Tag: water

Three Reasons to Install a Water Softener

How Does a Water Softener Help Around the Home?

A water softener is a filtration system specifically designed to remove minerals from hard water, thus transforming it into soft water. Hard water contains a high concentration of dissolved calcium, magnesium, and other minerals, which can cause a variety of issues around the home and for the people living in it. However, installing a water softener can help people avoid the issues stemming from hard water and provide many benefits. This blog post will go over some of the benefits of water softeners. 

Better Cleaning 

cleaningWater softeners play a vital role in enhancing the effectiveness of cleaning because hard water can lead to several issues that hamper the cleaning process. One common problem with hard water is spotted glasses after washing dishes. This occurs due to the reaction between the mineral content in hard water and soap, leading to the formation of soap scum. When this residue dries on glassware or cutlery, it leaves unsightly spots and streaks.

Similarly, stains and deposits on bathroom fixtures are another prime concern resulting from hard water. The excessive minerals in the water build up over time, forming stubborn, crusty deposits known as limescale. Additionally, continued use of hard water for laundry causes clothes to fade and become worn out more quickly. This is because the minerals in hard water can weaken the fabric fibers, making them less resilient and prone to damage.

Installing water softeners can alleviate these issues by eliminating or reducing the mineral content, making the water more conducive to cleaning. Softened water reacts better with soap and detergent, forming a rich lather that's much more effective at breaking down dirt, grime, and stains.

Keep the Plumbing Safe 

The minerals in hard water can also cause issues for the plumbing, fixtures, and appliances besides just deposits on the fixtures. The mineral scale can also build up within the pipes and water heaters and cause issues such as: 

  • Reduced water pressure
  • Clogs 
  • Shorter lifespan for pipes, fixtures, and appliances such as water heaters
  • Reduces energy efficiency of water heaters, leading to higher water heating costs

Water softeners help protect the plumbing and extend its lifespan by preventing these complications due to the minerals in hard water. With water softeners, homeowners can expect fewer plumbing problems and lower energy bills. 

Protect the Health of Skin and Hair 

healthWater softeners play an essential role in enhancing skin and hair health by addressing the problems caused by hard water. Hard water contains high amounts of minerals, which can have detrimental effects on skin and hair when used for bathing and showering. Water softeners can reduce the concentration of these minerals and make a significant improvement in the health and appearance of skin and hair.

One of the prevalent issues caused by hard water is dry skin and hair. The minerals in hard water create a layer on the skin and hair, preventing moisture from being absorbed. This layer of soap and minerals is difficult to rinse out, making it challenging for moisture to reach the skin and hair. As a result, skin and hair are left feeling dry, itchy, and irritated. With a water softener, everyone in the home can enjoy radiant, moisturized skin and shiny, hydrated hair while also protecting the plumbing and keeping the home clean.

About West Plumbing LLC

West Plumbing LLC was on the Best of HomeAdvisor list 3 years in a row serving Chandler, AZ, and the surrounding areas. They provide flat rate pricing, always on-time service, and financing. Call them today for water softener installation and services in Chandler, AZ.

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Getting a New Water Heater Has its Benefits

Start the New Year With a New Water Heater 

Water heaters play a significant role in the home’s general operations. Without a working one, life can become more difficult for everyone. If a water heater is nearing the end of its life, needs frequent repairs, or shows signs of damage such as corrosion, it’s time to get a new one before a complete breakdown. However, getting a new water heater doesn’t have to be negative. Installing a new water heater has many benefits, three of which will be discussed in this blog. 

Saving Money on Energy Bills 

As water heaters age, they lose efficiency, meaning they have to work harder and use more energy to do the same job. This loss of efficiency leads to increased energy bills. To save money and improve efficiency in the new year, homeowners should consider getting a new water heater. 

EnergyStar produces a wide range of water heaters to meet homeowners’ needs. And, thanks to the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, homeowners can save even more money by installing a new water heater with tax credits and rebates when it meets the energy efficiency requirements.  

Better Hot Water Recovery Rate

waterNobody wants to get in the shower only to have the water get cold in seconds or not get cold at all. Instead, everyone wants a water heater with an excellent hot water recovery rate, meaning it can heat water quickly after the hot water has been used up, so nobody gets stuck taking cold showers.

New water heaters tend to have much better recovery rates than older models. Families can get more hot water faster and without interruptions by replacing an old, inefficient water heater with a new one that has a good hot water recovery rate. Water heaters can come with different recovery rates, and homeowners should consider these factors when deciding on the recovery rate that will work best for a home:

  • The home’s size 
  • How many appliances require hot water 
  • How many people live in the house 

More Space for Storage

heaterSome modern water heaters are designed to be more efficient and take up less space than traditional tank-style models, specifically tankless water heaters. Tankless water heaters are ideal for those looking to maximize their storage space as they're much smaller units that can easily be mounted on a wall. This allows homeowners to free up room in the garage, basement, or closet, making it much easier to store other items that might not have fit before. 

Tankless water heaters are also great because they provide an on-demand hot water supply instead of keeping a tank of water hot like other water heaters. This can help homeowners save significantly on energy costs compared to traditional storage tank water heaters. Not only do tankless water heaters help save money and space, but they also provide convenience and lasting durability that households can rely on.  With so many benefits, it's no surprise tankless water heaters are becoming an increasingly popular choice among homeowners.

About West Plumbing LLC 

Named “Best of Home Advisor” for three years and counting, West Plumbing LLC serves Chandler, AZ, and the surrounding areas. They provide upfront pricing, financing, and emergency plumbing services. Call them today for water heater services in Chandler, AZ.

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The Noises From Behind the Wall Aren't Ghosts, But a Water Hammer

Water Hammer Haunting the House This Halloween?

Halloween is the time of chills and scares. People often like to be startled by people in costumes or jumpscares in movies, but rarely like to be startled in their own home when they turn off the sink or the washing machine shuts off.  

When a homeowner hears bangs and rattles that are unexpected, it can be discomfiting. While it’s not an indication of supernatural activity, it does indicate something that can be a problem for a plumbing system, a water hammer.  

Defining Water Hammer

Water hammer or hydraulic shock is the banging sound that comes from the vibration of pipes due to water hitting against a quickly closed valve. When water flows through the line to a faucet, there is force behind that water. If the valve closes too quickly, that energy is trapped and can only be expended through the pipes and the walls, thus, a vibration occurs. 

Water hammers occur most often with appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. It can be a benign occurrence of noisy pipes, but it can also be damaging not only to the water pipes, but to the building structure that contains them.

The Dangers of Water Hammer

waterThough noisy water pipes are certainly annoying, hydraulic shock is a bit more than a minor annoyance, especially if the banging pipes are happening more and more often. The problem arises from the force behind the water hammer that causes things that are meant to stay in place to move. 

Pipes and wall supports are meant to be solid structures. Movement within them can cause damage and loosening of connections. If a household is experiencing particularly loud water hammer, the following problems can result from that repeated banging:

  • Pipe connections become loose
  • Pipe corrosion
  • Pipe breakage
  • Water leaks
  • Structural damage due to water
  • Electrical shock hazards from leaks
  • Mold and mildew

Fixing Water Hammer: What the Pros Do

plumberIf a homeowner has a concern about the pipes that go bump in the walls, they should enlist the help of a qualified professional. There are several steps that can be taken, but the work should be done by a plumber or plumbing technician. Here are a few of the changes that can be made to reduce the occurrence of water hammers:

  • Securing Pipes: If the pipes are properly secured, hydraulic shock will be less likely to cause loosening or damage.
  • Checking/Replacing Valves: If one particular faucet or appliance seems to be primarily responsible for the water hammer in the house, then a professional may check that valve for issues and replace it if necessary.
  • Air Chambers: These are capped extensions of water pipes near a valve that allow water to flow back into them, expending some of the energy and reducing the vibration on the pipes.
  • Water Hammer Arrestor: Like the air chambers, the water hammer arrestor also has an air-filled chamber into which water can flow. It improves upon the air chamber by adding a flexible membrane that helps slow the water down.

About West Plumbing LLC

The award-winning West Plumbing LLC has served the community of Chandler, AZ, and the greater Phoenix area since 2014. They offer flat rate pricing, financing, and always on-time service. Call them today for plumbing services in Chandler, AZ, and the surrounding areas. 

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The Benefits of Installing a Water Filtration System

Exciting Benefits of Water Filtration

Make this year the best year ever with help from a water filtration system installed inside the home. Homeowners with water filtration systems enjoy perks like better tasting, safer water, and the chance to save money.

More benefits of water filtration system installation include:

  • Helps the Environment: With Americans buying over 50 million bottles of water every year, the effects on the environment can be tremendous. A reverse osmosis system helps reduce the pollution and decay bottled water causes to the earth.
  • Saves Money: Bottled water is generally considered a safer alternative to water from the tap, but with a filtration system, homeowners can stop paying for water bottles. Buying bottled water is expensive and can be bad for the environment.
  • Fewer Toxic Chemicals: Most tap water contains 2,000+ toxic chemicals, only 66 of which are monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency. Water filtration systems help remove these harmful toxins.
  • Reduce Corrosion:  Hard water is problematic for families across Chandler. It’s rough on skin, dishes, and plumbing and can result in pipe corrosion. Install a water filtration system, and that worry subsides.

The Push for Safer, Better-Tasting Drinking Water

water Tap water often tastes bad because it’s infiltrated with so many toxins. People buy bottled water because they want better-tasting, safer water. An alternative is a water filtration system. Water tastes better because the system removes those harmful toxins and improves water quality.

Safer water comes along with its better taste. Those harmful toxins can cause numerous health-related issues, but those concerns disappear when a water filtration system is used inside the home. The most popular type of water filtration system is a reverse osmosis filter.

Lower Home Costs

saveThe average American spends $266 per year on bottled water. For one person. Water filtration system installations incur a one-time fee, a cost that can pay for itself during the very first year of usage for families. Great-tasting water at home eliminates the desire to buy bottled water.

Another way water filtration saves money is by eliminating heavy metals from the water. Heavy metals can corrode the pipes in the home’s plumbing system and damage water-using appliances. Homehomers looking for money-saving strategies can drastically cut costs after installing a water filtration system.

A Greener Home

Eliminating the need to buy plastic bottles not only saves money but is one of the best ways to reduce environmental pollution and dangers. The water bottling process releases 2.5 million tons of toxic chemicals into the environment and kills 1.1 million aquatic creatures yearly. 

Everyone who uses their home’s water rather than bottled water helps lessen the damage the environment sustains from plastic water bottles. It’s a simple and easy way to make a difference and help the environment and sea creatures.

About West Plumbing LLC

Named “Best of Home Advisor” for three years and counting, West Plumbing LLC serves Chandler, AZ, and the surrounding areas. They offer upfront pricing, financing, and clean and tidy service. Call them today for water filtration system installation in Chandler, AZ.

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Back To School Plumbing Basics: A Guide To Water Heaters

Everything A Homeowner Needs to Know About Their Water Heater

Something that often gets taken for granted until it’s gone is hot water. Water heaters are usually tucked away in the back of a utility closet, garage, or laundry room, so they are easy to ignore. However, just like every other appliance in the house, a water heater occasionally needs attention to work at its most efficient.

This is not something a homeowner should be expected to do alone; plumbing professionals are here to help. This article should help homeowners with a basic understanding of water heaters, the maintenance they need, and when it’s time to call in the pros.

Different Water Heaters

types of water heatersNot all water heaters are the same. Traditional storage tank water heaters can have different-sized tanks, holding anywhere from 20 to 80 gallons of water. Water heaters can have different fuels maintaining the water temperature, and the designs and how it heats the water may be completely different. Here are a few of the most common types of water heaters:

  • Electric Water Heater: The electric water heater is perhaps the most common. It has a storage tank heated by an element using electricity to create heat. The storage tanks may be different sizes depending on the household needs.
  • Gas Water Heater: A gas water heater uses a natural gas or propane flame from a burner to heat the storage tank. The storage tanks can also be of different sizes.
  • Heat Pump Water Heater: These incredibly efficient systems use the heat available in the air to heat the water in the storage tank. There is no heat source in these systems, and they are often part of a heating and cooling system for the entire house.
  • Tankless Water Heater: Also called an instant water heater and on-demand water heater. These systems heat water very quickly and do not have to maintain the water temperature in a large storage tank, making them very efficient. Though it is called tankless, there is usually a tank holding 1 to 5 gallons of water.

The Basics of Water Heater Maintenance

professional maintenanceThere are ways to keep a water heater running at its best and most efficient. Calling a professional for water heater maintenance is best because they have the knowledge and training to perform the tasks safely. This can prevent an emergency plumbing call later. Some of the tasks done by plumbers for water heater maintenance are:

  • Drain and Flush Water Heater
  • Inspect Anode Rod and Replace if Needed
  • Inspect and Tighten Pipe Connections
  • Inspect PRV (Pressure Release Valve)
  • Check For Leaks and Corrosion

Warning Signs That Indicate a Need for Water Heater Repair

Several signs can notify homeowners that their water heater needs professional attention. Perhaps an individual has kept up with their water heater maintenance, but the unit has started making banging or popping noises. Maybe the unit is more than fifteen years old, or rusty and smelly water comes from the tap when initially turned on. Perhaps the water just doesn’t seem as hot for as long.

All these things can be signs of a need for water heater replacement or repair. A homeowner should immediately call a professional to check out their water heater if they see any of these signs. The quicker a homeowner has a professional inspect the water heater after they notice signs, the less time is available for the problem to worsen.

About West Plumbing LLC

West Plumbing LLC has been a trusted plumbing company serving the residents of Chandler, AZ, and the surrounding areas since 2014. They provide flat rate pricing, always on-time service, and financing. Call them today for water heater services in Chandler, AZ.

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