Old pipes and quirky layouts come with the territory around West Hollywood, CA. Whether you live in a vintage courtyard building off Santa Monica Boulevard or a mid-century home up in the hills, plumbing issues happen. West Hollywood Bathroom Solutions answers the questions we get asked the most by homeowners right here in West Hollywood.
Do I really need a permit to replace a toilet or sink in West Hollywood?
If you are swapping an exact-match toilet or putting in the same style of sink, you usually do not need city permits. But the second you start moving supply lines, shifting drains, or opening up walls in a historic or multi-family building, the City of West Hollywood requires a permit. Skipping permits might save money today, but it causes major problems when you try to sell your place in West Hollywood, CA.
Why is my water pressure suddenly dropping?
Most of the time, low water pressure points to a clogged aerator or a failing pressure regulator, especially in older apartment conversions or houses near the foothills in West Hollywood. Sometimes the city is doing main work down the street, which stirs up mineral scale and slams it into your fixtures. If cleaning out your faucet screens does not fix it, West Hollywood Bathroom Solutions can check your main valve.
How long do galvanized steel pipes actually last?
If your home still has original galvanized pipes from decades ago, they are living on borrowed time. Galvanized steel pipes typically last about 40 to 50 years before internal rust chokes off the water flow completely. If your water comes out brown for a few seconds every time you turn the tap on after a trip, you are looking at severe internal corrosion in your West Hollywood home.
Can I use chemical drain cleaners on stubborn clogs?
You should not use chemical drain cleaners. Those liquid drain cleaners from the grocery store eat away at older cast iron and PVC pipes from the inside out. They sit in the P-trap and can splash back up when a plumbing snake hits them. Use a plunger or pull the trap underneath the sink instead.
Why does my shower drain smell like sulfur?
That rotten egg smell usually means organic gunk has built up in the overflow pipe or the P-trap has dried out. Pour hot water and baking soda down the drain. If the smell sticks around, your vent stack on the roof might be blocked by leaves or debris on your West Hollywood property.
How do I shut off the water in an emergency?
Find your main shut-off valve before a pipe bursts, not while water is flooding your floors. In many West Hollywood homes, the valve is near the water heater, tucked into a utility closet, or sitting in a meter box near the property line. Make sure everyone in the house knows where the main shut-off valve is located.