Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Pasadena?
- 2 How Does the Water in Pasadena Affect Your Plumbing?
- 3 How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Pasadena?
- 4 Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Pasadena?
- 5 When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Pasadena Vs Hire a Plumber?
- 6 When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Pasadena?
What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Pasadena?
Pasadena’s most common plumbing issues aren’t that different from any place else, including leaking faucets and dripping pipes, water heaters breaking leaking and down, running toilets, low water pressure, and problems caused by sump pumps. In Pasadena, however, we also have the additional factor of natural disasters. Hurricanes and strong winds cause immense damage to soil and property; both will cause changes in your Pasadena plumbing system.
We also see the problems of gas leaks, slab leaks, and sewer line clogs. These issues are usually well hidden until it’s too late to repair efficiently. Gas leaks can be lethal. Slab leaks caused by shifting foundations can bend and push pipes and water fixtures, and a sewer line clog can build up over time, even over something as tiny as a piece of paper, swab of cotton, and small bits of plastic wrapping – all of which are dropped into the toilets and drains every day in Pasadena.
There may be a threat of lead in Pasadena drinking water. Lead enters water through corrosion most often. Lead can almost always be found in older houses, such as in the Bungalow Heaven area. It can also enter through galvanized and lead pipes, brass fittings and fixtures, soldered connections, and even brass fittings on submersible pumps that have corroded. Many locals believe the lead content in water is caused by industrial runoff, but corrosion is the most common cause.
Another common issue with Pasadena plumbing is using a private well. “Hard water” is water with a high level of minerals such as calcium and dissolved magnesium. Mineral accumulation clogs pipes. Scale buildup on fixtures, such as faucets and showerheads, is another sign of impending problems. When there is scale buildup, the appliance takes longer to do its job. It doesn’t take long for all that overuse to add up and create more work on connectors and other parts that move the water through the unit. Fluoride is in all-natural water. Well water testing is the only way it can be detected. Well water’s fluoride and the ions it contains are usually higher than the EPA’s recommended level and part of what causes corrosion.
How Does the Water in Pasadena Affect Your Plumbing?
Pasadena is located in Los Angeles County, where approximately 40% of the water is supplied from The Raymond Basin. Pasadena has also purchased water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) since 1941. Most residents have limited use of both public water and private wells. While both can provide clean, safe water, it can have different effects on your plumbing.
Water corrodes plumbing with lead in the pipes even faster due to increasing acidity and calcium carbonate levels decreasing. The lead travels through the pipes causing even more corrosion. According to a Drinking Water Research Foundation study, standing water comes out of the tap first, which proves lead concentrates are highest in the first water draw. These high lead concentrates corrode and eventually destroy lead pipes, brad parts, and other fixtures.
Dirt, sediment, plant matter, as well as inorganic matter gets into the plumbing. Our California habitat causes erosion and flooding, which also damages pipes and private wells. Erosion and flooding also move pipes and even break the largest and strongest pipelines, because the soil encapsulating underground pipes holds them in place and in working condition.
How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Pasadena?
Plumbing is a massive and detailed construction of pipes, fixtures, faucets, pump systems, and filters that deliver clean and safe water. Small repairs must be administered immediately before they become giant expenses that can devastate your home, drain your budget, and cause migraines on the road ahead. Several cost factors must be taken into consideration before a complete quote is given. In 2021, homeowners paid on average $120.00 to $850.00 for plumbing repairs in Pasadena.
Cost Factor: Labor
Plumbing repairs can simple, such as replacing a faucet or rusty pipe. They can also be as extensive as digging up the yard to replace an entire piping system. You are paying for our plumber’s time, knowledge, and expertise. The job may just require one person to come in and make a quick repair, or it could necessitate a team of oure experts from several specialties to get it under control. The time you pay for includes preparation and cleanup fees, set up, any machinery required for the job, and any components and replacement parts.
Cost Factor: Equipment and Materials
Some plumbing jobs don’t require much, if any, equipment or machinery, such as replacing a part like an old interior pipe or stopping a leaking faucet. Other situations are very involved and demand heavy equipment and large machinery, such as backhoes. All obstructions in the soil must be removed, from trees and swing sets to the tool shed. Tree roots have to be cut. Heavy equipment is used to dig up the earth and go under and around the plumbing lines. In cases of something simple, like threading a leaky faucet or a little part to stop a running toilet, the parts are kept on hand.
Cost Factor: Permits and Inspections
Cities and states have laws in place for plumbing work. Work on exterior pipe locations, safety codes, drain excavation, placement, and care of personal wells are all issues our professional plumbers will be familiar with, as well as a plethora of legal factors. Our plumber must be licensed after receiving formal training and an apprenticeship from an accredited source. In California, they must have 2 to 5 years of experience and pass an exam to be certified. Our plumbers are knowledgeable in what you need legally when any repairs are completed.
Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Pasadena?
Absolutely! High-quality pipes, fixtures, faucets, pump systems, and filters are non-negotiable. Testing your water, having regular inspections on your plumbing operations, understanding laws and rules of digging and repair, and testing your plumbing for problems like small leaks is vital to prevent a bigger problem and cost later. It’s far better to purchase a needed part and hire our licensed plumbers now than to have a sewer line dug in your backyard, disrupting your home’s aesthetics and budget.
When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Pasadena Vs Hire a Plumber?
Water companies will only make repairs the city is responsible for. This could include problems such as broken water mains in the street. Standing water in your lawn can mean an issue with the city utility company, but it can also mean a problem in your home’s plumbing system. Most water utility companies will perform maintenance visits, but if the problem is with your system, it’s your responsibility.
A steady increase in your water bill, over a few months’ time, is almost always a signal that there is a water leak on your property. Even a slow, barely dripping leak can cause intense damage. It’s best to contact our plumbers right away. The leak may have been ongoing, and you are only just noticing it.
Standing water on your property is another time you don’t want to delay calling our experts. Water takes time to seep to the surface, and a puddle usually means a leak from below. It may be something simple, such as replacing a section of pipe or more serious repairs when excavation is required to make inspections before making repairs.
If the water meter is running, the problem is almost always on your property (another reason to keep a vigilant eye on the meter). If the water meter isn’t running, contact your water utility company right away.
If your water pressure changes or if the water goes out throughout your home and/or business, call city utilities first. There may be an outage due to things like inclement weather or street construction. If the city reports the problem is not with them, call our plumbers.
Showers, sinks, tubs, toilets that don’t drain completely or back up, and a toilet that must be continually plunged are all issues that are repaired by our professionals.
Always call a us if you have a question or a doubt about a home repair. An ounce of prevention can prevent a ton of sickness in your home!
When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Pasadena?
Some plumbing work, by law, must be completed by a licensed plumber. See the City Code of Ordinances regarding plumbing for all the particulars of your issue. Small projects, like replacing a faucet, will not be covered, while other projects, such as digging a sewer line, will need a permit. Before you begin to dig and prior to doing any work near or close to electrical lines, you must contact the Los Angeles County Division of Building Safety.
By California law, you will need a permit to replace a drain line, make repairs or conduct replacements on your sewer line, repipe your house, replace the water heater, and move any existing plumbing, such as a toilet or drain lines.
When in doubt, always consult our licensed plumbers. In Pasadena, they are well-versed and have updated information on all codes, ordinances, and laws to be able to guide you to the correct resource.
There are factors to consider before doing your own work versus hiring our plumbers, such as safety, time, expense, quality, and warranties. In the time it takes to obtain the permits, check laws and regulations, pay the fees, and begin the project, you could have hired our experts, and the job could be done correctly with a guarantee.