Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Fort Worth?
- 2 How Does the Water in Fort Worth Affect Your Plumbing?
- 3 How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Fort Worth?
- 4 Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Fort Worth?
- 5 When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Fort Worth Vs Hire a Plumber?
- 6 When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Fort Worth?
What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Fort Worth?
Here are some of the most common residential plumbing problems in Fort Worth.
Mineral Buildup and Low Water Pressure
Mineral buildup and low water pressure are unavoidable (for the most part) in houses that have hard water. A surplus of minerals flowing through your pipe encourages layers of sediment or mineral buildup to form over time. As these layers pile on, water flow and pressure are reduced.
Malfunctioning Appliances
Hard water is tough on appliances as well. The mineral buildup that happens inside your pipes may also occur inside your appliances, such as dishwashers, heaters, and washing machines. Sediment that’s deposited inside your heater may cause it to overheat and fail as it hinders heat from escaping. Aside from this, sediment inside appliances causes them to use up more energy as they work harder and less efficiently.
Sluggish Drains
Any of the drains in your home can get clogged. The most likely ones are in the shower or tub and the kitchen sink, but other sink drains aren’t immune from the occasional clog. It all depends on how careful you are with what goes down the drain. Coupled with hard water, hair and soap residue are the primary culprits for clogged drains in bathrooms.
Commercial drain cleaners can dissolve some clogs, but are bad for the pipes. If you have a clogged drain, baking soda and vinegar are a great way to dissolve a soap or hair clog. You can also buy a drain guard to keep hair and other unwanted items out of your drain.
How Does the Water in Fort Worth Affect Your Plumbing?
All those aquifers that run underground through Texas are excellent for long-term water availability, but they also mean that Texas has some of the hardest water in the US. That groundwater that comes from the aquifers is wonderfully fresh, but the outcrop from the aquifers is rock hard, as water goes. The water itself is somewhat high in saline, which increases with depth. It is also high in sulfates and chloride as well.
How Fort Worth’s Water Compares to the Rest of Texas
You might wonder how the water gets hard when it collects in lakes and streams. The water in your faucets begins as rainfall in lakes and aquifers. There are rock formations in these bodies of water, and they erode over time. This erosion enriches the water with dissolved minerals from the rock, which absorbs into the water. The more minerals, the harder the water, and Texas has some of the hardest water in the US, ranked 6th out of 50 states (remember, it’s always better in Texas) with an average hardness of 200 parts per million (ppm). College Station (8 ppm) and Waco (41 ppm) have the softest natural water in the state, while Midland (500 ppm) has water that’s practically a solid. In Fort Worth, the water hardness is a relatively low 144 ppm.
It’s the minerals in Lavon Lake that are responsible for most of the area’s water hardness. Calcium and magnesium bicarbonates, iron, and lime are the main culprits. When these minerals integrate into the water, they are perfectly safe for human and animal consumption. The water may not taste perfect, it may leave your hair feeling stiff and sticky, and then there’s the white limescale on your dishes, but it’s really, really safe, just mineral deposits.
Where it’s not so safe is for your pipes. The presence of calcium and magnesium is damaging to the pipes in your house. The minerals eventually build up in your pipes and have a couple of negative impacts. The first is that the accumulation of minerals narrows the opening in the pipes and slows the flow of water. The second is that the minerals will also corrode your pipes, and eventually, they will fail, leaking at first and then bursting if you don’t notice the leak.
How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Fort Worth?
One reason residents in the Fort Worth area are reluctant to call us is because it’s hard for us to give an accurate estimate without making a house call to inspect the problem. The average cost for plumbing service in Fort Worth is $456, with the minimum cost being $429 and the maximum cost being $483.
This quote includes all material, labor, and equipment costs as well as project costs and cleanup fees. However, this price may vary based on three main factors for assessing a plumbing project. You can request for a written estimate from our team that details the scope of the work.
Complexity of the Job
The primary factor is the complexity of the project. A simple disposal clog will run about $150 and take less than an hour, while replacing a burst pipe in the yard involves subcontractors and equipment. Expect to pay in the thousands for complex jobs.
Location
An outside repair is almost always going to cost more than an inside job. Inside work tends to be more straightforward: Clogs, a leaky faucet, or a failing water heater. If the problem is outside, you’re looking at a project that can include trenching the yard or tunneling underneath the slab. You’ve got to pay for labor, materials, rental equipment, and an additional crew in these cases.
Scope
The overall scope of work is the final factor. If pipes are involved or a burst water heater, you’ve got to consider the cost of getting your house repaired after the plumbing is fixed, things like drywall repair and paint and landscaping.
Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Fort Worth?
Updated and energy-efficient plumbing can save you money. A new gas water heater, for example, will be more energy-efficient, and you may qualify for rebates. A whole-house water filtration system may also have rebates, and you will not have to buy bottled water, both cheaper and a smaller carbon footprint for your household.
When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Fort Worth Vs Hire a Plumber?
The City of Fort Worth is responsible for all the mains and outfalls within the right of ways and easements in the city limits. Your responsibilities are from the connector into the house.
Unless there’s a visible break in a water main past your connection point, it’s yours to fix until our team can confirm otherwise. If it’s slow drainage, ask your neighbors if their drains are slower. That may well mean a problem past your point of responsibility.
When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Fort Worth?
Per the City of Fort Worth: Changing, installing, moving, or repairing plumbing, including water heaters and shower pans, requires a plumbing permit. New sprinkler system installations and valve replacement require a plumbing permit.
Only registered and licensed building contractors or qualified homesteaders may apply for a plumbing permit.
