Tag Archives: plumbing problems

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home improvement plumbers

Home Remodeling Improvements You Shouldn’t Do Yourself

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Thanks to the overwhelming popularity of home-flipping, renovation, and other home improvement television shows, the do-it-yourself (DIY) remodeling craze is at an all time. And with good reason. A proper remodeling job can revamp the aesthetic appeal of your home, raise its value, or get it ready to go on the market. However, the next time you feel the urge to channel your inner Tim “The Toolman” Taylor, take a step back and call an expert. Here are just some of the home remodeling improvements you shouldn’t do yourself.

Room Additions

If you’re adding another child to the clan or you just want more room to relax or entertain, a room addition makes perfect sense. But turning your plans into reality isn’t the same.

When you’re planning an addition, there are numerous factors to consider. You have to know if the wall is load-bearing, where the pipes and wires are, and how to properly maintain the floor and new roof. In many cases, you will need an experienced contractor to perform a room addition. When in doubt about your abilities or time constraints, make a call instead of leaving it to chance.

Electrical Updates

Aside from replacing a light switch plate or a lightbulb, electrical updates are out of the question. Only skilled electricians should tackle electrical wiring or fixture-replacement jobs.

If you try to do electrical tasks without the right experience and skill set, you put yourself at risk of electrical shock or an electrical fire. An electrician can also ensure that everything is done up to code.

Plumbing Upgrades

A small leak from the faucet or a clogged toilet are no match for your DIY prowess, but any plumbing issues beyond that should be left to certified plumbers. When you try to tackle problems such as pipes or fixture replacement, you run the risk of a flood or sewage backup that can drain your bank account.

The key to a fully functioning plumbing system is preventive maintenance. By hiring a professional when you see a slow-draining sink, puddles of water in the basement, or another issue, you can avoid a plumbing catastrophe.

Major Landscaping Renovations

If you’re going to plop in a raised-bed garden, plant a new tree, or put in a few flowers and shrubs, go for it. These improvements require little expertise or labor and can add some serious curb appeal to your home. Larger jobs are another story.

When you’re planning to do a major landscaping renovation such as adding a pond, putting up a retaining wall, or building a shed, you want to make sure everything’s done to code.

Even the greatest books from the library and YouTube videos don’t always prepare you for a home remodel.

Plenty of obstacles can emerge, and juggling your job, family, and the improvement can put unnecessary strain on your life and relationships. With just one phone call, you can relax and put your trust in the hands of experienced individuals. It might cost you a little more, but you can’t put a price on peace of mind and a job well done.

Express Plumbing is a Bay Area plumbing company and a division of EPS Inc. Our company has been serving the Bay Area residential, commercial, and municipal sector.

Our plumbing technicians are experienced and can handle any plumbing and underground construction project required to get your home improvement project completed right and on-time.

If you’re looking to discuss any upcoming project, contact us today and let’s talk.


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Plumbing Inspection Before Buying a Home

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Are you buying a home and worried about plumbing problems? You should perform an inspection that will put your mind at ease.  Besides structural inspections, a plumbing inspection is also something to consider.

Nothing compares to the joy of home ownership, especially for first time buyers.  Preparing to purchase your dream home involves much more than liking the floor plan, there’s a lot more to consider.

Moving Expenses

Besides the purchase price of a home, you’ll want to consider all the expenses and fees relating to moving, time off from work, trucking, moving company if you’re not doing it yourself and the purchase of furniture if your current furniture doesn’t look good in the new house.

Repair Costs

Although home inspections are performed, there are unplanned repairs that come up.  Whether your home is new or old, plumbing issues tend to arise at any time.

Most common plumbing problems are related to hardware and connections, leaks in various areas, and hot water heaters that stop functioning shortly after moving in.

Make sure you save extra cushion money for these unplanned repair costs.

Regular Plumbing Maintenance 

Stay consistent in maintaining your home plumbing, implementing regular inspection and maintenance can prove to be a huge cost savings over time.

Plumbing Inspection

Keeping an eye on your plumbing hardware will help you avoid larger plumbing emergencies.  

While you may be in awww of the new home, before you purchase one, take a closer look at the hardware in kitchens and bathrooms or wherever you see a connection.

Each home has a variety of different water sources in its design. These are the locations where problems are likely to arise.

  • Faucets
  • Shower Heads
  • Pipes
  • Connections

Our Bay Area plumbers have assisted many homeowners by inspecting a home before purchase.  This will ease your mind during the purchase, and help you rest easy without any worries.

Investigate Leaks Early

Reports by the Environmental Protection Agency have revealed that the average household leak can result in the loss of 10,000 gallons of water.

Often these leaks occur in places that homeowners are unaware of. Basements, for example can leak for quite some time without being spotted.

If you are aware of a leak it is important to do a thorough investigation. Finding the source of the leak is the only way to fix the problem.  Our professional plumbing company offers plumbing video camera inspections, and advanced leak detection to help you find the problem quick.

When standing water is allowed to remain in place, additional damage can occur to the surrounding areas, floors, walls, etc…  The earlier you detect and repair plumbing problems, the less costly it will be.

If you’re looking to purchase a home, rely on our Bay Area residential plumbing services to help you make a decision prior to purchase.  

Pride of home-ownership comes with buying your dream home without the hassle of plumbing problems and additional unplanned costs.  View a list of our Bay Area plumbing service areas, we look forward to helping you when you need us.


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Most Common Holiday Plumbing Problems We’ve Seen in the Bay Area

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You’re right, plumbing problems aren’t specific to geographic locations, but we can only speak about our plumbing emergency experiences in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This time of year, everyone is in a festive mood as they should be, but there’s nothing worse than a plumbing disaster striking right in the midst of a holiday event, but our plumbing crew will tell you it happens all the time.

As a Bay Area plumber since 1989, we’ve been called night and day to deal with plumbing emergencies for businesses, homeowners, even municipality plumbing issues , the number of residential plumbing problem calls always increase around the holidays, why?  The plumbing does take a large beating with the above average use during this season.  Here are the most common residential plumbing problem calls we’ve received.

Common Plumbing Problems and Prevention

Garbage Disposal Stops Working

With so many tasty dinners around the holidays, of course their are many broken garbage disposals. There are however a few things you can do to prevent this from happening or at least delay it so you can remain in a festive mood.  Your garbage disposal is not a dumpster.  Keep things out of it, it’s that simple.

Sure, many will tell you to cut things into smaller pieces, or to only put certain types of foods down the garbage disposal.  As your trusted Bay Area plumber, we say to avoid it all together around the holidays because we want you to enjoy the holiday season free from any unexpected plumbing issues.

Broken Water Heaters

We get called for this all the time, and it’s always fun when the water heater is not broken at all, the igniter goes off and no more hot water.  This is usually a quick fix and we all get back to our holiday festive moods.

One year a San Francisco resident was so excited after finding out her water heater was not broken at all, it had just shut off, she had our tech Joe stay for dinner and celebrate Christmas eve with her family.  It’s moments like these that we enjoy and help us love what we do even more.

We serve our community with dedication and a rapid response 24 hour a day, 7 days a week including the weekends and holidays.  We do it with a smile.  If you have a plumbing problem in San Francisco, call us and you’ll get a live person whenever you call.

Here are a few things you can do if you have a traditional water heater when you’re expecting a few overnight holiday guests.

Turn up the temperature, but never go over 120 degrees, it can be dangerous, this will help you stretch your hot water and insure everyone gets a nice comfy shower.  Remember to turn it down right after they’re gone so you don’t waste too much and save energy.

If you have an on-demand water heater (tankless water heater), you don’t have to worry about hot water at all.  When you want it, it’s there.

Last but not least, we hate to talk about a pesky, stinky plumbing matter, but we simply can’t avoid it because it’s one of the most common plumbing problems during the holidays.

Clogged Toilets or Sewer

With so many guests in and out of the bathroom, that’s bound to happen.  Not to mention, after a few drinks, who knows what’s being flushed down the toilet.  If you don’t normally keep a waste basket close, get one!

Remind your guests not to flush sanitary napkins, baby wipes, facial tissues, etc.

We’re always available to help including holidays and weekends, but it’s not a bad idea to keep a plumber near just in case.  Leak detection, Sewer repair or replacement is our specialty.

These are just a few of the calls we’ve received in the past, we hope these tips will help you and from our entire plumbing and engineering team at EPS Express Plumbing, we wish you and your family a festive, holiday season filled with love, laughter and free of plumbing problems.

Rapid Response:

The Holidays seasons is one of our busiest months, we serve the entire Bay Area, but call us when you need a trusted, fast response:

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3 Simple Tips to Avoid Holiday Plumbing Disasters

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The holiday season brings family and friends together, whether you’re having a few people over for dinner or out-of-town family guests that will stay overnight, here are some tips from your San Mateo trusted plumber to help you avoid plumbing disasters this holiday season.

While enjoying the holiday festivities, the last thing anyone wants to deal with is a clogged drain, cold shower, or overflowing toilets.  Let’s see if we can help you give your guests a memorable experience without any plumbing emergencies.

emergency-plumbing-disasters

Avoid Plumbing Disasters #1 – Know Your Shut Off Valves

Most homeowners aren’t plumbing experts, but you should at least know about the plumbing in your home.  Locate where the shut off valves are in and around your home, this will be the most important thing to know in case you have a plumbing emergency during the holidays or any other time.

avoid-plumbing-emergencies

Avoid Plumbing Problems #2 – Trash is for the trash can

Help your guests avoid disposing improper items in the toilet or sink.  Make sure you have trash cans throughout the bathrooms and near the sink in the kitchen.  A small cotton swab down the toilet can create a plumbing disaster you don’t want to deal with, or the wrong leftovers placed in the sink can clog your garbage disposal quickly.

Avoid Plumbing Emergencies #3 – Don’t waste water

Avoid wasting water by checking all the connections outside of the home and inside.  You may want to turn up your hot water heater to ensure there will be plenty for your overnight guests to enjoy a nice warm shower.  Stick to a maximum temperature of 125 degrees.

Happy Holidays From Our Family To Yours

Happy Holidays From Our Family To Yours 

Our residential plumbing experts have been serving the Bay Area community since 1989.  We are available 24/7 even nights and weekends.  If you’re faced with a plumbing disaster you can’t handle, know that we’re here to help you when you need us most.

Our entire team at Express Plumbing in San Mateo CA wishes you and your family a wonderful holiday season filled with memorable moments and free of plumbing disasters.  


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Drain Cleaning Services San Mateo

Top 3 Reasons To Repair Leaks Quickly by a Trusted Plumber

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It doesn’t matter how old your home is. There are certain issues that are paramount when it comes to necessary repairs. Leaks should be a top priority, why? Because they can cause bigger issues if not addressed immediately.

Leaks are directly associated with plumbing problems, in or outside of the house.  Whether it’s a hardware malfunction or aging, having a trusted plumber to rely on is extremely important.

When looking for a plumber, you’ll want a professional that’s equipped and experienced in handling the plumbing problem you’re facing.  Pinpointing a leak quickly without digging around using methods such as leak detection and trenchless drilling can save you time and money.

Let’s take a look at the top 3 reasons to repair leaks quickly.

Basement Flooded Due to Standing Water

Basement Flooded Due to Standing Water

Standing Water & Flooding

Leaks that go on for long periods of time usually cause flooding. Depending on where these leaks are, it is possible to experience standing water. Flooding can damage the flooring in any room of the home. Once repairs are done it is necessary to deal with damaged floors and property. This may mean completely replacing wood floors or carpets.  The quicker they are detected and fixed, the less the damage and costly repairs.

drywall mold

Drywall Damage

Standing water is not only a danger to household floors. This water caused by leaks may also have an impact on your drywall. Repairs here require more than simply cleaning and painting. In some instances, mold occurs where water damage has taken place. Plumbers can repair leaks in most cases, but are not the only professionals needed for drywall damage. General contractors typically do this work.  Avoid the mold by getting leaks fixed right away!

Furniture Replacement Cost

Leaks can occur in virtually any room of a home. This is especially true for those rooms where there are water supplies. Furnishing in these living spaces are often damaged or destroyed. It is often necessary to completely replace the furniture or items in these rooms. Dealing with leaks as soon as they happen is always the best idea. Plumbers are able to prevent further damage and can help your avoid problems

Our Bay Area Plumbers are experts in residential and commercial plumbing repairs, no matter where you experience a plumbing problem, we have the equipment and the man power to handle it quickly.

We’ve been serving the Bay Area since 1989, we’ve seen everything imaginable.  We aim to detect, and correct any plumbing issue within a timely manner to help you avoid added unnecessary costs.

Add us to your speed dial if you’re anywhere in the Bay Area.  Our response time is quick, and you’re satisfaction is guaranteed.


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