Frequently Asked Questions

Got a clogged drain? Most problems are easy enough to correct on your own before calling a drain specialist. Scoop out any standing water in the sink first for maximum effectiveness. Before using harsh chemicals, try these household tips:

1. Call us if you're unsure: (480) 820-6595 — we're happy to talk you through it.
2. Pour ½ cup of salt down the drain, then boiling water. Keep flushing with very hot tap water until the clog clears.
3. Try a cup of plain yogurt (no fruit) down the drain and leave it several hours — enzymes can break down sludge.
4. For hair clogs, a hair-remover product left about 30 minutes, then hot water.
5. For grease, dish soap (such as Dawn) left to sit, then a quart of boiling water — be very careful with boiling water.
6. For slow drains: ½ box baking soda, then 1 cup vinegar. Cover while it foams, then flush with very hot water 2–3 minutes.
7. Use a plunger on sink clogs — quick, forceful presses, hold a minute, repeat.
8. A ~$30 drain "snake" from a hardware store if the clog persists — follow the manufacturer's instructions.

If all these tips fail, contact Zippy Zebra for inexpensive drain cleaning before it becomes a real problem.

The easiest way to check for a leak is your water meter. Turn off water at the main shutoff to the house (be careful with old gate valves — they can break). Make sure lawn sprinklers and pool pumps are off. If the meter still moves with all house water off, you likely have a leak in the main line between the meter and the house.

If the meter is still, turn the house shutoff back on. Verify every tub, shower, faucet, washer, and dishwasher is off, then check the meter again. Mark the dial with a pen — sometimes movement is slow. If the dial moves, you have a leak inside the house, often a running toilet or slab leak.

About 90% of residential leaks are in the toilet tank — worn parts or misalignment. Stop the leak early to avoid an expensive bill every month.

Most hot water issues come from sediment buildup in the tank. Deposits create a barrier between the burner and the water. Drain the tank periodically per the manufacturer's instructions.

Electric water heaters often have two elements that work in turns — the top heats first, then the lower. If the lower element is out, only the top of the tank gets hot. If the top element isn't working, you may have no hot water at all. Try the reset button on the unit.

For maintenance, repairs, or replacement, fill out our contact form or call Team Zippy.

Toilet tank "sweating" is condensation, not a plumbing leak. Cold water in the tank and pipes cools the porcelain; moisture in the air condenses on the outside and can drip onto the floor, causing mold, mildew, staining, or rot if ignored.

Things to try:

1. Foam insulation kits that line the inside of the tank — most hardware stores carry them; follow instructions carefully.
2. A mixer valve that blends hot and cold to raise the water temperature enough to stop condensation — usually requires a plumber to install.
3. Replace the tank internals with a pressure-assisted unit such as Flushmate (about 1 gallon per flush) — excellent water saver; our plumbers can install it.

Most leaks are worn valve parts. First identify your faucet type: a single handle usually means a washerless faucet (cartridge, ball, or disc). Separate hot and cold handles often mean compression faucets with washers.

Turn off the water under the sink (or the main shutoff if there isn't one). Open the faucet until it stops, plug the drain, and remove the handle — often a set screw under a decorative cap. Take the internal parts to a plumbing supply store for exact replacements and reinstall per instructions.

If you're having trouble, we're glad to help — we also stock modern, efficient replacement faucets that can save water and money.

Turn the disposal on and off quickly and listen for power. If it hums, power is on but the impeller is jammed. If it doesn't hum, it may have overheated — look for a small red reset button on the bottom of the housing, or reset the circuit breaker that serves the disposal.

Many units have an Allen wrench socket on the bottom — use the correct size (often ¼") and move the shaft back and forth to free the jam. You can also use a short broomstick or plunger handle through the drain to move the impellers.

If that fails, turn off the circuit breaker before reaching inside by hand. You may need needle-nose pliers to remove the obstruction. If reset and clearing don't work, we offer low, upfront pricing to fix or replace the unit.

Foul odors in sink drains are usually rotting food, hair, grease, and slime that build up over time. Store-bought chemical drain cleaners are often a temporary fix, can fail entirely, and are hard on pipes and trim finishes.

Try removing and cleaning the P-trap under the sink. If the smell remains in the "smelly area" of the line, call Zippy Zebra today for a free consultation — we'll clear the buildup properly.