We want to be your plumber for life!
At Willy’s Plumbing Inc. we pride ourselves on our service and repair. We aim is to be your plumber for life!
Toilet Repair & replace
Getting your toilet fixed doesn’t need to be alarming. Below are a few common toilet issues that can not be fixed with a plunger.
Common Toilet Problems
Leaky Toilets
The most common location of leakage is the base of the toilet where the rubber lining that ensures a watertight connection begins to wear away. When this occurs water may seep through and leak onto the floor.
Running Toilets
Problems with the flapper is the most common cause of running toilets. A chain is connected to the flapper and when you flush, the flapper opens, draining the water from the toilet bowl. When the flapper seals this allows new water to fill the tank and bowl. A toilet runs when the flapper doesn’t seal properly allowing water to seeps around the flapper into the tank.
Weak Flush
It’s common for minerals to get caught in the jet holes of the toilet and rust. Over time the minerals accumulate and restrict the flow of water into the toilet bowl. This restriction of water creates the weak flush.
Toilet Overflows after flushing
A toilet overflows due to a blockage that prevents waste from flow down the toilet drain. This blockage can be caused by septic tank issues, malfunctioning plumbing or low flow toilets.
When it comes to toilet repairs some problems have a quick fix while others can be caused by other problems within the plumbing. It’s always best to consult a professional plumber when dealing with larger plumbing problems.
LEak Detection
Water leaks, when not addressed, can damage property and become costly. It’s important to first determine if you have a leak, where and have it fixed as soon as possible.
How to determine if you have a leak
Use your water meter to determine if you have a leak.
Start by making sure that all the water is turned off inside and outside the house.
Then locate the water meter and check the leak indicator to see if its moving.
Or you can take a meter reading,wait a couple hours and take another reading. Comparing the two recordings will allow you to detect a leak.
Once you determined you have a leak its important to determine the source. Locate your main water shut off valve and shut the water off. Check the water meter once again. If the water meter is not moving then you know the leak is inside the house. If it continues to move then you have a leak outside.
For a leak INSIDE, you can further trace the exact location of the leak. With the water still shut off you can check every pipe for leaks starting on the floor level and working your way up.
For a leak OUTSIDE, start by checking spigots and listening for running water. If you have a pool, check all components for a leak. If you think its underground you can check this by searching of patches of muddy dirt.
The best way to ensure your leak is properly fixed is to call a professional. Leaks, when not addressed can be damage property and become costly.
pipe replacement
Older pipes are more acceptable to clogs, breaks, rust and even deposit harmful minerals into the water. Not all pipes are the same, and depending on the pipes material you can have quicker corrosion, breakage or harmful minerals in your water. It’s common for home plumbing to be made up of plastic, concrete and metal. Because metal is a conductor it allows for charge to flow through it. As a conductor, metals are more susceptible to corrosion than plastic or concrete. Pipe corrosion can also be affected by the water and sediment surrounding the pipes. The composition of your water can cause corrosion depending on your levels of lead, copper, pH, temperature, salinity and hardness in your water. If your water is hard it would be recommended to have it softened to increase your pipes lifespan.
Signs of Pipe Corrosion;
When determining if your pipes need to be replaced the first thing you should do is check your waters color. Brown or discolored water could mean your pipes are corroding and minerals are leaking into your water supply. This is a good sense that your pipes are old and need to be replaced.
Another way to determine that your pipes are old is by knowing what material your pipes are made of. If your pipes are lead based you should get them replaced. Lead pipes can deposit lead into your water which has cause harmful affects.
If your pipes are older that 1980 then you should get your pipes replaced. Pipes before 1980 are lead based and can disburse lead into your water supply causing harm.
Faucet & Sink
Faucet and sink leaks are the most common issue homeowners face with their plumbing. The EPA records that ten percent of homes waste 90 gallons of water a year because of leaks. A small leak from a faucet, or sink, can become costly if not addressed immediately. If a pipe leak develops under the sink or somewhere hidden, the damage can ruin the floor, furniture, and dry wall. It’s also an environmental issue especially in the desert climate of Southern California.
Finding a faucet or sink leak can be as easy as listening to water dripping or checking for a water puddle under the sink. But not all leaks are that simple to spot. It’s important to look for mold forming around pipes, water stains on the ceiling, damaged walls or the smell of must. These are all signs of water leaking within the walls, hidden from eyesight.
A leak can be caused by a variety of reasons.
O Ring corrosion. A stem screw is used to hold the handle of a faucet in place. The stem screw contains an O ring. An O ring can wear down or loosen over time and is a common location for dripping.
Corrosion of Valve Seat. A valve seat is the connection of the faucet and spout. Corrosion to a valve seat is a result of poor maintenance. When not cleaned regularly, sediment accumulated here and can corrode the valve seat causing dripping. The best way to prevent this is by having a plumber service and cleaning the valve seat on a regular basis.
Wearing of Washers. During each use of the faucet a washer is lodged against the valve seat. Over time this washes begins to wear down. This leak can be addressed by replacing the rubber washer.
Improper Installation. Improper installation of a washer can lead to unnecessary dripping. We’d recommend having a professional instal your washer properly to prevent water loss, costly bills or water damage over the long haul.
leaking water heaters
Finding the Source.
First it’s important to locate the leak. If the leak appears to be coming from the bottom there are a few reasons the leak may be occurring.
Common Causes of leak from bottom of water heater
Leaking Drain Valve
All heaters have a valve located at the bottom to drain the tank for removal or cleaning. A leaky drain valve can be identified by moisture or water dripping from the valve. Make sure the valve is tightly closed, if this doesn’t stop the leak them you need to replace the valve.
Leaking Pressure Relief Valve (T&P Valve)
The T&P valve is a safety measure of water heaters. It relieves excess pressure when the water heater get too hot. First check the thermostat to see if the temperature is too high, if it’s not then you need to get it replaced.
Leaking Tank
Water heaters are not cleaned out periodically and sediment builds within the tank. This sediment leads to premature corrosion and rust that causes a pinhole leak to form. Once a pinhole forms the pressure within the tank forces the hole to get larger and larger, leaking more and more water. When this occurs it’s a sign you need to replace your water heater. It’s important to call a professional technician when replacing a water heater.
Condensation
Condensation occurs with older water heaters and some newer versions. It’s the result of a broken thermostat or it’s set too high. Allow the tank to set idle for several hours with power set off. If the leaking stops then readjust the thermostat. If it doesn’t stop then the tank needs to be replaced.
sprinkler repair &Instillation
Sprinkler irrigation systems are a more efficient way to water your lawn. When installing a new sprinkler system there are a few things to be aware of. It’s important that your irrigation pipes are 10 inches below the surface and the pipe width must be taken into account when digging the trench. When installing the sprinkler heads its important to space them approximately 10-15 ft. apart.
Water shortages are constantly an issue living in Southern California, but there are a few ways to maintain a lush lawn and save water. Automatic sprinklers are designed to efficiently use water when installed properly. If installation is done improper can cause overwatering and higher water bills.
Automatic Sprinklers System;
Setting the clock for the time of the year. Adjusting the water system timer based on the weather can save you from overwater or under watering your lawn.
Not all sprinkler heads are the same. All sprinkler heads are not the same. Some put out water faster and some have interchangeable nozzles. It’s important to not treat all sprinkler zones the same. Set sprinkler zones to reflect the amount of water that sprinkler head applies. This prevents overwatering.
Install rain sensor. Automatic sprinklers run if its raining or not. By installing a rain sensor, when it rains the sensor prevents the system from turning on.
Align sprinkler head. Apply water where it’s needed. Having the sprinklers watering the pavement is a waste of water and your money.
Use low volume water saving sprinkler heads. Sprinkler head technology has evolved to become more efficient. By installing or, replacing old heads with low volume saving sprinkler heads allows the water to properly soak into the earth and eliminate runoff.
Sewer Repair
A sewer line works to extract wastewater from the property to the cities sewer main line to be later treated. Sewer lines can be damaged from tree roots, sediment build up inside the pipe, rust, high pressure or ground shifting. If your sewer line is damaged there are a few clear indicators that you need a proper inspection by a professional.
If your sewage backups, then there is some form of obstruction in the sewer line.
Drain blockage is a clear indicator theres damage in the sewer line. If all your drains clog simultaneously this would indicate theres a clog in the main sewer line.
A damaged sewer line can cause wastewater to leak out or travel back into the house pipes. If this occurs you can small the foul smelling gas released by this stagnant wastewater.
Slow draining is an indication that theres a clog in the sewer line. When theres an obstruction in the sewer line there flow of wastewater is compromised and drains slower.
Wet of soft spots in the yard can be the result of wastewater spilling out of the sewer line into the surrounding soil.
Types of sewer line repair
A Traditional Sewer Repair begins by digging a hole to locate the sewer line. Once the line is located the area of damage is assessed. This is a effective way to fix a damaged sewer line but also requires your lawn to be partially dug up.
A Trenchless Sewer Repair doesn’t require digging! First our plumbers run the video camera through the sewer line. As they run it on the screen connected to the camera shows us what the damage is and where its is. Depending on the damage we would either hydro jet to clear any clogs, re-line it if theres a rupture in the pipe or replace the line via trenchless sewer line replacement. Please refer to the trenchless service page in the main navigation above.