AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Nampa, ID

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Nampa?

Nampa is an amazing place to live, but we aren’t without potential plumbing issues either. We’re susceptible to the same problems as any well-developed town. A few of the most common reasons we visit clients in Nampa are:

• Leaking or slow fixtures
• Dripping or clogged pipes
• Well pump repairs
• Installation of new fixtures
• Routine inspections and maintenance

Older homes, especially in Old Nampa and the Historic District, are going to be more susceptible to plumbing issues, as their pipes and fixtures have had more time to degrade. Broken pipes can do even worse damage to these historic buildings, however, so it’s especially important to do maintenance and inspections in these homes. Routine plumbing visits can prevent thousands of dollars in catastrophic water damage, particularly in these historic buildings.

One of the major environmental hazards to plumbing in the Nampa area is flooding. Our position in the heart of the Treasure Valley places us at risk of floods with every major storm. In addition to the water damage itself, these floods can cause sewer lines to become backed up and septic tanks to become clogged. This flooding can also cause landslides that can expose and break outdoor pipes.

How Does the Water in Nampa Affect Your Plumbing?

The municipal water supply in Nampa is safe and clean, but there are still ways in which the water quality can have an impact on your plumbing. The main one of these is the hardness of the water. Well owners also have special concerns regarding their plumbing.

Water Hardness

All water, unless it’s filtered very well, contains trace amounts of minerals, such as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and magnesium. These are normal and even beneficial in drinking water, and many bottled water companies add these minerals back into their filtered water. The more of these minerals are in the water, the harder it is. The harder water is, the more issues, such as limescale and water stains, show up, and the more difficult it is to rinse things completely clean.

Hardness is generally measured in grains per gallon of water. Hard water has 7 or more grains per gallon of calcium carbonate, and as of 2020, Nampa’s water had 7.08 grains per gallon. This means that pipes and plumbing fixtures in Nampa are likely to experience clogging due to limescale. Since you know you’re at risk, though, you can get ahead of the problem with regular inspections and maintenance to make sure your pipes are running as freely as they can.

Well Water

Many people in Nampa get their water from wells, rather than a municipal water supply. This is a great way to save money, but it also has its drawbacks. Well water in southwest Idaho may contain chemicals, such as arsenic, and bacteria that can both damage your health and corrode your plumbing. This is why it’s so important to do regular tests on your well’s water.

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Nampa?

Each plumbing job is unique, so it’s impossible to give a precise estimate without having an expert on the scene. However, homeowners in Nampa can pay anywhere from $100 to $700 for common plumbing jobs, such as leak repair and fixture replacement. Here are a few factors that can influence the cost of plumbing in Nampa, for better or for worse.

Nature of the Work

Simple work in easily accessible spaces (such as fixture replacement and unclogging drains) is always going to be less expensive than plumbing work that involves accessing hidden pipes. You just don’t know how complex an issue will be until it happens. This is one of the reasons why preventive inspections and maintenance are so critical. You don’t want to be caught off-guard by a problem that could have been fixed much earlier.

Some factors that can make plumbing more expensive are:

• The issue requires special tools to access (for instance, problems with pipes that are inside walls or ceilings).
• The issue is an off-hours emergency.
• The issue is not an emergency, but complex enough to require a permit.

Some factors that can make plumbing less expensive are:

• The problem pipe is easy to reach (either exposed or in a cupboard).
• The issue is routine and can be fixed on a flexible schedule.
• The leak is simple enough that it doesn’t need a permit to fix.

Parts and Labor

When it comes to plumbing repairs, a lot of people don’t consider the cost of the parts they’re having replaced. This means that if you’re replacing a toilet, you have to buy a new toilet, for example. If you’re simply replacing the aerators on your faucets, this cost is negligible, but if your plumbing work requires specialized tools or unique parts for an older house with non-standard fittings, for instance, you can expect to pay more for the job.

Likewise, a job that requires us to cut through the wall to reach a problem pipe will be more expensive than a repair to an exposed fixture or sink drain. The easier it is for us to get to the problem, the less expensive it will be to repair.

Urgency of the Work

While all leakage problems and stuck drains need to be addressed, not all of them are equal. Some of them, such as slow leaks and moderately clogged drains, don’t need to be treated as urgent, which can save you money on the repair if you’re willing to wait. You don’t have that luxury with a larger-scale emergency, though, so for urgent work, you can expect to pay a premium.

Supply and demand are also factors in the cost of plumbing. After major storms or flooding, we receive a lot of calls for urgent service. There are only so many plumbers to go around, though, so the supply remains steady even as demand skyrockets. This can mean more expensive repairs, especially for urgent calls.

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Nampa?

Better plumbing can save you money everywhere, There are a lot of different ways that giving us a call can start saving you money immediately. Here are just a few of them:

Inspections and Maintenance

A single dripping fixture or pipe can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water per year or about six months’ worth of showers for one person. If you have a dripping faucet or an exposed basement pipe, the problem is obvious. However, many leaks are slow, and many pipes are hidden inside walls and ceilings. Regular inspections and maintenance can help you find these leaks and even prevent them from occurring in the first place. This saves you money not only on repairs, but also on water damage to your home and belongings.

Replacing Older Fixtures

Many older plumbing fixtures are inefficient and some of them even waste more water than they use. Simply replacing your faucets with water-efficient models can cut their water usage by more than 20%. This can save the average American household up to $380 every year. Replacing your washing machine and water heater with Energy Star-certified appliances can increase your savings even further.

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

There are a few circumstances where calling the City of Nampa Waterworks Division (CNWD) is a better idea than calling us. While each situation is unique, a few rules of thumb can help you decide who to call in certain situations.

Water Leaks

In nearly all cases, a water leak on your property is your problem to fix. This is obvious when you have an indoor pipe dripping onto the ceiling, but the situation gets fuzzier when the leak is outside. Does the water seem to be coming from the street or another water main? If so, call the CNWD. If not, try turning off the water supply to your home and see if the reading on your meter still increases. If it does, the leak is on your property and you should give us a call so we can evaluate the situation. If not, call the CNWD at (208) 468-5860. This number accepts calls at all hours.

Water Loss

If you’ve found the water pressure in your home to be steadily decreasing, or the flow of water suddenly stops, you might not be able to determine the problem by yourself. The first thing to do is to inspect all areas of your home. Look for obvious signs of leakage, such as puddles outdoors, water damage to walls, floors, and ceilings, and sounds of flowing water. If you don’t find any of those, turn off your water supply and see if your meter still moves. If it does, the leak is in your home and you should call us. If not, or if your neighbors have experienced a similar water loss, call the CNWD as soon as possible to let them know about the issue.

When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Nampa?

The city of Nampa requires permits for most plumbing work. There are a few exceptions to the rule, specifically:

• Simple leak repairs
• Replacing broken fixtures
• Emergency repairs

The list of repairs that require permits is much more extensive and includes:

• Installing new fixtures or pipes
• Anything that touches a sewer line or tap
• Any work on intake pipes to the home
• Any work that touches a gas line (such as replacing a water heater)

Any plumbing work that requires a permit in Nampa needs to be done by a licensed plumber who works for a licensed contractor, unless the work is done by the homeowners themselves. This is one of the ways in which calling us can make your work much easier, as we can take care of the permitting process and save you the time and hassle of navigating your visit to the Building Department.