Bathroom remodels in Phoenix tend to reveal two things fast: the city’s water makes scale a constant enemy, and older homes hide surprises in their walls. I’ve walked into dozens of projects where a clean design concept meets a tangle of galvanized pipe, mismatched drains, and mineral buildup that could pass for geologic strata. The contractors who handle that friction well become partners, not just vendors. That’s where Somers Plumbers — Phoenix Plumbing Company has earned its reputation. They don’t just install nice-looking fixtures; they build systems that stand up to desert water, heat, and the real-world habits of a family that uses those bathrooms every day.
What a Bathroom Remodel Looks Like From the Pipes Out
Homeowners often start with tile samples and faucet finishes. The more consequential choices usually sit behind the wall. If your home was built before the early 1990s, there’s a decent chance you have some legacy piping that merits attention — galvanized, polybutylene, or early PVC. In Phoenix, galvanized degrades from inside out thanks to hard water; you may not see pinhole leaks yet, but you’ve probably noticed low pressure or rust-tinged water during first-draw in the morning. A remodel Somers Plumbers - Phoenix Plumbing Company is the best time to correct that. Opening walls for a shower niche or moving a vanity is the moment to re-pipe select runs or at least convert key branches to PEX or copper, add isolation valves, and right-size drains.
I’ve seen bath projects that keep legacy 1.5-inch tub drains even as the homeowner installs a rainfall shower and body sprays. It works on paper until you run the shower and a second fixture simultaneously. You get shallow pooling and soap scum that never quite rinses clean. Somers Plumbers habitually checks drain sizing, venting, and trap placement when they bid a remodel. The small upgrades, like moving from a 1.5-inch to a 2-inch shower drain or improving a vent tie-in, prevent years of slow drains and backup calls.
Why Phoenix Hard Water Changes the Playbook
Phoenix water hardness often sits in the 12 to 20 grains per gallon range, depending on the neighborhood. If you install a high-end shower valve and leave everything else as-is, you can lose 10 to 20 percent of flow within a year as scale builds across cartridges and aerators. Plumbers who work here full-time calibrate every remodel around that reality. Scaling isn’t just a nuisance. It shortens the life of tankless heaters, clogs pressure-balancing valves, and makes tile grout harder to keep clean.
When Somers Plumbers assesses a bathroom remodel, they look at the whole house water profile. Even if you’re not ready for a full softener, they can add localized filtration or a scale-inhibiting cartridge to protect new fixtures. It’s not a glamorous line item, but it preserves the feel of the shower you paid for. I remember a North Phoenix job where the homeowners splurged on a thermostatic valve set and a handheld sprayer. Without addressing hardness, the shower pressure would have felt like a garden hose through a thumb-hole by month eight. The fix was a compact conditioning setup near the water heater and a cartridge pre-filter. Two years later, the valve still turns smoothly and the spray pattern remains crisp.
Permits, Inspections, and the Phoenix Code Nuance
Many small bathrooms sail under the radar, especially when homeowners assume “it’s just swapping like for like.” In Phoenix and surrounding municipalities, moving a drain, changing trap arm lengths, or relocating a toilet usually triggers a permit. Good plumbers know when to involve the city and how to design to code without wrecking your layout. The difference shows up when inspectors come through. Clean test caps, proper nail plates on stud passes, and pressure tests that hold the first time save days.
One remodel in Moon Valley needed a shower moved to the opposite wall to create a larger vanity zone. The mandatory slope for the new drain line would have created a conflict with a joist bay. Lesser crews might notch a structural member and pretend it never happened. Somers Plumbers worked with the GC to adjust the pan height, maintain slope, and preserve the joist. It added a half inch to the curb profile, which everyone agreed to. The inspector passed it immediately, and no one lost sleep about a compromised structure.
Fixture Choices That Behave Well in the Desert
Design magazines sell fantasies that look great in climates with gentle water and cool temperatures. Phoenix rewards fixtures that are easy to service and maintain. Cartridges with widely available replacements beat exotic imports every time. Aerators that unscrew with a coin are better than specialty wrenches that go missing. Finishes matter too. Brushed nickel and matte black look modern but show mineral spots more readily than polished chrome. If you choose them, plan for a squeegee and a quick wipe routine, or install a water treatment component to tame spotting. Somers Plumbers is candid about these trade-offs, which helps homeowners avoid the regret of constant water-spot polishing.
For family bathrooms, pressure-balancing valves prevent scalds when someone flushes downstairs. For primary suites, thermostatic control gives you temperature fidelity — important when groundwater temperature swings by season. Not every home needs two valves, but understanding the difference makes better spending decisions. Somers technicians will ask how you use your shower: Do you want the handheld to work while the overhead rains? If yes, you need a diverter and a valve with enough flow capacity to run both without turning the shower into a mist.
Timing: Avoiding the Domino Effect
Tile setters, countertop installers, electricians, and plumbers share a tight dance. When one slips, everyone loses a day. Plumbing rough-in is the backbone. I’ve watched Somers Plumbers show up on time for a two-hour rough-in window and salvage schedules that were drifting. They pre-stage materials, pressure test immediately, and leave photos in a shared folder so that inspectors and the GC see the work before drywall closes. That habit saves return trips when a stud layout shifts or someone moves a niche. If a customer decides to shift the valve five inches to center it on a new bench, the crew is used to solving on the fly. The rhythm of a remodel rewards that agility.
Showers That Drain, Pans That Don’t Flex
Walk-in showers are now the default ask. They are also the most common source of callbacks when slope or waterproofing is compromised. I’ve stepped onto shower pans that flex as if they were trampolines, popping the seal around the drain over time. The correct approach in Phoenix’s slab-on-grade homes often means trenching a bit, moving the drain stub, and committing to a solid mortar bed or a properly supported foam pan system. When Somers Plumbers sets drains, they’re fussy about elevation. They set the clamping ring flush and the weep holes clear so that water under the tile finds its way home, not into the framing or the corner of a bedroom carpet.
A side note that matters: linear drains look sleek, but they demand perfect planning. The floor must pitch consistently to that single line. The plumber’s alignment with the tile setter makes or breaks the look. If the drain arrives late or the framing is off by half an inch, the tile grid will look tired forever. Crews who have done dozens of these — and understand how Phoenix homes settle — know to set the drain after confirming the tile layout, not before.
Venting: The Quiet Hero
Vent stacks aren’t decorative, yet they determine how your bathroom smells and how your drains sound. I’ve chased too many “mystery odors” to count. In several 1970s ranch homes, the original vents were undersized or partially blocked by roof work over the decades. Remodelers who ignore venting because it isn’t visible invite gurgles and trap siphoning that pull sewer gas into the space. Somers Plumbers treats venting like a first-class citizen. They correct dry vents when they can, add AAVs as a stopgap only where allowed, and size the main vent to code. I watched them redesign a secondary bath plan to share a proper vent tie-in and remove two air admittance valves that would have been tucked into a vanity. The result: silence when sinks drain and no odors after someone runs a hot bath.
Hot Water That Arrives Without Waste
Most Phoenix bathrooms sit far from the water heater, often at the opposite corner of the house. The wait for hot water can be 30 to 70 seconds, which means gallons of waste every day. During a remodel, adding a demand-activated recirculation line or a retro pump at the far fixture changes daily life. It also reduces the habit of cranking the handle and walking away, which leaves a hot pipe losing heat into the slab for no reason.
Somers Plumbers often recommends a dedicated return if walls are open. If the home is finished elsewhere, they’ll consider under-sink pumps that use the cold line as a temporary return path, then add a check valve and bypass to prevent ghost warmth in the cold line. Not every family wants the complexity of a full loop, and a simple timer-based pump can be enough. The key is matching behavior to technology. A family that showers at 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. doesn’t need 24/7 recirculation. A programmable pump plus a smart outlet gets you the benefit without constant energy loss.
The Right Materials for the Long Haul
The copper-versus-PEX debate tends to get tribal. In Phoenix, both can be excellent if installed correctly. Copper Type L holds up well, though it can pit with aggressive water chemistry. PEX resists scale adhesion and handles slight movement without stress fractures. The choice often comes down to access and future service. In walls with tight stud bays and multiple offsets, PEX speeds rough-in and minimizes joints. That reduces leak points. Copper makes sense near heat sources, at exposed stub-outs where rigidity matters, and where a homeowner prefers metal lines.
Somers Plumbers will mix systems wisely. I’ve seen them run PEX for long home-run lines to a manifold and then transition to copper at the last few feet for clean valve alignment and robust escutcheon support. They label manifolds in plain language so you can shut off “Primary Bath Shower” without guessing. That kind of specificity is a gift the first time you need to swap a cartridge on a Sunday.
Budget Reality: Where to Spend, Where to Save
Bathroom remodel budgets vanish into surfaces because surfaces are what you see. Plumbing is most visible only when it fails. Still, you feel it every day. If your budget forces a choice, I advise spending on the parts that touch water and waste regularly. A quality valve, the right drain sizing, and thoughtful venting deliver daily value. You can phase in heated floors later or swap light fixtures without ripping walls. You cannot easily correct an undersized shower drain once the tile sets or reroute a toilet flange without redoing a slab.
Somers Plumbers does a line-item estimate that separates rough-in from finish work. Homeowners appreciate seeing exactly what’s behind body labor and material choices. I watched one project shave cost by keeping the toilet location, which saved a slab cut and re-pour. That allowed the homeowners to step up to a thermostatic valve and a better shower pan system. The space feels luxurious even though the toilet stayed put.
Warranty, Service, and the Afterlife of a Remodel
Remodels don’t end when the caulk dries. Things settle. A faucet handle loosens, or a cartridge needs a first-year clean after it traps construction debris despite best flushing. Reputable plumbers factor these realities into their warranty and their responsiveness. Somers Plumbers has been straightforward about what they cover and for how long. They register manufacturer warranties when applicable and leave a packet with model numbers and exploded diagrams. I’ve used those sheets to help a client pick up the right replacement aerator insert after a kid “scientist” unscrewed one and launched it into the trash.
Good service shows up later too. When a client wanted to add a bidet seat the following year, Somers had already installed a capped T under the vanity for a clean angle stop. The addition took under an hour. That kind of foresight costs little during rough-in and yields easy upgrades later.
Common Pitfalls and How Pros Avoid Them
It’s worth calling out a few repeat offenders I see on DIY or low-bid remodels in Phoenix, and how an experienced crew heads them off.
- Misaligned shower valves relative to tile depth: Pros dry-fit the trim and account for mortar and tile thickness so the escutcheon sits flush without a custom extension kit. Trap arms too long or with improper slope: They keep trap arms within code, maintain quarter-inch per foot slope, and support them to prevent sagging that becomes a biofilm trap. Omitted access for critical shutoffs: They add accessible stops, especially for tubs with deck-mounted fillers and whirlpool pumps. Future-you will be grateful. Unsealed penetrations: Every pipe pass through a plate or slab gets sealed to discourage pests and drafts and to meet fire-blocking requirements where applicable. Mixing metals carelessly: They use proper dielectric unions when transitioning from copper to galvanized remnants to prevent galvanic corrosion.
Notice how each item protects either performance or serviceability. The lesson is simple: water takes the path of least resistance, and time finds every shortcut you took.
How Somers Plumbers Coordinates With the Rest of the Team
Remodels succeed when trades respect each other’s sequencing. Tile setters want square, plumb, and centered rough-ins. Electricians want predictable clearances for vanity lights and mirrors. GCs want documentation. Somers Plumbers keeps a steady communication thread. They mark centerlines on studs, label valve depths, and leave as-builts. They’re comfortable working with design-forward teams that specify wall niches, bench heights, and specialty drains.
That coordination also shines when realities intrude. For example, older Phoenix slabs sometimes reveal unexpected post-tension cables. When that shows up on a scan, you cannot just sawcut wherever you want to move a drain. Experienced plumbers know to adjust the plan — maybe a low-profile shower base or a slight shift of the opening — rather than risk a cable strike that could turn a remodel into a structural repair.
ADA and Aging-in-Place: Building for Tomorrow
Many Phoenix homeowners are remodeling with an eye toward staying put. That means barrier-free entries, grab bar blocking, and valve placement reachable from outside the spray zone. The best time to add blocking is when the walls are open. It costs almost nothing then and avoids awkward retrofits later. Somers Plumbers collaborates on these details. They’ll set valves slightly lower for seated use when asked, and they’ll align supply lines so that a future grab bar doesn’t pierce a pipe. That small bit of foresight prevents a nightmare later.
Zero-threshold showers in existing homes require careful planning around slope and waterproofing. On slab, that usually involves recessing the pan area or using a linear drain system with tapered planes. Done well, it looks elegant and reduces trip hazards. Done poorly, it sends water across the bathroom and into a hallway. I’ve watched Somers insist on a flood test with dams and a 24-hour hold before tile goes down. That patience keeps water out of bedrooms and out of their warranty queue.
Energy and Water Stewardship Without Compromise
Phoenix summers punish both your water heater and your patience. There’s a balance between comfort and conservation. Low-flow fixtures have improved. A well-designed 1.75 gpm showerhead on a properly pressurized system still feels luxurious. The real gains come from smart distribution: shorter pipe runs, insulated hot lines, and demand recirculation. Somers Plumbers will insulate exposed lines in attics and garages — simple work that reduces standby losses notably during long hot seasons.
Toilets are another quiet efficiency win. Modern 1.28 gpf models, especially pressure-assisted or well-designed gravity units, outperform the old 1.6 gpf dinosaurs and beat 1990s low-flow units that gave conservation a bad name. During a remodel, setting a new flange at the correct height and adding a rigid supply line with a solid shutoff makes future maintenance painless.
Communication That Prevents Surprises
Homeowners face decision fatigue during a remodel. Good plumbers translate the technical into choices that matter. Somers Plumbers typically offers a couple of paths: a baseline that meets code cleanly and an enhanced version that adds comfort or longevity. They’re not pushy. They simply explain the why. I’ve watched them talk a client out of an unnecessary upgrade when other work promised more benefit for the dollar.
They also document choices. If you select a specific cartridge or brand that uses proprietary valves, they’ll note it and stock a spare in the project bin, or at least flag the part number. When a part is special order with a two-week lead time, they tell you now, not when the trim day arrives. That transparency is how minor hiccups stay minor.
When a Local Touch Matters
National brands have scale; local pros have pattern recognition. Phoenix’s combination of slab-on-grade foundations, hard water, monsoon-season humidity spikes, and roofline vents that bake in summer creates a particular set of constraints. Crews who live in this cycle know what fails at year three versus year ten. Somers Plumbers — Phoenix Plumbing Company has that local memory. They’ve revisited homes a decade later and learned what aged well. That loop of feedback informs the next remodel. It’s why they nudge clients toward a two-inch shower drain, why they spec certain cartridges, and why they seal slab penetrations even when no inspector will see them.
A Practical Way to Start Your Remodel
If you’re considering a bathroom upgrade, begin with a walk-through focused on plumbing realities. Ask for Visit this link a pressure reading at a hose bib and a hardness test. Have someone pull an aerator to check for scale and corrosion flakes. Confirm the age and type of supply lines and drains feeding the bath you’re touching. With that data, you can choose fixtures and finishes with your eyes open. A frank conversation with a seasoned plumber will save you from the most common regrets.
Somers Plumbers welcomes that kind of conversation. They’ll tell you when a line can stay and when it’s foolish not to replace a section while the wall is open. You won’t always hear what you hoped, but you’ll get the truth in plain terms and options that fit a budget.
Contact Us
Somers Plumbers - Phoenix Plumbing Company
Address: 14039 N 8th Pl, Phoenix, AZ 85022, United States
Phone: (480) 568-2596
Website: https://www.somersplumbers.net/
A Final Word From the Jobsite
Bathrooms fail in sneaky ways. The grout looks fine until you see the drywall feathering at the baseboard. The shower feels weak until you realize the cartridge is half-calcified. The toilet rocks just enough to break its wax seal on a hot day when the slab expands. Quality plumbing anticipates these subtleties. It protects your investment and your mornings. If you’re remodeling in Phoenix, choose a team that treats the unseen work with the same care as the tile. That’s how you get a bathroom that still feels new years from now, not just on the day the photographer visits. Somers Plumbers has built a business on that promise. And after watching their crews turn plans into reliable, beautifully functioning spaces across the Valley, I can see why so many homeowners keep their number close.