Plumbing repairs

What we handle

• Faucet repairs and replacements on kitchen, bath and laundry sinks.
• Toilet fill valves, flappers, wax rings and full toilet swaps.
• Garbage disposal replacements on an existing outlet and drain.
• Slow drains, P-traps, tub drains and stoppers.
• Angle stops, shutoff valves and supply lines.
• Hose bibs, washer hoses and ice maker lines.
• Water pressure regulators and expansion tanks on existing lines.

Shutoffs first

Before any repair, we check that the fixture shutoffs work. Many older homes have stops that have not been turned in years and will leak once moved. Replacing them while we are already there saves a second call later.

Leaks inside walls and ceilings

If you see a stain on a ceiling or a wet spot on a wall, we can open a small access hole, find the source and fix it when it is at a fitting or fixture connection. Pipe failures inside walls or under slabs are a bigger job than a fitting repair; shut the water off at the main until it is fixed.

Burst pipes and emergencies

Know where your main shutoff is. If a pipe bursts, close it first, then call. We can repair accessible pipes and fittings and help with drywall afterward.

Older pipes and fittings

Many San Gabriel Valley homes were built with galvanized steel supply pipes, which rust from the inside and restrict flow over time. When we replace a valve or a fixture connection on galvanized pipe, we handle the threads carefully and use proper transition fittings where copper or PEX meets steel. If a section of pipe is too far gone to hold a new fitting, we explain the options before touching anything else.

Drains in older homes may be cast iron or galvanized. We clear and replace traps and fixture drains up to the wall.

Laundry and kitchen connections

Washer hoses, dishwasher supply lines, ice maker lines and disposal connections are frequent sources of slow leaks that damage cabinets and floors. We replace rubber washer hoses with braided ones, swap old saddle valves for proper shutoffs where the existing line allows, and check dishwasher drain loops when we install a disposal.

Small leaks add up

EPA WaterSense reports that "nine percent of homes have leaks that waste 50 gallons or more per day" and that "fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills." The common culprits it names are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and leaking valves, which are the same parts we replace every week.

How to check for hidden leaks

Turn off every fixture and look at the water meter. If the small leak indicator on the dial is spinning, water is going somewhere. Then close the shutoffs under sinks and toilets one at a time to narrow it down.

For toilets, a few drops of food coloring in the tank that show up in the bowl after fifteen minutes mean the flapper leaks. Send us what you find and we will know what parts to bring.

Signs and their usual causes

• Low pressure at one faucet: a clogged aerator or cartridge.
• Low pressure everywhere: a failing pressure regulator, a partly closed main, or old galvanized pipe.
• Banging when a valve closes: water hammer, often fixed with arrestors at the fixture.
• Gurgling drains: a vent or partial clog in the line.
• Sewer smell from a sink: a dry or poorly installed trap.

What is outside our scope

Main line clogs, sewer camera work, slab leaks, repiping and gas line work are outside our scope. We handle what is at or near the fixture, and drywall and finishing afterward.

Pressure regulators and expansion tanks

Many valley homes have a pressure-reducing valve near the main shutoff. When it fails, house pressure can climb, stressing hoses, toilet fill valves and water heater relief valves. A gauge on a hose bib tells the story. We replace failed regulators on the existing line and add or replace thermal expansion tanks at the water heater, setting the tank's air charge to match the house pressure.

Shutoff valves

Old multi-turn valves often fail when turned. Quarter-turn ball valves are more reliable. We replace fixture stops and accessible main shutoffs on existing pipe, and label the main so everyone in the house knows where it is.

Water softeners and filters

Water softener and under-sink filter installs fit on existing lines where a bypass and drain are available. We install the unit, connect the drain line with an air gap and set up the bypass so you can service it.

Hose bibs and outdoor faucets

Outdoor faucets drip at the spout when the washer wears, or leak from the handle when the packing fails. Many can be rebuilt; heavily corroded ones get replaced on the existing pipe. Adding a vacuum breaker on the threads protects your drinking water from backflow when a hose is connected to sprayers.

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