Plumbing Repairs & Installations

Plumbing problems don't wait. Leaks under sinks, running toilets, clogged drains, and frozen pipes need attention before they cause bigger damage. We carry common parts—faucet cartridges, wax rings, shut-off valves, P-traps—so most repairs happen same-visit. Frozen pipes are a winter reality in Nevada County. If a pipe freezes but hasn't burst, we thaw it carefully with heat tape or a heat gun—never an open flame. If it's already burst, we cut out the damaged section and splice in new pipe. Prevention is easier: insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces and attics, leave cabinet doors open during cold snaps so warm air reaches under-sink plumbing, and let faucets drip when temps drop below 20°F. We've thawed dozens of frozen pipes; the ones that burst are almost always in uninsulated crawl spaces or exterior walls. Fixture installation—faucets, sinks, toilets, disposals, dishwashers—requires shutting off water, disconnecting old units, installing new ones, and testing for leaks. Toilets need proper flange height and a new wax ring every time. Faucets need solid mounting and flexible supply lines, not the cheap plastic connectors that crack. Disposals require a dedicated switch and proper drain connection—no shortcuts that create leaks or code violations. Water heater replacement is a bigger job. We drain the old unit, disconnect gas or electric and water lines, remove it, install the new heater, reconnect everything, and test. Gas water heaters require proper venting and combustion air; we follow California Title 24 standards. Tankless water heaters need larger gas lines and often require electrical upgrades. Permits are required for water heater replacement in California; we pull them and coordinate inspections. Drain clearing ranges from snaking a clogged sink to running a power auger through a main line. We don't use chemical drain cleaners—they're hard on pipes and rarely solve the problem. If a drain clogs repeatedly, there's usually a bigger issue: root intrusion, bellied pipe, or improper venting. We'll scope the line if needed and tell you what's actually wrong. We also repipe sections of old galvanized or polybutylene plumbing. Galvanized corrodes from the inside and restricts flow; polybutylene is prone to failure. We replace with copper or PEX depending on application and budget. Repiping requires opening walls, so it's often done during remodels when the walls are already open.

“If a pipe freezes but hasn't burst, we thaw it carefully with heat tape or a heat gun—never an open flame.”