AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Hemet, CA

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Hemet?

Hemet homeowners often have to deal with multiple plumbing issues. These issues range from minor and inexpensive to major problems that can cause severe damage to your home and belongings. The prevalence of plumbing issues is evident since water damage and freezing caused 23.8% of homeowner insurance losses in 2018. The most common plumbing issues in Hemet are discussed below.

Clogged Drains

Clogged drains are among the most common household plumbing issues. In most instances, flushed objects, tree roots, grease, and sludge obstruct sewer pipes from draining into the Hemet sewer system. Most households in the area experience a clogged drain from time to time. Plunging and using chemical drainers help to fix the problem in the nick of time, but we can help relieve the problem once and for all. The problem is more rampant in old settlements, such as Devonshire and Creekridge, due to outdated and inefficient drainage systems.

Water Heater Issues 

Water heater issues are the easiest water problems to detect but are increasingly complex to fix. You can know that your water heater has an issue if it won’t warm water or if it produces unusual noises and discolored water. The common culprits for water heater issues include sediment buildup from Hemet’s hard water, corrosion, loose electrical connections, faulty heating elements, and wrong heater installation. It is also common to find that your water heater system can no longer support your home’s water heating needs.

Low Water Pressure

Most homes in the East Hemet area experience low water pressure every once in a while. This frustrating problem is often assumed to be a problem from the water supplier. However, that is not always the case. The suppliers can send water in high pressure, but leaks, reduced pipe diameter, mineral build up from the hard water in the area, and sharing a central water supply pipe can decrease the pressure significantly. You may have installed the correct pipe diameter, but rust lowers the volume and pressure of water passing through the lines. 

When you are living in an area where you share the main water supply pipe, it is common to experience low water pressure during peak hours, such as morning hours when people prepare for the day, and a higher pressure during off-peak hours. Leaks in your main water supply pipes will also affect the pressure of water in your home.

Water Leaks

Water leaks are very diverse. Some are easy to identify, such as leaking sinks, showers, and bathroom faucets; others will take some time and professional assistance to detect, like slab leaks and water tank leaks. Slab leaks have become very common in Hemet due to the use of concrete as the foundation for most homes. These leaks are slow killers, and if you notice them too late, they may cause aggravating structural damage. The leading cause of slab leaks in Hemet is corrosion, when metal pipes are corroded by water and soil minerals in the area. Copper pipes are especially susceptible to decay. 

Other causes for leaks are aging, poor installation, a shifting foundation, and excessive water pressure. Dampness, mildew, an unexpected upsurge in your gas and water bill, and cracked walls and floors are all indicators of slab leaks.

How Does the Water in Hemet Affect Your Plumbing?

The city of Hemet relies on groundwater supply from nine deep wells owned by the city. The water is supplied by the Eastern Municipal Water District, from its San Jacinto and Hemet groundwater basins. The groundwater wells provide EMWD customers with 20% of their potable drinking water. The water sources and systems are carefully and continuously monitored to ensure they meet the highest state and federal water safety and quality standards. These standards ensure that the water is fit for drinking and does not cause any health issues. 

However, this groundwater is very hard as it is rich in natural salts, like magnesium, nitrate, and calcium. On the downside, the salts cause scaling on showerheads, faucets, and toilets. They cause build-ups inside of your pipes that contribute to clogs and low water pressure, and they limit the lifespan of your water heater.

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Hemet?

Plumbing issues catch many homeowners off-guard and have them dreading the enormous costs associated with repairs. However, if you have an idea of what to expect, you will not be freaking out. We want to take you through the various cost factors that affect plumbing costs in Hemet to help you be better prepared, should the unthinkable happen.

Scope and Nature of the Job

Our plumbers typically charge an hourly rate ranging from $20 to $150 per hour. The longer we are on your premises, the more you will need to part with. Generally, you will spend about $175 to $450 for essential but simple repairs. There is a significant disparity in the costs of simple plumbing issues compared with complex problems. For instance, toilet issues and drain clogs cost $125 to $300, while sewer issues will cost between $1,200 and $4,000. Unclogging a drain may take less than an hour and requires simple tools to fix. However, fixing sewer issues is more challenging, involves lots of unknowns, and requires more specialized equipment and workforce.

Condition of Current Plumbing

The state of your current plumbing significantly influences the cost of performing plumbing repairs. For instance, you should expect to pay if you live in a multistory house or have extra plumbing fixtures. It is also more expensive to perform repairs in an old home with galvanized and inefficient plumbing. At the same time, if you wait too long to have an underground leaking pipe fixed, you will spend more because you will need to replace the lines and also take care of the damage on the slab or drywall. Unfortunately, you might have to handle mildew and mold that grows in wet areas.

Urgency

Plumbing emergencies are very common and happen to even the most proactive homeowners. Some of the most common ones in Hemet include burst pipes, overflowing toilets, and broken water lines. These situations force you to call us during off-hours, like in the middle of the night, during weekends, or holidays. Because those times are beyond the regular working hours for most companies, you might have to part with double or triple the standard working rate. 

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Hemet?

Many homeowners continually ignore minor plumbing problems until these issues reach uncontrollable states that end up costing them more than they should have. Our professional plumbing services in Hemet can save you money in multiple ways. First, we find leaks and other minor issues, such as lime, dirt, and rust buildup, and perform necessary repairs before the problem gets blown out of proportion. 

Contrary to popular belief, routine inspections don’t cost you more; instead, they prevent huge costs associated with repairs and replacements. During these inspections, we can also install water-efficient fixtures that reduce your water wastage and cut down your water bill. Among the popular features you want to be installed are specialized showerheads, toilets, and faucets which will decrease your water usage by almost 70%. 

The SoCal WaterSmart rebate program offers homeowners in Riverside County and beyond incentives and rebates to help boost energy or water savings in homes. Currently, they are offering water-saving landscaping options that will reduce your landscape water usage and water bills. You can also get rebates from the EMWD.

When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Hemet Vs Hire a Plumber?

A steady increase in your water bill could signal a leak. The leak can be in your home (which requires you to call our plumbers) or on the utility company’s side of the meter. You need to call us when this leak is on your side, and the way to tell this is if the meter is turning more than usual. It’s time to call the utility company to fix leaks if your meter stops once you turn off all the water valves in your home. 

Utility companies will charge for leaks that are on your side property. Thus, determining the actual source of the leak is essential as it will save you time and money. Despite the source of the leak, you can have your bill adjusted to recoup some of the loss you incurred.

When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Hemet?

The Building Code of the City of Hemet requires any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to add, remove, alter, repair, or replace any plumbing system to get approval from the building official and obtain an official permit before proceeding with the job. You can perform the repairs without the permit if it is an emergency, but you must submit the permit application to the building official within the following business day. There two situations when you don’t have to obtain a permit:

• When replacing or repairing plumbing fixtures, such as faucets.
• When working on swimming pools with a capacity of not more than 5,000 gallons and a height to diameter ratio of 2:1.

Application of the permit involves filling a form provided by the Department of Building Safety. It is followed by an inspection by the building official to confirm that the building conforms to the stipulations of the pertinent law. The permit expires and becomes invalid if the work is not started within 180 days of issue.