Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Vacaville?
- 2 How Does the Water in Vacaville Affect Your Plumbing?
- 3 How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Vacaville?
- 4 Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Vacaville?
- 5 When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Vacaville vs Hire a Plumber?
- 6 When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Vacaville?
What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Vacaville?
Much like the rest of the Sacramento Valley, Vacaville homeowners deal with some unique plumbing challenges due to having extremely hard water. We also have many of the typical plumbing issues you can find anywhere else, and they’re mostly caused by the daily wear and tear of living. Vacaville has many older homes with worn-down plumbing systems that are just no longer up to the task. Here are some of the most common issues we handle at MrBluePlumbing.
Low Water Pressure
Does your water pressure get noticeably weaker when you have multiple taps open? The main way homeowners might notice this problem is with a very weak shower spray and toilets that don’t quite reach a full flush. Low water pressure is also an energy drain because your dishwasher and washing machine will take an extra long time running each cycle.
Low water pressure has many different causes in Vacaville, and it may be as simple as that your main shutoff valve is not fully open. This can even happen accidentally if a maintenance worker was making repairs in your neighborhood. One of the more serious, structural causes for low water pressure is a serious leak in your pipes. This is especially likely if you have an older home and the plumbing system hasn’t been serviced for a long time. Pipes are made of very strong material, but they definitely won’t last forever. Leaking pipes will result in low water pressure and high water bills. Not to mention, that it’s an astronomical waste of water.
Clogged Drains
We also get many calls for stubborn clogs that leave you with slow-running drains or even standing water. If you think about it, our drains have to handle quite a lot for us daily. All that scraped-off food, grease, soap residue, and hair adds up over time and can become an obstruction for your pipes. Dealing with clogs is one of the many situations where prevention is the best cure. For example, bathrooms would benefit from installing a mesh screen or shower drain catcher to help you gather those strands before they can become a burden on your plumbing system.
If you do end up with a full sink or tub, we’ll be more than happy to help things get flowing again. There are all sorts of clog removers available at the hardware store, but they don’t necessarily work and can even cause problems. A licensed plumber will have the tools to resolve your clogs quickly and without causing any damage to your plumbing system.
Running Toilets
If your toilet is constantly running, and jiggling the handle doesn’t make it stop, you may be dealing with a faulty flapper or floater inside the water tank. This is a very quick fix and you can take care of the issue yourself with a trip to the hardware store. If the problem is not quite so simple, then you probably have an older toilet that needs maintenance from a licensed plumber, or even a complete replacement. Toilets can last as much as 15 years, but they do need occasional repairs to keep all their moving parts functioning well.
A running toilet is much more than an annoyance. You could end up wasting several thousand gallons of water every month and dealing with a hefty increase in your water bill. Along with taxing your wallet, running toilets are also very taxing for the environment.
How Does the Water in Vacaville Affect Your Plumbing?
Most of Vacaville’s tap water comes either from Lake Berryessa or from the Sacramento Delta via the North Bay Aqueduct. We also rely on groundwater from ten deep wells located within the city itself. Vacaville’s Utilities Division makes sure that residents get excellent drinking water by conducting extensive tests at water wells, treatment facilities, and every point in the distribution system. While Vacaville’s water is great for us, it’s not so great for your plumbing. This entire region is known for having very hard water, especially if it comes from an underground source where the water is moving through soil and rock. The “hardness” of water refers to how much dissolved calcium and magnesium can be found in the water. The presence of these minerals in Vacaville’s treated water ranges from 144 to 180 parts per million, which is considered very high.
Hard water can do a number on your entire plumbing system, especially water heaters. What happens over time is that these mineral substances will start to accumulate and harden. Try to imagine a thick, rock-like coating inside your pipes and plumbing appliances, and that’s pretty much what can happen. Water heaters that handle hard water are much more likely to break down prematurely from the strain. Finding out you have no hot water is not a very pleasant way to start the morning. That’s why many Vacaville homeowners depend on installing a water softener, which is essentially a type of filtration system, as a way of protecting their plumbing.
Remember that water softening appliances are themselves very susceptible to getting damaged from the process of treating your hard water, and this can affect their performance. We often get calls to inspect water softeners that no longer seem to function correctly. Some of the most visible symptoms of hard water are white spots on glasses and silverware when they come out of the dishwasher or a white film covering your shower walls.
How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Vacaville?
The cost of plumbing services in Vacaville will mostly depend on the type of work you need and how long the project takes to complete. You can expect to pay somewhere between $115 for the most basic tasks and close to $900 to handle more complex plumbing issues. Take a look at the different factors we’ll use to give you an estimate.
Complexity of the Job
Certain plumbing issues will be much more complicated than others, especially if they require any specialized tools. Common services like replacing a faucet will cost much less than a technically complex plumbing job like installing a water heater. Most estimates will also incorporate an hourly rate, and this is where the more time-consuming projects will naturally get more expensive. For example, leaking pipes are on the higher range of the scale because of the time and effort it takes to find all the leaks and then make the repairs.
Regular Maintenance vs Emergency Repairs
It’s always better, and less expensive, to take care of plumbing issues as soon as you notice a problem. Urgent repairs always cost more than basic upkeep, especially if you need these services after business hours. Whether it’s a burst pipe or a backed-up sewer, we know full well that some plumbing situations are truly emergencies. That’s why we go above and beyond to make sure we can send an experienced plumber to go fix the problem.
Type of Materials
There are many situations where the cost of materials will make a big difference on your final bill. For example, copper pipes are much more expensive than your garden variety PVC pipes, and a larger house is likely to need more piping supplies than a smaller one. We always work with you to find the best plumbing solution for your budget.
Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Vacaville?
Definitely, especially if you’re dealing with recurring issues because your plumbing system hasn’t been updated for some time. Quality plumbing is much more durable and reliable, which means you don’t have to keep hiring plumbers to come to your home and make repairs.
Plumbing upgrades that focus on efficiency can also help you substantially reduce your water or energy bills. If you have appliances that are over 8 to 10 years old, there’s no doubt you could be paying much less for your utilities. Take a look at the EPA’s WaterSense program for a comprehensive guide of recommended, high-efficiency Energy Star water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. For a more accessible plumbing upgrade that still makes a big difference, consider installing low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets. These fixtures are affordable, excellent at curbing water usage, and they can potentially save you thousands of dollars over the long run.
When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Vacaville vs Hire a Plumber?
Most of the plumbing issues you might experience in Vacaville will require you to call the plumber, but there are exceptions. For example, if you’ve completely lost water to your home and so have some of your neighbors, you should be calling Vacaville’s Utilities Division. This type of outage is caused by problems with the municipal water line and the City needs to send their plumbers to inspect and resolve the issue. The same goes for seeing a water leak on your street, which is a pretty serious emergency and would probably be caused by a water main break. These central arteries of the city’s water distribution system can spring a leak just like any other pipe. You should call Utilities so that they can take care of it right away.
In general, you should call the water utility company if the issue is happening within the infrastructure of the city-owned plumbing system, and you should call a plumber if the issue is specific to your private property’s plumbing.
When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Vacaville?
All Vacaville homes are connected to the public water distribution system, and certain projects can have an impact on your neighbors. Plumbing projects are regulated closely at the municipal level to make sure they comply with the California Building Code and that our communal water resources are protected. According to Solano County, you’ll need a permit for “Any and all Plumbing Work”. While we don’t have to take them so literally, since you don’t need a permit if your plumber is just fixing a clogged drain, homeowners do need a permit for any structural plumbing work. This includes installing a water heater, replacing pipes, or making any changes to a sewer line.