Institute study found that failure began to increase “dramatically” after five years, so don’t assume your water heater will last for ten or more years. Most water heater leaks occur when a water heater has reached its useful life expectancy and the tank rusts and corrodes. Don’t get caught in a flood. Call us today if you think it’s time to maintain or replace your water heater.
- Do my angle stops need repair? Angle stops are the shut-off valves to water supply lines like sink and toilet lines. If your sink or toilet leaks, the angle stop prevents serious damage because you can shut off the fixture. In many cases, homeowners see a leak, go to turn their angle stop and it is either frozen or breaks in their hand. A broken angle stop equals water damage. Test your angle stops by hand today to see if they’re working. If not, give us a call.
Today’s homeowner’s deductibles range from $500 to $2,000. Simple home maintenance can save you a bundle if you prevent one water loss. Call us for more information if you’re in the Phoenix area.