Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for plumbing companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For ARS® / Rescue Rooter®, keeping customers happy comes down to two key factors: arriving within the promised time frame and providing them with viable solutions to their plumbing issues. “We know how disruptive and traumatic it can be to have a plumbing emergency, so we do our best to meet every service window and solve the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible,” says General Manager Brian Custer. “Any plumber can do a cursory look and provide a short-term fix, but that might not be the root cause of the problem, so we also perform a free home inspection on every service call. Our customers really appreciate that attention to detail.”

ARS / Rescue Rooter provides a wide range of plumbing services for residential and commercial clients throughout the Bay Area. The company has the training and equipment to handle everything from fixture repairs and drain cleaning to trenchless sewer repairs and line location, and its technicians (all of whom are background checked, drug screened and highly trained) are available 24/7 for the convenience of its customers.

Unlike plumbing companies whose managers delegate project management responsibilities to less experienced employees, ARS / Rescue Rooter makes sure a manager is always on duty to handle any unforeseen circumstances that come up during the plumbing process. “We also have senior technicians who assist our junior technicians, and we always have a dispatcher ready to address any needs a customer may have,” says Mr. Custer. “There’s nothing more important to us than communication—if there are any issues, we like to react to them immediately.”

To further differentiate itself from its competition, ARS / Rescue Rooter offers comprehensive warranties that often exceed plumbing industry standards, which Mr. Custer says is important for ensuring the best possible results. “Many plumbing contractors will offer minimal warranties or sometimes no warranties at all, but that’s not the way we operate. In addition to a 100 percent money-back satisfaction guarantee, we warranty our drain cleaning services for up to a year and we have other cursory warranties that cover up to 90 days. We have very high standards for our work, and our warranties prove that we stick to those standards.”

Take simple steps to maximize the lifespan of your water heater.

Today’s water heaters may not last as long as past models, but there are ways to prolong their lifespans. Most modern water heaters have a life expectancy of eight to 12 years, whereas water heaters from 50 years ago could last for three decades of more. Older models had copper tanks, which didn’t succumb to corrosion like the steel tanks of today’s models. However, by taking a couple of proactive measures, you can potentially double your water heater’s lifespan.

One basic measure for extending your water heater’s lifespan is to routinely flush its tank. Over time, sediment and mineral buildup accumulates on the bottom and around the walls of a water heater’s tank, which can diminish unit performance and lead to premature failure. Flushing the water in the tank once a year will remove much of this buildup and keep your water heater working optimally.

The other way to maximize your water heater’s lifespan is to routinely replace its anode rod—the piece of metal that goes inside the hot water inlet of your water heater. The anode rod’s purpose is to attract corrosive elements in the water, which minimizes corrosion of the tank. For this reason, it’s often referred to as the “sacrificial anode rod.” However, as an anode rod disintegrates over time, it can cease to be as effective, which leaves the tank more susceptible to corrosion. To prevent this, you should replace your anode rod every one to two years.

If you’re thinking about replacing your current water heater with a new, energy-efficient model, consider the following factors before making your decision:

• The number of people living in your home (hot water demand)
• How well your old water heater supplied your hot water demand
• Fuel type, availability and cost
• The estimated energy efficiency of various water heater models
• The length of the warranty
• Maintenance and repair information
• The cost of the unit as it relates to its annual operating cost
• Local municipal code requirements

Q: How soon can you start my plumbing job?

A: Typically, we can get to your job on the same day as your initial call.

Q: Can you give me a price estimate over the phone?

A: We prefer not to give estimates over the phone. We could give you the ‘book price’ for your problem, but we’d really be doing you a disservice because we wouldn’t know the true circumstances of the issue. It’s better for us to look at the problem in person so we can provide an accurate assessment of what needs to be done.

Q: Are your plumbers trustworthy?

A: Absolutely. All of our technicians are highly trained and have to pass criminal background checks and drug tests in order to work for us.

Q: Do you have COVID-related safety protocols in place?

A: Yes. We wear full PPE whenever we come to a home or business, including gloves, masks and booties. We also sanitize everything before work gets underway and after it’s complete.

Q: What is a home plumbing inspection and why should I get one?

A: Most people don’t think about their plumbing systems until there’s a problem. During a home plumbing inspection, one of our experienced technicians will check all the major plumbing systems in your home, including the water heater, water pressure, backflow, supply lines, drains, faucets, fixtures, and toilets. Annual inspections are important for identifying potential problems before they turn into expensive repairs.

Q: What is Scour Jet?

A: Scour Jet® is a high-powered water jet that’s used to scour the inside of sewer/drain lines. We believe it’s the best way to clean lines, and we’ve found that pipes typically stay cleaner after we Scour Jet them than when we just use a cable to clear the lines.

Q: Will my drain cleaning include a camera inspection?
A: In most cases, yes. The camera inspection will allow us to view your sewer line so we can quickly diagnose the cause of your current drain problem and spot potential areas of concern.