<-- End Google Tag Manager -->

My House Flooded—What Should I Do?

Flooding can happen just about anywhere, so it’s best to be prepared to know what to do when it happens. Although it’s unavoidable, you can still prepare for it by knowing what to do if your house floods, and being ready to reach out for water damage restoration services in Mesa, AZ after you’ve contained the problem. Here are the first steps to take if your home floods:

  • Turn off/stop the water: If the source of the flood isn’t an act of nature like a rainstorm, you should be able to turn off the main water valve to the house to stop the water flow. It’s a good idea to know where this is located before an emergency to enable you to act quickly if the time comes.
  • Turn off electricity: Don’t walk through water to get to the fuse box, but if you can get to it, turn off the power to your home. Call an electrician if you can’t safely reach the fuse box.
  • Keep records: It might not be the first thing on your mind in this type of crisis to take notes, but doing so will help with the insurance process in the aftermath. Taking photos or video, even a few short clips, can not only provide solid evidence but also help you jog your own memory of the events.
  • Evacuate the building: You will want to make sure everyone gets out of the home as soon as possible. Yes, this is because nobody wants to get soaked, but depending on the source of the flood, there may be hazardous sewage or debris in water that you’re unaware of. Make sure all adults, kids and pets are accounted for and safe outside of the home.
  • Call for help: Once everyone is safe and accounted for, now it’s time to think about who to call for help. If there’s a medical emergency, call 911. Other than that, you’ll want to call your insurer (if you’re a homeowner) and explain that there has been water damage. Be sure to ask if you can begin the cleanup immediately or if you need to wait for an adjuster to come and visit your home first. If you’re a renter, call your landlord and explain the situation.
  • Begin cleaning up: The cleanup process can be long and arduous, and you’ll need to take proper safety precautions to avoid contamination with any bacteria or other hazards you may encounter. A company specializing in water damage restoration services can help with this efficiently and effectively.
  • Keep an eye out for mold: The silent scourge of mold will need to be monitored in the days and weeks after cleanup. Black mold especially can be harmful to your health. To avoid a mold problem, keep areas that flooded as dry as possible. Treat any mold issues with a heavy-duty cleaner, like bleach.

Get water damage restoration services in Mesa, AZ

When you need help with water damage restoration services as well as plumbing in Mesa, AZ, call the team at PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air.

Benefits of Whole House Treatment Systems, Softeners and Conditioners

The benefits of whole house treatment systems in Mesa, AZ, including softeners and conditioners, are many. They include cleaner dishes, softer skin and, of course, everyone’s favorite: saving money. While there are many whole house treatment systems to choose from, Ultima’s new environmentally-friendly Green Fusion unit is the most efficient solution, and it’s made right here in the U.S.A.!

Green Systems are the newest innovation from Ultima, and the Green Fusion unit combines the company’s special Uniform Bead resin blend with Coconut Shell Carbon and KDF Sponges for maximum efficiency. The unit combines a water softener and whole house filter into one unit using patented reticulated KDF technology. Here are some of the benefits of these whole house treatment systems:

Using a whole house treatment system with a softener and conditioner saves money by reducing energy and soap use by up to 50 percent. It also helps keeps fixtures looking shiny and new, and gets your dishes and glassware looking cleaner and shinier. Best of all, it makes your skin and hair feel softer and shinier—and you won’t even have to change your soap or shampoo. You’ll wonder why it took so long to have one installed!

If you’re interested in getting a whole house treatment system in Mesa, AZ, call the team at PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air. We have over 800 five-star Google reviews and counting—our goal is to provide great service at affordable prices, and our customers agree that we deliver. Looking for the perfect whole house water treatment system? Let us show you why the Ultima Green Fusion system is preferred by Mesa residents—contact us today to schedule a consultation!

Benefits of Working with a Google Guaranteed Business

Anyone can create a website advertising any type of service. That means when you are searching for a business or professional, you could see results from people who are subpar, unreliable, inexperienced or flat-out bad at their work. That is why Google has introduced a new program to help users connect with top local businesses. Read on to learn why you should only work with a Google Guaranteed Business in Mesa, AZ.

What is a Google Guaranteed Business?

When searching for local businesses, you might notice that some of them have a small green circle with a white checkmark in it next to their listings. This signifies that a company is a Google Guaranteed Business in Mesa, AZ. This designation indicates that the enterprise has undergone Google’s rigorous screening and qualification processes through the Google Local Services program.

Why work with a Google Guaranteed Business

If, for example, you are looking for a plumbing company near you that offers specific services, a search engine will yield a number of results. However, only a small few will have the Google Guaranteed Business badge. There are numerous benefits to hiring these companies as opposed to the ones that are not a part of the Google Guaranteed Business program:

Even though the Google Guaranteed Business program is relatively new, you won’t find many local plumbing or HVAC companies that have earned this distinguished designation. That is why so many customers hire PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air. As a Google Guaranteed Business in Mesa, AZ offering a variety of plumbing, heating and cooling services, we stand by our team and our work. Our sterling reputation is reflected in the numerous professional recognitions we’ve received over the past 14 years in business. As a family owned and operated business, we are a proud member of the East Valley community and are eager to help assist you with all things plumbing, heating and cooling related. Get in touch with us today!

Whole House Repiping: Do I Need It? What Can I Expect?

The process of replacing all of the pipes in your house with PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) or copper pipes is called repiping. Ultimately, serious issues with your plumbing system may best be fixed by investing in a whole-house repiping. As whole house repipe experts in Mesa, AZ, our clients have a variety of questions about this type of necessary home maintenance.

Why would I need to invest in repiping my home?

There are a number of reasons why a homeowner might need to invest in repiping their property: slab leaks, rust found in the water or low water pressure. Most whole house repipe experts in Mesa, AZ recommend a whole-house repiping when a plumbing system has sustained irreparable damage.

If your house is more than 50 years old, you’ll want to invest in repiping to get rid of the galvanized pipes used throughout your property. Galvanized pipes are prone to bursting and corrosion as they age. Replacing galvanized pipes with new PEX or copper ones will make a noticeable improvement in how the plumbing in your home operates.

Why is PEX or copper pipe used?

We have countless five-star Google reviews because we only use the highest-quality materials when repiping your home. PEX, AquaPEX and copper pipes are the best options for repiping a home. These materials are reliable and yield results you can rely on for decades to come. When a PlumbStart representative visits your home to put together your free estimate, you can discuss the benefits of PEX and copper pipes and determine which option is right for your home.

How long does it take to repipe a home?

Repiping your home is a three-part process. First, a permit is obtained to complete the work, which is followed up with an inspection conducted by the city. After the permit is approved, a team of repiping technicians will spend one to two days in your home replacing pipes. The amount of time spent adding the new pipe to your home will vary based on the size of your property. Once the new pipe is replaced and inspected, the holes cut in your drywall to complete the work are patched. All in all, the entire process takes between three to five days.

The cost of repiping

The cost of repiping an entire house varies depending on the size of the house and the type of piping you’ve selected. We provide our clients with free estimates for the work to compare with other companies to make sure you are getting the best price available. We offer interest-free financing options, as well as a lifetime warranty on all workmanship if an issue arises in the future. At PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air, we guarantee the highest quality service with the best warranty in the industry at the lowest possible price.

Repiping your home is a major project. You want to hire a company to repipe your house that you can rely on to get the work done quickly, thoroughly and error-free. That is why we are the premier whole house repipe experts in Mesa, AZ. We have same-day and next-day appointments available, so call us now to learn more about repiping your house.

How to Prevent Slab Leaks in Your Home

The tendency among homeowners is to not worry too much about any of their plumbing systems until they notice some sort of problem. One problem you almost certainly won’t spend time thinking about until it happens is a slab leak.

A slab leak is what happens when there is a leak in one of the water lines that runs below your home’s concrete foundation. Given the nature of this kind of leak, it can be difficult to know when you have one, let alone what you can do to prevent it. There are some professionals who recommend rerouting water lines to help prevent slab leaks from occurring, but we generally say that is unnecessary unless you have already dealt with multiple leaks in the home.

Here are just a few signs you might be dealing with slab leaks, and the steps you can take for preventing slab leaks in Mesa, AZ:

If you believe you have a slab leak on your property, it’s important that you call in a plumbing specialist as soon as possible to inspect the issue and address it as needed. If you do have a slab leak, you can repair the leaking pipe, reroute the pipes or re-pipe altogether, depending on the severity.

For more information about preventing slab leaks in Mesa, AZ, contact PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air today.

Water Heater Maintenance Tips for Winter

Though winter is already here in full force, it’s not too late to safeguard your water heater to make sure it gets through the rest of the cold season without incident. Here are just a few tips for winter water heater maintenance tips in Mesa, AZ for you to follow. These tips are helpful even though we obviously do not see the same level of wintery cold in Mesa that you’d see in other parts of the United States.

Add some insulation

It can never hurt to add a little bit of insulation to your water heater tank and pipes to make sure the water stays nice and hot. The cooler the weather gets, the more likely you are to experience heat loss if your water heater is poorly insulated. Those heat losses can result in increased costs and gas usage.

By insulating the tank and the pipes that run away from the water heater, you can cut down on some of the heat loss you might experience. This is going to be more of an issue for older models—newer water heater tanks generally already have built-in insulation features, but there are tank covers available for you to use on older tanks to add some extra insulation.

Check your temperature settings

It can be tempting to turn up the temperature on your water heater during the winter months, but it’s probably a better idea to keep the tank clean and insulated, and leave the temperature at its current setting. Take a look at what your setting is right now, and if it’s cranked up too high, turning it down even just one or two degrees will make a big difference in how much energy you consume throughout the winter.

Inspect the anode rod

The anode rod is an important part of your water heater. Over time it will rust away and “sacrifice” itself (which is why it’s often referred to as the sacrificial rod), and in doing so it will prevent the tank itself from rusting. The rod is at the top of your tank, and it’s a good idea to check it a couple times a year, with winter and summer being sensible times to make those checks. Your rod should last five years, but it’s important to keep an eye on it to make sure it’s in good condition. If it’s covered in calcium or has seen significant wear, you should replace it.

Clean the tank

The more calcium and sediment that builds up in your tank, the less efficient it will become and the less hot water it will produce. Therefore, cleaning your tank not only improves your energy efficiency (thus lowering your energy bills), but also provides you with more reliable hot water throughout the entire season. You may need to drain your tank once or twice a year to clear the buildup and maximize the lifespan of the tank.

For more information about winter water heater maintenance in Mesa, AZ, contact PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air today.