Plumbing service in Arizona
Call NowArizona homes deal with extreme heat, very hard water and slab foundations, from Phoenix and Tucson in the low desert to Flagstaff, where winters are cold enough to freeze pipes.
Arizona weather and your plumbing
The low desert has very long, hot summers and mild winters, with summer monsoon storms bringing short, intense rain. High country around Flagstaff and Prescott gets snow and hard freezes. Much of the state's water is among the hardest in the country, which shortens the life of water heaters and fixtures.
Season by season in Arizona
- Summer
- Water heaters in hot garages and attics work under heat stress, and slab leaks show up as warm spots on floors or unexplained water bills.
- Monsoon
- Sudden downpours from July through September overwhelm yard drains and can expose roof and drain problems that stay hidden the rest of the year.
Problems the Arizona climate causes
Scale and short water heater life
Cause: Hard groundwater and Colorado River supplies.
Result: Minerals build up in tanks, tankless heat exchangers and faucet cartridges.
Do: Flush tank heaters and descale tankless units on a schedule, and ask whether a softener makes sense for your home.
Slab leaks
Cause: Heat cycling and shifting desert soils under slabs.
Result: Copper lines under the slab develop pinhole leaks.
Do: If you hear running water with everything off, ask for electronic leak detection before anyone breaks the slab.
Housing in Arizona
Most Phoenix and Tucson homes sit on concrete slabs, so supply lines often run under the floor or through the attic. Many homes from the 1970s through the 1990s have copper under the slab, and some from that period were built with polybutylene supply lines, which are now commonly replaced.
Where calls are covered in Arizona
- Covered ZIP codes
- 337
- Cities and towns with coverage
- 181
Most covered ZIP codes
- Phoenix · 43 ZIPs
- Tucson · 38 ZIPs
- Mesa · 13 ZIPs
- Scottsdale · 11 ZIPs
- Glendale · 9 ZIPs
- Chandler · 6 ZIPs
- Gilbert · 6 ZIPs
- Surprise · 5 ZIPs
Check whether your exact Arizona ZIP code is covered (coverage changes over time)
Arizona questions
Why does my Phoenix water heater fail so quickly?
Hard water deposits scale in the tank, and garage or attic heat adds stress. Annual flushing and checking the anode rod help it last longer.
Can pipes freeze in Arizona?
Yes, in the high country, and occasionally in the low desert during rare hard freezes. Exposed pipes on exterior walls and irrigation backflow assemblies are the usual casualties.
How do I check a plumber's license in Arizona?
Plumbing contractors in Arizona are licensed by the Registrar of Contractors (ROC), with separate residential, commercial and dual classifications. Arizona has no statewide journeyman plumber license; some cities, including Phoenix, issue their own journeyman credentials. Check a contractor's license on the ROC site.