The Tale of an Arizona Flood Victim

The year was 2012. Bobby and Suzi Smith were just arriving home from a glorious vacation in sunny California. They were ready to get home, unpack their bags, eat some dinner and then relax a little.

But little did they know what awaited them at home – a sopping wet, smelly, flooded house. After getting over the initial shock of arriving home to standing water throughout their house, they set out to find the cause.

After checking the usual culprits – the washing machine, toilets and sink drains – the Smiths made their way to the garage. Bingo! The entire floor of the garage was covered in water. Upon closer inspection, it appeared that the source of the water was the water heater. The Smiths had noticed some water in the area of the hot water heater before they left for their trip, but it wasn’t much water so they didn’t worry. Wrong decision.

Calling in the Phoenix Emergency Plumbing Experts

Recognizing that this was a plumbing problem that needed immediate attention, the Smiths called in the professional Phoenix plumbers from Chas Roberts Air Conditioning & Plumbing.

What they learned from the Chas Roberts plumber is that water heaters can last for 25 years and the closer you get to the end of that life span, the greater chance of an emergency plumbing problem occurring that could result in a leak, or even worse, a flood. Plus, according to home improvement expert Rosie on the House, once a water heater is about 10 years old, its operating efficiency can diminish by 50 percent or more. Water heaters hold a lot of water – sometimes even up to 60 gallons. The water heater has water lines entering and exiting and the fittings can leak.

If the Smiths had known about the loose fittings, they could have easily had the fittings tightened, for a reasonable cost. As they learned from the Chas Roberts plumber, they should have immediately called in the experts when they noticed some condensation coming from the water heater, before they left for their vacation. This easy fix – tightening the fittings – could have saved them the cost of having to purchase a new water heater, not to mention fixing the damage from the flood. But, there won’t be a next time because the Smith’s smartly signed up for the Chas Roberts Plumbing Comfort Assurance Plan (CAP), which provides them with an annual water heater check and draining, in addition to more than 13 other plumbing maintenance checks.

Preventing a Flood

Flood and water damage can be very costly and inconvenient. Being knowledgeable about the plumbing in your home can help prevent or minimize potential damage:

1. Shut-off valves: Make sure the shut-off valves under sinks, toilets, refrigerators and washing machines are in good working condition. If they are not, have them replaced.
2. Look around the water heater: Take care not to use the area around the water heater as storage. You will need to be able to see if there is water coming from the appliance – an early sign of a possible problem.
3. Inspect drain lines: Have the drain lines under your sinks inspected at least once per year by a professional plumber.
4. Maintain cocking joints: These are an important barrier between water and the walls and countertops in the home.
5. Water costs increase: If your water bill has increased for no known reason, it may mean you have a leak. If you can’t spot a leak, contact a professional plumber immediately for a thorough inspection.

Don’t end up in a dire situation like the Smiths did. At any sign of a Phoenix emergency plumbing problem, call in the professionals from Chas Roberts. From water heater installation and repair, to clogged drains and sump pump problems, Chas Roberts Air Conditioning & Plumbing can service all your plumbing needs. Visit ChasRoberts.com or call (602) 943-3426 in Phoenix, (520) 618-1884 in Tucson or (505) 264-7257 in New Mexico.