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Common Plumbing Problems and How to Prevent Them

January 26, 2026

We are all guilty of taking our plumbing for granted, as long as it is working. I get it, I don’t give my plumbing a second thought unless there is a problem, and I know better! This is the very reason I set up a reminder for myself and our clients that automatically send an email quarterly and annually to help prevent big plumbing problems.

Common Plumbing Issues That If Left Unattended Can Lead To Big Issues

Angle Stops
Emergency Shutoff Valves
Water Heaters
Washing Machine valves and hoses
Faucets
Toilets
Water filtration
Water Softeners

Preventing Plumbing Issues

A simple check up quarterly and annually for these items can save you thousands of dollars in repairs and damage.

Home owners should check their angle stops quarterly. What is an angle stop you ask? Angle stops are the emergency shut off valves located underneath your sinks and at the back of your toilet. The best way to check these on a quarterly basis is to turn them off and then back on. This ensures they are properly working. Next take a dry paper towel to that it comes back completely dry. Your emergency Shutoff valves should also be checked quarterly.
Emergency shutoff valves are typically located near your hose bib at the front of your home. Turn this valve off and back on to ensure that it is working. Check it with a dry paper towel as well, making sure there is no moisture, which indicates a leak.
Water Heater Emergency shutoff valve is located at your water heater. This valve is tested the very same way as your angle stops and shut off valve for the house. Turn the valve off and back on again to ensure it is in proper working order. Test the valve and surrounding area with a dry paper towel to ensure it is not damp
Water Heater -while at your water heater check around your entire water heater top to bottom for signs of moisture, rust, and corrosion. A dry paper towel will come in handy to check for any moisture.

Washing machine hoses and shut off valves are some of the leading causes of flooding in the Phoenix area. It makes sense. When’s the last time you looked behind your washing machine or at your washing machine hoses and valves? I know better and it has still been a while. Many manufacturers recommend that you turn on and off the washing machine hot and cold valves for every use….yeah right, like we do that. You should replace your washing machine hoses and valves every 5 years for optimum security. Do not go cheap on replacing them. Stick with quality parts like braided stainless steel supply lines with metal nuts vs those rubber hoses. Check your valves and your hoses annually for any signs of corrosion, rust or leaks. Put it on your calendar to replace these items every five years. You’ll thank me when you don’t flood.
Faucets Check all of your faucet aerators for debris. The aerator is the screen at the end of your faucet, the majority of models have aerators that can just be unscrewed from the tip of your faucet, some do require a specialty tool that should have come with the faucet. Some fixtures have specialty finishes that require gentle cleansers such as vinegar, most are cleanable with CLR.
Check toilets quarterly to ensure they are not running or “phantom flushing”. If you can hear water at your toilet it means it is time for repairs and this is not something to put off for a rainy day, or it could just be a rainy day inside your home while you’re off at work. Running toilets waste hundreds of gallons of water and worse yet, if that toilet decides to have a stoppage that water that is continuously filling the bowl will have nowhere to go but your floor.
Water filtration many of us have water filtration devises in our home, from water filtration devices going to our regrigerators, reverse osmosis systems or whole-home filtration systems they are all prone to wear and tear and leaks over time.
Water Softeners are another biggy that if left ignored can create a major catastrophy. Check your water softener for any maintenance issues, ensure that it doesn’t have any signs of leaking or corrosion. If you haven’t maintained your softener in a while and you’re not sure how to–schedule maintenance with your team at Robins Plumbing the the licensed contractor that installed the unit.

Prioritize Plumbing Repairs

Don’t procrastinate when it comes to plumbing repairs, if you see any signs of moisture, rust, corrosion on your plumbing check list call us right away. Addressing signs of a plumbing leak should be a top priority to avoid flooding and property damage. When you need a professional plumbing company in the Phoenix area you can trust the team of Robins Plumbing, Inc to provide professional, prompt and affordable services.

Services in Phoenix & Beyond

When you’ve found yourself in need of plumbing services in the Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, or Chandler area, you can trust Robins Plumbing to provide you with prompt and expert care, contact our team today! In addition to our toilet services, we also offer a variety of residential and commercial plumbing services, including: drain cleaning, water heater repair and replacement, sewer camera inspection and locating, backflow prevention, commercial and residential jetting, water treatments, trenchless sewer repair and more. Visit our reviews online to see what others have to say about our local plumbing company!