Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are The Most Common Plumbing Issues in Las Vegas?
- 2 How Does the Water in Las Vegas Affect Your Plumbing?
- 3 How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Las Vegas?
- 4 Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Las Vegas?
- 5 When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Las Vegas vs Hire a Plumber?
- 6 When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Las Vegas?
What Are The Most Common Plumbing Issues in Las Vegas?
This may be the land of milk and honey, but it has its downside, and plumbing issues are some of the worst. Las Vegas is located in one of the driest areas in the entire world and doesn’t get much rain. In fact, less than five inches per year.
With a hot, dry climate like ours, you face several plumbing issues, such as sewage odor and pipeline cracks. We occasionally see some out-of-the-box plumbing issues, but most are run-of-the-mill. Here are the most common plumbing issues in Las Vegas:
Clogged and Leaking Pipes
Dirt, grime, food, toys, lipstick, toothbrushes — any number of things can go down your drain and end up in your pipes keeping your sinks, toilets, and faucets from delivering and draining water. The most common clogs are caused by normal things like hair, grease, and hard water mineral buildup.
In most cases, a plunger or a plumbing snake will clear up the problem temporarily, but to stop it for good, you’ll need to take extra measures.
Leaking pipes are another common reason why Las Vegas homeowners call our plumbers. Pipes leak when they wear out from sheer age, if they are rusted or oxidized, or if they have loose seams and seals. Older homes in areas such as Paradise Palms, Huntridge, and the Scotch 80s are likely to experience these types of issues.
Unless the pipes are corroded, in which case they can weaken and break anywhere, they most often fall short at the joints. The cost and depth of the problem depends heavily on the location and complexity of the leak.
Dripping Faucets
Not only is a dripping faucet highly annoying, but also it’s highly expensive. Those little drips don’t seem like that much water, but a steady drip adds up. The longer you let it go, the more expensive it can be to fix, and it’s costing you money in the meantime as well. Most people are surprised to discover how much damage a leaking faucet can do to a water bill.
Running and Overflowing Toilets
Like a dripping faucet, a running toilet can become infuriating pretty quick. A constantly running toilet can ramp up your energy bills considerably, in addition to making you endlessly jiggle the handle to get it to stop.
There are a few reasons why your toilet won’t stop running. Most involve problems with small components. The flapper valve might fit improperly after a period of time, the fill tube may loosen, or the float that indicates water level might become unbalanced. Other times it can be more serious such as a broken component.
An overflowing toilet can set the whole household on its ear. It’s a surprising emergency of the nastiest proportions that usually couldn’t happen at a worse time. There are a few reasons why a toilet might overflow. It might just be clogged, and the issue may be solved with a plunger. In other cases, the toilet float mechanism has broken, resulting in a toilet that won’t stop filling.
No matter what caused the toilet to overflow, the first step is always to shut off the water at the base of the toilet to prevent the problem from worsening.
Sump Pump Failure
Another Las Vegas plumbing issue is a failure of the sump pump. When the sump pump starts to fail, this can lead to a serious plumbing issue, flooding. One of the most common reasons why sump pumps fail is debris blocking the impeller. If the impeller is blocked by debris, then our professionals must restore the system.
Backed-Up Sewers
While fixing clogged toilets can be an easy fix, backed-up sewer lines are a complicated situation. An inspection needs to be completed to determine whether the lines need to be replaced or a repair will do. If the main sewer is blocked, turn off the valve and contact our plumbers. Our professionals will offer both green cleaning and industrial quality, superior repair products.
Broken Water Pipes
A minor pipe burst can cause severe damage. Imagine the damage from a major pipe burst. When any size pipe bursts, the first course of action is to shut off the main valve to stop flooding.
Repairing broken water pipes is complicated because some excavation may be involved, and it’s possible to hit the gas line instead of the waterline.
Low Water Pressure
The first place you usually notice low water pressure is in the kitchen or bathroom sink. The first move is to see if both hot and cold faucets are affected. If so, it’s probably an aerator problem. Deposits from our notoriously hard Las Vegas water buildup and obstruct water pressure. Fortunately, it’s an easy fix. Simply remove it, clean out any debris inside, and screw it back on.
How Does the Water in Las Vegas Affect Your Plumbing?
Las Vegas has some of the hardest water in the country, which means it contains very high levels of minerals, like calcium and magnesium. When water contains over 7 grains per gallon (GPG) of dissolved minerals, it’s considered hard water. Water with over 10.5 GPG is very hard water.
Roughly 85% of the United States has hard water, and only 15% of the U.S. has soft water naturally. Las Vegas Valley Water District water is 278 parts per million or 16 grains per gallon, classified as very hard.
Hard water isn’t a health risk, but it is a nuisance. Hard water mineral buildup causes clogs and reduces water flow. Appliances also run far less efficiently, especially after years of buildup. Water heater elements fail, and the life of the water heater is diminished as well.
Flushing your water heater out every six to 12 months is usually advised, but in Las Vegas you’ll need to do this more often, approximately once every three months works best. Without proper flushing, you can find yourself without any hot water, most likely in the shower with a head full of shampoo.
How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Las Vegas?
The average cost of a visit from our plumbers in Las Vegas is $45 to $200 per hour. A lot depends on where in Las Vegas you’re located and extraneous factors surrounding your problem.
Cost Factor: Size of Home
The size of the property is a big factor in the price of plumbing services in Las Vegas. Homes and structures of more than one story can also ramp the price up. The more plumbing there is to maintain, purchase, and install, the more it will cost.
Cost Factor: Cost of Labor
Another big factor in the price of plumbing services in the Las Vegas area is the cost of labor. It may even be the biggest factor. The cost of labor will depend on the services we need to provide. Bigger jobs will require more labor, which translates to a higher total.
Cost Factor: Timing
Emergency services are generally higher than services rendered during business hours, for obvious reasons. You know the value of these services if you’ve ever had a plumbing emergency on a holiday or in the middle of the night. The cost of paying our on-call master plumbers is added to a regular service call.
Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Las Vegas?
Plumbing is not the area of your home that you want to scrimp on. Purchasing the highest quality supplies and services available saves an immeasurable amount of money in the long run.
Replacing outdated faucets and hardware is a quick, easy, and relatively cheap plumbing job, that can save a substantial amount of money at the end of the year. Upgrade your toilet and water heater too for maximum savings.
Another way better plumbing can save you money is by insulating the water heater. Using water heater blankets saves energy as well as money. Just wrap them around the water heater and secure them in place. They add warmth to the water and save work for the heater.
When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Las Vegas vs Hire a Plumber?
All sorts of plumbing issues can occur in Las Vegas. Not all of them require the services of our plumbers. In some instances, you’re better off calling Las Vegas Valley Water District.
If you suspect a leak and the water meter is not spinning furiously, you’ll need to call Las Vegas Valley Water. They are only responsible for leaks in their lines, not the lines in the home.
If the water meter is spinning fast, the leak is in your lines somewhere. Call us right away!
Keep in mind, Las Vegas Valley Water District can charge you a service fee if the outcome and the leak turns out to be your responsibility.
If you’ve just gotten an unusually high water bill that alerted you to a leak you are responsible for, there is no cause for alarm. Las Vegas Valley Water District allows for a one-time bill adjustment when you have to repair a leak. So, it’s important to get it fixed quickly and correctly.
When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Las Vegas?
Some plumbing projects require a permit in Las Vegas. Installing a new water heater, for instance. Clark County Water Heater Code states that a permit is required anytime a project will need to be inspected.
A water heater must be properly installed, or it could explode or catch fire. Water heaters work using heat and intense pressure, making them incredibly dangerous. Improper installation can lead to myriad problems such as Legionella bacteria, fuel leaks, scalding, carbon monoxide poisoning, and mold. According to the Centers for Disease Control, improperly installed and defective water heaters cause hundreds of injuries, thousands of fires, and dozens of fatalities in a single year.
Water heater permits cost $283 as of 2021. They can be obtained by visiting Clark County Construction Services online. Create an account to access the permits and fees section.
