Getting Your Phoenix Plumbing Ready for Extreme Summer Heat

In most of the country, plumbing gets stressed by winter freezes. In Phoenix it's the opposite — the extreme heat of summer is what drives the wave of plumbing failures every year. When temperatures sit above 110 for days at a time, water heaters, outdoor lines and fixtures all take a beating, and the problems that were building quietly finally break.

Why water heaters fail in the peak of summer

A water heater in Phoenix is already fighting hard water and sediment. Pile on weeks of extreme heat and the unit runs hotter and longer to serve a household using more water, and a weak element or tired gas valve gives out at the worst possible time. If your heater is over eight years old, the start of summer is the smart time to have it flushed and checked — our water heater repair team would rather catch it on a scheduled visit than on a 115-degree afternoon with no hot water.

Heat, pressure and hidden leaks

Extreme heat expands and contracts the pipes and fittings in and around your home, and that constant cycling can open a slow leak at a joint or a weak spot on an aging line. Because so much of a Phoenix home's plumbing runs through the slab, those leaks often hide until the water bill jumps — which is when leak detection earns its keep, finding the source before it undermines the foundation.

Monsoon adds its own problems

Late-summer monsoon storms bring dust and sudden downpours. Dust fouls gas water heater burners and pilots, and heavy rain can overwhelm drains and back up older lines, so a quick drain cleaning before the season keeps a storm from turning into a backup. Outdoor hose bibs and irrigation connections are also worth a look, since sun-baked rubber and plastic fail fast in this climate.

The theme: get ahead of the heat

Almost everything that fails in a Phoenix summer was already weakening — the heat just forces the issue at the least convenient moment. A short inspection in late spring turns a potential no-hot-water emergency in triple-digit heat into a planned, cheaper repair. In this climate, that's the whole game.