AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Lafayette, LA

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Lafayette?

Lafayette, Louisiana is a unique and lovely city with a population of just over 120,000 residents. Our city is known for amazing food, large festivals, and an innovative music scene, and tourists come for miles to get the Lafayette experience. The city is rich in history; considered a town since 1821, when it was referred to as Vermilionville. Because people have lived on the land for so long, many homes and buildings are considered historic.

Although they help to beautify and give our city a unique character, they also come with a whole host of plumbing problems. We see three of the most common plumbing issues in Lafayette – low water pressure, leaking appliances, and clogged drains.

Low Water Pressure

Although showers with too strong water pressure aren’t the most pleasant, showers with low water pressure are much more common and irritating. Showers that are little more than a light trickle make it difficult to rinse shampoo and conditioner out of your hair and get the soap off your body. Plus, low water pressure can make your home’s appliances less efficient with water, and hand washing dishes with low water pressure takes much more time and elbow grease. 

Mineral buildup in pipes from the city’s hard water often causes low water pressure, which doesn’t allow as much water to rush through. If you have noticed a gradual decrease in your home’s water pressure, the hard water in the area is probably to blame. If, on the other hand, you experience a sudden drop in water pressure, your home’s plumbing system may have sprung a leak. In either case, getting help from our trusted plumbers can remedy the issue in no time. 

Leaking Appliances and Fixtures

Nobody tries to waste thousands of gallons of water per year, but leaking appliances and fixtures make this a reality for many households in Lafayette. Running or leaking toilets are the most common offender, potentially wasting as much as a gallon per hour of water. This not only hurts water conservation efforts but also makes your monthly water bill skyrocket. 

Faucets, showerheads, and other appliances or fixtures can also leak a little or a lot, and they should always be addressed sooner rather than later. Leaks can go from bad to worse in a matter of minutes. 

Unfortunately, the hard water in Lafayette is a major cause of leaks, as the minerals corrode fixtures, o-rings, gaskets, and other equipment. Over time, this limits the lifespan of your plumbing equipment and promotes leaking.

Clogged Drains

Clogged drains may not seem too problematic, and many people try to wait them out in hopes that they will resolve themselves. Unfortunately, clogged drains can cause major damage to your home if they allow enough pressure to build up to spring a leak or burst your pipe entirely. Hair, soap, food, and other particles coming together and forming a blockage in your drain often clog drains, which causes it to drain slowly or not at all. Standing water can become a hazard when left unattended for too long, as fungus and bacteria can easily thrive in warm and moist conditions. 

The mineral deposits from the city’s hard water also contribute to clogs, as they form on the insides of pipes, reducing flow rate and catching other debris like hair and soap scum.

How Does the Water in Lafayette Affect Your Plumbing?

We are lucky to receive our public water from the publicly owned Lafayette water utility company governed by our city council. Although it meets all standards for clean and safe drinking water, our water tends to have a high concentration of hard water minerals, usually calcium and magnesium. These minerals leech into the water supply through rocks and soil, and they are not hazardous to health when consumed or used for everyday household chores. Hard water does cause some problems around a household, however, such as mineral buildup on fixtures and within pipes, staining on laundry and dishes, soap scum in bathtubs, dry skin and hair, and many other similar inconveniences. 

Even if you don’t get your water from the city, you still are likely to have a hard water supply, especially if you get your water from a groundwater well. The easiest way to remedy this situation is to call us to get a water softening system installed in your home if you haven’t already. Water softeners work by swapping out hard water ions with softer ones, such as sodium and potassium. This can alleviate hard water issues in almost no time at all. If you already have a water softening system but still struggle with hard water problems, it may be time for water softener repairs or a complete replacement. 

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Lafayette?

Most Lafayette residents can expect to pay about $350 for plumbing services, though the actual cost can be much higher (often uo to $900) or lower (as little as $150) depending upon your unique set of circumstances. Our plumbers often charge an hourly rate for their work, though we may bill as a flat fee and both options can drastically change how much you pay for service. It’s always a good idea to ask us for a free estimate before the work commences so that you won’t be completely shocked when it’s time to pay. 

When we calculate the costs of plumbing services, the three most important factors we consider are the size of the job, the location of the job, and whether the service is during or outside of regular business hours. 

Cost Factor: Size of Job

Calling our plumbers to fix a small clog or running toilet won’t cost you nearly as much as having your plumber rearrange your home’s plumbing for a remodel. Larger jobs generally cost more than smaller ones due to the increased labor hours and the need for materials. Some larger undertakings may take entire days or weeks with multiple staff members, and you can expect to pay more in these cases.

Cost Factor: Location of the Job

If you live close to the actual city of Lafayette, it shouldn’t take too long for our plumber to arrive at your home to begin work. Those who live on the outskirts, or even out in the country, may be charged a bit more to account for the longer commute our plumber had to drive. The local cost of living also plays a role in determining plumbing service costs, though Lafayette tends to have a much lower cost of living than other major metropolitans. This makes plumbing projects cost less in our area than more expensive regions, like New York City or Seattle. 

Cost Factor: Emergency Services

When you are woken up to a burst pipe at two in the morning, what should you do? Call our emergency plumbers right away. Emergency services, those performed outside of normal business hours, cost more than regular services. We provide 24/7 emergency services because plumbing emergencies can happen any time of the day or night, and they can wreak all kinds of havoc on your home and property. 

Some plumbing problems can truly wait until the work week, which will result in a lower plumbing bill, but it can be hard to determine what is a legitimate emergency and what you can put off addressing. When in doubt, it’s best to have our pros take a look before the problem destroys your belongings and gets even worse. 

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Lafayette?

Better plumbing can save you money in the long run in Lafayette, thanks to increased water usage efficiency, reduced need for repairs, and longer-lasting fixtures that won’t need replacing as often. Homes with older plumbing tend to waste water, which drives up your monthly water utility bill and costs you more money. New plumbing does have an upfront cost, but it allows your home to use less water to get the same tasks done, and you’re sure to see a significant drop in your water bill after getting new fixtures installed. 

Newer pipes and fixtures also reduce the odds that you’ll have a plumbing emergency, like a burst pipe, or even the need to pay for routine repairs like leaks and clogs as often. Having to call our plumber to fix this and that repeatedly throughout the year can really take a toll on your wallet. Finally, new plumbing is made with better materials that will last much longer than those that were made in decades past, meaning that they won’t have to be replaced again for quite some time. 

When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Lafayette vs Hire a Plumber?

Property owners are typically responsible for hiring our plumbers on their own to handle the various water and plumbing issues that may arise on or around their property. In rare cases, a person will need to call the water utility company. If, for example, you have a question about your water bill, you need to start or stop your service, or you see a water main leak or sewage backup on public property, you should contact them instead of hiring our plumbers. To report a water or wastewater problem on public property, you can call the water utility company’s emergency line at (337) 291-5700.

When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Lafayette?

You will need a plumbing permit from the City of Lafayette any time you have new plumbing fixtures installed or existing ones rearranged within your home. To obtain a plumbing permit, you typically have to pay a fee and have a professional inspect your home and plumbing project to ensure that it can be done safely and will adhere to local codes and ordinances. 

The only cases where you won’t need a plumbing permit are when you are getting your existing plumbing fixtures repaired but not replaced or rearranged. Plumbing jobs like fixing small leaks or snaking clogs usually don’t require a permit, though our plumber will know which projects need one and which ones don’t. 

It can be tempting to sneak around and have unpermitted work done on your home, but you may be subjected to hefty fees if the city discovers it. Suppose your unpermitted work leads to accidents or the destruction of your property. In that case, your homeowner’s insurance is also not obligated to cover the damages, leaving you to pay for any destruction out of pocket. It’s also much more costly to bring home with unpermitted work up to code than it would be to do it right the first time, so it’s best to take the right steps and follow city ordinances.