Tucson Water and utilities across the nation are promoting “Fix a Leak Week,” March 12-18, 20l2, to bring attention to the amount of water lost through minor household leaks. Water loss through leaks exceeds one trillion gallons annually. Most household leaks are easily repairable.

“Leaking toilet flappers and faucets are usually the biggest causes of water waste in the home,” said Fernando Molina, Tucson Water Public Information Officer. “Data from Tucson Water’s Zanjero Program indicates 30% of toilets in customer homes were found to be leaking. When left unchecked or unrepaired, the water billing portion on a customer’s utility statement can jump dramatically.

The Tucson Water website has a link to an online drip/leak calculator that tallies daily, monthly and yearly water waste. “Some would be quite surprised at the totals,” added Molina.

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild has issued a proclamation reminding residents to continue their water conservation techniques and address possible water waste in their homes. Tucson Water’s “Fix a Leak Week” Hot Topic at www.tucsonaz.gov/water has links to videos on making simple repairs, the “Homeowners’ Guide to Using Water Wisely” booklet, and an educational activity book for kids from the
EPA’ s WaterSense division.

WaterSense officially launched “Fix a Leak Week” three years ago in Phoenix with the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and has since recruited utilities and governments to participate to help encourage water efficiency in residences.

Molina also suggests residents talk to experts at local plumbing supply and home improvement stores for guidance on making repairs and having the right tools and products for the job.

www.angieslist.com

Arizona Professional Plumbing Earns Coveted
Angie’s List Super Service Award

Award reflects businesses’ consistently high level of customer service

Arizona Professional Plumbing, Inc. has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.

 “Our Tucson plumbing business is focused on long-term customers and referrals, and without our loyal customers we could not be the successful plumbers we are today. Each member of our team of professional plumbing contractors places the highest priority on customer service and customer satisfaction. We take pride in serving people as people, not as numbers, and this recognition award from Angie’s List affirms that we are meeting the customer service goals we have set for ourselves.”

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “The fact that Arizona Professional Plumbing can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to business names in search results on AngiesList.com.

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Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 2 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.

Jesus was born and raised here in Tucson.  He served our country overseas in the Marine Corp. for six years.  After coming back to Tucson he met his loving wife Araceli.  They have been married for 22 years and have eight wonderful children.  Ranging in age from seven to 26, they are Danny, Andrea, Jessica, Selina, Felicia, Anjelina, AnnaLisa and Elijah.

Jesus lives for the moment and looks forward to every second with his family.  They enjoy outdoor activities together including; camping, fishing, hunting, softball and Sunday Barbeques.

Although Jesus recently joined the team here at AZ Pro Plumbing, he has 19 years of plumbing experience which shows with his knowledge and pride in workmanship.  We are happy to add him to the group of well qualified, dedicated Tucson plumbers here at AZ Pro.

It’s understandable to think when it gets cold that pipes will freeze.  What happened with a lot of the plumbing in Tucson last winter was more due to the length of the freeze.  It didn’t just get cold, it stayed cold and the longer it stays cold the more your pipes are at risk of freezing and bursting.  Tucson wasn’t prepared for two to three nights of subfreezing weather and the evidence of plumbing issues remained for weeks after.  Residents were faced with frozen pipes to their homes and irrigation systems. Tucson plumbers were quick to respond, doing the necessary repairs around town.  The immediate, high demand for plumbing supplies caused Tucson’s stores to run out of the materials required to fix the pipes, actually causing some residents to be out of water for several weeks.  This unexpected hard freeze didn’t just affect residents; Tucson businesses also felt the chill, with hundreds of backflow units needing replacements or repairs in the weeks following the freeze.

Most of the plumbing issues could be attributed to lack of insulation and improperly maintained pipes.  To prevent a repeat of last winter’s events, you should thoroughly protect all exposed pipes around your home.  A great option is fiberglass insulation.  This insulation method will shield exposed pipes and be covered with a weather proof metal jacket; an option that is virtually maintenance free and can last up to ten years.  Another less expensive option would be to use self-adhesive foam insulation, but this doesn’t stand up to our blistering summer temperatures and may require yearly replacement.  The most effective way to prevent freezing is with heat tape.  This option may require some electrical work and is more expensive, but it will maintain an average pipe temperature of 42 degrees so as long as the electric is on the water is flowing.

With the winter months approaching, now is the best time to call Arizona Professional Plumbing at 721-9699 to schedule an appointment to get your plumbing properly insulated.

*Special thanks to our friends at Cool Breeze Air Solutions for having us to share this article on their website also!

How energy efficient is your home? Did you know that something as small as an uninsulated electrical outlet could cost you several dollars per week in extra energy costs? Or that one unsealed seam in your home’s ventilation ductwork could also add several dollars to your monthly utility bill? There are many ways to make energy efficient upgrades to your house that will save you money on your monthly utility bills – and most can be done by you.

The easiest upgrade that you can do yourself is to seal leaks around doors, windows, and ventilation systems. There are also holes in walls, roofs, and basement foundations that can be sealed too. Besides these obvious locations, you should also check registers, recessed lighting “cans,” soffits, plumbing vent stacks, dryer vents, outdoor faucets, and electrical outlets. Check your ductwork for leaks in joints, too. These are all areas that air can leak into or out of your home.

These leaks can be sealed up by using a number of different products including duct tape, mastic tape, or spray foam – all items you can pick up at your local hardware retail store.

Poor insulation – or none at all – can make your home extremely inefficient and send hundreds of dollars in energy costs through roofs, walls, crawlspaces, and basements, to name a few major areas. It is especially important to check for insulation that might have fallen from floors or walls, or that may have never been stuffed in or around electrical outlets, recessed lighting cans, recessed attic, kitchen, or bathroom fans, etc. Some homes – possibly yours – may have the original insulation in attics and crawl spaces which is not up to current energy codes and should be added to or replaced.

If your metal ductwork is installed in uninsulated spaces, i.e. crawlspaces, your furnace will have to work harder to move warm air through cold ductwork. Adding insulation to the ductwork or replacing metal ductwork with insulated flex duct is also an alternate energy efficient upgrade to your home.

There are also a number of different ways to seal up leaky areas of your home. The products available include:

• Door sweeps or weatherstrips
• Water pipe insulation wrap
• Water heater blankets
• Window insulation kits
• Storm windows
• Attic stair covers
• Chimney insulation

For more information, contact your local contractor.

Cool Breeze Air Solutions offers heating and air conditioning service, repair, and installation to the Greater Tucson area. Click here to visit their blog and read more home improvement and energy saving tips.

Check your water bill each month to see if anything raises unexpectedly. High temperatures can cause irrigation lines to corrode at a faster rate and cause old or damaged water lines to leak or even burst. An underground leak may go undetected visually, but will always show up on the bill.

Shut off your mainline water valve located near your house and then checking the meter to see if the meter is still spinning. If the water meter is spinning with the main value shut off, then you likely have a leak somewhere in between.

Make sure landscape irrigation is being used properly. Adjust your watering times to reflect the longer daylight hours and check that your valves and connections are not leaking. Also check the hose bibs around the house to make sure nothing is dripping. Are there emitters still delivering water to dead plants or plants that are no longer there? Cap those extra emitters off if they aren’t in use.