AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Lowell, MA

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Lowell?

Lowell, named after Francis Cabot Lowell, a local figure in the Industrial Revolution, was incorporated in 1826 to serve as a mill town in Massachusetts. Consequently, the city became known as the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution because of its factories and textile mills. Later, many of Lowell’s historic manufacturing sites were preserved by the National Park Service to create Lowell National Historical Park. 

Even though the city is filled with endless history, unique sites, and a rich environment that tends to be a favorite for tourists and residents alike, it is not without its faults, especially when it comes to the city’s numerous plumbing issues. 

Fortunately, Lowell homeowners can minimize these issues and ensure that these plumbing problems do not worsen into more costly home expenses. However, before any preventative measures can be taken, it is vital that you first learn about some of the more common plumbing issues that Lowell residents face.

Old Pipes

Aging pipe systems often develop a slew of problems, including drainage issues, leaks, buildup in drains, and significant pipe backups. Plus, these old pipes can also be quite harmful to your safety and your health, primarily when these pipes corrode and more of the heavy metals from the pipe are released into the water. For these reasons, it is imperative that homeowners in Lowell get their pipes checked regularly by skilled plumbers, especially since the median age of the homes in Lowell is over 70 years old, meaning that most pipes in the area may not be in the best working condition. 

Clogged Pipes

Unfortunately, no matter how new or high-tech your appliances are, all plumbing fixtures are subject to clogged drain lines. Among some of the more common culprits are food, grease, hair, oil, bath toys, and soap. Although not all of these clogs require an experienced plumber, if these clogs are left unresolved, they can lead to significant cracks, backups, and even devastating structural damages. 

Low Water Pressure

If you experience a consistent drop in the water pressure, it can indicate a leak, a faulty pressure reducing valve, corrosion, mineral buildup, or other potential problems. Even worse, if you continue to let this water pressure problem persist, it can leave homes and offices without adequate water supplies to meet people’s needs. 

How Does the Water in Lowell Affect Your Plumbing?

The most commonly found water quality issues in private wells in Lowell are from Manganese, Iron, and the hard water minerals Magnesium and Calcium. Iron and Manganese are naturally occurring minerals generally found in New England’s water supply that cause orange or black staining. Plus, even a tiny amount of these minerals can have a significant aesthetic effect on a home’s appliances, fixtures, and plumbing distribution systems, while a high level of Manganese can also pose a serious health issue.

In addition, when your pipes experience repeated exposure to hard water, it can also cause limescale buildup, which will eventually clog the drains and decrease your home’s water quality. That is why you must watch out for signs that can indicate you may need water treatment. These signs typically include the following:

• Glassware that is foggy after washing
• Dry skin or dull hair after showering
• Rashes on the skin after showering
• Smelly or cloudy water
• Weird tasting water
• Noticeable sediments in your water
• Frequent health problems such as stomach issues

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Lowell?

Generally, plumbing work in Lowell can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on the complexity of the job. That is why before starting your next plumbing project, it is crucial to be aware of certain factors that can impact the overall costs of the work. 

These factors typically include the following:

Cost Factor: Labor Costs

If your plumbing work requires emergency plumbing services, you will likely have to pay substantially more money than for a regularly scheduled repair visit. However, before you let these costs deter you from getting the help you need. You must remember that emergency plumbing work is often critical in preventing future harm to the house due to water damage. 

On the other hand, if your plumbing does not require any emergency visits, the average plumbing costs often depend on the work that needs to be done. For instance, fixing a leaky faucet will be significantly less money than the cost of installing a new water heater. 

Cost Factor: Expensive Materials

In general, most plumbing jobs are not overly complicated, nor do they require a lot of expensive materials. For example, clogged drains and running toilets are often quick fixes for our experienced plumbing professionals. However, if your plumbing is more complex and requires specific replacement parts that our plumbers don’t have, the price of the job can notably increase, as you will often be on the hook for the costs associated with obtaining these expensive materials. 

Cost Factor: Difficulty of the Job

Another important factor that you need to consider is the complexity of the plumbing work that needs to be done. Usually, when plumbing work is more complicated, your plumbing bills can increase substantially since many times, these jobs can take many hours to complete and require a wide variety of expensive parts that can raise the overall costs of the job. 

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Lowell? 

If you decide to have just any plumber take on the work, their lack of skills and experience can leave you with even more plumbing issues than you originally started with. Consequently, you will have to not only deal with the stress of finding a new and experienced plumber to take on this mess, but you will also have to deal with the hefty plumbing bills you were left with for the incorrect or incomplete work that was already done. 

For these reasons, do not waste your time with just any plumber. When you’re ready to have your plumbing serviced or new plumbing installed, contact our master plumbers for stress-free work with a satisfaction guarantee.

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

As a renter or a homeowner in Lowell, at some point, you will most likely experience some type of water-related problem. Whether this is a leak, a clogged pipe, or a significant water issue, you need to be prepared. Unfortunately, for many people, it can be difficult trying to figure out who they need to call in these circumstances. That is why we have prepared the following guidelines so you have a better understanding of who you need to contact when you have a water emergency.

Contact Your Local Utility Company in the Following Situations

You will usually want to contact your local water utility company when you experience any of the following: 

• You see a water leak on your street because of a water main break. In these situations, you will want to immediately reach out to the water utility company and have them take care of the problem quickly.
• The water goes out in your house. When this occurs, you will want to contact the water utility company and report the outage. The company will often send contractors to take care of this issue and provide you with further information regarding the status of your water and when it will be restored. 
• If you see a water leak at another person’s house, but nobody is home. In these instances, you will want to call the water utility company and have them shut off that person’s water until the homeowner can be reached. 

Contact Our Experienced Plumbers in the Following Situations

In comparison, you will want to contact our plumbing experts when the following issues arise:

• When your sink, shower, or toilet is not draining correctly. This is when you will want our plumbers to come out, verify if a clog is the source of the water back up, and take care of this issue promptly.
• There is a water leak inside the home. When this occurs, you will want to contact our skilled plumbers to come out and tackle this issue for you. Just make sure you remember to shut off the water while you wait for the plumber. Otherwise, the leaking water can wreak havoc on your home. 
• When your water bill spikes suddenly. In this case, you will want to have our master plumbers come quickly and figure out what is wrong. However, it may be beneficial to also reach out to the water utility company and explain the situation. Sometimes, if you can show that your large bill resulted from a water leak, but you had the issue taken care of, the water company may adjust your invoice accordingly.

When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Lowell?

According to the Massachusetts building code, permits are not needed for ordinary repairs, which are often defined as any maintenance that does not affect the building’s structure, fire protection systems, egress, fire ratings, energy conservation provisions, sanitary, gas, electrical, or plumbing utilities. However, the city may still need a plumbing permit, depending on the work that needs to be done. 

That is why before your next plumbing project or repair, it is best that you reach out to the Division of Development Services and speak with a Chief Plumbing Inspector to confirm whether you need a permit, and if so, how to obtain one.