Are you in the market for a new water heater? At Tucson Discount Plumbers, we help you sort through your choices. However, did you know that new rules by the U.S. Department of Energy could limit the choices you have? Although these rules are intended to conserve energy, your initial investment could be more than you anticipated.

Why the Change?

The change comes on the heels of the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NACEA) and effects water heater made after April 2015. The NAECA puts in place mandatory standards that manufacturers of gas, electric, oil, and propane water heaters must meet in order to sell to consumer in the United States. The goal of this act is to conserve energy and reduce emissions.

How the Change Affects Consumers

It’s no secret that energy conservation is great for the environment and has monetary benefits for homeowners. New manufacturing standards means that water heaters produced after April 2015 use energy conservatively, reducing the cost to operate the appliance.

Saving money is great, but the biggest savings will be residual. The upfront costs may be more than what the average consumer is ready to absorb. To comply with the new standards, manufacturers may begin to charge more for the average water heater. What the exact percentage of cost increase that could be is yet to be seen.

Another caveat that comes with the passing of the NAECA is that older models without the energy conservation benefits are still available for purchase. This is great for people who want to save money upfront, but for consumers looking to buy the newly manufactured product it could lead to some confusion. Old stock will be allowed to be sold and the consumer needs to make sure they’re getting the newer, energy-efficient model and not a heater that doesn’t meet the new standards.

Other unintended consequences of the change that consumers need to know include the following:

• Standard water heaters may increase in size up to 2 inches. Homeowners with plenty of space in their utility rooms or basements will not be affected by this change. However, homeowners that have very little clearance to begin with may run into problems with installation. The remedy: Consider a tankless water heater that requires less space.
• Manufacturers have added additional energy-saving technology to their models to meet the NAECA standards. For example, electric water heaters may need different heating pumps or gas models may require an electronic ignition system. The cost of adding the necessary technology to the heaters will be passed along to the consumer. The remedy: If possible, shop for a new water heater during sales promotions to save money.

Professional Installation

New water heater changes mean that you may need to hire a professional installer to help you put in the new heater. While you may have installed a water heater in the past, the new requirements may make it more challenging this time around. Professional installers will be up to date on the changes and can help you circumvent installation problems should they arise.

If you have a tight space as mentioned previously in the article, it may be necessary to relocate the new water heater or remove walls of your utility room to create more space. In a case like this, you may need to hire a contractor to help you with this construction project.
These changes to water heater manufacturing will not come without growing pains for manufacturers and homeowners.

At Tucson Discount Plumbers, we help you navigate frequent changes in the plumbing industry. Our professionals help you choose a heater and perform water heater installation in Tucson, AZ. Call us today to schedule your appointment.

Homeownership offers many perks, but there’s also a lot of responsibility. Eventually, every homeowners needs to make home repairs. Plumbing repairs like repairing broken sewer lines should always be done by professional plumbers in Tucson, AZ; whereas, smaller repairs handy homeowners can handle themselves.

In this post, we discuss five of the most common plumbing problems homeowners encounter and how to fix them.

Sweating Toilet Tank

When condensation builds up on toilet tanks, we call this sweating. Sometimes the condensation gets so bad that it leaves puddles on your bathroom floor around the toilet’s base. This problem happens when humidity levels rise in the bathroom following long, hot showers.

Make puddles a thing of the past by installing an anti-condensation tank liner. This foam liner adheres to the inside of the tank and costs less than $20 at most plumbing supply stores. Follow the directions on the packaging to install the liner.

Remove the Sink Trap to Clear a Clog

Many sink clogs form in the sink trap. This is the part of the pipe that’s shaped like the letters “p”, “j,” or “s,” depending on the pipe. When objects get stuck in this area, homeowners can remove the sink trap and try to clear the line.

Re-caulking Jobs

Caulking around sinks, bathtubs, and showers eventually wears down and needs repairing. Fortunately, this an easy job for anyone to do and it takes very little time or money. Purchase a small tube of caulking from the hardware or plumbing supply store and apply it according to the directions on the packaging. Make sure you allow the caulk to dry completely before using the sink or other plumbing fixture.

Flush a Water Heater

This is a job that most homeowners can do in a few hours. All you need is a garden hose and a floor drain. Flushing the water heater once a year gets rid of sediment and keeps interior parts in good shape for longer.

Although flushing a water heater isn’t complicated, it does require careful consideration. If you’re unsure about draining your water heater, call licensed plumbers in Tucson to do this important annual service for you.

Fix Low Water Pressure

Do you have faucet that’s barely releasing water? If so, the problem could be hard water sediment buildup. In cases like these, remove the screen from the faucet and wash it thoroughly to get rid of sediment.

When low water pressure is a problem throughout the entire home, this is a different issue entirely. You want to call a plumber to come out and check your water line for leaks.

Call Us Today

Tucson Discount Plumbers is always available to help you with your most pressing plumbing repair and replacement jobs. Call us 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year to schedule a service call!

Technology has had a huge impact on the plumbing industry. Over the years, state-of-the-art equipment makes it easier to locate clogs, cracked pipes, and other problems that can lead to severe problems if undetected. At Tucson Discount Plumbers, we use a tool we refer to as a pipe inspection camera to help homeowners save money on drain and sewer repair.

Pipe Inspection Camera Technology Saves Money

Years ago, if homeowners suspected they had a sewer line problems, Tucson plumbers would have to excavate large sections of the yard to figure out exactly where the problem was located. This process was messy, random, labor-intensive, and expensive. Thanks to video camera inspection tools, plumbers don’t have to take these extreme measures anymore. Camera technology allows a licensed plumber to peek inside sewer lines and water lines without removing excess amounts of concrete or dirt. The exact location of the problem can be detected within minutes and fixed in no time at all.

Homeowners Can Be Part of the Process

It’s hard to put your trust in a process that you don’t understand. At Tucson Discount Plumbers, we love how the pipe inspection camera makes it easy for homeowners to feel included. Because the camera generates a live video feed the homeowner and plumber can sit side-by-side and see exactly what is happening in the pipe. Decisions can be made together about the next steps that should be taken. Empowering homeowners to take an active role in plumbing repair and maintenance is always our number one goal.

Affordable and Valuable

Video camera technology is an affordable plumbing service that offers incredible value. If you’re concerned that you may have a backed-up sewer line, a leak in water line under your slab, or you just want to see what’s going on in your plumbing system, call your local Tucson plumber. Schedule an appointment today by calling our 24-hour hotline and get a plumber to your home in record time.

It’s a heart-stopping moment. You’re washing your hands and your wedding ring slides off your finger into the sink and down the drain before you can react. You meant to get that ring sized, but kept putting it off. Now it seems that it’s too late. As your local drain cleaning plumber, we get calls frequently from panicked customers who find themselves in this type of situation. While each situation is different, here are some things you can try to recover your lost jewelry.

Use a Magnet to for Jewelry Stuck in a Toilet

If you’ve lost a piece of jewelry down the toilet, do not flush. Purchase a heavy-duty magnet instead. Attach the magnet tightly to a piece of string and try lowering it into the drain. If the jewelry hasn’t moved into the piping past the drain, you may get lucky and be able to retrieve it this way.

Take Apart the P-trap and J-bend

When jewelry is lost in a kitchen or bathroom sink, dismantling the exposed part of piping is an option. Before you begin, turn off the water supply to the sink. Doing this will make it harder for the item to be pushed farther into the plumbing system. Next, take apart the p-trap and j-bend. If you’re lucky, the piece of jewelry may be sitting there waiting to be recovered and returned to your finger, neck, or wrist.

Can Drain Cleaning Service Retrieve My Jewelry?

Unfortunately, drain cleaning service isn’t going to be very useful for recovering your jewelry or other lost items. This plumbing service is designed to push things through the system, not retrieve them. However, if you can’t locate your lost item, you may want to call a drain cleaning company like Tucson Discount Plumbers to clean the drain and remove anything that could clog the system.

We know how devastating it can be to lose a precious item down the drain. One of the best ways to prevent this is by storing jewelry outside of the kitchen and bathroom. If you wear rings or other jewelry in the shower, consider installing a shower drain cap to prevent small items from going down the drain.