O'Connell Plumbing Frequently Asked Questions

(415) 347-6925
1925 East Francisco Blvd, Suite 3
San Rafael, CA 94901
(L to R) Rebecca Kleiner, Ed O'Connell, Paul Guzman
Q: Why do plumbers charge so much?
A: "A lot of the cost is simply what it takes to run a legitimate business. We take care of our employees and pay them fair wages because it’s the right thing to do. We also carry a hefty liability insurance policy to protect the homes we service. There are also other requirements, like workers’ compensation insurance. All these things cost money. Some firms get away with charging less, but the results aren’t always pleasant."
Q: Do you charge by the hour or by the job?
A: "We charge by the job, not the hour, which protects you through consistent and predictable pricing. If a job takes a little longer than expected, you’re not charged more for it. This way, our customers are assured our plumbers are concentrating on doing the job right, not milking the clock to overcharge or rushing through a job as fast as possible because they know the homeowner is ‘watching the clock.’"
Q: I’m getting brown water out of my pipes. Is it harmful? What can be done about it?
A: "It’s not harmful, just unpleasant looking. Brown water is caused by the presence of iron or magnesium somewhere in your plumbing system. If only the hot water is brown and it affects all faucets, that usually means the anode rod in the hot water heater needs to be replaced, or perhaps the entire heater needs replacement. If the brown water is only from one faucet, it’s probably just a section of old pipe that needs replacement. If all water, hot and cold, is brown, then the problem is probably in the main water line. All of these require a professional plumber to fix."
Q: I’ve lost water pressure. It used to be fine, but over time it’s decreased. What’s the problem?
A: "Most likely, it’s simply a clogged aerator. The aerator is a mesh filter that screws on the faucet. Simply unscrew the aerators and clean them, or get replacements at any hardware store. They’re quite inexpensive—much less than a service call from a plumber."
Q: Are there different types of plungers?
A: "Yes, there are sink plungers and toilet plungers. A sink plunger looks like a ball cut in half and is usually reddish-brown. Toilet plungers have an extended, narrow opening designed to wedge into the bottom of a toilet bowl, and they’re always black. In a pinch, you can use either kind in both sinks and toilets, but it won’t work as efficiently as the proper one."