AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Allentown, PA

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Allentown?

Plumbing issues may come in different forms and complexities, but one thing is for sure: professional and experienced plumbers can fix them. Allentown, like any other city across the country, has its fair share of plumbing issues.

Here are some common plumbing issues in Allentown:

Clogged Tubs or Sinks

A clogged tub or sink can be a serious annoyance – you have to wait for hours for the used water to drain and have to contend with the unsightly residue it leaves behind. Allentown has hard water, which can cause mineral buildup and may raise the incidence of clogged pipes. When ignored, clogged tubs or sinks are perfect breeding grounds for bacteria and fungi. Standing water allows these bacteria and fungi to spread rapidly, leading to all sorts of health problems. If you’re experiencing clogged tubs, sinks, or drains, have us resolve this problem.

Dripping Faucets

You won’t have any peace with a dripping faucet. The sound of the water droplets hitting the stainless steel sink can grate on your nerves the whole night, and that isn’t all. A dripping faucet will drive your water bills right through the roof if you don’t plug them immediately. The problem is often a stiff, worn, or dislodged internal washer, but you can fix it yourself. If a DIY fix fails, it’s a sign that you better call us to do the fixing for you.

Faulty Water Heater

You turn on the shower and cringe immediately as a sheet of cold water stings your skin. The indicator indicates it’s ON, but the water is ice-cold. It means your water heating system has problems that need a professional plumber, like us, to fix. But you have to be sure the culprit isn’t low water pressure before you can engage the services of experienced and professional plumbers.

Having a faulty water heater imposes a hazard on you. If there’s an apparent leak coming from the water heater, call us right away. It is a must that you follow preventive maintenance for your water heater. We can help you develop a plan to help extend the life of your water heater. 

Blocked Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposal is a handy household appliance in Allentown, but it isn’t indestructible. It develops problems when you run it without water or attempt to dispose of incompatible items which clog up the system. Overuse, especially in older homes in Allentown’s Historic District, can also lead to jammed garbage disposal, leading to inconvenience, then stinky garbage disposal. If this happens to you, call Mr Blue Plumbing right away. We are highly experienced in repairing broken garbage disposals or installing a replacement if necessary. 

How Does the Water in Allentown Affect Your Plumbing?

Whether the water flowing through your plumbing is soft or hard, it will always have an impact on the pipes, drains, taps, faucets, and any other component of your plumbing system. Water corrodes the pipes, leaving behind chemical compound deposits, resulting in blockages of drains and faucets.

Allentown draws its water from the surface and ground sources. The water accumulates and dissolves calcium and magnesium compounds from the soil before it’s supplied to residents through public drinking water systems. This had a big effect on the water hardness in Allentown.

According to the guidelines of water classification, Allentown water is hard. Basically, if your water has 60 mg/L or less of calcium carbonate, it is soft. Chemical compositions of between 61 mg/L and 120 mg/L would be moderately hard water; 121 mg/L to 180 mg/L hard water and anything beyond 180 mg/L would be very hard water.

Allentown’s water falls in the 121 to 180 mg/L category, meaning homeowners in this city are dealing with hard water. It has the following implications on your plumbing:

• Accumulation of limescale can cause constant clogging of faucets and taps. This may reduce the quality of the water flowing out of your taps and faucets.
• Narrowing and eventual blockages of drains and the piping may lead to slow drains and overflowing toilets.
• To avoid major plumbing issues, you have to conduct proactive plumbing inspections regularly to identify potential problems and fix them before they escalate into serious issues.

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Allentown?

Allentown’s plumbing costs are anywhere between $112 and $810 depending on your plumbing needs, such as installing new pipes, fixing a pipe, or unblocking a drain. Homeowners in Allentown pay an average of $461 to have their plumbing issues remedied. Some plumbers operate on a fixed rate model if the variables involved make it practical. However, what you will pay at the end of the day depends on various other cost factors.

Cost of Replacement Parts

The hourly rate won’t be the only thing you will be looking at if your plumbing requires replacing faulty items. We will scope the work, calculate the cost of the replacement parts, and bundle it together with other charges to arrive at the final figure. You will pay more if we have to replace entire sections of pipes or several sinks than replacing a few taps and faucets.

Complexity of the Plumbing Job

The final cost of your plumbing repairs in Allentown will also depend on the difficulty of the task at hand. If we have to spend the whole day identifying and fixing problems, you may pay more than if they spent a few minutes at your home. Some repairs, such as fixing leaking underground pipes, or drains hidden in the walls, may take longer than expected and bump the costs.

Permits

Some plumbing projects, such as overhauling the entire plumbing system, may require permits. If you live in the Historic Districts of Allentown, it may become necessary at one point to replace their entire system because of age. You will have to observe Allentown building codes relating to historic homes before embarking on plumbing repairs.

We will source the permits for you, but their cost burden will fall squarely on your shoulders. We will roll it together with other charges and make the final quotation. And you cannot avoid permit charges because the law would catch up with you sooner or later and make you pay dearly.

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Allentown?

Better plumbing will definitely save you a lot of money. Older homes with aging plumbing systems are very much susceptible to leaks, breaks, and collapse, leading to potential flooding and water damage in your home. Replacing the entire plumbing or sewer system will eliminate the problem and help avoid larger and more expensive problems later on. Reach out to us so we could provide the best plumbing plan for you so you could save more in the future.

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

When you come across a plumbing problem — water spill across the street, water leakages from pipes within your home, abnormally high water bills, and others – you may wonder who to call between the City of Allentown utilities or us.

Generally, you shouldn’t bother the water utility company in Allentown for any plumbing issues within your home. Some internal issues may be tricky, such as an abnormally high water bill that will make you think there’s a problem with the water meter. The truth is that Allentown water has no way of telling what happens to your water after it has passed through the meter. You will have to contact us for thorough inspections to identify the problem.

One technical plumbing issue is low water pressure because you may not know whether it’s internal or external. However, it could do you a lot of justice by stepping out and visiting your neighbors. Are they facing the same problem? If yes, you need to call the City of Allentown water, while a no would mean you consult us.

Other plumbing issues are more obvious, such as a mainline breakage across the street. Too much water would be flowing down the alleys rather than into your home, causing low water pressure or no water at all in your houses. The Allentown water utility company would best handle such an issue.

When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Allentown?

Before you embark on your plumbing project or repairs, it’s important to determine whether they need permits. Permits ensure all your plumbing work complies with the City of Allentown plumbing codes and zoning laws. They are also evidence that your structures meet the safety and sanitary standards required by the government. This means that permits ensure a safe and secure environment for your habitation.

Do keep in mind that permit requirements vary from city to city and sometimes change or aren’t easy to interpret by a layperson. It may not even be clear which plumbing task requires a permit and which one doesn’t. It’s important to check with Allentown municipal laws or consult us before embarking on any plumbing project.

Generally, you need a permit for any large projects that require changes to your home’s plumbing system. Such projects include:

• Repiping your home
• Sewer line replacements
• Replacing your drain lines
• Water heater installation
• Relocating plumbing
• And anything else that involves digging into the ground or reaching into your walls to repair hidden pipes.

Most simple projects, such as replacing toilets, faucets, or taps, may not require licensing. But it’s always necessary to be sure because not many jobs are as obvious as conducting minor replacements. Check with us, or contact the City of Allentown for more information.