Making your home beautiful is one thing, but making sure it’s in working order is a whole other beast to tackle.

Thankfully, there are so many easy repair tips and simple upgrades that can pay off big time and keep your home (and your family!) happy for years to come.

“Whether you have a big budget for some major plumbing upgrades, or just want to refresh your current setup with some cheap tricks, there are always things you can do to spruce up your home,” said Brian McQuistion, General Manager of Plumbing Masters. “We want to help everyone be proud of where they live, and we thought Valentine’s Day was the perfect time to put some love back into your house.”

The folks at Plumbing Masters have some tips to share:

  • Remove hard water deposits: No need for fancy chemicals, simple vinegar will do the trick. Tie a plastic bag filled with vinegar over your faucets and shower heads for a few hours, and you’ll be amazed at how much calcium is gone once you remove it.
  • Clean your drains: A deep clean of your pipes once in a while can keep a strong water flow, and will prevent bacteria from growing. Plumbing Masters recommends the Drain Maid featuring BioSmart, which is heavy duty, but uses natural ingredients.
  • Filter your water: Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration is the most effective technology available to improve hard water and impurities often found in Arizona homes. The process forces ordinary tap water through a semi-permeable membrane to remove unwanted substances (such as pesticides, herbicides, and benzene).
  • Install a tankless water heater: This one costs a bit more up front, but the endless hot water, space savings, and lower energy costs are well worth it in the end. It also has twice the lifespan of a regular water heater.
  • Invest in a solar water heater: With the high number of sunny days in Phoenix, a solar water heater can be a great way to reduce energy costs. Plus, with state and federal tax credits, a solar water heater can pay for itself in no time, and requires little maintenance.