Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in New Orleans?
- 2 How Does the Water in New Orleans Affect Your Plumbing?
- 3 How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in New Orleans?
- 4 Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in New Orleans?
- 5 When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in New Orleans Vs Hire a Plumber?
- 6 When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in New Orleans?
What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in New Orleans?
New Orleans is a Louisiana city located on the Mississippi River, near the Gulf of Mexico. It is nicknamed The Big Easy because of its round-the-clock nightlife, cuisine that reflects its history as a mix of French, American, and African cultures, and its vibrant live music scene. To cap off its festive spirit, the city is also known for its late winter carnival called Mardi Gras, which is famed for its brassy costumes and street parties.
Yet, even though the city is filled with beautiful and historical sights and a rich environment that brings tourists from around the world, it is not without its flaws, especially when it comes to the area’s plumbing.
Thankfully, there are things that New Orleans residents can do to prevent these issues from escalating into costly home expenses. However, for these homeowners to take these preventative measures, they need to first understand what some of the more common plumbings issues are in the city.
Aging Pipes
Aging pipe systems can cause many problems including water leaks, drainage problems, and pipe backups. Plus, these old pipes can also result in a slew of safety and health concerns, primarily when they corrode and more heavy metals from the pipe are released into the water. For these reasons, homeowners in New Orleans must get their pipes checked regularly, especially in areas with an abundance of historic neighborhoods and architecture, like the French Quarter which has homes over 200 years old.
Clogged Drains
If you start to notice a plumbing issue in your home, the first thing you need to do is check your drains. Clogged drains are one of the most common pipe problems that can cause major issues if they are not solved quickly. These drains can often get clogged by dirt, grease, hair, food particles, or any other items that have gone through the drain but are insoluble. Homeowners must regularly check their pipes or call us for a professional inspection to ensure they remain unaffected.
Backed-Up Sewer
Typically, sewer backups will leave unwanted messes that can make a whole house smell bad. Not only will these messes result in disgusting problems, but they can also be a massive headache when they occur on a holiday or the weekend and you require professional help fast.
In general, these backups tend to occur after clogged drain issues and heavy rainfalls. Unfortunately, this can mean bad news for New Orleans residents since the state ranks third among all U.S. locations as the rainiest area because of its yearly average rainfall.
Low Water Pressure
If your pipeline has a clog in it or air, it can lead to low water pressure. This low water pressure problem is often determined by the speed of the water coming out of your faucet. For example, if your normally-flowing shower water now only trickles, you may have a water pressure problem. Even though this problem can occur for a variety of reasons, some of the more common causes include:
- A leak in the pipes that supply water to your home
- A sudden break in the mainline
- A buildup of deposits within the faucet aerators
How Does the Water in New Orleans Affect Your Plumbing?
Millions of people across the country rely on hard water which contains high concentrations of dissolved minerals. Fortunately, not only is this type of water safe to drink, but the dissolved minerals in the water may actually be beneficial for those consuming the water.
However, the same cannot be said for the plumbing. In New Orleans, where hard water is prevalent, pipes that experience repeated exposure to hard water can face limescale buildup, which can eventually cause the drains to clog and decrease the overall water quality in the home.
For these reasons, it is vital that homeowners watch for signs that may indicate that they need water treatment. These signs include:
- Dull hair after showering
- Dry skin after showering
- Rashes on the skin after showering
- Smelly or cloudy water
- Foggy glassware after washing
- Weird tasting water
- Noticeable sediment in the water
How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in New Orleans?
Plumbing work in New Orleans can range anywhere between a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on the job’s difficulty. Before starting your next plumbing repair project, it is imperative that you take certain factors into account that can impact the overall cost of the work.
The Labor Costs
If you have plumbing work that requires emergency services, you will most likely have to pay more money than for a scheduled repair visit. Yet, it is critical that you do not cancel these repair jobs, even if the costs are higher. Remember, emergency plumbing work is crucial in preventing future harm to your house due to water damage, and should not be ignored.
However, if your plumbing work does not require any emergency visits, the average cost of the job will depend on the work that needs to be done. For example, leaky faucets or clogged drains will be less costly than a job that requires installing a new water heater.
The Complexity of the Job
Another factor to consider is the complexity of the plumbing job. Generally, if the plumbing work is more complicated, the bill can increase substantially because these jobs often take us many hours to complete and require expensive parts that will raise the overall costs of the project.
The Cost of Materials
If your plumbing job is a standard issue such as a clogged drain, leaky pipe, or running toilet, our experienced plumbing professionals can quickly take care of most of these issues. However, if the plumbing work is more complicated and requires unique replacement parts that our plumber does not have on hand, the price of the job can notably increase. You will be responsible for the costs that are associated with obtaining these new, expensive parts.
Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in New Orleans?
Finding a plumber in New Orleans is not difficult. However, just because finding a plumber in the city is relatively easy, it does not mean that these plumbers will be capable of taking on your unique plumbing project.
If you let an inexperienced plumber handle your plumbing, it can often leave you with more plumbing problems than you originally started with. This can mean bad things for your pipes and your wallet because not only will you have to deal with the stress of finding a new and experienced plumber to take on all these new plumbing issues, but you will also have to deal with the plumbing bills for the work that was already done.
As a result, it is best not to take your chances. You can always rely on Mr. Blue Plumbing to take on your plumbing project and complete it correctly the first time around.
When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in New Orleans Vs Hire a Plumber?
Whether you are a New Orleans homeowner or renter, at some point, you may experience some water-related issues including a clogged drain, a leaky pipe, or a severe water issue. Regardless of the problem, you need to be prepared and know who to call.
Fortunately, you will not have to stress about this issue any longer. In the guidelines below, we will walk you through who you need to contact when you have a water emergency.
The Water Utility Company
You will want to call your local water utility company when you notice any of the following issues:
- Water Goes Off: In these situations, you need to contact the utility company fast and report the outage. The company will often send workers to the area to figure out what went wrong and fix the problem. They can also provide you with an update regarding the outage and when you can expect to have your water back.
- Leak on the Street: If you see a significant leak on your street, it is usually because of a water main break. When this occurs, you need to immediately call the water utility company and let them know they have to take care of this problem fast.
- Water Leak at Other People’s Houses: If you notice a leak at a neighbor’s house, but nobody is home, you will want to contact the water utility company and have them shut off the neighbor’s water until they can be reached.
A Plumber
On the other hand, you will want to contact an experienced New Orleans plumber in the following situations:
- Clogs: When your sink, shower, or toilet are not draining correctly, you will want our plumbers to come out and verify the source of the clog and have them take care of the problem quickly.
- Water Leaks: If you notice a water leak inside your home, you need to make sure you call us to check on this issue fast. However, as you are waiting for our plumber to arrive, make sure you shut off your water so that the leak doesn’t cause any more havoc to your home.
- Spikes in Your Water Bill: If your water bills start to spike suddenly and for no good reason, you need to have our plumbers come and check for leaks or issues with your pipes. It may also be a good idea to call the utility company and explain the situation to them. In some instances, if you can show that the large bill was due to a water leak, but you took care of it, the water company can adjust your invoice accordingly.
When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in New Orleans?
In general, no property owners in New Orleans should allow any installation, addition, alteration, or connection to be made to any water, solid, drain, water pipe, or any pipe, unless a permit has first been obtained through the Plumbing Department of the Sewerage and Water Board.
Before starting any plumbing repair work, it is a good idea to contact the department and find out if you need a permit and, if so, what you need to do to get one.