Plumbing in the Sonoran Desert: 5 Things to Watch For

Have a problem with your pipes or a clogged drain? Tucson is a beautiful place to live, but there are numerous additional challenges to your home plumbing system due to the climate in the Sonoran Desert. Here are five things to watch out for when it comes to your plumbing in the desert:

Hard Water Woes

It isn’t exactly a secret that Tucson water is filled with an excess of mineral deposits and sediment. This level of “hard” water is thanks to a combination of groundwater mixed with Central Arizona Project (CAP) water, which can potentially cause numerous problems for appliances, pipes, and plumbing. To help combat this problem, it’s a good idea to perform regular maintenance tasks such as draining your hot water tank once a year to remove excess mineral buildup.

Dripping and/or Leaking Faucets

There’s nothing more frustrating than listening to the drip of a leaky faucet. The dry desert air tends to wear our rubber seals and rings in both indoor and outdoor faucets at a faster pace than other areas of the country. If you suspect a faucet is leaking, or that it has been a while since you’ve upgraded a seal, it might be time to go ahead and replace those rubber seals. These plumbing maintenance parts are usually relatively inexpensive to replace and don’t always require calling a local plumber.

Slow or Clogged Drains

Most homeowners experience a slow or clogged drain somewhere in the house. In many instances, this doesn’t seem like much of an issue, and may not even require the help of a professional plumbing specialist. Before calling a plumber, use a flashlight to look down the drain to see if there’s an abundance of hair or an object blocking the flow that could easily be removed. If you can’t see any apparent issue for the drainage problem, please give our team a call. We don’t recommend using chemical drain clog treatments, as these can actually do more harm to plumbing systems, especially if they’re older.

Toilet Troubles

Just as with a faucet, there are many different parts of a toilet that can fail over time. If you’re noticing trouble with flushing or continuous water running, there might be seal or flapper damage somewhere that needs replacement. If you feel there might be a clog caused by hard water mineral buildup or debris, you can always get out your rubber gloves and a toilet brush. Usually, a good scrubbing can help to remedy these types of clogs, but if the problem still persists it’s definitely time to contact your neighborhood Tucson plumber.

Critters and Creatures

It isn’t unusual to encounter desert wildlife here in Pima County. Unfortunately, this sometimes means critters such as scorpions, rattlesnakes, and lizards entering your home. In some cases, pack rats might even cause damage to plumbing lines and valves. Before having us come out to inspect any type of plumbing repair, use a flashlight to make sure there are no surprise encounters by local critters.

RAM Plumbing is proud to be your full-service desert plumbing company! We offer a wide range of services in the Tucson area including Marana, Oro Valley, and South Tucson. Please contact us today to schedule your service appointment.