AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Fort Lauderdale, FL

What Are The Most Common Plumbing Issues In Fort Lauderdale?

If you have a home or business in the Fort Lauderdale area, chances are that at one time or another you have had issues with your plumbing. Anywhere that liquid is being passed through a pipe is a potential plumbing problem. 

Some more common plumbing problems in this area are the ones that are pretty much prevalent throughout the United States. Problems with leaky faucets, constantly running toilets, and slow drains can be found anywhere and Fort Lauderdale is no exception.

That being said, the Fort Lauderdale area enjoys an almost summer-like climate year-round so, there are those types of plumbing issues associated with summer. Things like underground sprinkler system problems, and plumbing issues that are brought on by swimming pools.

Both swimming pools and sprinkler systems can have plumbing problems with the underground piping systems that carry water from the water source to your lawn or pool, like pipe breaks or leaks. If you are planning on purchasing a home in the Fort Lauderdale area and this home comes equipped with a pool or sprinkler system, it might be well worth the added expense of having a thorough plumbing inspection before closing on the property.

Now, let’s look into the actual water flowing in and around Fort Lauderdale.

How Does The Water In Fort Lauderdale Affect Your Plumbing?

The City of Fort Lauderdale pays close attention to the overall quality of the final product that comes out of your tap. The federal and state regulations are strictly monitored, and the city’s annual water report can be found online anytime that you would like to take a look at it.

In this annual report, on page 3 at the bottom of the page is where you will find the leading enemy of household plumbing in Fort Lauderdale. In this report, the lead and copper content of the water is clearly stated as being responsible for the corrosion of indoor plumbing. According to this report, these levels of contaminants are within limits and pose no immediate threat.

Following the breakdown of contaminants in Fort Lauderdale’s drinking water, there is a very informative section on how and where the city’s water supply is treated before reaching your home.

In December 2019, the City of Fort Lauderdale experienced a nightmare with its sewage system. The sewer mains broke a record number of six (6) times causing raw sewage to spill into the freshwater supply. 

All of this did quite a bit of damage to the city’s piping system and due to the presence of sewage in the water supply, residents had to boil tap water. Having raw sewage entering a freshwater supply such as these instances wreaks havoc on the overall condition of residential as well as commercial plumbing.

There are also issues with hard water in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale water is drawn from wells around the Biscayne Aquifer, this aquifer holds water in limestone bedrock which allows calcium to dissolve and be deposited in the water supply. One of the most common plumbing problems with Fort Lauderdale water is the deposits left behind from hard water. The deposits will eventually lead to clogged and even burst pipes if not addressed. And if that does indeed happen, your next question would probably be, ‘Just how much is that going to cost?’

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Fort Lauderdale?

Most homeowners around the country would agree that having to repair any type of plumbing problem is not cheap. Simply having a slow-running drain unclogged can cost you several hundred dollars. However, the average cost of plumbing repairs in the area is between $200 and $500.

Let’s take a look here at several cost factors when having your Fort Lauderdale plumbing problems repaired by our licensed plumbers.

When Did Your Plumbing Problem Occur?

There is no perfect time for you to have a plumbing problem. But, if you are willing to pay a few extra dollars for your plumbing issue that occurred after hours, or on a weekend, or better yet on a holiday, you can get emergency plumbing service.

Our professional plumbers offer 24-hour service, but that service does come at a premium. The average cost of an emergency plumbing repair in the Fort Lauderdale area will cost you around $395. If this is a minor problem, the average minimum cost is $96 and a maximum cost of around $695.

Where is The Plumbing Problem Located?

There is also no ideal spot for a plumbing problem to occur. So many times these problems happen in places like under a concrete slab. This is not only a plumbing nightmare but an excavation nightmare as well.

If your main water supply has ruptured under your concrete driveway, for example, go ahead and get your wallet ready!

The average for an under slab plumbing repair in Fort Lauderdale is $2,280, with a high average of $4,400. These are just a starting point as your particular under-slab problem could end up costing $10,000 or even more. 

Even a simple plumbing problem located within a wall or ceiling has to take into consideration the added costs of tearing down and rebuilding to properly access and repair the issue.

Material and Labor Costs

Just as there is no ideal time or place for a plumbing problem, there is also the fact that any plumbing problem should be left to the professionals. Again, this comes at a price. Our professional plumbers charge what they charge because of all the training and liability that is associated with properly repairing your plumbing issues. If you live in the Fort Lauderdale area here are some of the estimated costs associated with various types of plumbing issues:

• Our residential plumbers in Fort Lauderdale typically charge around $78.63 per hour (plus parts and materials) (Range: $73.73-$83.53)
• Commercial plumber in Fort Lauderdale $100.75 per hour (plus parts and materials) (Range:$96.97-$104.52)
• To plumb a remodel or addition $5,285.74 155 sq. ft. (re-piped with PEX piping) (Range: $4610.96-$5960.51)
• To Replace residential toilet $168.28 labor only, toilet pre-purchased (Range: $162.23-$174.32)
• Plumber needed to clear drain $149.53 fixed fee (unclog sink/tub/shower) (Range: $130.85-$168.20)
• To install an acrylic tub $2248.59 installation fee (Range: $2023.20-$2474.18)

As you can see, plumbing is not cheap, but when you hire our professional plumbers you know that you are getting the very best in know-how and quality. You may be an excellent DIY type person but when it comes to plumbing, it’s best left to the pros! 

If you have just gone through a total plumbing refit of your home or business, you might be asking yourself, ‘If I had only done this sooner, would it have saved me money in the long run?’ That is what we will discuss here in the next section.

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money In Fort Lauderdale?

Some older homes in Fort Lauderdale are plumbed with cast iron pipe that is beginning to show its age. If you have recently purchased an older home in this area, you might fair well to have our plumbers come out to inspect the condition of the home’s plumbing system.

Things like leaking water pipes can cost you money when left unattended so, it is always better to have any older plumbing updated to save you money in the long run. For argument’s sake, let’s take a look at how much water is wasted, that you end up paying for if you have 3 faucets in your home that leak 3 drops of water per minute:

• One gallon=15,140 drips
• One home, with 3 faucets, that leak 3 drips per minute
• 12,960 drips per day
• 0.9 gallons per day
• 312.4 gallons per year

And that is just from one faucet! So, yes better plumbing, and better plumbing fixtures will save you money in the long run! A faster leak can end up adding about $6 to your monthly water bill depending on where you live. Now, let’s take a look at a leaky, or constantly running toilet:

• A constantly running toilet can waste up to 8 gallons per hour
• That’s 200 gallons per day
• Left un-noticed that is 6000 gallons per month
• On average an additional $70 per month on your water bill!

The bottom line here is, take the time to have all of your pipes and fixtures either repaired or replaced as opposed to excessive water bills! 

When Should You Call The Water Utility Company In Fort Lauderdale Vs Hire a Plumber?

Our professional plumbers in the greater Fort Lauderdale area do a fantastic job of working in unison with the local water utility company when it comes to things like the location of underground piping for instance.

There are, however, certain instances when you should contact the water utility company on your own accord. The water utility company of Fort Lauderdale has an awesome web page here, where you can find information on issues such as:

• Pool Credit- You may be eligible to receive a credit for the sewer portion of your bill
• Getting a separate water meter for your underground sprinkler system. Your plumber can tell you if it would be in your best interest to do this based on your water consumption
• Accuracy testing of your water meter. This is a test you will have to pay for, but it will put to rest any thoughts or concerns you may have about your water meter.
• Also, you may have a water leak that is only showing up on your water bill. The water utility company can see if there is a cause for any unusually high water consumption 

For any other issues you may have, it might be advised to start with our professional plumbers. If it is a problem that can be addressed through us, we will be more than happy to accommodate you.

When Do You Need Permits For Plumbing Service in Fort Lauderdale?

When you are faced with the permitting process of any type of construction project, either large or small, the permits can seem a bit frustrating. It seems that you need a permit for this a permit for that, and by the end of the project, all you know is, you have spent a ton of money on permits that you have no idea what they are for!

Well, they all serve a purpose, and that purpose is to make sure that every step of your project is done right and documented. If you are going to build, renovate, remodel, or otherwise improve any piece of property in the greater Fort Lauderdale area, you will need the appropriate permits for each and every phase of the project.

This holds especially true for any plumbing projects. The City of Fort Lauderdale has the needed information available on their website, and our professional plumber can assist you in obtaining these permits so that you can be assured you are getting the right permit for your project(s).