AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Santa Rosa, CA

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Santa Rosa?

Extreme weather changes, aging, and human interaction with the system are common causes of plumbing system issues. Even with a near-perfect system, these factors are bound to cause trouble along the way. Most of the plumbing issues we have handled in Santa Rosa include:

Leaky Fixtures

Leaky fixtures are common plumbing issues among Santa Rosa residents. These could include leaking faucets, showerheads, etc. 

Aging, corrosion, and mishandling can all leave your plumbing fixtures drippy and downright irritating. Besides the discomfort, water leaks can spark a host of other problems: damage to surfaces, growth of mold due to excess moisture in the air, and so forth. 

But perhaps, the major setback of water leaks is the financial implication. Though it may not appear as much, the quantity of water lost through dripping faucets and other fixtures can quickly add up, thereby escalating your utility bill. 

Blocked and Slow Drains

You get into the bathroom for a quick shower so that you can head over to work. By the time you’re done, you’re swamped in, and you spend the next few minutes trying to force pump the water down the drain. It finally flows, but does so slowly, that you grit your teeth impatiently. You repeat the same process every day, waiting for the weekend to call in our plumbers, when you are home. By the time our plumber arrives on Saturday, the drain is completely blocked, and you can’t wait for us to fix it and get rid of the mess.

Blocked and slow drains can be frustrating. Sadly, they’re a common occurrence in Santa Rosa. Our water is relatively harder, which forces us to use more soap during cleaning and washing. This often results in a buildup of soap scum on the drain. As the scum accumulates, it traps other debris and blocks the drainage. 

Malfunctioning Toilet Flappers 

Aging, mold, or bacteria buildup can all interfere with the proper functioning of a toilet flapper, which is a prevalent problem in Santa Rosa. Clients often complain of toilets not flushing properly or sometimes flushing randomly. Once the flapper starts having these issues, we often advise clients to do immediate replacement, to minimize the resulting water wastage.

Leaky Pipes

Leaky pipes are another issue that causes Santa Rosa residents to seek out our plumbers. Not only do leaky pipes waste water and increase the utility bills, but they are a health hazard if left to run for long. As the water pulls together, it becomes a breeding ground for pests and mold growth, especially given he already high humidity in the area. We often help clients repair leaky pipes to avert these safety issues and preserve their landscapes.

Faulty Water Heaters

Water heater issues are also common here. Our water is largely to blame for most of these issues. Hard water may be great for our health due to the ample mineral amounts it contains, but it’s rather harsh on the plumbing system. The high concentration of calcium and magnesium in the water causes the heaters to work extra hard. As the minerals build up, they erode the heater, thereby compounding the damages.

How Does the Water in Santa Rosa Affect Your Plumbing?

Santa Rosa’s water is hard and is responsible for most plumbing woes around. As rain leaves the sky, it’s usually in a neutral (pure) state; but as it descends through the atmosphere, it mixes with impurities (gases), thereby losing its neutral state. It continues to gather more deposits as it moves through different channels, before reaching our taps. Mainly, it collects minerals like calcium and magnesium, which contribute to its hardness. 

Corrosion

Santa Rosa’s water is especially high in calcium and magnesium, which makes it somewhat harder. As it passes through the plumbing system, the minerals corrode the surfaces, leading to damage. Consequently, the pipes and fixtures start leaking.

Clogged Water Supply Pipes 

As the water passes through the pipes, it leaves salty deposits (limescale). With time, limescale buildup clogs the pipes. Our plumbers will have to come in and unblock them. 

Drainage Pipes Blockage 

Hard water requires the use of more soap when washing and cleaning. This leads to excess soap scum going down the drain. As it builds up on the pipes, it reduces the water flow, leading to drainage issues. With time, the scum may trap other debris, which can end up blocking the lines completely.

Water Heater Issues

Hard water takes longer to heat due to the heavy presence of minerals. As a result, the heater works harder, which increases the risk of mechanical breakdowns. Corrosion also takes place, thereby reducing its lifespan drastically.

Nonetheless, you can minimize these issues on your plumbing system by investing in a water filtration system. Using water softeners can also get rid of some of the problems like blocked and slow drains.

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Santa Rosa?

Plumbing costs in Santa Rosa depend on several factors. For instance, initial pipe installation may cost you lower than repiping. When piping a new building, the plumbing will often take place before the structure is complete. On the other hand, repiping may require you to demolish some parts of the building, to remove the old pipes, which can increase your costs significantly.

Type of the Project

As mentioned above, plumbing costs in a new building will be lower than upgrading an old system. But other than the demolition and reconstruction costs, the materials and plumbing labor costs should range between $1,500 and $15,000. Note that repiping an old house may also have additional charges for fixtures if regulations require an upgrade, like current ordinances requiring that new plumbing installations use water-efficient faucets.

Partial plumbing jobs may cost you relatively lower, around $400 to $2000. For instance, piping a bathroom or a kitchen might cost you between $600 and $1600. The costs will be based on the size of the system and the material types used. 

Size and Configuration

Plumbing costs will also vary depending on the size of the project and the configuration. Installing a complete system will cost more on a bigger building, as more materials and labor are involved. 

Again, the configuration of the system also affects the costs. If the rooms requiring plumbing are far apart, you should expect to spend more on materials, unlike if they’re back to back. That said, our Santa Rosa plumbers will typically charge you between $100 and $150 per hour (plus materials and parts).

Materials Used

Our plumbers may end up charging two clients different amounts, even if they have the same project size and live within Santa Rosa. This variation may be as a result of the types of material a client prefers. A client who opts for copper pipes may end up paying multiple times more than one who uses PEX or PVC. 

Copper is relatively expensive, but it compensates with durability. However, that doesn’t make the others inferior in any way. While copper may burst from freezing, PVC doesn’t burst when frozen. All the same, using PVC will cost you about 30% less than copper.

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Santa Rosa?

A better plumbing job can save you so much in the long run. For instance, you should consider a layout that allows sharing of pipes between several rooms. Assuming you have a two-story house, designing the upstairs bathrooms directly above the downstairs bathrooms can significantly cut down the material cost, as they can share the pipes.

Using water-efficient fixtures is another excellent way of saving money. According to research, using water-efficient faucets can reduce water consumption by up to 30%. This can go a long way in cutting down your utility bills. 

Dual flush toilets can also help cut your water costs. These allow you to use either full or half flush, which helps save liters of water per flush. Water-efficient showerheads are also available, so you may want to look out for those.

Finally, you can save on your long-term plumbing costs by installing plastic pipes instead of copper pipes. Not only are plastic pipes cheaper, but they don’t burst when frozen, which can save you on repairs and replacement costs.

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

Some plumbing issues may leave you confused, wondering whether to call the water utility company or hire our plumbers. For instance, if you find a water puddle on your driveway, who should you call? 

When to Call the Water Utility Company?

Instances when you can call your water provider include the following:

• There’s no water flowing to your home
• There’s a leak on the street
• You want to start or end the water supply to your home

When to Hire a Plumber?

On the other hand, there are situations where the responsibility of dealing with your home’s water issues rests on you. In this case, you can hire our plumbers to help you sort them out. These situations include:

• Pipes located on your side of the meter are leaking
• There are leaky or faulty fixtures (faucets, showerheads)
• Blocked or slow drains
• Odors from your sewer

When Do You Need Permits For Plumbing Service in Santa Rosa? 

There are instances that require a permit for a plumbing service, while others don’t. For example, a permit is needed when installing a plumbing system or altering the design of an existing one. For new buildings, you only require a single license for all the construction work such as plumbing, building, electrical, etc. This can be issued to only a licensed contractor or the owner of the building. For basic plumbing like water heater replacement, water or sewer line replacement, etc., you can access the permit online.

However, you don’t need a permit if you’re hiring us for any of the following tasks:

• Fixing leaks in drains, provided there are no replacements involved
• Removal and reinstallation of water closets
• Repairing leaky pipes, valves, or fixtures, provided there are no rearrangements or replacements involved