residential plumbing services

All over the country, cities and towns are expanding, laying wider roads, and improving utility company coverage in rural areas that have relied on residential plumbing services for many years. The problem is, private systems are not allowed in some areas when a municipal system is available, but municipal lines terminate at the utility’s right-of-way. The result is that homeowners are left with the responsibility of integrating their private sewer lines into the municipal lines. The upgrade entails professionally transitioning to municipal lines and needs to be done by a plumbing company with experience in such residential-to-municipal interfaces.

Municipal Sewage

Municipal sewage systems drain to a treatment facility where water can be processed and cleaned and returned to the community water supply. It is not unusual for sewage upgrades to take place during road widening or resurfacing projects because the utility company has easier access to the underground infrastructure. Unfortunately, connecting to the municipal service is generally a mandatory transition, and homeowners are responsible for the cost of transition from the street-side right-of-way to the sewer line coming out of your home. 

In contrast to a septic-based system, municipal sewer systems use modern reclamation processes that separate nutrients, waste byproducts, and water. Where a private installation returns water to the environment, municipal systems purify water using processes such as reverse osmosis. Once purified, that water is returned to the community water supply where it can be used over and over again.

Installation

For homeowners, a growing community infrastructure may extend municipal reclamation lines into your area, and then force you to tie into the utility. When that happens, you will need reputable residential plumbing services to disconnect your septic and connect to the community line. In many cases, the old septic tank is either filled in or removed. Your experienced plumbing company can help you determine what your options are based on local regulations. The length of time required for the tie-in depends on how long the line to the municipal sewers are, the type of terrain where the home is located, and similar details. Some projects are completed in about a day, while others may require a few days to complete. Your residential plumbers will be able to give you a more accurate time estimate during the initial consultation, but keep in mind that unfavorable weather conditions may create unexpected delays.

Permitting

Complying with local building codes can be confusing or even seem irrational. For example, the city or county can require you to comply with a municipal sewer tie-in, but you still have to have the job permitted and inspected separately from the municipal-side project. Well-established plumbing contractors will know the permitting requirements for your location and have the licensed staff necessary to pull those permits, schedule any inspections required by state and local building codes, and perform the work so that everything passes code inspections and the job can be completed. This may seem like a lot of steps, but plumbing codes change over the years, and older lines often have to be replaced to conform to those codes before the tie-in will be approved.

Trenchless Sewer Solutions

Municipal tie-ins typically involve using rigid sewer lines, but trenchless sewer lines can be installed for some systems. And even if local codes prevent you from using trenchless lines for the tie-in, trenchless is still an excellent way to manage replacing any other sewage lines that need to be replaced. The beauty of a trenchless sewer replacement is that new lines can be installed without disturbing concrete slabs, asphalt drives, or landscaping. Trenchless systems are especially attractive to established residences or in situations where the sewer line needs to be installed under footings or foundations. In many situations, the additional cost of trenchless sewer replacement is offset by the time and labor required to restore an area following a more traditional trenched installation

Property Restoration

With or without a trenchless sewer replacement, tying into the municipal sewer will cause some damage. Interior tie-ins will need to have the opening used for trenchless installation rebuilt, and a traditional sewer line results in repouring the entire length of the trench cut through your foundation slab. Outside, property restoration means replacing foliage, laying sod, and more. The idea is that your property looks as good or better after the sewer tie-in as it did before the process began.

The Importance of Municipal Services

Municipal water utilities are good for the community and the environment. Areas without sufficient rainfall are protected against water shortages and soil contamination, and everyone is assured of a safe, dependable source of potable water. As populations grow, the use of individual septic systems has to be curtailed to protect both public access to drinking water and to ensure a safer environment. 

Another advantage for individual homeowners is that household sewage gets treated by the utility, eliminating septic tank pump-outs, septic treatments to maintain bacteria efficiency, and drain field repair or replacement. Additionally, lawn areas that were previously protected to avoid damaging the septic tank or drain field can be reclaimed as a usable part of the property once more.

Always verify the credentials of contractors you hire, including residential plumbers. In some states, including California, all contractors are required by law to be licensed and insured. This is important for you because it protects you from fly-by-night scams, and insures your home against any incidental damages that may result from the project. 

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.

Plumbing is a major part of your home’s infrastructure, and every homeowner is going to need qualified residential plumbing services from time to time. Plumbing companies do everything from tying your home into the municipal sewage mains to adding new water lines to a workshed, but the most common plumbing needs are for drains that aren’t flowing properly or sewer lines that are backing up into the home.

Some plumbing problems can be corrected by the homeowner using an ordinary plumber’s plunger, but other problems require more specialized approaches such as forcing a plumber’s snake through the line, replacing broken pipes, or installing new sewer lines.

Home Plumbing Inspections

If you have not located the source of a clogged drain or blocked sewer line, you can schedule a home plumbing inspection with your local home plumbing services company. During the inspection, workers will check your drains and P-traps, verify that your water lines are in good condition, and examine faucets and valves to make sure they are working properly. You will then be notified of the problems that have been located and can choose to repair or replace any defective parts of your plumbing system.

1. Drains and Faucets

Clogged drains are the most common type of plumbing services. From toy cars to washcloths, drains can become clogged with any number of items. Small children often put toys and other interesting things inside toilet bowls and flush them away. Unfortunately, most of these items are too rigid to go around the bowl’s P-trap, and end up getting stuck in the drain between the bowl and the sewer line. To be fair, drains can be clogged for other reasons as well, including grease buildup, broken sewer lines, and nonfunctioning septic systems.

It is sometimes difficult to identify the source of a clogged drain without a household plumbing inspection, especially when the problem is under the home foundation or somewhere outside the walls of the house. Rooter services can eliminate a majority of sewer line clogs, but some situations require more in-depth operations, up to and including sewer line repair and replacement.

Another common household problem is a plumbing valve that has stripped and no longer works properly. In some cases the water will not turn on, and in others there is always a constant drip or flow. While some faucet systems can be repaired or have washers replaced, it can be time-consuming to repair rather than replace. Some plumbing valves –specifically those used in showers or tubs- cannot be removed from the line and must be repaired or replaced in place. This requires specialized tools and plumbing experience, and should be done by a trained professional.

2. Sewer Services

Like clogs, a lot of different things can happen to your sewer lines. They can be clogged, blocked, broken, crushed, and flooded. A common problem is to have a sewer line penetrated by tree roots, at first blocking the flow of sewage, and then destroying the sewer line. Traditionally, repairing a sewer line problem involved digging a ditch, repairing the line or replacing pipe, and then  filling the trench afterward. The process was often destructive, causing damage to driveways, landscaping, and lawns. Inside the home, it was often necessary to cut out a section of your foundation slab, and then rapport it after the repair.

A more modern approach is to use trenchless sewer services. This type of repair causes less damage to your home and property, can be completed with fewer workers, and typically takes a fraction of the time to complete. Instead of a long trench, holes are dug at each end of the line being replaced and then special underground equipment is used to assess and repair the damages. Trenchless sewer lines can go straight under asphalt or concrete without causing any damages or shutting down walkways and drives.

Other Home Plumbing Services

Clogged drains and sewer lines are the most common plumbing services, but there are many others, as well. Water heater repair and replacement is going to affect every home eventually because water heaters deteriorate with time. Water lines may break or rattle in the walls. Or maybe your house is being renovated and you want to rejuvenate your bathrooms during the remodel. Even your outdoor landscape sprinklers need to be installed by qualified plumbers who can calculate the pressure requirements for each irrigation zone. 

If you haven’t had to replace a wax toilet ring yet, it will happen eventually. When the wax ring becomes damaged, your toilet may even leak directly onto your bathroom floor. The first symptom of a wax ring deteriorating is when the toilet begins to rock or wobble every time someone sits on it. Untreated, the wobble will become more and more pronounced, and eventually the rin will give way and raw sewage will begin to drain.

DIY Plumbing

There are some jobs you can do yourself, but there are also times when only a plumbing professional can solve the problem. Plumbing plungers can remove semi-rigid items that are lodged in the drain, for example, and trying to use a snake without any training can severely damage porcelain toilet bowls, separate PVC joints, or even make clogs worse. Unless you are comfortable with your plumbing knowledge, the best advice is to call a plumber and get the job done right the first time.

Hiring a professional is even more important when it comes to plumbing problems inside your walls or above ceilings. These spaces are also commonly used for electric wiring, and a mistake in cutting through the drywall could cause accidental electrocution.

Every homeowner is going to need residential plumbing services occasionally. It is pretty easy to accidentally dig over a plumbing or sewer line, and exterior lines are vulnerable to tree roots penetrating the pipes as trees grow. Valves wear out. Plumbing is important for your family’s safety, convenience, and health, so make a habit of hiring a plumbing service as soon as a problem develops instead of waiting on a small problem to create a major issue.

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.

The first thing to do for a clogged drain– even before arranging residential plumbing services— is to attempt to remove any visible material and then use an ordinary plumbing plunger. If this does not cure the problem, do not attempt to perform any major plumbing repairs on your own unless you have the proper tools and training. Instead, call a residential plumber and have the situation properly diagnosed and repaired.

1. Sewer Line Replacement

There are a number of things that can happen to your sewer lines, including penetration by tree roots, accidental crushing, and the settling of the soil around the lines. Residential plumbing services can repair broken lines or replace them using new technologies like trenchless sewer replacement. Among the key indicators of a sewer line problem are slow-flowing drains, wet spots or standing water, and offensive odors near the defective area.

2. Septic Pump Outs

If you use a septic tank system, it may need to be pumped out more frequently as it ages. Even though most septic tank systems are not designed for household grease, hair, and other contaminants, they end up in the sewer system over time. Grease and hair are particularly troublesome because they can clog the outflow of your septic tank, requiring a pump-out service to renew proper flow. 

3. Aging Drain Field

Another septic tank-related problem that you shouldn’t try to fix yourself happens as your tank’s drain field ages. Plant roots, contaminating materials like grease and hair, and chemicals that counteract necessary biodegradation are all common causes of drain field failure, along with things like crushing drain field pipes accidentally by driving on the area. The only solution for problems of this sort is to remove the damaged area and replace it. Pumping out the septic tank will alleviate the problem for a short time, but once the tank fills up the problem will return.

4. Clogged Drains

Household drains can get clogged with contaminants like those we have already mentioned. A common mistake homeowners make is to pour off-the-shelf acidic chemicals down the drains. These chemicals can dissolve grease and hair, but they can also cause deterioration in sewer lines and may result in severe leaks if the chemicals are used often or improperly. Additionally, objects caught in the sewer lines may not be vulnerable to chemical treatments. The best solution is to have the clogs removed by experienced home plumbing contractors who can identify and address problems using specialized tools and equipment.

Sadly, attempting to fix sewer problems yourself is equally likely to cause additional damages that do not become apparent right away. In the long term, it is more economical to hire plumbing services with the tools and experience to locate the source of the problem and make repairs that will extend the life of your septic system. 

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.

Plumbing is part of your home’s infrastructure, and a remodel requires residential plumbing services from a reputable contractor with a proven track record. They can take care of getting the appropriate permits, meeting code inspections, and performing quality work in a timely manner. Because your plumbing is an important part of the home, we suggest including residential plumbing contractors in the planning phase, and taking these simple steps to protect your plumbing against future costs.

Use Licensed Contractors

Be wary of fly-by-night contractors who promise you the moon but fail to deliver. You can do this by checking online reviews, and verifying that your residential plumbing services contractors are licensed and insured. Being licensed means that the contractor is authorized to perform plumbing services by the local and state municipalities, and insurance protects you and your property against anything that may go awry during the plumbing remodel. During the initial phases, your plumbing contractors will map out your current and planned plumbing layout and then work with you to make sure that the project goes as planned.

Locate Valves

If you do not already know where the valves and cutoffs for your home’s water are located, find them before beginning a remodel. This includes the valves for water entering the home, entering and leaving the hot water heater, and local valves for sinks and toilets. The sooner you can turn off the water to a broken line, the less potential for damage there will be, and water damage can become extensive quickly.

Inspect for Leaks

While your walls or floors are opened and the plumbing is exposed, take a few minutes to inspect for small leaks, pipes that aren’t stabilized to prevent rattling, and other plumbing problems. Your plumbing contractors can alert you to any items that may cause future problems, and solving a plumbing problem before it occurs is by far the least expensive way to go. 

Replace Old Pipes

Older homes were built using materials that are no longer used today, including galvanized pipe, cast iron, and even clay sewage pipe. These materials met the needs of their time, but were prone to corrosion, root penetration, and other blockage sources. While your plumbing is already under construction is the best time to protect against future sewage repair costs by replacing outdated pipes or segments that clog frequently.

Licensed plumbing contractors will take a lot of the headache out of helping you plan and implement plumbing remodels. From rerouting your existing pipes to helping you select the most appropriate bathroom and kitchen fixtures, selecting qualified and experienced contractors before you start is the most effective way to go,

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.