Mesa Arizona Archives - City Wide Plumbing

Feb 07

It’s the Law: Before you dig, call Arizona Blue Stake!

By City Wide Plumbing backflow cages, backflow device, backflow prevention theft, drain stoppages, freeze protection, Gilbert Arizona, local news, Mesa Arizona, Phoenix Plumbing, plumbing, plumbing tips, plumbing trouble, Slab Leaks No Comments

Arizona Blue Stake was established by utility owners as a one-call notification system to assist local homeowners and excavators in identifying the location of underground utilities to prevent damages to facilities.

Notify the Arizona Blue Stake Center at least two (2) working days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) before excavating to have all underground pipelines and facilities located and marked.

Calling 811 will help save lives and protect infrastructure. Knowing where underground utility lines are buried before each digging project begins helps protect you from personal injury, expense and penalties. There may be multiple utility lines in the same area at varying depths. Even simple digging projects can damage utility lines and disrupt vital services to an entire community. Having underground utilities located can help prevent undesired consequences

Wait for the project site to be marked by all utility owners. Once all utilities have been properly located, you are officially ready to dig.

Respect and protect the marks. Have utility lines re-marked if initial markings are more than fifteen (15) days old.

Use caution when digging. Always hand dig within two feet of either side of any marked line. Some utility lines may be buried at a shallow depth, and an unintended shovel

Be Aware utility companies may not mark where the line continues into your property (anything on your property is considered privately owned and maintained.

If damage occurs, notify the appropriate facility owner IMMEDIATLY.

Each marking represents the location of the underground facilities and the color represents the type of utility (gas, water, electric, communication, etc…). These marks are temporary and fade with time.

White– proposed excavation

Pink– Temporary Survey

Red– Electric, traffic signals and street lights

Yellow– natural gas, petroleum, nitrogen, butane, and propane.

Orange– Communication, cable television, fiber optics

Blue water systems, slurry pipes, irrigation and wells

Purple– reclaimed water

Green– Sanitary Sewer Systems

There is a penalty for failure to comply. Owners of underground facilities must locate and mark all their facilities at that location within 48 hours. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to $ 5000. You or a contractor cannon begin excavating until all utilities have been marked or be subject to a maximum fine of $ 5000.

Information courtesy of:

Arizona Blue Stake

Arizona Corporation Commission

City of Mesa

City of Scottsdale

Jan 08

Mesa Residents Update Water Heaters

By City Wide Plumbing home repairs, Mesa Arizona, water heaters No Comments

When Mesa residents think about their town, the first adjective that comes to mind is “smart.”

Smart technology when it comes to appliances usually equates with efficiency, but you may not think about how water heaters are at the heart of your dishwasher’s and washing machine’s performance. For example, when your hot water isn’t so hot anymore, its lack of performance can compromise those big-ticket items in the following ways:
Dishes aren’t getting clean. If you have to use an elaborate pre-washing process before you put dishes into the dishwasher, where’s the benefit? You’ll notice detergent not dissolving all the way or that your dishes are coming out still greasy, you’ve just wasted a lot of time and money.

Lukewarm water equals lukewarm performance. When your washing machine’s water isn’t getting water that’s hot enough, whites and other clothing won’t get sanitized, and greasy stains can set in deeper. You’ll have to rely on extra spot treatments, chemical additives or bleach to make up for your lack of hot water – all requiring more work and time.

So when your water heater isn’t living up to its name, give us a call. We’ll provide the answers you need, and give you options so you can make an informed choice on whether water heater repair is the way to go, or how a new water heater can help save you in the long run. Same-day service – even on Saturdays – can help you get your water temperatures back up where they belong.

Call City Wide Plumbing today: 480-966-8795.

Oct 16

Bathroom Remodeling Is Not for the Faint of Heart

By City Wide Plumbing bathroom remodeling, Chandler Arizona, Mesa Arizona, Scottsdale No Comments

Your Mesa, Chandler or Scottsdale home needs a new bathroom and you’re ready for a change. In your mind, you’re thinking of something like indoor oasis meets budget-sensitive savvy, and you figured out your budget. If you do the remodeling yourself, you can afford to splurge on something special. It sounds like the perfect mix until you’re part of the way into your project and you’re already out of your depth. Here are some of the pitfalls many homeowners experience:

Your pipes are how old?

They might be galvanized or even PVC, but they will need upgrading. When you see white plastic pipes or gray steel pipes, know that the failure rates for these types of pipe are high, and it’s best to replace them as soon as possible. If you found copper pipes but don’t know how old they are, call us today! Our expert can evaluate your water flow, and how your fittings are holding up.

When your walls are opened up, it’s the perfect opportunity to get every part checked out, and either repaired or replaced. You can save hundreds of dollars in the long run by upgrading the items behind the walls first. That way, when your remodel is finished, you’ll know your next remodel won’t be until you decide it’s time.

You found a leak, now what?

Many times, a sink, toilet, shower or bathtub that you want to reuse can look brand new on the outside. Once you’ve pulled away the surrounding areas, however, you get a much better look at what’s really going on. Mold is the biggest red flag that you have a leak, but do you know what’s leaking? Can you tell where it’s coming from? Do you know what to do to stop the leak? What else do you need to replace? Can you still save the piece or do you have to buy a new one?

Contact us . Our experts can troubleshoot, trace the leak, make recommendations on what to replace and get the repairs done quickly. This can save you time, money and numerous trips to the home improvement superstore.

You didn’t find other problems, but that’s only because you didn’t know
what else to look for.

Our licensed plumbers know how one issue can trigger another. If there was a leak, did it compromise the integrity of your subfloor or cause dry rot behind your sink connections? Your bigger bathtub fits into the space, but can your floor support the heavier weight? The new floorplan works great, but does an electrical outlet need to be rerouted now that the toilet is on the south wall? Our City Wide licensed plumbers have the right training to look for potential issues, and can tell you the steps you need to take for your new bathroom remodel to go smoothly.

You’re installing your new fixtures with the tools you have, not the ones you need.

Yeah, it’ll probably work…. besides, it looks all right. But you just spent a lot of money on a new bathroom remodel. An improperly installed sink, tub or toilet can spoil everything in a matter of days. Do you really want to risk it on a “probably”? Get your installation done right the first time by a City Wide professional plumber, and save time, money and effort.

If you live in the Mesa, Chandler or Scottsdale areas, give us a call. At City Wide, we’re local. Call us today, before you start installing your new bathroom.

Mar 13

6 DIY Tips to Avoid a Plumbing Emergency

By City Wide Plumbing AZ, local plumber, Mesa Arizona, Phoenix, Phoenix Plumbing, plumbing tips, plumbing trouble No Comments

Plumbing emergencies are never a good thing and always happen at the worst times. With regular maintenance from a plumbing professional and a few DIY tips, you can drastically reduce your chances of having to deal with a plumbing disaster. Try these 6 tips to help prevent potential plumbing disasters and water emergencies in your home.

Know Where the Water Shut off Valve is Located
Usually located by the front door of you home, shutting off the main valve to the house can stop a small problem from turning into a disaster. If that valve does not work call your local city water department and they will shut it down at the meter.

Fix Problems Quickly
Even small leaks can corrode pipes and cause significant water damage or mold. Re caulk showers and tubs to prevent leaks.

Never Use an Exposed Pipe as a Hanger
Hanging laundry from exposed pipes can be tempting but it can loosen joints and fasteners and cause unwanted plumbing problems.

Avoid Chemical Drain Clearing Products
Chemical products seem like a quick fix but repeated use can erode pipes and cause leaks.

Reduce Water Pressure
High water pressure stresses out your pipes and increases the likelihood of leaks. Have your home water pressure tested, go to Home Depot or Ace Hardware and buy a gauge that screws on your hose bib.

Turn Off Water While on Vacation
Use the shut off valve and turn off your water next time you go out of town. A small leak left unattended for just a few days can cause exponential water damage and even start fires if the water reaches electrical wiring.

City Wide Plumbing

Follow these 6 tips and if you ever feel like you are in over your head don’t pause to give us a call, City Wide Plumbing @ 480 966 8795. We are the local Valley plumber for over 30 years, we have all the expertise and tools necessary to handle any plumbing emergency you encounter. Licensed, bonded and insured.

Feb 13

City Wide Plumbing upgrades fleet

By City Wide Plumbing local plumber, Mesa Arizona, Phoenix Plumbing No Comments

The City Wide family is excited to announce the latest addition to our fleet of vehicles. In a effort to reduce emissions and increase MPG, City Wide Plumbing has added a Chevrolet work van to our fleet. With this upgrade, City Wide Plumbing continues its effort to go green and improve the environment. City Wide prides itself on great service and quality workmanship. We strive to save customers time and money. With our newest addition we pledge to pass even more savings onto our customers. City Wide Plumbing always keeps our customers pocketbooks in mind.

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Jan 19

How to know when your HOT WATER is not running at maximum potential

By City Wide Plumbing Mesa Arizona, no hot water, Phoenix Plumbing, water heaters No Comments

It is that time of year when we need all the hot water we can get for those showers and baths. When winter arrives we always see an increase in “no hot water” calls or “not enough hot water”. You will see below some steps you can take to see what the problems could be, if you need help just call 480-966-8795 and someone will talk you through the problem.

A. Test the pressure relief valve regularly and flush out sediments at least once a year.

B. Check your water heater’s anodes at least once every two years to make sure they are operating correctly to prevent rust from happening. If it appears to have corrosion, the rod should be replaced.

C. You may need to update your shower head to a newer shower head that limits water output to about 2.5 gals per minute.

D. You may have a broken or worn cold water inlet valve.

E. The heating elements or thermostats on electric waters heaters may be malfunctioning check your water heaters breaker first.

F. There could be a damaged or worn gasket that needs replacement.

G. The pressure relief valve may be loose or malfunctioning.

H. Your tank could be rusted, in this case you would need to replace the water heater.

I. Read your water heater owner manual for more help.

Jan 17

Slab Leak Calls Increase for our Local Mesa Customers

By City Wide Plumbing Mesa Arizona, Phoenix Plumbing, plumbing, Slab Leaks No Comments

We have noticed an increase in the number of slab leak calls from our Mesa customers in December and January. The cold weather is a huge factor in this.

If you are walking around your home in your bare feet and feel a hot spot on your floor, you may be right to suspect a slab leak.

City Wide Plumbing has leak detection and video camera equipment that are used to inspect your pipelines for gas and hot and cold water leaks. Our Service plumbers conduct pipeline leak testing under concrete slab, asphalt, and behind walls, and follow up with repair or replacement of the damaged section of pipe.

Special slab leak detection equipment is employed to locate and repair leaky pipes under the concrete foundation of your home or business. If you have high water bills or hear water running in the walls call 480-966-8795 today.

Oct 26

Local Mesa Plumber

By City Wide Plumbing Mesa Arizona, Phoenix Plumbing No Comments

We have made it our priority at City Wide Plumbing Company to have dedicated plumbers. We make sure they’re highly skilled as well as having excellent customer service skills. When you are looking for the best Mesa Plumber you should automatically think of City Wide. Our plumbers benefit when customer satisfaction has been reached and our customers benefit when we maintain employee satisfaction. We know it’s a two way street and look forward to a long relationship with our Mesa, Arizona homeowners.

Jul 30

How To Choose an Honest Affordable Plumber

By City Wide Plumbing broken pipes, find a plumber, Gilbert Arizona, Mesa Arizona, Phoenix Plumbing, plumber, plumbing, Slab Leaks No Comments

How To Choose an Honest and Affordable Plumber

The last thing we want is to be taken advantage of by our service providers. Most homeowners have no expertise when it comes to faulty or leaky water heaters, broken pipes, clogged drains, under slab leaks, sewage backing up in your house or any other horror story imaginable.

Choosing a great plumbing company before you have a plumbing emergency is the best strategy. Then you won’t be as stressed when a plumbing problem strikes.

Let’s face it. You are asking someone to come into your home or office to face a potentially messy situation that can possibly be quite expensive. You want the best plumber you can hire, who can get the job done quickly and afford-ably.

Here are some tips to choose the right plumbing company.

How long have they been in business? If they have been around for a long time, you know they are solid citizens who are trusted by homeowners.
Is the plumbing company licensed and insured? A shady operator won’t be able to get or keep a contractor’s license or liability insurance.
Do they offer free estimates? You don’t want any surprises and either does a reputable plumbing company. A good company will tell you what to expect before they start the repairs.
Are the plumber’s service vehicles clean? You can tell a lot about pride of workmanship by the condition of the company’s vehicles and equipment.
Is the phone answered professionally or is it a “home business” where even a child may answer the phone? You can tell if you’re working with professional technicians or just a handyman by how the phone is answered.
Does the plumbing company promise fast response? If your taking cold showers, have a broken pipe, or a backed up sewer line, you want a plumber who promises to get on the job in usually less than an hour.
Does the plumbing company offer a warranty on the parts, equipment, and on their labor if something doesn’t function later? You want to hire a company that stands behind their work.

These 7 tips were provided by: https://citywideplumbingaz.com/

Jul 16

Protect Your Backflow!

By City Wide Plumbing backflow cages, backflow device, backflow prevention theft, Gilbert Arizona, local news, Mesa Arizona, plumber No Comments

Recently there have been a rash of commercial irrigation and domestic water back-flow preventers stolen and sold for their scrap metal. While the scrap metal value for the brass and copper contained within these fittings is only about $50.00, day and night thieves are stealing as many as they can, sometimes twice from the same properties. Back-flow preventers are easily recognized, usually placed above ground along the street frontage for most commercial properties. The backflow preventer acts to prevent irrigation or other water from going back into the potable water source from the city in case of contamination. Most jurisdictions in Maricopa County have mandated the use of these valves in commercial buildings.

Thieves have posed as city employees wearing orange vests and have cut off the valve to the preventers using a battery powered sawzall. The whole process can take less than five to six minutes. These thefts have occurred in broad daylight and at prominent and visible locations. If yours is stolen, replacing it is very expensive and can cost as much as $2,000 to $4,000. Their removal will also interrupt water service for your property as well as create possible water damage caused by the water running uncontrolled through the open connection.

How to Protect Yourself

There is no perfect solution, but the following actions are being recommended by the ABPA, law enforcement, backflow installers, landscapers, and plumbing companies.

Enclose your backflow valve(s) with a protective cage (if you haven’t already).
Secure it with a tamper-proof lock (a “break-away” lock is easily opened and not recommended). In case of emergency, your maintenance crew should have a copy of the lock’s key.
The cage should be securely mounted to the cement pad on the ground and painted a desert color to match landscape.
Make sure the cage has lock guards to prevent their removal.
Stamp, label, or identify the metal with a recognizable code or name of your own.
Paint the unit with a desert color.
Post a visible warning that there is video surveillance on the units. Also on the signs something to the effect of “theft and damage to this unit will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”.
Camouflage the unit by planting screening landscape a foot or so from the back-flow. This will make the unit less visible while still allowing for necessary maintenance access.
Record model number and serial numbers of all backflow devices.
Install a small wall to hide backflow devices.

The prices of the cages and installation vary according to design and size. We offer free estimates on all backflow products. For more information please call 480-966-8795.

Our plumbing experts are certified by the State of Arizona backflow device testers. ABPA membership number R1461.

Apr 05

Reducing, Reusing and Recycling.

By City Wide Plumbing Gilbert Arizona, hot water, local news, Mesa Arizona, Phoenix Plumbing, plumbing, plumbing tips, Slab Leaks, water heaters No Comments

Here at City Wide Plumbing we do our best to do our part in reducing, reusing, and recycling. We only install energy star rated water heaters, recirculation pumps and use low flow toilets, faucets and fixtures. We also recycle any old and broken material. Not only do our efforts help keep trash out of the land field, it also helps out customers save money.

The following are some additional tips from the EPA’s WaterSense Program.

Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program encourages Americans to check and replace leaky plumbing fixtures and sprinkler systems, helping households save more than 10,000 gallons of water per year and as much as 10 percent on utility bills.

“Easy-to-fix household leaks waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide, which is equal to the amount of water used by more than 11 million homes,” said EPA Acting Administrator for the Office of Water Nancy Stoner. “We’re not just wasting water; families also lose money from leaks with higher utility bills. That’s why Fix a Leak Week is so important, and why we encourage everyone to take a few simple steps that add up to make a significant positive impact.”

In just 10 minutes, businesses and homeowners can:

Check winter water bills and fixtures for water waste;
Twist and tighten pipe and hose connections; and
Consider replacing broken or inefficient fixtures with WaterSense-labeled models.

If winter water usage for a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, it’s likely that the home has a leak problem. Here are some easy tips:

Check toilets for silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank at the back and, if after 10 minutes, color shows up in the bowl before flushing, it may be time to make an easy repair and replace the flapper.
Check outdoor hoses for damage from winter frost and tighten connections at the water source.
For in-ground sprinkler systems, a professional certified through a WaterSense-labeled program can inspect sprinkler heads and pipes for signs of leakage and help homeowners maintain an efficient system and healthy lawn.
Check additional plumbing and outdoor fixtures for leaks. They may just need a quick twist or pipe tape.Learn more about fixing leaks, find a certified irrigation professional, or search for WaterSense labeled plumbing and irrigation products: http://www.epa.gov/watersense.

Dec 18

Emergency Water Shut Off

By City Wide Plumbing Gilbert Arizona, holiday plumbing emergency, holidays, local news, Mesa Arizona, Phoenix Plumbing, plumbing, plumbing tips, plumbing trouble, Slab Leaks, water heaters No Comments

It is important to know where your water shut off valves are located. You also need to make sure that the valves are in proper working order. Internal shut off valves are usually located behind toilets, refrigerators, wash machines, under kitchen and lavatory sinks, and above water heaters. If any of those items malfunction you can quickly shut off the water to isolate the problem and have a lower risk of water damage. There is also a main water shut off valve located outside on the main service riser. If the valves inside are not working or you can not locate the valve you can shut off the water to the entire house. Some town homes, condos, or apartments may not have service riser shut off valve if this is the case or if the valve is not working you can call your local water company emergency line and have them shut off the water at the meter.

Call your local plumber for a location and inspection of your shut off valves. Also test them regularly, after time the valves can corrode and freeze.

Dec 07

What is a slab leak?

Leaking pipes inside or underneath the concrete of a house’s floor or foundations are called slab leaks.

What are signs of a slab leak?

Hear running water, when no water should be running.
Warm or hot spots on the floor
Cracks in walls or floor
Mildew, excessive moisture under carpet, or musty odor
High water bills

What to do if you think you have a slab leak?

Call a plumber who specializes in leak detection or a locating professional to pinpoint the location of the leak using thermal imaging, pipe locating, and sound equipment.

If a leak is detected, how does a plumbing professional repair it?

One option is to jackhammer the floor and repair the leak in the ground. A plumbing professional will take up some tile or carpet and jackhammer the concrete to reach the leaking pipe. They will then cut out the bad section of pipe and solder a new one in place, and most companies will rough patch the concrete. It us up to the homeowner to replace any tile or carpet but some home owners insurance will cover this type of repair.

A second option is the reroute the line. This is where a plumber will run a new line from through the walls and attic to eliminate the leaking pipe in the ground. Most plumbers will only reroute one line unless you would like to re pipe the entire home. This option does cause some damage to the drywall and most insurance companies will not cover this type of repair.

Jun 19

Huge Plumbing Warehouse Fire Gilbert

By City Wide Plumbing Gilbert Arizona, local news, Mesa Arizona, Phoenix Plumbing, plumbing No Comments

by Stacey Delikat

Email | Follow: @SDelikat3TV

GILBERT, Ariz. — The massive fire that blanketed the East Valley with thick, black smoke on Monday afternoon leveled a long-standing plumbing company and destroyed millions of dollars worth of supplies.

Jack Stapley, a co-owner of Farnsworth Plumbing Supply Company, estimated $8 million worth of supplies burned.

He said a warehouse was destroyed and an office building facility was also badly damaged.

The business has been in Gilbert near McQueen and Baseline roads for 18 years.

The fire started shortly after 3 p.m. Monday and burned intensely for nearly three hours. As of 10 p.m., crews were still working to put out hot spots and cool down the grounds.

Firefighters were still on the scene Tuesday morning to keep an eye some little fires that were still burning and make sure they didn’t blow up into another conflagration.

With Monday’s massive flames came a series of explosions as propane tanks on the property blew up.

Employees of nearby businesses reported hearing the explosions and feeling vibrations.

“It was not unlike a very sudden earthquake, you could feel it through your feet and through the windows, it was like a bomb went off,” said Carson Meyers, who works at a neighboring company that was evacuated as a precaution.

Other witnesses reported seeing debris fly through the air.

“Big, industrial shipping pallets flying 100 feet in the air,” Peter Wendt said.

Stapley said the other branches of the Farnsworth company, which include a waterworks and air conditioning business, were not impacted and will be open for business Tuesday.

Close to 200 firefighters were brought in from Mesa, Chandler and Tempe to help Gilbert crews battle the flames amidst intense temperatures that reached 113 degrees.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Originally from http://www.azfamily.com/Global/story.asp?S=28350056