Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Bremerton?
- 2 How Does the Water in Bremerton Affect Your Plumbing?
- 3 How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Bremerton?
- 4 Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Bremerton?
- 5 When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Bremerton vs Hire a Plumber?
- 6 When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Bremerton?
What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Bremerton?
Incorporated in 1901, Bremerton has many homes with older plumbing systems, which are often the cause of plumbing issues. The plumbing materials and components used in homes built in the early 1900s were not as durable or safe as modern plumbing components. Older pipes often become clogged with sediment that can interfere with water pressure and cause the lines to deteriorate. Cast iron and galvanized pipes tend to wear over time, causing joints and pipes to leak or rupture.
In addition to the age of homes in Bremerton, seismic activity in the area poses a significant risk to plumbing systems. With over 1,100 earthquakes since 1931, Bremerton is considered a very high earthquake-risk area. Seismic activity and ground movement of any type can cause plumbing components to move, repositioning water and sewer lines. The sudden movement and repositioning of water and sewer lines can lead to leaks and breaks, interrupting service.
How Does the Water in Bremerton Affect Your Plumbing?
The water for the City of Bremerton comes from various sources, including surface water from the Union River, groundwater from wells located in the Bremerton area, and Port Orchard’s McCormick Woods Water System, a shared reservoir in the area between Gorst and Port Orchard. Bremerton’s water system, including the surface supply, is regularly inspected by the Washington State Department of Health.
Bremerton’s water quality is excellent due mainly to the City’s commitment to safeguarding its surface and groundwater sources. The American Water Works Association recognized the City with an “Exemplary Source Water Protection” award in 2017.
Bremerton is fortunate to have a high-quality water source that requires minimal treatment, including disinfection with chlorine and ultraviolet light and corrosion control to keep it safe. Corrosion treatment consists of increasing the pH level of the water to 8 and is a necessary and practical step to keep Bremerton’s water from leaching lead into the water from household plumbing.
One of the biggest dangers that Bremerton’s water poses is from the materials and components used in household plumbing. The lead used in many older plumbing components can leach into the water and be a severe health risk for pregnant women and young children. The longer it sits in the plumbing system, the greater the chance for heavy metals such as lead to leach into the water. To reduce the risk, before using tap water from any tap that has not been in use for six hours or more, officials recommend flushing the tap until the water is noticeably colder. Officials also recommend that you use only cold tap water for drinking or cooking as warm or hot water is likely to contain higher lead levels.
How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Bremerton?
The cost of a plumbing job is dependent on several variables. While the average homeowner spends around $415 on plumbing services in Bremerton, the actual price can be from about $115 for a simple repair job to $835 or more for extensive work.
Cost Factor: Emergency Service
Plumbing issues often occur at the worst possible time, such as late-night, early morning, weekends, or holidays. For this reason, we have plumbers available in Bremerton 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. Emergencies such as a burst pipe or an overflowing drain need immediate attention, and while you will have to pay a little more for after-hours service, you can be confident that we can solve your problem.
Cost Factor: Type of Work
Our plumbers perform a wide range of services, including minor repairs, installation of gas lines, plumbing bathrooms and kitchens, building entire plumbing systems, and much more. The cost associated with your plumbing project will vary accordingly, as the cost of fixing a leaky faucet will be considerably less than installing a new water heater or plumbing a bathroom.
Cost Factor: Financial Assistance
Several federal, state, and locally funded programs can help qualifying homeowners with various repairs, including plumbing. Many of these programs offer low-interest loans or grants to help remedy potentially dangerous problems. These programs each operate differently, with their own set of eligibility criteria and terms, but can dramatically reduce and even eliminate the cost of some plumbing services.
One such program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is Rebuilding Together, Inc. Rebuilding Together offers home repairs to low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners. The U.S.Department of Agriculture Rural Development also has a program that provides single-family housing repair loans and grants in Washington. This program provides loans to very-low-income homeowners for repairs and improvements and grants to elderly homeowners with meager incomes to remedy health and safety hazards.
Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Bremerton?
Better plumbing can save you money in the long run. Our plumbers in the Bremerton area do much more than fix leaky faucets or install new gas lines and plumbing systems. We can also offer advice on how you can save money on your water bill by replacing an old inefficient appliance such as a water heater, clothes washer, or dishwasher with a new energy-efficient model.
We can point out and repair components of your plumbing system that are in danger of failing or have begun to leak. Even a tiny leak in a faucet or a toilet that does not seal properly can add up to large amounts of wasted water. The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a faucet that drips just once per second can add up to over 3000 gallons of wasted water per year, enough water to take more than 180 showers.
A leaking showerhead with a constant drip of only ten times a minute can result in the yearly loss of over 500 gallons of water, or enough water to run your dishwasher about 60 times. A small leak in your lawn sprinkling system can be even more costly, wasting as much as 6,300 gallons of water annually.
Our professional plumbers can help you identify the source of any leaks in your home and repair them. These repairs not only begin to save you money immediately but can also spare you from extensive repairs that might become necessary if the situation is allowed to persist.
There are several ways that you can determine if you have an issue with plumbing leaks in your home. First, check your water meter before and after a two-hour interval when you have used no water. If the readings are different, it is a good indication that you have a water leak. You can quickly identify a leak by placing a few drops of food coloring into the tank, and if any of the color appears in the bowl after about ten minutes, a leak is present.
In addition to checking toilets, faucets, and fittings inside your home, pay attention to issues outside. Closely examine outside taps and pipe fittings for any water on the surface of the pipe. Also, be on the lookout for areas of the ground that always seem wet, especially near lawn sprinklers. A damp or muddy spot near the sprinkler head is often a sign that the plumbing leading to the sprinkler head has developed a crack or rupture, which can not only waste a tremendous amount of water but can also affect the aesthetics and usability of your yard.
When Should You Call the Water Utility Company in Bremerton vs Hire a Plumber?
It is sometimes challenging to determine when you should call the water utility company in Bremerton or hire our plumbers. If the problem affects more than one home in the area, such as low water pressure, or drainage problems, it may be an issue that is the water company’s responsibility. In Bremerton, water, sewer, and stormwater management are conducted by the City of Bremerton Water Department, and they are responsible for the water and sewer lines outside of your property.
Low water pressure and drainage issues that affect only your home typically require our plumbers to detect and repair the problem. These issues are often due to an old or inadequate plumbing system with pipes that have become clogged with sediment over time. Problems that involve your fixtures, such as a leaky faucet, or emergencies, such as a ruptured or broken pipe, will also require you to hire our professional plumbers to repair the problem.
When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Bremerton?
Typically, minor or emergency repairs in the City of Bremerton do not require a city permit or inspection. Bremerton does require a permit and inspection for more involved projects, including the installation of:
- Drainpipe for floor or trench drains
- Hose bibs
- Clothes washer
- Dishwasher
- Tub or shower units
- Toilets or bidets
- Bathroom, kitchen, utility, or bar sinks
- Water heaters
- Lawn sprinkler systems
- Gas fireplaces or gas fireplace inserts
- Gas or LP furnaces
- Gas pipe systems
- Water pipe changes
Simple repairs like putting in a new washer to stop a leaky faucet or unclogging a drain will not require a permit and inspection. Suppose you are unsure whether your specific plumbing project requires a permit and inspection after completing the work. In that case, our plumbers can offer guidance, or you can contact the city of Bremerton Community Development Department.