AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Weymouth, MA

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Weymouth?

Weymouth has the distinction of being one of the oldest settlements in Massachusetts, second only to Plymouth. Residents enjoy the advantages of living near two rivers, as well as the natural beauty of Webb Memorial State Park. The town is only minutes away from Boston, making it easy to enjoy the cultural attractions of the city.

Of course, as is the case anywhere, residents of Weymouth occasionally encounter plumbing challenges. Some of the more common issues that cause residents to reach out to us at Mr. Blue Plumbing include:

• Leaky pipes. Over time, pipes will age and corrode and rust will form throughout the plumbing system. This corrosion eats away at pipes, creating openings for water to leak out. Discoloration or warping can be signs of corrosion. The material in older pipes cannot resist corrosion as much as newer pipes can.
  
• Low water pressure. 
  
• Clogged drains. All plumbing systems in Weymouth, MA get clogged at some point. Most of the time, it’s just the build-up of common objects that go through the drain such as paper, hair, food, or grease. Over time these objects start to clog the pipes.
  
• Frozen pipes. In general, when temperatures around your pipes goes below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, pipes can freeze and burst. However, there are other factors that can affect this, including proximity of pipes to working or living spaces, insulation, and air flow. One of the biggest contributing factors is installing pipes within wall spaces that face areas of the structure heavily buffeted by wind.

How Does the Water in Weymouth Affect Your Plumbing?

Weymouth’s water supply comes from two main sources, the Great Pond Reservoir and the Mill River basin. It has a separate treatment plant for each source.

The hardness level of a city’s water is determined by the amount of calcium and magnesium deposits that it is found to contain. Water in the Weymouth area generally qualifies as moderately hard. Water that is considered hard contains a higher level of dissolved calcium and/or magnesium.

The moderately hard water in Weymouth may have no immediate effect on your plumbing. But over time, you may begin to notice its effects. The more of these minerals are in your water, the more damaging it is for your pipes, due to the amount of deposits that can end up building up in your plumbing system. As mentioned previously, the mineral buildup can also contribute to low water pressure in your Weymouth home and can make it more difficult for your plumbing to drain correctly. If you notice these issues in your pipes, it may be time to get in touch with us at Mr. Blue Plumbing.

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Weymouth?

People often put off a call to the plumber because they are worried about what service might cost. Putting off small repairs can backfire, however, if one lets a problem continue to grow. In such cases, your expenses can easily add up if minor problems are not dealt with. Of course, it’s impossible to predict with any certainty what our plumbers might cost in Weymouth because so much depends on the services that you need. Nevertheless, it is possible to get a general idea of a range of plumbing charges that Weymouth residents could expect to incur. The average cost of a plumbing project in Weymouth in 2021 was $519 but could range anywhere from $126 to $912 or more. As mentioned above, though, several factors go into determining how much you ultimately pay for your plumbing service.

These factors may include:

Type of Service

Plumbing service can vary from simple repairs, such as unclogging a sink or toilet, to more involved endeavors, such as locating an underground leak or installing a water heater. Expenses will of course increase along with the duration and complexity of the project. Unclogging a sink or toilet will clearly be less costly than a project that requires digging up the earth, for example. And should you have an emergency, the costs will rise even more. In most cases, rush or off-hours service come with premium price tags. Finally, there’s always the unexpected to contend with. In doing one project, our plumbers may discover unknown, hidden damage to pipes, perhaps caused by soft water, flooding, or simply age. These surprises can lead prices to increase even more.

Fees

As mentioned above, the amount of work that must go into a plumbing job will differ by the scope of the project. What can also vary are the additional expenses of any possible permits or fees required for the project. Should a fee be required for your work, that will of course end up coming out of your pocket, even if our plumbers is the person who pays it upfront. As discussed further below, Weymouth requires fees for certain types of plumbing work, which adds to the overall cost. 

Cost of Materials and Supplies

Costs of materials are becoming difficultto predict these days, thanks to changing in pricing resulting from supply chain challenges. This occurs as much in plumbing as in any other industry. Thus, any research you do on pricing for your project today may no longer apply should you decide to wait for a few months or even weeks before asking our plumbers to take on the project.

Can Better Plumbing Save you Money in Weymouth?

In the past several years, the Town of Weymouth has become very strict about water conservation. In fact, due to the amount of water that the community was using previously, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection ordered Weymouth to reduce its consumption in 1994. Currently, any water use applications issued by the town must have a 2:1 water savings ratio.

Projects related to Weymouth’s focus on water conservation include the installation of low flow toilets, low flow showerheads, and low flow faucets. The town is quite proud of its success in reducing water consumption throughout the municipality. For some ideas on how you can contribute to Weymouth’s conservation goals, read on.

Fix Leaks

Here’s a statistic that may surprise you: Because of leaks, American households can waste up to 10,000 gallons of water per year. Fixing those leaks can save you so much money. Even the tiniest leaks should be repaired because they can create water damage to ceilings, floorings, and other fixtures over time. 

Update Fixtures

In order to save on water costs, you will want to make sure that your fixtures are updated. This will involve replacing older toilets and faucets with newer, low-flow models, among other needed tasks. Low-flow fixtures aren’t costlier than regular fixtures, and they often more than pay for themselves over their lifetime. For maximum water efficiency, the Department of Energy recommends that your shower head has a flow rate of less than 2.5 GPM.

Winterize Pipes

Residents of Weymouth are well aware of how cold our winters can be. Knowing how frigid it can get in our city, it’s important you prepare your pipes for the freezing temperatures. As mentioned above, frozen pipes can lead to your pipes bursting, which can, in turn, lead to more problems. Here are some steps that you can take to ensure your pipes aren’t affected by the cold:

• Close the garage door
• Let your faucet drip.
• Keep the heat on in the house.
• Insulate your pipes as much as possible

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

Most minor plumbing problems are suitable for our professional plumbers. Minor leaks, fixture installations, and problems of that sort are all minor. There are times, though, when it is likely a better idea to reach out to a utility company such as the Weymouth Water and Sewer Department. Read on for some examples of situations where it is better to choose one or the other.

Water Leaks Outside the Home

If you see a suddenly soaked patch of ground in your yard, or your driveway is beginning to strangely crumble, or your water bill is increasing for no apparent reason, you may begin to suspect that you have a water line break somewhere outside your house. But if this is the case, who do you call? The answer depends mostly on whether the leak is in a water line on your property or in a line owned by the utility company. If the leak is in a line owned by the company, you’re in luck: the Water and Sewer Department will need to perform the repair at their own cost. You can contact them at (781) 337-5100.

If it is in a line on your property, however, you may be in for a costly plumbing bill. If you’re not sure where the leak might be occurring, you will likely want to call one of our knowledgeable plumbers who can locate the problem point before proceeding further.

Water Supply Issues

If you have no water coming into your home or your water pressure drops suddenly, it’s time to investigate. Start by checking with your neighbors if they have similar issues? If so, your best bet will be to contact the water and sewer department. They can send a service professional to inspect the line that connects to your house and see if there are any issues.

If yours is the only home on the block with no water, however, you should call our experienced plumbers. The leak is most likely somewhere on your property. Before calling our plumbers, make sure to check whether you have any partially closed valves that could explain the problem. If not, our plumbers would be your best choice for identifying and fixing the problem. The problem may be from clogged or rusty pipes, obstructed aerators, or even something like tree roots invading your pipes. 

When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Weymouth?

While obtaining a permit for your plumbing project may seem cumbersome, these permits are some of the main ways in which local governments can ensure that structures remain safe for their residents and that contractors follow all applicable building codes. Only licensed plumbers can get permits for performing plumbing work. You do not need a permit for minor repairs such as relocating or replacing a faucet, valve, or other parts of your plumbing fixtures, or waste, water supply, vent, sewer, soil, drainage, or similar piping. These minor repairs do not include any work which may affect public health. In Weymouth, the local government has the following fee requirements related to building codes: 

Fees

“There shall be fees, payable to the Town of Weymouth, for building, electrical, plumbing, and gas fitting permits for the erection, alteration, demolition, or moving of structures or building systems. The fees shall be as set by the Inspector of Buildings in accordance with 780 CMR 114.3, 114.3.1, Massachusetts State Building Code and § 5-305 of these ordinances.”

An advantage of hiring a knowledgeable, local plumbing professional is that he or she will be familiar with the municipal permit requirements, saving you the time and effort of sorting through the bureaucracy.