Plumbing services
Blaine looks at the problem, tells you what he thinks is wrong, and gives you a free estimate.
Toilets and faucets
A toilet that keeps running or refills by itself usually has a worn flapper or fill valve inside the tank. A dripping faucet usually needs a new cartridge or washer. Water on the floor around the toilet base can mean the seal under it has failed.
Most of these are part swaps. A fixture that's cracked or worn out may need replacing [CONFIRM: replacement offered].
What to expect
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What you'll notice
The toilet keeps running, or the faucet won't stop dripping.
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What it usually is
Often a worn flapper or fill valve in the tank, or a worn cartridge or washer in the faucet.
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What he'll explain
What he thinks the problem is, and once it's fixed, what he did and why.
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What you probably don't need
A new toilet or faucet. A worn flapper, fill valve or cartridge is often the whole problem, and those parts can be replaced.
What Blaine does
- Running and leaking toilets
- Dripping faucets
- Toilet and faucet replacement [CONFIRM: offered]
- Shutoff valves under sinks and behind toilets [CONFIRM: offered]
- Garbage disposals [CONFIRM: offered]
Water heaters
On a gas heater, no hot water often comes down to the pilot or a part that controls the gas. On an electric one, it's often a heating element or thermostat. Hot water that runs out faster than it used to can mean sediment has built up in the tank.
A leak from a valve or fitting can usually be fixed. A leak from the tank itself can't, and that means replacement.
What to expect
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What you'll notice
No hot water, or water around the tank.
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What it usually is
On gas heaters, often the pilot or a gas control part. On electric ones, often a heating element or thermostat.
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What he'll explain
Whether he thinks a repair will do, and once it's fixed, what he did and why.
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What you probably don't need
A new water heater, when one failed part is the cause. A leak from the tank itself is the exception: that tank needs replacing.
What Blaine does
- Water heater repair
- Water heater replacement [CONFIRM: offered]
- Tankless water heaters [CONFIRM: offered]
- Flushing [CONFIRM: offered]
- Brands installed [CONFIRM: brands]
Drain cleaning
When one drain is slow, the clog is usually close by: grease in a kitchen line, hair and soap in a tub or shower. When several drains are slow at once, the trouble is likely further down the line (see Sewer repair).
Blaine clears the drain and explains what he thinks caused it.
What to expect
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What you'll notice
A sink or shower drains slowly or stops.
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What it usually is
Grease in kitchen lines, or hair and soap in bathroom drains, usually close to the fixture.
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What he'll explain
What he thinks caused the clog, and once it's clear, what he did and why.
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What you probably don't need
Sewer work for one slow drain. When only one fixture is slow, the clog is usually close to it.
What Blaine does
- Kitchen sink drains
- Bathroom sink, tub and shower drains [CONFIRM: offered]
- Toilet clogs [CONFIRM: offered]
- Main line clearing [CONFIRM: offered]
Gas piping
A new gas appliance has to get enough gas from the line that feeds it. Sometimes the existing line can be extended. When it can't, he'll explain what the new appliance needs.
If you smell gas, get everyone outside without touching switches or flipping anything, then call 911 from outside; SDG&E also handles gas leaks. Call Blaine after that.
What to expect
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What you'll notice
You're adding or moving a gas range, dryer or water heater.
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What it usually is
The new appliance needs enough gas from the line that feeds it, and the existing line may or may not supply it.
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What he'll explain
What the new appliance needs from the line, and once the work is done, what he did and why.
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What you probably don't need
A whole new gas line just because the appliance is new. Whether the existing line can feed it depends on the appliance and the line.
What Blaine does
- Gas lines for ranges, dryers and water heaters [CONFIRM: offered]
- Moving or extending gas lines [CONFIRM: offered]
- Gas line repair [CONFIRM: offered]
- Earthquake gas shutoff valves [CONFIRM: offered]
- Permits where required [CONFIRM: permits handled?]
Sewer repair
When more than one fixture backs up, or water comes up in the tub when another drain runs, the problem is usually in the main sewer line. Tree roots, a broken or sagging section of pipe, or a blockage further down are the usual causes.
He'll tell you what he finds and what he thinks should happen next. [CONFIRM: camera inspection offered? repair methods, e.g. spot repair, trenchless]
What to expect
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What you'll notice
Several drains back up at once, or the toilet gurgles when the washer drains.
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What it usually is
Often a blockage in the main line, such as tree roots or a broken or sagging section of pipe.
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What he'll explain
What he thinks is going on in the line, and once it's done, what he did and why.
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What you probably don't need
Digging up the whole line before anyone knows where the problem is. Where the trouble sits decides what a repair involves.
What Blaine does
- Main sewer line clearing [CONFIRM: offered]
- Sewer line repair
- Camera inspection [CONFIRM: offered]
- Cleanout installation [CONFIRM: offered]
Remodels
Before a remodel, it helps to know where your water and drain lines run and what moving a fixture would take.
He does the plumbing and gives advice on the project. For the rest of the job, he can refer other contractors he trusts.
What to expect
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What you'll notice
You're planning a bathroom addition.
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What it usually is
What the plan takes depends on where the water and drain lines run now.
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What he'll explain
His advice on the plan. For the work that isn't plumbing, he can refer other contractors he trusts.
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What you probably don't need
Moving every fixture. Changes that keep fixtures near the existing water and drain lines are usually simpler than ones that move them.
What Blaine does
- Bathroom additions
- Kitchen and bath remodel plumbing [CONFIRM: offered]
- Fixture relocation [CONFIRM: offered]
- Referrals to contractors he trusts
- Permits where required [CONFIRM: permits handled?]
What it costs
Estimates are free. [CONFIRM: price given before work starts? any trip charge?]