MORGANTOWN, WV PLUMBERS AND SERVICE WITHOUT THE STRESS

Looking for an affordable (and reliable) plumber in Morgantown? Great! Mr. Blue Plumbing is at your service 24/7. In this guide, we cover common questions for residents of Morgantown, including:

• How Much Does Plumbing Typically Cost In Morgantown?
• Can Better Plumbing Save You Money In Morgantown?
• When You Should Call The Water Utility Company In Morgantown Vs a Plumber?
• When Do You Need Permits For Plumbing Service in Morgantown?
• What To Expect from Mr. Blue Plumbing During Service Calls?
• And Why Mr. Blue Plumbing Is The Best Plumbing Company For You!

Want a quick pricing quote? Tell us about your project in the form, and we’ll get you connected with our expert plumbers in Morgantown, or continue reading to learn what you should consider when it comes to the plumbing in your home.

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Issues in Morgantown?

A lot of changes have been made since Zackquill Morgan settled Morgantown in 1772, and the first lot sale was held in 1785. In fact, the town has since become one of innovation, development, education, and research, promising a future of much more history to come. Some of the most distinguished history dear to us in the area include historical structures like the Old Stone House (built before 1813), Long Alley (we know it as Chestnut street today), and John Roger’s restored home on Foundry Street (built in 1840). 

That’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the value Morgantown has brought us all, which is why it is so important that we maintain our structures and take care of the community. One of the most obvious ways to do that is to keep up with plumbing and ensure the safety of not only our homes, historical structures, office buildings, etc., but also the safety of our friends and family.

Some of the most common plumbing issues to look out for in Morgantown include the following:

Water Heater Temperature

There’s almost nothing more discouraging than starting your day or ending your day with a shower that is colder or hotter than you intended it to be. Unfortunately, many of us in Morgantown experience it more than we’d like.

However, more often than not, it’s actually an easy fix. Before calling a plumber to save the day, consider checking your shower valves to see if they need to be adjusted or changing your water heater temperature to one more favorable. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the most ideal temperature to set your water heater to is 120.

If the day comes when neither of these takes care of the problem or you notice loud noises or bad smells coming from your water heater, it may be in your best interest to contact us to help resolve the issue. Morgantown’s hard water can cause your water heater to operate inefficiently. Hard water minerals can solidify and cause buildup to form at the bottom of your tank. This forms a layer between your heater burners and the water in the tank, which makes it more difficult for the burners to heat the water.

Clogging/Drain Blockage

Clogging and drain blockage is another common plumbing issue in Morgantown, especially since it’s easy to cause. One cause is mineral build-up due to Morgantown’s hard water. Another is if you have children in your home, they often grab whatever they can and drop it in drains and/or try to flush it down the toilet. Some other common causes include grease, fat, oil, soap scum, toilet paper, hair, and any other type of debris. 

In most cases, you’ll find that a plumbing snake and drain cleaner can easily do the job, but there are some scenarios where it may be more difficult (further down the drain than you can reach). It would be best to give us a call to take care of that.

Water Leaks

Arguably, the most underrated and potentially dangerous plumbing problem households deal with often, leaks can make a small problem bigger or be a sign of something bigger (i.e., clogging that’s building up pressure in pipes, causing leaks through cracks). In fact, all too often, we tend to let leaks go because they’re “not a big deal,” or we’re too busy.

This is more harmful than helpful and leads to a significant amount of water waste, making your water bill higher in the process. According to Water Sense, as many as 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day, and the average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year.

How Does the Water in Morgantown Affect Your Plumbing?

Morgantown’s water supply comes from the Monongahela River (90.5% of the population, and Cobun Creek Reservoir, for the other 9.5% of the population). This water is considered hard, with an average of 130.6 ppm – meaning there is a significant amount of calcium and magnesium. The problem with this is that hard water often causes mineral build-up in our pipes, residue when we do dishes, and can sometimes make our water look cloudy. It’s also known for deteriorating our plumbing and appliances, reducing their lifespan much faster than soft water does.

Likewise, EWG’s Morgantown Water Quality Report also revealed 21 total contaminants found in our supply, with 12 of them exceeding EWG health guidelines. While this doesn’t mean that our water supply is unsafe to drink (it’s lower than many other states and cities), it can cause havoc on our plumbing by reducing its lifespan or building up in our pipes. Unfortunately, there is no known way to completely rid our water of contaminants just yet, so the best thing we can do for now is keep up with regular inspections and maintenance checks. 

How Much Does Plumbing Usually Cost in Morgantown?

The cost of plumbing in Morgantown is actually a very reasonable price range in most cases, but the final cost can go in either direction depending on some key cost factors. For instance, factors like inspections, the type of service you need, and the size of the job are among the top contenders to dramatically change how much your plumbing service will cost.

On average, you can expect to spend $387 for a standard service, with many Morgantown homeowners paying a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $783. Here’s how the following cost factors can impact those numbers. 

Service Inspections

This service is often confused with free services called estimates (when you are given a quote based on what you say the problem is). Inspections require us to come in to identify the problem for you.

The average cost of inspections varies by service in Morgantown but can range from around $50 for leak inspections to thousands more for video inspections of drain lines and/or septic tanks.

Type of Service

Another factor to consider before doing your budgeting is the type of service or services you’re going to need to be done. Just because most homeowners in Morgantown spend about the same on plumbing doesn’t mean your service will be around the same as well. This is because a smaller, much easier job will cost you much less than one that involves more time and equipment to complete. 

Take, for instance, a toilet installation that will cost you about $150 to get done compared to a bathtub installation that costs on average $2,011.50 in Morgantown. 

Size of Job

When determining your total costs, one of the biggest factors is the complexity and size of the job and the time our professional plumbers will need to finish the job. Simpler jobs, such as replacing small bathroom fixtures, clearing clogs, and repairing small leaks most often do not take too much time and will cost you the lower end of the range. However, more involved and complicated jobs that may involve adding or moving fixtures or reconfiguring your piping system will take quite a while and add to your total bill.

Can Better Plumbing Save You Money in Morgantown?

Better plumbing will certainly save you money in Morgantown if you can keep up with regular check-ups and maintenance. This is because a plumbing system that is continuously maintained and quickly repaired/replaced when necessary will prevent big expenses down the road (i.e., from small, minor leaks that turn into pipe cracks and bursts).

Similarly, you can also save money by taking care of leaks before they cause mold, mildew, and/or water damage to a nearby area. In many cases, water damage can cost you thousands more in damage, and mold/mildew remediation can be as much as $6,000 in worse cases. Then, there’s your water bill that steadily gets higher with each drop of water.

According to the Environment Protection Agency, you can save as much as 10% on your monthly water bill. They also suggest that you check your water usage during colder months, such as January or February (a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons of water per month has serious leaks), and look at your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used (any change can be a sign of a leak). To keep your plumbing working smoothly, the largest utility service in the area, Morgantown Utility Board recommends the following tips for avoiding pipeline freezing:

• Look around your house for pipes that may be exposed to freezing temperatures (i.e., crawl spaces, attics, garages, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets where the pipes run through exterior walls).
• Remove all outdoor hoses, drain the water from them, and store them in an area that will not freeze.
• When the temperature outside becomes freezing, keep the thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and at night.
• If leaving your home during periods of cold weather, set the thermostat to maintain a temperature no lower than 55ºF.

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

When deciding whether to hire us right off the bat or give your water utility company a call, consider how many people in your area have the plumbing issue you do. If you’re not the only one, there’s a good chance you should call the water company. However, if you’re the only one, give us a call and we will send one of our professionals over to be able to direct you where to go from there.

When Do You Need Permits for Plumbing Service in Morgantown?

According to the City of Morgantown Code of Ordinances, “Any owner or authorized agent who intends to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system… or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the Building Inspection Department and obtain the required permit.”

Note, however, that you only have 180 days after filing your application to do the job or get the job done. This is because the code states, “An application for a permit for any proposed work shall be deemed to have been abandoned 180 days after the date of filing unless such application has been pursued in good faith or a permit has been issued.”

You should also note that no plumbing work is allowed to be done until the permit is issued. If any parties involved with the service choose to do so anyway, they will be subject to a general penalty, and punished with a fine up to $500 and every day after (a new fine can be issued every day).