Water Heater Repair
Track down the cause of cold showers, drips, rumbling tanks and pilot or element faults.
Plumbing guide
Summer Plumbing Checklist for Mesa, AZ Homes
Summer in Mesa is long and hot, and the monsoon follows. An hour of checking before the heat arrives costs far less than a repair in July.
By the Mesa Plumbing 24/7 team ·
Water heater and attic or garage space
Many heaters sit in a garage or attic where summer air is hot. Check the base for rust, the pipes for drips and the relief valve for crust or water on the floor. Look at the drain pan if one is installed.
Flush a few gallons from the drain valve on a tank heater once a year to move scale out. If the tank is more than ten years old, plan for replacement before it fails.
Hoses, supply lines and shutoffs
Washing machine hoses, toilet supply lines and sink connectors age in the heat. Look for bulges, cracks or rust at the ends. Rubber hoses are worth replacing every few years.
Operate each shutoff valve under the sinks and at the toilets. A valve that never moves can seize. If one fails to close, add it to the repair list now rather than during an emergency.
Irrigation and outdoor faucets
Run each irrigation zone and look for geysers, soggy spots and heads that no longer rotate. Summer heat means high water use, so a leak costs more now than in winter.
Check the hose bibs for drips and the backflow device for leaks. Remove hoses from spigots to avoid trapped pressure and damage. The backflow page explains device checks.
Checklist at a glance
Print or copy this and tick items off before the heat arrives.
| Item | What to look for | When |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater | Rust, drips, crusted relief valve | Before summer |
| Hoses and supply lines | Bulges and cracks | Every year |
| Irrigation zones | Geysers and soggy spots | Monthly in summer |
| Shutoff valves | Do they turn and seal | Twice a year |
Drains and sewer line
Run water in rarely used drains to refill the traps. Dry air evaporates trap water fast, and an empty trap lets sewer gas into the house.
Slow drains are a warning. A drain cleaning visit before the monsoon can clear buildup that would otherwise back up under a surge. See the drain cleaning page.
Water use and leaks
Read the water meter with every fixture off, wait 15 minutes and read it again. A change means a leak somewhere. Add a toilet dye test to confirm no silent leaks.
A high bill after a hot month can hide a real leak behind irrigation costs. Compare the pattern with the previous year. The leak detection page covers hidden leaks.
Know your main shutoff and your plan
Make sure everyone in the home knows where the main water valve is and how to close it. Test it gently and keep a flashlight nearby.
Keep a plumber's number handy and the phone line for the city's wastewater office, 480-644-2262, in case of a sewer problem. Storm season is not the time to learn where the valve is.
Garage, laundry and utility room
Look behind the washer for drips and for hoses with bulges. Check the floor drain and give it a bucket of water. Look at the water softener, if you have one, for salt bridges and leaks.
Test the laundry sink and the utility faucet for slow drips. A tiny drip adds up over a summer, and the fix is a cheap washer or cartridge.
Outdoor spigots and pool equipment
Check each hose bib for a steady drip at the handle or the spout. Look for stains on the wall below. Make sure hoses are not left attached in full sun, since trapped water heats and stresses the fitting.
If you have a pool, look at the equipment pad for damp spots around the pump and filter. A small leak there can raise the bill quickly in summer.
Prepare for a storm night
Keep gutters and yard drains clear. Move stored items off the garage floor near the floor drain. Know where the main valve is and have a flashlight nearby.
After a heavy storm, watch for slow drains and gurgling toilets over the next day. If sewage appears, the drain cleaning page and camera inspection page describe what the visit covers.
Cooling equipment and condensate lines
Air conditioners produce water in summer, and the condensate line can clog with algae. A clogged line can overflow into a ceiling or a closet. Pour a cup of vinegar into the access port a couple times a year, or ask your HVAC service about the line.
If you see staining below an air handler, take it seriously. The cause may be condensate, not a plumbing leak, but a plumber can confirm.
Vacation and travel prep
If you leave for a week or more, close the main valve or at least the washer supply. Set the water heater to vacation mode. Ask a neighbor to look at the house.
A leak while you are away can run for days. A smart shutoff valve or leak sensors give early warning. Even a simple routine of closing the main before long trips pays for itself.
Hiring help for what you find
Some items are quick to fix. Others, such as a corroded valve or a failing heater, are not. Keep a list with photos so the plumber sees what you saw.
Schedule non-urgent work in the shoulder weeks of spring and fall, when crews are less rushed. Ask what is urgent and what can wait.
Water-saving habits for hot months
Water deep and less often, run irrigation early in the morning and fix leaks fast. Use a pool cover when you can. These habits cut waste and also lower the bill.
Check for leaks after any big change in use, such as guests, a new pool or a new landscape. A fresh baseline reading on the meter helps you spot trouble later.
Before you leave for a trip
If the house will sit empty for a week or more, close the main valve and drain a faucet to relieve pressure. Set the water heater to a lower setting or vacation mode.
Ask a neighbor to look in once. A small leak that runs unseen for days can ruin flooring, and someone who checks the house limits the damage.
Common questions
Summer plumbing questions
Once a year is a common routine, especially in hard water.
Yes. Heat ages hoses, valves and fittings faster.
Drains, gutters, yard drains and the sewer cleanout.
Higher use is normal, but check for leaks if the jump is large.
Related services
Drain Cleaning & Unclogging
Open slow or blocked kitchen, bath, laundry and main drains, and find out what keeps closing them.
Leak Detection
Locate hidden water loss behind walls, under floors or along the buried pipe, then decide how small an opening can be.
Found a problem on the checklist?
Call and tell the dispatcher what you saw. They will help schedule a visit.