AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Honolulu, HI

What Are The Most Common Plumbing Issues In Honolulu?

Honolulu’s tropical island conditions make for a beautiful living environment but contribute to various plumbing issues. Tropical storms, hurricanes, and heavy rainfall can damage drainage systems and flood basements. The salty ocean breeze doesn’t help plumbing systems. Fixtures and pipes can corrode from the saltwater, leading to leaky or burst pipes.

We will discuss the most common issues that require repairs from our plumbers in Honolulu.

Broken and Burst Pipes

Old pipes and plumbing fixtures common in Honolulu can easily become leaky, broken, or burst. The sea salt can cause old metal pipes to rust and corrode, making them more susceptible to leaky joints and seams. They can also burst under high pressures, and fixtures can break more easily. 

Outdoor plumbing is especially susceptible to rust and corrosion from saltwater. We provide solutions for indoor and outdoor plumbing in Honolulu.

Clogged Drainage

Many Hawaiians love to cook, but sometimes your cooking can result in plumbing issues. Drains can easily become clogged if you wash food and debris down the sink. Garbage disposals can help, but they can occasionally jam if improperly used or maintained. We can unclog sinks, tubs, and toilets. We also repair and maintain garbage disposals.

In Honolulu, outdoor drains are essential to controlling floods, but heavy rainfall can wash debris into drainage lines. Soil can clog drainage lines, requiring cleaning beyond the typical pressure of a garden hose. We offer hydro-jetting to remove difficult debris from drainage lines in no time.

Broken Sump Pump

It is critical to have a working sump pump in Honolulu, where seasonal flood risks are moderate to high. During rainy seasons, sump pumps are running constantly to keep your home from flooding. This can take a toll on the sump pump, resulting in poor performance and failure.

A broken sump pump can allow sewage or untreated water into your basement. Repairing and replacing broken sump pumps are common reasons to call a plumber in Honolulu. We repair, replace, and maintain sump pumps.

Water Heater Scaling

Honolulu’s hard water can cause scaling and shorten the life of water heaters. Our plumbers in Honolulu receive many calls to repair and replace water heaters or install water softeners. With moderately hard water throughout Hawaii, scaling is a common problem in water heater tanks. You will need to descale and maintain the tanks to prevent build-up and prevent problems.

How Does The Water In Honolulu Affect Your Plumbing?

Saltwater and salty air can wreak havoc on your plumbing, depending on the pipe and fixture material. Saltwater can lead to rust and corrosion of certain materials.

Galvanized steel and stainless steel components commonly found in household plumbing fixtures can experience surface oxidization, discoloration, and corrosion, when exposed to the saltwater common in Honolulu for long periods. Old pipes are especially prone to leaking and breaking due to corrosion. Properties close to the beach or areas that flood with saltwater are most susceptible. You might need one of our experts to inspect your plumbing for corrosion due to saltwater exposure and repair any leaks. 

The groundwater in Hawaii is naturally purified by the volcanic rock throughout the islands. This makes for great-tasting drinking water, but it can also affect the hardness of the water, by contributing to the magnesium and calcium content. Much of the islands have a moderate level of hardness that can cause scaling, which is why we get many calls to remove scaling from plumbing in Honolulu.

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Honolulu?

Depending on several factors, the cost of hiring our plumbers in Honolulu can vary.

Cost Factor 1

A home with older plumbing is likely to have greater pipe damage and may need more work than a modern system. Old homes’ plumbing in Honolulu may have been constructed with galvanized steel, an outdated material that corrodes from the saltwater.

We are often hired to replace one fixture or pipe, and find that more or all of the plumbing requires replacement due to corrosion. The damage to an old plumbing system can be extensive. Replacing the entire plumbing system can be many times more expensive than a single fixture. 

Old, inefficient water heaters or water softeners may also need to be replaced. Replacing old plumbing appliances with energy-efficient ones can be a large initial investment, but will save you money over time.

Cost Factor 2

The pipe material can influence the cost of your plumbing job. If your entire plumbing system is PVC, we will likely use inexpensive PVC to replace any lines or add a fixture. 

We sometimes recommend an upgrade to PEX, a premium material. While PVC is a popular material for plumbing, PEX is preferred for potable water and hot water. It is more expensive than PVC but delivers a variety of benefits.

If you have older galvanized steel plumbing lines, stainless steel, or even clay pipes, they can be damaged extensively. It might be best to upgrade to a more modern material, which will increase the cost significantly.

Cost Factor 3

The type of plumbing work will often determine the price. For instance, a small leak in an otherwise good plumbing system or a simple toilet repair may be less than $100. Complex and time-consuming jobs can be more expensive.

A new installation of plumbing lines can quickly add up, and if there are existing lines to be removed, the price can be even higher. The amount of pipe also determines the price. If more material and labor are needed, the price will be higher.

If your plumbing issue is urgent, we offer emergency service. For the higher-priced service, we can respond to emergencies immediately, even after normal business hours. We will also rearrange our schedule to fix your plumbing issue as soon as possible.

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money In Honolulu?

An essential part of plumbing is to reduce water consumption and loss. Even a slow-dripping faucet can consume more water than you would expect over time. In a home with multiple dripping faucets or leaks, the price of water can add up. For a single-family home in Honolulu, the average rate per 1,000 gallons of water is approximately $4.42, already greater than the national average.

Whether you need to stop a dripping faucet or repair a major leak, our plumbers can save you money on your water bill.

Old water heaters can use more energy than modern energy-efficient products. Requesting a new energy-efficient water heater installation from our plumbers in Honolulu is an investment that pays for itself over time. Energy Star-certified water heaters can reduce heat loss by up to 8%, and use half the energy of standard water heaters.

Older plumbing fixtures like faucets and toilets also consume more water on average than new eco-friendly fixtures. Having WaterSense-qualified fixtures installed by our licensed plumbers can save a family 13,000 gallons per year.

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

Need to call someone to fix your plumbing issue, but aren’t sure if you should dial the water utility company or our plumbers in Honolulu? We can help you determine who to dial for a fast solution.

Utility Company

If you just moved into a property and need your water turned on, call the utility company to turn it on. They will set you up with running water and take care of your billing information. You can also call the utility company to have your water turned off if you are moving.

If you find you have no water service at all, you can look at your water meter to see if it is running. The water meter looks similar to a vehicle odometer, and you will see the dial move if the water is running. If the water is not running, there may be a city-wide outage. The utility company can help you gather more information, and give you an idea of when the outage should be resolved.

They can also help resolve extremely high-pressure or low-pressure problems if they are caused by the water source. One clue that would indicate the problem is with the source is high or low-pressure that occurs throughout the entire home.

Another reason to call the utility company is if you see a leak that is not on your property and is not being resolved. This could mean a leaking main or another public water line. If you notice a leak at a neighbors house when the neighbor is not home, the utility company can shut their water off to prevent damage and waste.

Plumber

If the problem you are experiencing is not listed above, you can most likely call our local plumbers in Honolulu. Our licensed plumbers can help you with issues such as leaks within the home and broken fixtures. We can also resolve high or low water pressure issues isolated to individual plumbing fixtures, along with fixtures that have no running water.

Our plumbers will also install new fixtures and pipes within your home. Our licensed plumbers will ensure the job is completed professionally, so you can enjoy your new plumbing fixture without frustration. We can install water heaters, water softeners, plumbing lines, toilets, sinks, hose faucets, garbage disposals, and more.

Our plumbers also provide maintenance for many plumbing fixtures and plumbing lines. We can inspect your plumbing and provide repairs when needed.

When Do You Need Permits For Plumbing Service in Honolulu?

In Honolulu, a licensed plumber like Mr. Blue Plumbing is required for the installation of fixtures, including toilets and sinks. You will also need a licensed plumber to install a garbage disposal. It is best to hire our licensed plumbers to do any repairs, maintenance, or installation. We will ensure the job is safely and properly completed.

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs states that a permit from Honolulu County is required for any plumbing work within a 12-month period that exceeds $500, for residents of Honolulu. The benefit of hiring a licensed plumber like us for your plumbing work is that we can apply for the permit on your behalf, and the county will waive the permit if the work is under $500 in a 12-month period.