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FAQs
My copper pipes are making a ticking noise. What does that mean for a house built in the 80s?
Ticking is often thermal expansion in pipes that are rigidly anchored. After 40 years, those anchors can loosen or the pipe itself can develop stress fractures. More critically, this age of copper is prone to pinhole leaks caused by internal corrosion and scale buildup, which weakens the pipe wall until it fails.
Do I need a permit to replace my own water heater in San Juan County?
Yes, San Juan County Planning and Zoning requires a permit for water heater replacement, and the work must be inspected. As a licensed contractor with the New Mexico Construction Industries Division, I pull those permits and schedule the inspections as part of the job. Handling that red tape ensures the installation meets current code and doesn’t create issues for you later.
How fast can a plumber get to my house in Upper Fruitland if I have a burst pipe?
From our shop, the dispatch route heads past the San Juan River on US-64 and into the community. Under normal traffic, that’s a 45 to 60 minute drive. For a major leak, we prioritize those calls and can often have a truck on the road in under 15 minutes to start that trip.
As a rural homeowner, what plumbing systems am I responsible for maintaining?
You are fully responsible for your private well and septic system, from the pump and pressure tank to the drain field. Municipal services aren’t an option here. This means scheduling regular septic pumping every 3-5 years and checking your well pump’s pressure switch and bladder tank annually to avoid complete system failures.
Does the hard water from the San Juan River ruin water heaters?
Yes, the mineral content leads to significant scale buildup. Inside a water heater, this sediment acts as an insulator, forcing the unit to work harder and fail sooner. On fixtures and shower valves, the scale gradually restricts flow and can cause premature failure of cartridges and moving parts.
What’s the most important thing to do with my plumbing before spring in Upper Fruitland?
Insulate any exposed pipes in crawl spaces before the spring thaw. Nighttime lows here still hit 18°F, and the rapid temperature swings from day to night can cause pipes to contract and expand, stressing old joints. Draining and shutting off exterior hose bibs in late fall is a standard pro-tip for this arid climate.
Why are so many homes in Upper Fruitland having plumbing problems all of a sudden?
Homes built around 1985 have copper plumbing that is now over 40 years old. This is the typical lifespan where pinhole leaks start appearing in the pipe walls. In the Upper Fruitland Community, we’re seeing these leaks most often at solder joints and in hot water lines where the metal has thinned from decades of water flow.
Could the flat land near the river be causing my slow drains?
Plain terrain often lacks the natural slope needed for proper drainage away from a home. If the soil around your foundation has settled, your main sewer line may have developed a low spot or belly that collects waste and causes recurring clogs. The expansive clay soils common here can also shift and put stress on underground pipes.
