Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Knoxville?
- 2 How Does the Water in Knoxville Affect Your Plumbing?
- 3 How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Knoxville?
- 4 Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Knoxville?
- 5 When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Knoxville vs Hire a Plumber?
- 6 When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Knoxville?
What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Knoxville?
Knoxville is a city on the Tennessee River, located in eastern Tennessee. The city is best known for its beautiful sites and its wide range of outdoor activities, including live music, outdoor adventures, shopping, restaurants, museums, and festivals. However, it is also the history of the area that creates its charm. For instance, downtown, the Market Square district is filled with 19th-century buildings, including restaurants and shops, while the Museum of East Tennessee History has interactive exhibits that let you explore Civil War artifacts, regional art, and textiles. Plus, the area also contains James White’s Fort, which was built by the Revolutionary War captain and includes the reconstructed 1786 log cabin that was Knoxville’s first permanent building.
Even though the area is a resident and tourist favorite, it is not without its issues, especially when it comes to the area’s plumbing. Thankfully, there are things that homeowners can do to ensure that their plumbing issues do not escalate into massive home repairs. However, before these preventative measures can be applied, it is vital to learn more about some of the common plumbing issues that can be found in Knoxville.
Aging Pipes
Aging piping systems can have numerous issues and cause several problems for the home, including water leaks, drainage complications, and pipe backups. Plus, these old pipes can also cause several health issues and safety concerns, primarily when they rust away, and heavy metals in the pipe get released into the water. For these reasons, residents in Knoxville must get their pipes regularly maintained, especially in historic neighborhoods, such as Old North Knoxville, where homes are known to be over 100 years old.
Clogged Drains
Another common problem in Knoxville is clogged drains and should be one of the first things residents check when they start experiencing a plumbing problem. These clogs often result from dirt, grease, food particles, hair, and other items that have gotten lodged in the drain because they are insoluble. The hard water in Knoxville can also contribute mineral deposits to these clogs, making the blockage significantly worse. As a result, property owners must get their pipes checked regularly to ensure that they remain unaffected before the issue turns into a massive home problem.
Water Pressure Issues
Frequently, if there is clog or air in a pipeline, it can cause low water pressure. This water pressure problem is often determined by the speed of the water coming out of the tap. For instance, if your shower with normal flowing water suddenly starts only to trickle water out, then it is safe to say you may have a severe water pressure issue. Yet, even though these problems can occur for various reasons, many times they are due to a sudden break in the mainline, a build-up of Knoxville’s hard water deposits within the piping, or a leak in the pipes that supply water to the home.
Sewer Backups
A sewer backup can cause many problems for homeowners, often leaving unwanted messes that can make the whole house smell incredibly bad. Typically, these sewer backups are caused by other plumbing issues such as clogged drains or after heavy rainfall common in the area, which can mean bad news for Knoxville residents. This is because the area is not new to flooding, and every year there are widespread flash flood warnings that can wreak havoc on the plumbing.
How Does the Water in Knoxville Affect Your Plumbing?
The KUB Water Quality Laboratory, which performs more than 25,000 drinking water tests a year, is in charge of monitoring the water supply in Knoxville and ensuring the water meets the highest standards. Although the water supplied to Knoxville is one of the safest in the nation, it is still considered hard water.
Hard water is primarily caused by compounds of magnesium and calcium, along with several other minerals. However, because of its flavor and health benefits, it is often the preferred drinking water. Yet, it does require more detergents and soap for laundry and washing, and it can contribute to scaling in industrial equipment and boilers.
Plus, when hard water is prevalent in an area, the pipes that experience repeated exposure to it can face significant limescale build-up that can eventually cause the pipes to become clogged and reduce the overall quality of the water in the home.
How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Knoxville?
In Knoxville, the price of plumbing can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, with the average plumbing job costing around $400. However, there are several factors that can influence these costs, and before homeowners decide to proceed with a plumbing repair job, they must understand the factors that can impact these total expenses.
Cost Factor: The Labor Costs
Generally, labor costs will be the most substantial factor that can impact your plumbing expenses. For instance, if you require our emergency plumbing services, the price of these services will be significantly higher than a scheduled plumbing repair visit. Even though these higher costs may deter you from getting the plumbing work done, do not let them. These emergency services are often essential in preventing future harm due to water damage such as rotting and mold.
On the other hand, if your plumbing work does not require emergency services, the average plumbing costs will depend on the plumbing work you need to do. For example, installing a new water heater will be much more expensive than unclogging a drain.
Cost Factor: The Job Complexity
Another factor you need to watch out for is the job complexity. Usually, plumbing issues such as leaky pipes, clogged drains, and a running toilet can be fixed quickly by our skilled plumbing professionals. If the job involves a major plumbing overhaul, then you can expect the bill to jump significantly, as many times these jobs will take our plumbers many hours to complete and may also require expensive parts that can raise the total cost of the job.
Cost Factor: Unique Plumbing Parts
If the plumbing problem is a standard issue, our plumbing professionals will be able to fix the dilemma quickly with the parts they have on hand. In comparison, if the job is more intricate and requires unique pieces, the project’s overall costs can increase substantially because you will be on the hook for not only the labor costs but also for obtaining these expensive materials.
Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Knoxville?
Although finding a plumber in Knoxville is a relatively straightforward task and only requires you to jump on Google to obtain a list of plumbers in the area, it does not mean the plumbers you find are qualified to do the plumbing work for you. Many of these plumbers are not skilled or have the experience to take on extensive plumbing projects and what ends up happening is these plumbers can cause more plumbing issues than were initially present, ultimately leaving homeowners with extensive plumbing bills for work that was not done correctly and the headache of finding a new plumber to fix all these problems.
That is why, if you are looking for a plumber in Knoxville, Mr. Blue Plumbing is your best option. Our master plumbers have years of experience, extensive training, and knowledge to get your plumbing issue fixed permanently the first time around.
When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Knoxville vs Hire a Plumber?
If you experience a water-related problem in your home, it can be challenging figuring out whether you need to call our plumbers or your local utility company to take care of your issue. Fortunately, we are here to help you get through this dilemma. In the below guide, we will help you understand who you need to contact in a plumbing emergency.
When to Contact the Local Utility Company
If you notice a water leak on your street because of a water main break, the water in your home goes out, or you see a water leak at a neighbor’s house, but nobody is home, then you need to contact your utility department immediately. These companies will often send their contractors to investigate the issue, verify the problem, and promptly take care of the complication.
When to Contact an Experienced Plumber
In instances where your water bills suddenly begin to spike, your toilets and sinks are not draining correctly, your water sewage is backing up to your home, or you notice a water leak inside the house, it is time to call our experienced plumbers. We can come out, figure out what the problem is and ensure that the issue is taken care of quickly.
In addition, because many of the plumbing issues in Knoxville develop because of wear and tear, it is also a good idea to have our plumbers routinely check on your plumbing and make sure they stay in good shape. In fact, when you schedule these simple routine maintenance checks, they can save you a significant amount of money in the long run.
When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Knoxville?
A permit is required in Knoxville for any substantial repairs, new buildings, additions, and alterations. Additionally, most excavations and filling of land, signs, and paved parking areas may also require a permit. However, minor work (under $100 in value) such as wallpapering, painting, routine maintenance of heating, air conditions, electrical systems, and plumbing typically does not need a permit.
If the plumbing work is more involved and done in conjunction with other work performed, it may require a separate permit. For instance, permits are required for replacing or relocating a plumbing fixture or plumbing appliances that are built into a structure, such as replacing a dishwasher. For these reasons, before you start a plumbing repair job, it is best that you contact Knoxville Inspection Bureau at 865-215-2999 and verify whether a permit is needed and what steps you need to take to get one.