AFFORDABLE PLUMBING SERVICE IN New Braunfels, TX

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in New Braunfels?

New Braunfels has a humid, subtropical climate, with an annual average high temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit and an annual average low of 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The area’s yearly average rainfall of about 34 inches puts it just slightly under the national average of 36 inches.

Like most Texas homes, the houses in New Braunfels do not have basements and are built with a slab or pier and beam foundation. The extreme weather conditions that affect the New Braunfels area can cause foundation problems like shifting and settling that often create plumbing issues.

Slightly below-average yearly rainfall often creates drought or near-drought conditions followed by periods of heavy rain which saturate the ground. When the soil has reached its capacity to hold water, movement in the earth occurs, shifting the foundations of homes. This shifting can disturb the positioning of your plumbing, affecting and interrupting the operation of your plumbing system.

In addition to age and extreme weather conditions, there are several other common plumbing issues in New Braunfels. Clogged drains are common in many homes due to the buildup of material. The city’s hard water leaves mineral deposits behind on the insides of your pipes, leading to clogs, slow drains, and low water pressure.

Tree roots from the large, native tree species cause many plumbing issues in the area as they grow in search of moisture, especially during the common periods of drought in the area. Tree roots often find their way into sewer and drain lines, causing damage, major leaks, and potential loss of water pressure.

How Does the Water in New Braunfels Affect Your Plumbing?

New Braunfels Utilities provides water and sewer service for most of the city with water collected from surface and groundwater sources, including the Edwards South Balcones Fault Zone, the Trinity Aquifer, and the Guadalupe River.

While the area is known for beautiful rivers, these water sources often have high sediment levels and are considered hard water. Hard water residue can build up, reduce water pressure in your home, and have a corrosive effect on the pipes.

Hard water can also be bad for your health due to contaminants in the water and, if not treated properly, can leave your skin dry and itchy. Sediment can also contain various heavy metals, pesticides, bacteria, and other pollutants that can be a severe health risk.

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in New Braunfels?

While the average homeowner in New Braunfels spends $364, individual job costs can range from $88 to $641. The total cost of a plumbing project can vary due to the many factors involved.

The Type of Job

Two primary factors that determine the cost of a plumbing project are the amount of labor involved and the cost of materials. Our plumbers perform a wide variety of services from fixing a leaky faucet and unclogging a drain to remodeling or adding a bathroom and building or replacing entire plumbing systems. Larger and more complicated projects take longer and require more labor, but the cost of even a minor issue such as a leaky faucet can vary.

Our experienced plumbers can often find the cause of a leak and have it repaired quickly, but in other cases, the faucet, fixture, or pipe may be beyond repair and require replacement. The most significant cost of an easily reparable leak is the time and expertise of our plumbers. When a project involves the installation or replacement of a pipe or fixture, the cost of the material and labor involved will increase the price.

Specialized Equipment

Complex projects often require the use of specialized equipment. Our professional plumbers have the necessary tools and are prepared to handle almost any plumbing task, but there may be jobs that require machinery or technologically advanced equipment. You can expect the cost of your project to increase if it involves specialized equipment, including backhoes or other machinery to move soil for underground line repairs.

Emergency Service

Unfortunately, broken faucets, clogged drains, and ruptured pipes may occur at any time of the day or night. Our plumbers in New Braunfels are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including weekends and holidays. Emergency services outside regular business hours, such as late-night, weekends, or holidays, will typically have a higher labor rate. But since emergencies rarely happen at a reasonable time, it’s comforting to know that if a pipe suddenly bursts in your home, we are available to help.

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in New Braunfels?

You can save money with better plumbing in several ways in New Braunfels. In addition to fixing leaky sinks, clogged drains, overflowing toilets, and resolving a wide range of other plumbing issues, plumbers can identify areas that may soon need repair or replacement and make maintenance recommendations.

We can make recommendations to improve your water quality, such as recommending the use of water purification systems or water softeners. These improvements can save you money on repairs to appliances, such as clothes washers and dishwashers, and protect your plumbing system. Our expert plumbers can offer tips and suggestions that will save you money and protect the health of you and your family by ensuring your water is safe.

Our plumbers in the New Braunfels area will also be aware of any special incentives such as federal and state rebates or local water authority initiatives offered to homeowners for specific upgrades or equipment. In addition to being aware of local incentives, we are also mindful of regional trends of the community, such as slab movement issues or current weather trends that may negatively affect your plumbing system.

The one advantage that a newer home has is the age of the pipes and plumbing system. The pipes in older homes were often made from cast iron or even clay before building codes required the use of copper. Over time, these older style cast iron pipes can wear out, and even slight movements can cause ruptures. Replacing them can reduce your chance of an emergency and costly repairs.

When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in New Braunfels Vs Hire a Plumber?

While some plumbing issues, such as a broken pipe under the kitchen sink, definitely call for our plumbers, other issues or problems are often not as obvious. For instance, if your home is having issues with low water pressure or slow-running drains, it could be the condition of your pipes or it could be an issue for other homes in the area as well, indicating that it is a utility problem.

Plumbing issues and sewer problems that occur in your home or on your property are your responsibility, and you will need to hire our plumbers to solve them. New Braunfels Utilities provides the majority of the water and sewer services in the city. Anything that falls outside your property, such as a sewer line or water main, is often the utility company’s responsibility.

When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in New Braunfels?

The city of New Braunfels has several building codes in place involving many components in your house including your plumbing system. These building codes have a set of standards that your plumbing system must meet to ensure the safety of builders, homeowners, and the entire community.

To ensure that plumbing systems meet these standards, the city requires homeowners to apply for a building permit for most projects and have the work inspected upon completion. The city building code states that a building permit is required to install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system. A building permit is not required for minor repair jobs or replacing plumbing fixtures if the plumbing system is not altered.

New Braunfels building codes ensure that houses in the city are safe for the occupants, whether they are newer or historically significant structures. Building permits and work inspections not only keep you safe, but New Braunfels’ certified inspectors can also provide knowledge and guidance that can save time, money, and effort.

Fees for building permits and inspections vary according to the city’s current fee ordinance. If you are unsure whether your project requires a permit and inspection, you can contact the New Braunfels Building Division directly to have your questions answered.