5 Things to Look for in a Household Plumbing Inspection Company

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A household plumbing inspection is an important part of buying a home, but you should have one every few years after the closing as well. Keep in mind that not all plumbing inspection companies are the same, however, and work with a company that best suits your plumbing needs.

1. Licensed Contractors

Licensed household plumbing inspectors can repair any problems found during an inspection. They are also authorized to pull any permits and request municipal inspections on the work they perform. Unlicensed contractors can’t get permits or schedule inspections, and that can lead to major problems a few years down the road.

2. Insurance Coverage

Responsible home plumbing contractors carry liability insurance that protects you and your home against faulty plumbing repairs, injuries that occur during the repair process, and more. If you allow an uninsured contractor to perform plumbing repairs, you may not have any recourse if the work does not meet code requirements, uses inferior materials, or results in additional damages. Contractors are licensed to protect property owners and settling for anything less could cost you a lot more.

3. Clean and Courteous

Reputable home plumbing inspectors should be professional in appearance and attitude. Don’t be taken in by contractors who are rude or try to push you into repairs that aren’t necessary. With only a few exceptions, your home plumbing contractor will show up wearing company uniforms, leave the work in a safe and tidy condition at the end of the day, and will always treat you and your family with the respect and courtesy you deserve.

4. Complete Plumbing Services

Ideally, your home plumbing inspectors will also be the contractor who makes the repairs. In fact, an inspector who advises you to seek repairs elsewhere may not be the best choice to perform the inspection at all because they aren’t backed by years of practical experience in plumbing repairs. Finding the source of a problem is only the beginning, and no inspection is complete if they leave your home without addressing the problems they find.

5. Reviews and Testimonials

Look for positive reviews and testimonials from people who have had the same type of work performed. This is an important final step in the selection process because even contractors who are licensed and insured will occasionally turn out to be unprofessional or even dishonest, and their faults will only become apparent by first hand comments from previous customers.

A household plumbing inspection is only the first step in locating and repairing faulty plumbing or sewer systems. Once you have chosen a responsible company, ask them to perform a complete inspection and provide you with a checklist of what has been inspected when the job is done. In some cases, uncorrected problems multiply, so getting a complete picture of what needs to be done may save a lot of money over the course of home ownership.

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides 24/7 household plumbing services for homes and multifamily buildings. We pride ourselves on our professional and quality work. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for residential plumbing services any time, any day of the week.

What Happens If I Ignore the Need for Water Heater Repair & Replacement?

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It is never a good idea to ignore the signs indicating you need water heater repair & replacement. Minor problems that are not repaired often get worse and may lead to significant repairs. Even worse, what begins with water heater malfunctions can affect your walls, flooring, and more.

Reduced Water Pressure

Older pipes and tanks can become clogged with rust and corrosion. The first signs of trouble may be nothing more than discolored water coming out of the tap or reduced pressure. Ignoring this key indicator may lead to a complete loss of pressure at the tap or dangerous pressure behind the clog. Since your plumbing is only rated for a specific amount, excessive additional pressure has the potential to cause joints or the tank itself to spring a dangerous and damaging leak.

Variations in Water Temperature

There are a few causes for your water to stop heating properly. The heating element is the most common and least dangerous. The most dangerous cause is a bad thermostat on your water heater. And while this may first be noticeable as a loss of hot water, it can just as easily become jammed, allowing the water in the tank to heat far above what the tank is rated for. Although rare, a combination of a bad thermostat and a faulty pressure relief valve may even result in an explosion of boiling hot water.

Creaking and Banging

If your water heater or the pipes connected to it are making unusual noises such as tapping, knocking, or whistling your water heater is telling you that you need service right away. Loose pipes are perhaps the most benign source of tapping and knocking, and even that can become a major water leak at any time. Other sources of unusual noises include a faulty thermostat, worn valves, and over-pressured water. Call a home plumbing service to have the situation corrected as soon as possible.

Water Damage

Bad pipes and water heaters are only the beginning once the situation becomes critical. Water damage can affect everything from your floor joists to your ceilings, causing mold and mildew, turning gypsum to mush, and more. Water damage is expensive and may not be covered on all home insurance policies. On the other hand, having your water heater repaired promptly may be covered by a home warranty.
The key thing is that a faulty water heater is always an immediate concern because it can easily lead to far more dangerous and costly problems. If you have noticed any of these warning signs and haven’t called a home plumbing contractor, time is not on your side.

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides 24/7 household plumbing services for homes and multifamily buildings. We pride ourselves on our professional and quality work. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for residential plumbing services any time, any day of the week.

Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters

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If it is time for water heater repair & replacement, you should consider a tankless water heater instead of replacing that big tank you’ve used for years. Tankless water heaters offer quite a few benefits, from saving energy to hot water on demand. Take a look at these benefits of tankless water heaters, and you will quickly see how upgrading is a great choice.

Instant Hot Water

Plumbing contractors typically install tankless water heaters under a sink or in the attic, or some other location near where the water will be used. That means you get hot water on demand without any long waits as the hot water is pushed from a distant tank. 

Easy Installation

Tankless water heaters take up very little space and are designed to be installed inline. That makes installation fast and easy. Upgrading to a tankless system can be done in as little as a day, so you could be enjoying hot water on demand tonight.

Energy and Water Reduction

Tankless systems do not waste water pumping the hot water from your water tank to the sink the way that a standard water heater would do. That reduces the amount of water you use as well as using less power because you only heat the water you need instead of filling your pipes with hot water that will be cold before it is used.

Space-Saving Design

Not having a tank means your tankless water heater is more versatile. It can be placed in the attic, the basement, or simply installed under your sink. When the old tank has been removed, you will actually reclaim some of your home’s square footage. Hot water on demand and brand new storage space make upgrading an enticing idea.

Longer Lasting

Tankless water heaters can last up to twice as long as a traditional tanked water heater. Tankless water heaters are rated for up to 20 years of trouble-free operation, so your installation will save you money in the long run. Additionally, there are fewer components so you will be able to avoid future repairs such as failed thermostats, bad valves, and more.

You don’t have to wait for your existing water heater to fail before you install a tankless system. If your hot water tank is more than 5 years old, the day that a system component fails is getting closer. Before you wake up to water that just doesn’t get hot anymore go ahead and set up an appointment to upgrade to a new, on-demand hot water system that your family will love.

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides 24/7 household plumbing services for homes and multifamily buildings. We pride ourselves on our professional and quality work. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for residential plumbing services any time, any day of the week.

Top 5 Reasons for Low Water Pressure

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Low water pressure is a common reason for scheduling a household plumbing inspection. Low water pressure can be a big problem, preventing household appliances like dish and clothes washers from functioning properly and becoming an annoyance for family members. The lower pressure could be related to several problems, and these 5 top the list of the most common reasons for low water pressure.

1. Valve Issues

You can check your water valves before scheduling a home plumbing inspection. The problem may be that your meter line has been turned off for some reason and then partially opened afterward. Similarly, the main valve leading into your home should be checked to ascertain that it is fully open and working properly. 

2. Blocked Pipes

Older pipes can be clogged internally. As pipes age, rust and corrosion take place in your metal pipes, slowly blocking the flow of water. It takes many years for the blockage to occur, and your water pressure will slowly lose pressure for most of that time. Replacing old pipes not only improves your water pressure but also makes your water healthier by removing potential contaminants.

3. Water Leaks

A water leak can cause everything from a loss of pressure to a complete loss of flow. Large leaks may result in a lot of damage very quickly, so schedule a plumbing inspection as soon as you notice a loss of pressure or unusual wet spots in the home or yard. Leaks may be the worst type of plumbing problem because they often lead to other damages as well.

4. External Issues

Low water pressure may not be related to anything in your home. Local utilities will occasionally lose pressure due to infrastructure improvements, auto accidents, or other external circumstances. Contact the water company before you schedule a home inspection to make sure the problem is really yours. If it is a utility issue, they should be able to give you an idea of how long the problem will last.

5. Pressure Regulator Failure

Some homes are equipped with a water pressure regulator. This device maintains pressure coming into your home, often boosting what is available from the local utility company. When it fails, a pressure regulator can cause severe fluctuations in water pressure, and replacement is the most common solution.

Low water pressure may be no problem at all, but it does have the potential to cause expensive damage. Scheduling a plumbing inspection will find the source of the problem and you may have your water pressure back to normal in as little as a single day.

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides 24/7 household plumbing services for homes and multifamily buildings. We pride ourselves on our professional and quality work. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for residential plumbing services any time, any day of the week.

Benefits of a Private Sewer Line

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Having a private sewer line can reduce your need for rooter service. Shared sewer lines increase the workload on the septic system, reducing the likelihood of problems like drains not flowing properly, pumping out septic systems, and more. To illustrate, here are some common benefits of a private sewer line, and why having one can save you money.

Less Maintenance

Reducing the number of people using the sewer line has a direct impact on the amount and type of plumbing service you may need. Fewer clogs and faster drains are 2 examples, but reduced maintenance may also mean fewer pump-outs, and that can save you a bundle.

Faster Troubleshooting

With a private sewer line, it is easier to locate problems when they occur. Plumbing technicians only have to work with a single sewer main connected to the septic or sewer main, and that allows them to isolate problems and perform tests efficiently. By contrast, shared sewer lines increase the potential source of a problem and may require performing the same tests multiple times before the problem is located.

Fewer Clogged Drains

Fewer people using the same sewer line means that you have fewer clogs. This is especially true as more sinks, tubs, and showers are added to the system, resulting in more hair, solid waste, and unwanted material such as grease and food waste. Each call you have to make for plumbing services is another bill that has to be paid, so a private sewer can save a lot over the course of a year.

Septic Vs Sewer

Depending on your location, you may be using a shared sewer line that feeds into the municipal sewer system, or a shared line connected to a tanked septic system. If you must use a shared line, municipal sewers are a better alternative, because septic systems can easily be overloaded by multiple users. Sewer lines can still clog, break, or have other issues, but they won’t require pump-outs or cause the drain field to become saturated, resulting in a failed septic system.

Trenchless Sewer Benefits

If you are thinking about having a private sewer line installed, it may be worth considering using a trenchless sewer line replacement. A Trenchless system typically only requires a small hole at one or both ends of the line and can be installed beneath existing foundations, driveways, and other permanent fixtures that would have to be removed and then replaced using traditional ditch-based sewer installation.

When you think about it, a private sewer line is preferable to a shared line in almost every application. You won’t have to worry about who is responsible for a given problem, and there will be fewer problems to locate and repair. Besides, modern sewer lines tend to be for single residences and businesses anyway, so if you are using a shared line it is very likely that the line is beginning to age. In this situation, replacing the old line before it fails may already be in your future.

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides 24/7 household plumbing services for homes and multifamily buildings. We pride ourselves on our professional and quality work. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for residential plumbing services any time, any day of the week.