Frequently Asked Questions

Learn More by Contacting Our San Gabriel Plumbing Team

Do you have a question about your upcoming plumbing service? Is there something you wish to know more about before your appointment time arrives? Do you have a question about how your plumbing system works or about a potential problem you may have found in your home or business? The plumbing experts at Merry San Marino Plumbing have the answers, and we have provided a few of the most commonly-requested ones here in our Plumbing FAQs.

If you need further information about a particular subject, you don’t see your question listed here, or you would like to schedule an appointment, call our office at (626) 414-5583 today!

How Does Pricing Work for Plumbing Projects?

For most common plumbing projects, our prices are dictated by two factors: time needed and materials needed. As is common with industry standards, we charge a flat fee, known as a dispatch fee, for arriving at your job site, and every job is charged an hourly fee on top of that based on the amount of time we expect the issue to take. We also charge for materials used at a discount rate due to our ability to get most of our materials at a bulk-purchase price.

Do I Need a Main Line Cleanout?

A main line cleanout is an access port where a plumbing professional can gain access to your main drain lines. This larger outlet gives plumbers the ability to insert larger tools and materials, allowing us to get the job done faster and easier with less mess and risk to your home as a whole. If you have a main line cleanout installed, prices for most services will be reduced significantly. Merry San Marino Plumbing also offers main line cleanout installations if you do not have an easily accessible one.

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Problems for California Residents?

There are quite a few issues that are common here in California. Perhaps the most common one has to do with the fact that many of our homes are starting to show signs of age, as they were built in the 1980s or earlier. Vintage homes are not just popular—they’re also becoming increasingly common in the greater Los Angeles area. Galvanized pipes usually start to show significant signs of corrosion by roughly around the 25 to 30 year mark of their lifespan, so these homes will need to be repiped.

Another common issue is hard water, and that leads to water line blockages, limescale buildup, and a host of other potential problems with everything from faucets and fixtures to water-reliant appliances.

What Should Every Homeowner Know About DIY Plumbing?

DIY plumbing is something that can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, we do appreciate the fact that is a lot of satisfaction of getting your hands dirty and getting something done for your home entirely on your own. On the other hand, we have seen what can happen when a DIY repair goes awry. Our advice is this: if the job is small and you have the tools and the confidence to tackle it, we encourage you to do so. However, we also encourage you to do your research on how to do something first. The internet is a wealth of information and can guide you along the way, and it may also show you that hiring a pro might be a better idea if your job is more complex.

In particular, we advise avoiding using liquid drain cleaners. Liquid drain cleaners rarely get rid of clogs on their own, are incredibly toxic, and can actually damage your drain lines even worse than they already were. They also present an injury risk to any plumber who comes to work on your drain after the fact. There is a reason we charge a fee if we discover signs of liquid drain cleaners in a clogged drain: the acids damage tools and injure techs, so we have no choice but to take special precautions in these cases.

When Is It Necessary to Get a Quote for a Plumbing Project?

Quotes and in-person pricing estimates are not always necessary for smaller plumbing jobs like fixing a clogged drain. However, for bigger jobs like replacing your water heater or installing new plumbing lines, we strongly recommend getting a quote before letting the work begin. If you're dealing with a large-scale plumbing issue, get in touch with a San Gabriel plumber from Merry San Marino Plumbing to schedule a quote.

Have another plumbing question? Give Merry San Marino Plumbing a call by dialing (626) 414-5583 today!