AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Manhattan, KS

What Are The Most Common Plumbing Issues In Manhattan?

It seems that the biggest plumbing issue in the greater Manhattan area is with all that old plumbing in all of those old buildings. Manhattan has a beautiful skyline because of all the tall buildings that are well over 100 years old. The latest in cutting edge technology for plumbing, back when those buildings were constructed, was that everything was plumbed with cast iron piping. Cast iron pipes that are beginning to show their age are the culprit here. But, that isn’t the only common plumbing issue the residents of Manhattan face. There are things like:

• Backed-up drains
• Slow-running drains
• Toilets that constantly run
• Leaking faucets (both bath and kitchen)
• Water heater issues
• Sewer clogs
• Sump pump issues

With all those old buildings having all those issues listed here, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that having our professional plumbers on standby is a necessity in Manhattan. Another issue with regard to plumbing in Manhattan is hard water. The aquifers that the state of New York uses are loaded with limestone that can build up inside your pipes and cause a nightmare to your water pressure, your faucet spouts, and of course your showerheads. The city’s hard water can also reduce your water heater’s life span and make appliances work harder than they need to. That is precisely what will be discussed in the upcoming section about the water in Manhattan. 

How Does The Water In Manhattan Affect Your Plumbing?

The plumbing system in your Manhattan, New York home is under attack all day, every day. Most, if not all, of the cast iron piping in Manhattan is over a century old now, and it’s starting to show. You see, Manhattan water contains a high pH, meaning the water can be acidic due to the elevated alkalinity. There are also minerals found in Manhattan water that, when combined with the high alkaline content, can lead to corrosion in your pipes. That is why it is so important to get our professional plumbers involved at the first sign of a leak.

The minerals that are present in Manhattan drinking water plus the added chlorine from the water treatment plant can also have a corrosive effect on the plumbing in your Manhattan home. Even though these minerals are microscopic and cause no threat to humans, they constantly bombard your cast iron or copper plumbing, and this will lead to tiny, pitted areas in your plumbing system. These tiny particles keep hammering your pipes until one day you come home from work and find your house has been flooded due to a ruptured pipe. 

So yes, the water in Manhattan does indeed affect the plumbing in your home. Our professional plumbers can tell you if your plumbing system has been affected by the water and if it has, and they also tell you the extent of damage your pipes have suffered. If this sounds like something that your plumbing system is suffering from, then you will definitely want to read this next section that deals with the costs associated with a plumbing repair in Manhattan.

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Manhattan?

The only thing worse than needing a plumbing repair is the cost of having your plumbing repaired. Let’s take a look at the overall averages for a plumbing repair in Manhattan, New York.

• The average lowest cost for a plumbing repair in Manhattan is $145
• The average highest cost for a plumbing repair in Manhattan is $1047
• The average overall cost for a plumbing repair in Manhattan is $596

Those are just average costs that include things like:

• The average labor costs to hire our professional plumbers in Manhattan
• The average costs for material and equipment for a plumbing repair in Manhattan
• The average costs for site prep, machinery, and clean-up fees

These averages do not include:

• Any fees for the permits of a plumbing repair in Manhattan
• Any fees for the inspections of a plumbing repair in Manhattan
• Any state or local sales taxes

Now, let’s take a look at some contributing factors that may cause your final costs to increase for our services in Manhattan. These items should cause your final costs to increase or decrease depending on how bad it is, and where it is located.

Holiday, After Hours, or Emergency Plumbing Repairs in Manhattan

When your plumbing decides that it has had enough and quits delivering water or taking away sewage, it is probably going to happen at the most inappropriate time. That’s right, if your plumbing problem is going to require emergency service, after-hours service, or holiday service you can expect to pay more for it. The national average for a plumber to come out on a cold and dark night or on a holiday, or an emergency that cannot wait, is anywhere from an additional $75 to $100 on top of their per usual service fee. The last thing you would want to happen is your water heater ruptures at 3 a.m. on Christmas morning, as this will be significantly more expensive.

Where is The Plumbing Problem Located?

Depending on exactly where the plumbing problem is and how difficult it will be to get to is another cost factor to consider for your Manhattan plumbing repair. If you have a burst water line that is under your front sidewalk, you can plan on a hefty charge from our excavation crew. You are obviously going to pay more for a water line problem like that as opposed to a kitchen/bath drain that is clogged.

How Bad Is Your Plumbing Issue in Manhattan?

Our plumbers typically charge you a per-hour rate or a flat rate. When the problem occurs at a residence like your home, then you can expect a flat rate if our plumber thinks that he or she can perform the repair in an hour or so. These types of problems would be ones such as:

• A leaking toilet
• A leaking faucet
• A clogged up kitchen/bath drain

Those are pretty simple fixes for our professional plumbers. Now, take a look at how that rate works with a more in-depth plumbing repair in Manhattan:

• The per-hour rate is performed with an understanding that no matter how quickly the job is done, our plumber is guaranteed a 2-hour minimum.
• The flat rate might be charged on rather large projects such as repiping a whole house. There would then be an agreed amount or flat rate that would be charged for every day that our plumbing crew is on the job.
• The flat rate or hourly rate may increase if our plumber agrees to obtaining all permits and scheduling the subsequent inspections.

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money In Manhattan?

We have already discussed the fact that the plumbing in Manhattan, for the most part, is getting rather old. The cast iron and some copper piping in Manhattan has become so withered from age that it would definitely be in your best interest to go ahead and re-pipe the whole house, rather than have our professional plumbers come out to patch up individual leaks.

Also, another thing to consider would be upgrading all your fixtures in the house. The water in Manhattan is laden with soluble minerals that, given enough time, will eat away at things like rubber faucet seals and screen covers over spouts. By upgrading these older fixtures with the more modern and efficient ones that use less water, you will definitely save money on your water bill. When shopping for these more efficient fixtures, just look for the Water Sense logo on the packaging of the new fixture. The same goes for toilets, too. If you have an older toilet that has begun to leak, go ahead and upgrade it to the modern-type toilets that flush using 1.6 gallons of water or less. Older toilets used up to 3 gallons per flush. So yes, go ahead and have some new plumbing as well as some new efficient plumbing fixtures installed, and see what a difference it will make on your monthly water bill.

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

The easiest answer to this question is this: Go outside to your water meter box and open the lid. Everything that you see in front of that meter (the street side) is the responsibility of the City of Manhattan. Everything that you see behind the water meter (from the meter to your house) is your responsibility to repair and properly maintain, by creating a working relationship with our dedicated professional plumbers.

We can also help you in certain areas with regard to the water utility company. Things like having the water utility company come out to your home and mark the spots where the underground pipes are. It is very wise to, as they say, call before you dig. The last thing you want to do is pay for a broken water line because you or another worker thought they knew where it was. 

Our professional plumbers can also assist you in obtaining any permits and scheduling the inspection for any large-scale plumbing projects such as new home construction or add-ons. 

When Do You Need Permits For Plumbing Service in Manhattan?

When you are having any major plumbing work done in the greater Manhattan area that will require a licensed master plumber like Mr. Blue Plumbing, there will more than likely be the need for permits. Both the application and the permit itself can be obtained by our experts. 

When you will need permits:

• New construction 
• Remodel or re-pipe
• Additions
• Any plumbing work that would otherwise require the licensed master plumber to excavate on city property

When you don’t need a permit:

• Repair/replace a toilet
• Repair/replace a faucet
• Unstop a kitchen drain
• Unstop a bath drain

As with anything, it all depends on what you’re having done, where it is being done, and who is doing it. If you are confused about whether you need a permit for your plumbing problem in the greater Manhattan area, simply contact the New York City Department of Building (DOB), and they will assist your request.