Leak Star Leak Detection Blog

Plumbing Whoas

12/30/2017

Being a homeowner is a pleasure, but it certainly can have some homewoner plumbing whoas. When plumbing is not functioning properly, your happy home can environment can vanish. It is imperative that your home have these simple basics. How water, clear drains, with water and sewer lines that are not leaking.

A slab leak can cause significant damage and really isn't that difficult to repair only I am sure your thoughts have you imagining a jackhammer in your livingroom, Simply not the case. In most cases repiping a home or rerouting a single line is all that is needed. Repiping is slightly different in that it generally refers to replacing all of the water pipes in the home. A reroute more implies a single water line that is replaced. Water line repair is not that difficult.

Nothing is worse than looking forward to a hot shower only to find your water is dead cold. If your water heater is over 8 years old and new water heater installation is usually recommended. A new water heater installation should cost you about $1500-$1700 that should include, your water heater replacement, the labor and to haul your old water heater away. Generally takes about 3 hours.

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When Is It Time To Consider Repiping Your Home

12/5/2017

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We hear this question often, when is it time to consider repiping your home. It's really not that difficult of a decision is you consider the cost options. You may be considering repiping Carlsbad homes, or repiping Encinitas homes. You probably came to this consideration because you have already experienced at least one water line leak, however you are likely on your 3rd of 4th water leak.

Let's consider the cost of repairing a single line water leak under the slab also known as a slab leak. If you use Leak Star Advanced Leak Detection repiping service, a single line reroute will cost you $1750 flat rate. That would include the cost of your leak detection. What often happens is that one line is abandoned and rerouted and another separate copper water line springs a leak. It could for instance be the hot water that was fixed the first time, now it's the cold water line either right next to the hot water or in an entirely different location of the house. It could be in the wall or it could be another slab leak.

Once copper pipes start springing leaks it's genreally just a matter of time before more leaks appear. Copper pipes can corrode over time or as is very often the problem in our area, the additives in our municipal water meant to protect us, corrode the inside of the copper pipes. There is nothing that we can really control.

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This Old House, When the Pipes Begin to Fail

9/7/2017

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Your home is like you. As it ages, over time systems begin to breakdown. Your plumbing can be compared to a circulatory system. It is critical to maintain that system. Like our circulatory system, your homes plumbing pipes begin to errode and and there can be a mineral buildup narrowing the flow of water, reducing your water pressure.

You may chose to live with low water pressure. It's not particularly harmful if you don't mind showering in a trickle of water. But errosion of you copper water pipes and a forthcoming plumbing leak can be devastating. Repiping Encinitas homes and repiping Carlsbad homes is increasingly needed as the homes in our area age and the pipes begin to fail.

Repiping your home is not nearly as terrrifying as it sounds when you use a company like Leak Star Advanced Leak Detection. Timo of Leak Star has been plumbing the San Diego area since 1987. Having earned a reputation that had him plumbing some of San Diego's most exquiste estate homes. That requires a level of skill and precision not seen among most plumbers. The reason is Timo is maticulous.

Leak Star Advanced Leak Detection has repiping Carlsbad and Encinitas homes down to an art. They carefully route new pipes through your walls, ceilings and crawl spaces with the least amount of damage as possible. Repiping Encinitas homes will take about 3-5 days depending on the size of your home. When complete, you will simply have a few holes in the drywall that need to be repaired. You will not need to leave your home if you chose not too. Your water will remain on until the time when all of the final connections are made.

Repiping your home is really not as painful as you may have been lead to believe. For further information, please give Leak Star a call and ask to speak with Timo (Teemo) @ 855-220-0188.

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Repiping Your Home, Should You Do It?

8/10/2017

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Repiping your home, should you do it? Good question. You may have considered repiping in Carlsbad if your home is very old or you have had multiple plumbing leaks. Repiping in Encinitas is also a consideration for the very same reasons.

It is quite normal for older plumbing to start leaking. Pipes corrode over time and depending on the type of pipe that was used you might experience low water pressure due to build up narrowing pipes on the inside. Or simply joints become corroded and begin to fail.

In more recent years the problem has been copper pipes developing tiny pinhole leaks. The cause of this newer problem is believed by many to be the fault of corrosive additives in our water that corrode and pit the inside of copper pipes, eventually leading to these types of pinhole leaks.

In either case, repairs may be in your future. I specifically use the term "repairs", because in both these instances, this is not just a one time thing. Those problems whether due to age or chemical additives are happening all throughout your plumbing system.

A typical scenario goes like this. Plumbing leak is found, there may be water damage, it may be a slab leak under the concrete foundation. Drywall removal may be needed, repairs done, which could be a slab leak reroute of a single line. Then there will be drywall repair, possibly stucco & new paint at the least. Cabinets, flooring, furnishings could all be damaged. Those costs add up. Not to mention the distruption to your daily life.

Once repairs are made, believe it or not a few weeks later you experience yet another slab leak! This happens more often then you might want to imagine. So sad to see our customers have to go through the same experience that they did before. At this point you may chose to do another single repair or reroute to the single offending line.

The thing is, there are a minimum of 15-20 water lines running through even a small home. There are potential problems in any one of those lines. So at what point do you ask yourself, repiping my Carlsbad or Encintias home, should we just do it?

As leak detection and repiping specialists in Carlsbad and Encinitas, this is what we recommend to our customers. The first slab leak or water line leak, let's just fix it. If you have a second, still kind of up in the air. A third plumbing leak of this type, it's time to seriously consider repiping your Carlsbad or Encinitas home. It is no longer cost effective, nor does the time spent with your home in kaos make sense.

In the case of a smaller home after just 3 reroutes you will have surpassed the costs of completely repiping your home. We understand, the thought of repiping is daunting. Really it's not much worse than each single line reroute. It's going to take longer, but once complete, repairs to drywall made, than you can move on with your life. No need to worry when the next pipe will spring a leak. Just one less thing to worry about in your life.

Give us a call 760-519-8466. We will answer your questions, try to set your mind at ease.

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Is The Answer Slab Leak Repair in Ladera Ranch

4/19/2017

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Plumbing Problems in Ladera Ranch

I suppose it goes without saying, Ladera Ranch has some serious plumbing issues in the community as a whole. So great is this problem that there is actually a class action suit. So, is the answer slab leak repair in Ladera Ranch? The problem is very tiny pinhole leaks in many homes copper pipe. There are those who would argue that it is faulty installation. I would argue, that this is not the case. These pipes generally develop these tiny leaks somewhere along a run of piping, not generally in the soldered joint.

Some would say it is inferior copper pipe. That may make the problem worse orcontribute, but we purchase from our plumbing supply houses supply. It still doesn't explain why certain areas are experiencing such catastrophic promblems. If it was inferior pipe only, than it seems like the problem would exist all over the country. Doesn't seem to be the case and it does seem to be a problem in many areas in Southern California. We see these types of leaks in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, needing slab leak repair Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside and nearly every city in Orange and San Diego Counties. Newer homes seem to have more than their fair share of problems and since Ladera Ranch is a newer community, they seem to be hit the hardest, per capita.

My best guess after having seen 100s of these types of leaks is that as many believe is due to the Chloramines & possibly ofther additives that are in our drinking water. A chemical reaction causes the copper to pit on the inside of the pipe, eventually erroding all the way through. It starts a slow weep and eventually turns into a full high pressure spray. These pinhole leaks can appear in any area of your home, where water pipes run. The ceiling, the walls and even under your concrete slab, known as a slab leak.

Slab Leak Repair in Ladera Ranch

Slab leaks make up a big chunk of all plumbing leaks. While repairing a slab leak sounds ominous, it is really no more difficult than an in wall water line leak. Believe it or not, a slab leak detection is fairly easy if the right equipment is used and that is why it is important to get a qualified leak detection company to perform the leak detection service.

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An Expert Plumber Points Out the Sure Signs that Your Plumbing is Bad

2/27/2017

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A Plumber Notes Common Problems Discovered when Moving into a Home

Plumbing is one of the top five components you need to check before moving into a new house. After all, no new homeowner wishes to experience costly plumbing issues shortly after buying a house.

While it is always wise to call a plumber to inspect the plumbing before moving into your new home, it’s useful to learn the basics of spotting potential plumbing problems you might be forced to confront sooner than you’d expect.

Get acquainted with your pipes

To help you become more adept at spotting potential plumbing issues, it pays to learn more about your plumbing first. Generally, there are two types of pipes in your plumbing system: supply pipes and drain lines.

Houses built around 1978 to 1995 used polybutylene pipes. If ever you notice such pipe in your plumbing, call an expert plumber to immediately replace it. These pipes are known rupture and a water leak can potentially cost you thousands of dollars in water damage, plus there is the potential of mold which can be dangerous to your health.

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Repiping - When Is It Time?

1/20/2017

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Repiping, when is it time to just go ahead and do it? This is a question many homeowners face. Repiping Carlsbad homes is common and at some point it just makes sense to go ahead and do it.

When is it time to just go ahead and consider repiping Encintas homes? Our recommendation to everyone is if you have had to do more than two reroute or single line repiping, than it's time. Or if your home is very old, and you have had at least one major water line leak, repiping is something you really want to consider.

Repiping Ladera Ranch homes is very common. The Ladera Ranch area has significant problems with copper pinhole leaks. Many homeowners have decided with the history of Ladera Ranch that repiping is the way to go after even just one water line leak.

There is also a great need for repiping San Marcos homes. Many of those homes are older and after a single leak it is often determined that repiping the house is a good idea for peace of mind.

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Plumbing Re-route or Plumbing Repipe

12/22/2016

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If you found this post on Plumbing Re-route or Plumbing Repipe, it's probably because you know you have a plumbing leak. Maybe you have been unfortunate enough to experience more than one. Before even thinking about the potential of a reroute or repipe, give Leak Star a call and we can help you to evaluate your options.

Repair

Repairing your plumbing leak could still be an option. If the timing is bad, finances just aren't available, then certainly a plumbing repair of the specific leaking pipe is always an option. A plumbing repair will get you back up and running quickly and with minimal costs by comparison. If however your plumbing is older or is copper that has been affected by additives in our water or you have experience multiple plumbing leaks in your water pipes or you have an under concrete slab leak.....then really a reroute or repipe is something your must consider.

Re-Route

Reroutes are the best and in our opinion the only option when your plumbing leak is under the slab. There is no need to tear up your flooring and jack hammer a hole in the concrete to fix the leaking pipe. Not only is that costly, destructive and disruptive to your life, but very often when a copper pipe springs a leak, it is very like to spring a leak in the future.

Are re-route will simply bypass the faulty plumbing no matter what the plumbing materials that were used. Damage to drywall can be minimal IF your plumber really understands plumbing from the ground up. Timo owner of Leak Star has spent decades as a plumbing contractor. Timo has actually installed the plumbing in countless San Diego homes.

Repipe

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Repiping Encinitas & Carlsbad

8/18/2016

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Have you experienced more than one slab leak or copper pipe leak in your home? A slab leak repair more than twice, is just to much. If this is you, it is time you consider repiping Encinitas or repiping Carlsbad home. In both San Diego County and Orange County, slab leaks are a major problem due to the additives in our water supply that corrode the inside of your copper pipes.

The thought of repiping your Encinitas or Carlsbad home is likely an overwhelming thought. Let us assure your, Leak Star has decades of repiping experience and can in most cases of a small to average size home have your entire repipe complete in 2-4 days, without the need for you to move out of your home.

You have options which will affect both the cost of repiping your home and the length of time it will take to complete the ripe in Encinitas or Carlsbad.

The first option we prefer, is with the use of PEX pipe. Pex is a plastic pipe as opposed to copper pipe. We prefer PEX for a few reasons. One being the obvious, there is a problem with copper errosion and our water supply. With PEX that isn't a problem.

Repiping with PEX also decreases the time that will be needed to complete your repipe. It also will greatly reduce the damage done to your walls. PEX pipe can be fished through the walls, meaning a smaller hole as an entry and exit point. That equates to decreased drywall repair costs.

You may not feel comfortable with the idea of plastic pipe for various reasons. A concern I had was the thought of having our water standing in plastic pipes all the time. The truth is, most of the water pipes outside leading to your home are plastic. It's hard to escape. For that reason we installed a whole house water filtaration system in our home. The cost of using PEX will cost far less than your second option.

The second option is to repipe with copper pipe again. As mentioned above copper pipe does not stand up well to our current water supply. The chemicals cause the inside of the pipe to pit and errode. Eventually eating a hole all the way through. In the image above you can see the actual corrosion happening on the inside of a pinhole leak. You may get some years without problems, but repiping Ladera Ranch homes which is a very new community in Orange County these types of leaks are so common that there is actually a class action suit undeway.

Another problem with copper is that it is quite valuable today, to the point that there are those who actually steal copper ever y chance they get. Even stripping copper from the inside of electrical lines. Using copper alone will increase the cost of your repipe.

Consider to the extensive damage that will need to be done to your home. Since copper doesn't bend like PEX, more drywall will need to be removed in order to run a rigid pipe through the framing of your home. As you can imagine the length of time needed to complete such a job will be much longer. You may even want to consider finding another place to stay for a bit. The costs of a copper repipe will take a significantly larger chunk out of your wallet.

At Leak Star we are qualified to do both and have done both, including copper repipes before it was realized how extensive the problem with water additives and copper was. We would be happy to give you a bid of doing a repipe with PEX or copper in your home.

Please give us a call, we would be happy to answer your questions:

Leak Star San Diego: 760-519-8466
Leak Star Orange Co: 949-429-9884

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Repiping Carlsbad Homes

11/26/2015

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After doing leak detections in North County, we often find ourselves repiping Carlsbad homes as well as repiping Encinitas homes. Repiping your home or business is sometimes the best solution, especially if you have had multiple water line leaks or under concrete fountdation slab leaks.

Repiping your home does not need to be as traumatizing as it sounds. If you hire a plumbing contractor who has the experience a relatively small amount of damage should be done to your home. Here at Leak Star our aim is to keep you in your home while we work around you if that is what you choose to do. We are efficien, clean, and fast

There are a couple of options when repiping Carlsbad and Encinitas homes. Your plumber can use copper or they can use PEX pipe. At Leak Star our preference is PEX pipe. Your first thought no doubt is that copper is the much better choice, but as the experts let me explain why we like PEX pipe over copper.

First off, copper pipe is somewhat of a problem due to the additives in our municipal water. Often that is the reason you are experiencing water line or slab leaks in the first place. The additives react with the copper causing pitting and errosion on the inside of the copper pipe.

The second reason is the cost, not just to your wallet, but in your time. A copper repipe is a much more lengthy process and the damage to your home will be far greater. The mess will be significantly greater and staying elsewhere during the repiping service is really a must.

Why repiping Carlsbad homes with PEX is our first choice is fairly simple. First, you will not have those municipal water issues with PEX pipe. PEX is a flexible plastic material.

The second reason is the cost to you, both in time and damage to your home. Being that PEX pipe is flexible, fewer and much smaller holes are needed to be cut in the drywall. PEX can be fished through many pre-existing water lines. A average 3 bedroom house should take approximately 3 days or less to complete. Leak Star can usually perform a plumbing reroute without you needing to stay elsewhere.

Continuing to repair one plumbing water line leak after another will slowly drain your wallet and cost you far more in the long run. If you are on your second or third leak, give us a call so we can answer your questions and give you some peace of mind.

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