As helpful as it would be, plumbing problems don’t occur only during regular business hours. When leaks and clogs present themselves on the weekend or the middle of the night, only you can decide if you want to have us come out immediately or if it can wait until a normal business day, but our checklist can help:

Does the problem only affect one faucet, drain, or shower? If the problem is secluded to only one pipe, it can likely wait until Monday morning.

Can you shut off a water valve to make the problem stop? If you can pause the problem temporarily, wait until normal business hours to call the plumber.

Does the water work? If your water is completely shut off (and it’s not a municipality problem) call the emergency plumber.
Is flooding occuring? If a burst pipe or water main break is causing flooding in or outside of your home, you’re dealing with an emergency.

You can always call us and we would be happy to troubleshoot over the phone, then you can decide if you want us to come out!

Detecting a water leak can be difficult if your home is built on a slab or your pipes run underground. The most common signs of a water leak include:

Damp or spongy flooring
Warping of baseboards or mysterous wet spots
Unexpected Increase in monthly water bill
Sound of running water coming from walls
Loss in water pressure
Grass is greener in one part of yard
If you experience any of these issues, contact State 48 Drains for our leak detection service.

Plumbing problems are bound to happen. Even in a new home, clogged drains or a water leak can happen when you least expect it. Whether you’re managing the repairs or an older home, or purchasing a new home and want to be prepared, here are the most common plumbing problems:

Clogged toilet
Clogged bath or shower drain
Jammed garbage disposal
Leaky faucets
Leaky pipes
Low water pressure
Running toilet
Sewage smell in home
Sewer system backup
Slow draining sink
Water heater repair

The best way to clean your home plumbing is with a non-toxic Hydro Jetting treatment. We can schedule a Hydro Jetting treatment for your home every two to three years.

To determine what type of plumbing material you have in your home, follow our piping guide below:

Copper: Plumbing lines in homes built from the 1970 into the early 2000s was most likely built with copper pipes. These pipes are a bronze color when new and slowly fade to a deep rust or brown/green color over the years. Copper pipes last about 50+ years.
Galvanized Steel: If you pipes are mostly a gray or metal color, they’re made of galvanized steel. This material is cheaper than copper and was often used in homes leading up to the 1970s. The material was used less when builders discovered it only lasted for about 40 years.
PB (polybutylene): This piping is usually marked with “PB2110.” These flexible pipes are usually gray but can also be black or blue.
PVC (polyvinyl-chloride): The white plastic pipes are most commonly seen under your kitchen or bathroom sinks and used as drain pipes.
PEX (cross-linked polyethylene): Plastic tubing that is usually white, red, or blue and used to indicate hot and cold lines. Plumbers use this type of material because of its flexibility.
Cast Iron: This pipe has a black finish and was used in homes until the mid-1960s.

Clogged pipes can be a major inconvenience. Whether it’s a kitchen sing and disposal or a severe blockage deep in your main sewer line, addressing the problem immediately will help prevent further damage. The best way to prevent clogged pipes is to be mindful of what you put down your drains and toilet. Use these tips as a guide:

Run cold water when using the garbage disposal
A drain strainer should be used if there is no garbage disposal
Avoid pouring grease or oil down the drain
After washing dishes, run hot water to rinse away grease
Clear drain stoppers in shower and bathtub
Only flush waste and limited toilet tissue down toilet
Pump septic tank every two to three years
Avoid coffee grounds, bones, grease, fruit peels and other fibrous foods in garbage disposal

Hydro Jetting does not use chemicals. By forcing water through your pipes at nearly 4000 PSI, we can remove buildup, debris, and tree roots. The water is sprayed at an extremely high pressure and flushes away the debris, allowing water and waste to flow through your plumbing freely.

The typical water heater lasts 8 to 12 years. Routine maintenance will help extend the life of your unit. If you have a traditional tank, draining the water heater once yearly will help rid the unit of sediment and minerals that can settle at the bottom. If your water heater isn’t advanced in age and is showing signs of trouble, call a water heater repair technician at State 48 Drains to get your unit running efficiently.

A number of factors go into the best temperature for your water heater. The EPA recommends a setting between 120 and 140 degrees. It’s important to not go below that recommendation as bacteria can grow in water that is too cool, threatening your family’s health. If the temperature is set too high, you’ll waste energy and risk scalding and burns with water usage.

A clogged toilet is problematic for your home and can quickly turn into a health risk if waste is not disposed of properly. If your toilet isn’t flushing, try removing the clog with one of these methods:

Plunger: Seal the plunger around the toilet drain and plunge rapidly several times. If the plunger doesn’t release the clog, try a plumbing snake.
Plumbing auger: A plumbing snake can be pushed through the toilet drain to grab a clog.
If neither of these methods work and the water from the toilet is not releasing, call State 48 Drains immediately.

If you continuously have problems with your toilet, it may be time to replace it. A few signs that it’s time to replace your toilet include:

Continuous clogs
Multiple flushes after each use
Age (toilets 10 years or older aren’t energy efficient)
Ongoing leaks

A slab leak is when a water pipe beneath your home’s slab bursts or leaks. An underground pipe leak can cause the soil to become saturated and cause the concrete to shift or sink. A spot repair technique is the most common way to repair a slab leak. If the piping beneath the slab is old or suffering advanced corrosion, a more permanent repair may be to re-pipe or move the plumbing.

With trenchless sewer repair techniques used by State 48 Drains, we can complete most sewer line repair work without excavating. Traditional sewer repair creates a double cost to property owners – the sewer line repair and then repairing yard work, driveway, or flooring. With trenchless sewer line repair, our technicians solve your plumbing problems with minimal invasion to your property.

Types of trenchless sewer repair:

Pull-in-place lining
Inversion lining
Epoxy coating
Each of these processes has as different set of requirements and its own pricing scale.

Tree roots that invade your plumbing can create severe damage if not remedied quickly. Tree roots can break through underground plumbing, blocking the flow of water and waste to and from your home. To avoid tree root invasion, try one of these methods:

Tree Removal: If the tree continues to be a problem, have it professionally removed. The cost of tree removal will be minimal compared to constantly repairing your plumbing.

Root Barrier: Install a root barrier around any new trees by digging an 18 to 24-inch trench around the root zone. The barrier will keep the roots from invading your pipes.

Routine Plumbing Maintenance: Have a camera inspection performed every two to three years to detect invasive roots. You can spot small plumbing concerns before they become expensive repairs.

Sewer Line Cleaning: Hydro Jetting is an environmentally friendly way to clean your pipes. The intense water pressure can cut through clogs, debris and tree roots.

Damage caused by broken pipes is one of the most common homeowners insurance claims. Most insurance companies will cover damage caused by leaking or burst pipes if the damage wasn’t preventable. There are steps you can take to avoid broken pipes or leaking appliances:

Ensure tubs and showers are caulked and sealed properly
Inspect for leaking faucets indoors and outside
Insulate pipes if you live in a cold climate
Routinely inspect appliance hoses on your dishwasher or washing machine and replace as needed.