FAQs

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do you need a permit for a Water Heater replacement?

    In the state of California, all Water Heater replacements require a Building Permit. The Building Permit protects the Consumer and holds the Contractor accountable for the proper and safe installation.

  • Is Flat Rate Pricing better than Hourly?

    Flat Rate gives every customer the same price no matter the skill of the technician or how long the repair/installation takes. Typical Hourly companies charge for the time it takes to drive from one customer to the other, the time on site, the time if they have to go to a supplier and if you have a less skilled technician it may take much longer to perform the repair.

  • Gas Tankless Water Heater vs Gas Tank Water Heater

    A Tank Water will last on average 8 – 10 years. The majority of the Water Heater manufacturers still use a steel tank that is glass lined leaving the welded seems exposed. This will rust out over time giving you rust colored water and ultimately causing the tank to fail. Most consumers are not shown how to drain and flush their Water Heater on an annual basis so sediment can build up on the bottom of the water heater. For every inch of sediment on the bottom it take 70% more energy to heat the water so even though your Water Heater may not be leaking it may be costing you more every month just to keep the tank hot. A typical Tank Water Heater has a simple gas control valve them comes on full (avg 35k – 55k BTU) when it senses cold water and runs at full force until the required temperature is reached. This is a very inefficient system. A Tankless Water Heater will last on average 25 years, the water passages are typically either copper or stainless steel, this along with only storing approx 1 gallon of water helps allow the longevity. Even though they may range from an average of 125K – 199K BTU, they have a variable gas control valve. When a faucet is turned on calling for hot water, the valve only opens up allowing enough gas through to heat the water that is passing through the unit. Once the faucet is turned off, the gas valve immediately shuts off. This is a much more efficient way to heat the water. When you compare the life of the heaters and the efficiency of the Tankless, you could saves thousands over the life cycle of the Tankless.

  • Why should I hire a licensed plumber?

    The advantage to a licensed plumber is that you now have recourse should there be a leak and/or damage to your property after the repair is made. The state of California requires licensed contractors to carry a monetary bond with their license. The bond is there to protect the consumer should the contractor fail to repair the leak and damage caused by the leak.


  • What is the appropriate height for a gas water heater?

    In areas where the water heater is required to be on a stand, the minimum distance from the floor is 18” to the burner.

  • My toilet is leaking at the base after my new floor was installed. How do I fix this?

    Sadly, this happens a lot and commonly after a new tile floor, laminate floor or wood floor is installed there is a leak at the base of the toilet. The flange that the toilet bolts to is typically not raised up to meet the new floor so the wax ring does not properly compress and seal to the toilet. The proper fix would be to pull the toilet and raise the flange, then reset the toilet with a new wax ring and supply line.



  • My toilet is running due to high water pressure – what do I do?

     Check the pressure of the house, if it is above 80 psi then you most likely need a pressure reducing valve installed on your water main.


  • Why does my toilet and/or shower bubble or overflow when I run the washing machine?

    There may be an obstruction in the drain lines.


  • Do unused drains dry up?

    Yes they can dry up and they will also allow sewer gas to enter the room the drain is in. The fix is as simple as pouring about 32oz of water down the drain to fill the p-trap back up.



  • Can clogged vents cause drains to run slow?

    Yes, imagine turning a soda bottle upside down and you can see it percolate. That’s the same as a clogged vent.

  • When should I replace my water heater?

    The most common time frame that you will hear in the plumbing industry is 8 – 10 years. The reason for this is because that is the average time frame before your efficiency starts to go down. For every inch of sediment in the bottom of a gas water heater, it takes approx. 70% more energy to heat the water. Does that mean you need a new water heater? It really depends upon the condition of your water. Do you have hard water? Is there a lot of sediment in your water? Does your water have a corrosive PH level? Does your water heater show signs of leaks, corrosion, etc.? All of these come into play when it comes to the life of your water heater.


  • Do you suggest copper water pipe or POLY?

    They both have their place. We prefer copper pipes when they are in exposed locations should something hit the pipe, copper is harder to damage then POLY. POLY pipes are great when they are hidden in walls, attics, crawl spaces, etc. If you are in a rodent infested area, then we would recommend copper in attics and crawl spaces.



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