AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Boca Raton, FL

What Are The Most Common Plumbing Issues In Boca Raton?

Boca Raton homeowners and their properties are not immune to the common plumbing issues that affect most American homes. Some of the typical problems include:

• Pipe leaks– Florida is blessed with a perfect climate. However, the warm, humid weather encourages bacteria to grow rapidly, which is dangerous in pipes and plumbing systems that deliver drinking water. Chlorine is widely used in Boca Raton to eliminate bacteria. However, this comes with a price – chlorine causes extra wear and tear on the pipes through corrosion, leading to frequent plumbing issues due to the corrosive damage.
• Faucet leaks– A leaking faucet can amount to massive water loss and a huge water bill.

The EPA estimates a drip per second can end up wasting 3,000 gallons of water, translating to 180 showers. If you notice any water leak in your home, no matter how small it is, have our professional plumbers fix it.

• Scale- Scale refers to the mineral in the water system that builds up in pipes, plumbing, and appliances. The residue often causes plumbing problems by reducing the pipe diameter, changing the flow rate or water pressures, and damaging the piping system. Boca Raton water is typically hard. Hard water contains more minerals, meaning more scale problems.
• Low or inconsistent water pressure– The causes of low water pressures include scale buildup within pipes and leaking pipes. If you experience a sudden drop in your water pressure, have our experts drain and clean the system.

Boca Raton also experiences some seismic activities which can impact piping systems, especially the older, poorly maintained plumbing. Some of the typical plumbing repairs related to seismic activities such as earthquakes include:

• Installation of earthquake shutoff valves for gas lines
• Repair of damage to gas and water lines and fixtures caused by earthquake movement

How Does The Water In Boca Raton Affect Your Plumbing?

Water supplied by the City of Boca Raton Utility Services department is generally safe for domestic use, including drinking and cooking. According to federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, the utility department routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water. The water quality is generally high and should cause few plumbing problems at all. However, in some areas, there may be minor issues that impact residential plumbing, mainly water contaminants.

About Water Contaminants

The city of Boca Raton sources its raw water from the Biscayne Aquifer. The groundwater source, located in South Florida, contains high amounts of dissolved organic materials, which discolor Boca Raton’s drinking water. To remedy this issue and improve the aesthetic quality of the drinking water supplied to the residents, the city council set up the modern membrane softening facility located at the Glades Road Utility Services complex. 

Although the water is now safe for drinking, the high amounts of chlorine used to treat the water may spell trouble for your pipes. The more chlorine in the water, the more the corrosion. The corrosive effect on the pipes will slowly erode the piping system and create pinhole leaks. If these leaks are not addressed, they will cause massive problems within the home.

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Boca Raton?

A big concern with most homeowners when it comes to a plumbing project is its cost. Delays due to cost worries can eventually escalate a minor plumbing issue into a massive and expensive problem. Notably, it may not be practical to give an accurate estimate of the cost of a plumbing project in Boca Raton. However, our plumbers typically charge between $89 and $645 per project, with an average of $365. The estimates don’t include fees and taxes. Other factors may affect the exact cost of your plumbing project. 

These factors may include:

Labor Cost

The labor cost is the most significant variable that determines the amount you will pay for the plumbing services in Boca Raton. Our emergency services are usually higher than regular repair visits. Outside of emergencies, the average plumbing costs will vary, depending on the scope and nature of the services that you need.

Availability of the Materials

The materials needed to repair the fixtures can also affect your overall payment. Ideally, material prices are a shifting factor in the current market. Subfactors, such as the availability and quality of the material, are critical variables that could affect the overall cost. When the raw materials are easily found in the surrounding area, the cost is less; however, the cost rises if the materials are in short supply.

Type of Services

If our plumbers are just going to fix a leaky tap or a quick repair on the toilet, the cost could be less than a major emergency repair, especially if it involves digging and cutting.

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money In Boca Raton?

Boca Raton got its name from the “Boca Ratones Lagoon,” extending south of the present-day Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. Boca Raton is blessed with a tropical rainforest climate, with December being its driest month. In general, the city’s climate is warm and sunny much of the year. Summer high temperatures are typically in the 87 to 93-degree range, while winter temperatures range between 75 to 83 degrees. 

The warm tropical climate makes it hard for the city’s water systems to experience any frost issues. However, the warm temperatures support the growth of microorganisms like algae and bacteria in the pipes, which can extensively damage the water systems in homes and cause health issues. For this reason, homeowners should prioritize routine inspections and maintenance, to avoid the costs of repairs and replacements.

Plumbing is a part of the home makeup that should get more attention from homeowners. As a rule of thumb, homeowners in Boca Raton should invest in a contract or a program to keep their plumbing maintained on a regular schedule. Proactive maintenance rather than dealing with sudden emergencies ensures money is saved in the long run. 

The benefits of regular plumbing maintenance include:

Saves Cost

The cost of routine maintenance is much lower than the cost of repairing. If you are looking to save cost in plumbing repairs, ensure you call us to service your system at least twice a year. Routine service by our experts makes it easy to identify areas that may need repairs in the future. Doing the repairs now will ultimately lead to reduced costs in the future.

Helps Avoid Emergencies

Plumbing emergencies are not only a source of inconveniences, but they damage your home and budget, too. Typically, the cost of our emergency services is relatively high as compared to the standard rates. Sticking to a routine maintenance schedule can help avoid plumbing emergencies and save costs.

Updated Fixtures

Routine maintenance allows for the replacement of older and less efficient fixtures. By keeping up with minor repairs, you’ll save money you would spend on big expensive fixes later. Besides, a regularly maintained plumbing system goes a long way in promoting the efficiency of your system for best performance.

When Should You Call The Water Utility Company In Boca Raton vs. Hire a Plumber?

Our experienced plumbers in Boca Raton can solve several plumbing issues. However, there are times when contacting a water utility company makes more sense. Contact the Boca Raton Utility Service Department if you notice the following:

Water Leaks

If you see water puddles on the ground and you suspect the water is coming from underground pipes, it could either be due to leaks in your house lines or the water utility company’s lines. Do some investigation by turning off all the water valves on your property. Then check the water meter to see if it is still turning. If the water meter is still running, the leak is on your end, and you should call our plumbers. If your meter is not turning, the leak is on the utility company’s line. It is best to contact your utility company at this point.

Drop in Water Pressure

In most cases, a sudden drop in water pressure is indicative of a problem with the municipal supply, such as a water main break. You can check with your neighbors, if you share the same supply system, to see if they are experiencing the same problem. If they are experiencing the same issue too, it is time to call the utility company. If the problem is specific to your home, call us. Our professional plumbers have the experience and resources to determine the problem and fix it. Typical water supply problems in homes include leaks, clogged pipes, and clogged aerators.

When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Boca Raton?

Most plumbing projects legally require a permit, as most are very technical and can turn into larger, more expensive projects that require professional administration. They can also turn into costly replacements or repairs if they aren’t done correctly. 

Building permits and inspections are tools that governments use to guarantee the quality and safety of homes and other structures by ensuring proper building codes are followed in the course of a project. Building codes in Boca Raton are uniquely designed to take into account the unique challenges that the city is facing, to guarantee the safety of all residents. Boca Raton residents and businesses can obtain building permits/codes by visiting the city’s website.

Common plumbing challenges that require permits in Boca Raton include:

• Installing new water or gas pipes or drains
• Installing a bathtub or shower pan
• Installing new garbage disposal or replacing one (unless you are removing and reinstalling the same disposal unit)
• Installing a new drain trap
• Installing new shower, bathtub, or gas valves
• Installing a new toilet or replacing one
• Replacing the subfloor under bathroom fixtures, including bathtubs, toilets, and shower units
• Installing or replacing a water heater, including the installation of earthquake strapping for it

For most homeowners, it might be challenging to determine which project requires which permit, which makes it vital to work with our professional plumbers, to help make things simpler. Our plumbers have the training, certifications, insurance, and licensing needed to complete any plumbing project to the required standards. They also have vast on-the-ground experience with an array of plumbing systems, which ensures they can quickly diagnose and address plumbing issues in case of an emergency. 

In a nutshell, while some homeowners do consider a DIY plumbing job to be economical, it actually ends up costing more. Most plumbing projects are very technical, and if not done correctly, you end up spending far more than you could if you had hired a plumber to repair or replace any fixtures.