AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN Denton, TX

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Denton?

Being a homeowner in Denton, TX, is no easy task to take on, but it is a rewarding one since home appreciations have increased by more than 7% in the last decade. Without taking improving property values into consideration, plumbing and maintenance can be a hassle for the average Denton homeowner.

Sure, selling your house may not be difficult (given its plumbing is in good standing), but keeping up with maintenance and repairs in the plumbing of old homes can be challenging — and anyone in Denton knows most homes have been around a while. The median age of Denton real estate is as high as 26 years old, with as many as 16.5% being built in the 90s (compared to the state of Texas average of 15.5%) and more going further back than that. 

Now 26 doesn’t sound like much when you think about your lifespan, but a home 25+ is looking at potentially outdated and aging problems, among other things. Here are some common plumbing issues that make their way in the Denton area.

Indoor Plumbing Problems:

• Old Pipes — like with everything, your plumbing has a lifespan, and therefore, needs extra love and care as your pipes start to get older. Since just the average in Denton is 26+ years, chances are your pipes are either old, getting there, or maybe even just due for some maintenance to ensure they’re properly working up until they get old. Aging signs include wet spots, higher water bills for seemingly no reason, water discoloration, rusting pipes, and more.
• Faulty water heaters — a significant problem to get fixed right away, Denton residents often run into the problem of faulty water heaters. Considering this influences at-home tasks like baths and showers, dishwashing, and laundry, you’ll want to be sure to look out for reduced water flow and hot water, leaking water heater, noise concerns, new smells, coloration, and more. 
• Bathroom clogs and running toilets — bathroom clogs and running toilets are standard in Denton. The City of Denton has a page dedicated to informing residents on adequately maintaining their drain and preventing sewage backups (more on that in outdoor plumbing). Consult the City of Denton for what can and cannot go in your drains to avoid clogging problems.
• Leaky pipes — whether it is because your pipes are old, you’re having water pressure issues, or the Denton climate (drastic temperature change) is the cause, dealing with leaky pipes can become highly costly over time. Early detection is essential, so don’t hesitate to call our plumbing experts for assistance when you hear or see those drips.

Outdoor Plumbing Problems:

• Frozen pipes — While you may be thinking lows in Denton only typically get down to 30, you should keep in mind that 32-degrees is considered freezing. Not to mention the 2021 electrical outage disaster in North Texas, followed by freezing rain and snow, reminded us all that Denton isn’t clear from freezing temps and storms. The severe cold can cause the water in pipes (like those sprinklers, swimming pool supply lines, and outdoor hoses we all love in the Texas summer heat) to freeze and expand, busting open pipes. 
• Sewer damage or backup — this more rare but possible occurrence can happen to any property in Denton, especially since pipes are interconnected and several things like trees, pipe collapses, and blockage issues can damage them. Whether you pay for this problem to be resolved depends on if it’s your line or the city’s sewer line.

How Does the Water in Denton Affect Your Plumbing?

When it comes to the water in Denton, supply primarily comes from the surface water in Lake Lewisville and Lake Ray Roberts. When sourcing your water from lakes, your water supply is subject to various naturally occurring minerals like magnesium carbonate, iron, and more.

The North Texas Municipal Water District reports that water supplies are ‘moderately hard’ for this reason. For your pipes, this means there is a ‘moderate’ risk of mineral buildup in your pipes that can lead to clogging, stress on pipes, reduced water flow, and more.

On the other hand, according to a recent City of Denton Water Quality report, plumbing can also affect your water quality. So you need to keep up with plumbing maintenance and repairs. For instance, the report says that although Denton has high-quality drinking water, materials and components in your plumbing can affect the lead and copper levels in your water.

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Denton?

When calculating your plumbing costs in Denton, it’s important to note that prices fluctuate more or less depending on the following factors: the time the job takes, the service you need, and additional charges added if it’s repiping. The typical costs average around $450 but can fluctuate quite a bit depending on the below factors.

Cost Factor: Hourly Charge

Depending on how long your plumbing repair takes, our plumbers’ total rates will vary. With that in mind, the average cost for our plumbing services in Denton is around $69.34 an hour, with a range between $64.97 and $73.71.

Cost Factor: The Service You Need

Plumbing costs can vary significantly depending on the job. For example, a small job involving installing or repairing faucets, pipes, and fixtures will only cost you a couple of hundred dollars in Denton. Still, things like septic tank installations and bathroom installations can hit the high thousands of dollars. Discussing your plumbing problem with our plumbing experts will help you determine whether your service problem will be expensive or not.

Cost Factor: Repiping Costs (Home Remodels or Home Additions)

Many homeowners need repiping in a remodel or home addition, but in Denton particularly, people usually need repiping to resolve their pipe-rusting problems. This is because so many homes in Denton are older, and therefore, more vulnerable to rust. It’s no easy job, and you could be looking at thousands more in plumbing costs. The average cost in Denton is from $3,739.20 to $4,833.60 for a 1,500 square foot home — more for bigger homes in the area.

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Denton?

When it comes to better plumbing in your Denton home, it will always save you more money to keep up with plumbing maintenance, repairs, and replacements. Now it can cost you a large lump sum upfront, but you will save much more than you spend in the long run. For this reason, having something like homeowner’s insurance to fall back on for these significant improvements is ideal.

Nonetheless, you’ll save money in the following areas:

• Utility bills — old piping, leaky pipes/faucets, and more can contribute to a higher utility bill, while better plumbing will lead to you only paying for what you use. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners as much as 10% on their water bills.
• Mold/Mildew — believe it or not, mold and mildew are common for Denton homes. Along with utility bill cost rising, leaky plumbing has a dirty habit of causing mold and mildew buildup, causing respiratory problems and skin/eye irritations. 
• Repairs and replacements — minor problems can turn into massive ones if you don’t keep up with plumbing repairs and maintenance. Most plumbing problems can be relatively quick and affordable to repair when the situation arises. Still, if you put it off (and, let’s say — cause the pipe to burst), you’re looking at hundreds in replacement costs if you’re lucky. 

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

In most cases, when you notice a leak that’s making your water bills increase for no reason, you’ll want to call our plumbers. This is because your water utility company will not help you if the leak is on your end of the property. So, if you suspect that the leak is underground and potentially on the city end of responsibility, turn off all your water valves and check your meter box (typically located in the front, under a circular metal lid). If the leak happens anywhere between the street and the meter, it’s the City’s responsibility, and if it’s somewhere between your drain and the box — contact our plumbers.

If you find that it is the City’s problem, contact the City of Denton at (940) 349-7000 and report the leak to a representative. Although you should know that most utility companies will charge you for a service that reveals the leak is on your property. For this reason, you should do everything you can to ensure it’s the city’s problem before calling them over our plumbing experts.

When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Denton?

For Denton, TX, all plumbing repair and replacement require a permit to move forward and should include any kind of alteration in the permit if there will be one. You can access the MEP Application online and either fill it out and send it in electronically or print it, fill it out by hand, and take it to the Development Services Center. Either way, there will be a minimum fee of $50 to get the permit, and an inspection is also required. 

In most cases, you would schedule an on-site inspection and wait to move forward with plumbing plans until the assessment is not only completed but approved. However, a weather-related repair update allows commercial, residential, and business properties to expedite their repair process with virtual inspections when necessary. This doesn’t mean permits are not needed; it just means inspections can be appointed sooner to cater to more severe problems faster.