When your plumber has completed the work and before they leave the premises, most good plumbing companies will give you a written invoice for the work done. This invoice usually includes the following:

• The name, physical address and license number of the Contra Costa plumbing firm.
• A complete list of all plumbing services and plumbing repiars performed.
• An itemized list of all new plumbing fixtures, materials and replacement parts.
• The total cost, including the amount due for labor and plumbing materials.
• Any applicable warrantees or guarantees provided by the plumbing product manufacturers and the plumbing company.

It’s smart to compare the work that was actually done to the written invoice. Ask your plumbing company representative to accompany you on a walk through the job site and show you the plumbing repairs or new plumbing installations. Check the work completed against the invoice. During your walk-through, ask if there are any special instructions for operating your new plumbing fixtures and the best steps to take in maintaining them. If you have questions about what work was done or how the installation was completed, ask your plumber before he or she leaves the job site.

Get proof of warranty coverage before your plumber moves forward with the plumbing services. Not all plumbers in Contra Costa County back up their work and products with warranties, but get all warranty terms in writing if the plumbing company you’ve chosen does. Your written warranty should include:

• The plumbing firm name, physical address and contractors license number.
• What plumbing products and work are covered, including whether the contractor will replace or repair the plumbing or give you a refund if you have to place a warranty claim.
• Your responsibility if you need warranty work (i.e., if you have to pay for labor when filing a claim for plumbing warranty work or pay a prorated amount).
• Terms and limitations of the new plumbing or plumbing repair warranty.
• If the plumbing warranty coverage is transferrable to the new owner if you sell your home.
• Any exclusions to the warranty and guarantee coverage must be in writing.

The following are the top 10 requested plumbing fixture brands installed by plumbing contractors within the following Contra Costa County cities.

1. Kohler Plumbing Supplies
2. American Standard Fixtures
3. Toto Toilets
4. Delta Faucets & Fixtures
5. Grohe Faucets
6. Price Pfister Faucets
7. Franke Plumbing Fixtures
8. Elkay Kitchen Sinks
9. Blanco Sinks & Faucets
10. Danze Faucets & Plumbing

Top Plumbing Service Requests Performed by Contra Costa County Plumbers
Plumbing contractors in Contra Costa County often are called to repair and install the following plumbing service requests. See the paragraphs below for the definition of each.

New Plumbing Installation
The installation of new plumbing systems most commonly occurs in new homes and other new construction, or as part of a remodel. However, new plumbing systems can be installed as part of extensive plumbing repairs. New plumbing installation generally involves installation of new plumbing pipes, drains, plumbing fixtures and plumbing materials.

Rooter Service
Rooter service, also referred to as plumbing snake service, is a drain-cleaning service that unclogs pipes, cuts tree roots out of sewer lines and clears home piping to allow for better plumbing drainage.

Toilet Repair
Toilet repairs in Contra Costa County include tank repair, toilet leak repair, toilet flange repair, wax ring replacement, toilet bowl repair, toilet valve repairs, repairs for running toilets, toilet part replacements, toilet handle repairs, toilet seat repair and flush repair.

Plumbing Services
Plumbing services (which may include emergency plumbing services) are any type of plumbing installation or repair. Some local plumbers in Contra Costa County including those in the larger cities of Concord, Richmond, Antioch, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, San Ramon, Danville, Brentwood, Martinez and Pleasant Hill are known for commercial and industrial plumbing services, while others specialize in residential plumbing services.

Pipe Cleaning/Drain Cleaning
Sometimes referred to as rooter services or sewer services, pipe cleaning and drain cleaning involves the complete cleaning of a home’s pipes and drains. This service is generally performed to unclog pipes and drains or to prevent drain and pipe clogs. Pipe cleaning snakes are often used to clean pipes and drains.

Bathroom Plumbing
Bathroom plumbing is the installation and repair of the pipes, drains, and plumbing fixtures unique to bathrooms. These may include sinks, showers, toilets, bidets, bathtubs and sewer lines.

Emergency Plumbing Service
Emergency plumbing services are any unscheduled plumbing repairs provided by a local plumber. These may include kitchen and bathroom plumbing leaks, clogged pipes, burst pipes, sewer line clogs, drain leaks, toilet repairs, and main water line repairs. Some Contra Costa County plumbers offer 24-hour emergency plumbing repairs.

Kitchen Plumbing
Kitchen plumbing is the repair and installation of kitchen plumbing fixtures such as sinks, garbage disposals and dishwashers, and the repair of any kitchen plumbing fixtures and supplies. Together with bathroom plumbing repairs, kitchen plumbing repairs make up the most common plumbing emergency repairs.

Commercial Plumbing
Commercial plumbing services in Contra Costa County are those that deal with plumbing repairs and installations in commercial buildings, including stores, schools, offices, hospitals, libraries and warehouses. Commercial plumbing is often on a much larger scale than residential plumbing and may require a different set of tools, knowledge and skills. Commercial plumbers may also perform industrial plumbing services and plumbing for warehouses.

Contra Costa County Plumbing & Heating Services
Some San Ramon plumbers offer plumbing and heating services, since the two trades have so many facets in common. Many plumbing and heating contractors offer full-service plumbing and HVAC services including water heater installation and repair, plumbing system installation, solar water heating systems and plumbing and heating supplies.

Below are plumbing glossary terms and descriptions that will help you navigate your way through your plumbing repairs and installation services in Contra Costa County, including in the larger cities of Pittsburg, San Ramon, Richmond, Danville, Brentwood, Concord, Antioch, Walnut Creek, Martinez and Pleasant Hill.

access panel
An opening in the ceiling or wall near a plumbing fixture that allows plumbers to service the plumbing system or pipes.

Also known as: plumbing access panel, plumbing access

aerator
A device added to the open end of a faucet that mixes air with water. Aerating the water creates a more even flow of water. Faucet aerators are inexpensive to install and can help conserve water and make shower and faucet spray seem more full.

Also known as: low-flow aerators, aerator shower heads, aerating faucets, faucet aerators

backflow preventer
A backflow preventer is a device that stops wastewater and dangerous contaminants from flowing back into the drinkable water supply. Backflow preventers are often code requirements for sprinkler systems, hand-held showers, faucets with pullout spouts, and kitchen sink sprayers.

Also known as: wastewater backflow preventer, backflow prevention valve

bathroom plumbing
Any plumbing to bathroom fixtures, toilets, sinks, showers and bathroom piping is known as bathroom plumbing. Bathroom plumbing may be plumbing repairs, plumbing system installation or installation of new plumbing fixtures.

Also known as: bathroom fixtures, bathroom plumbing repair, shower plumbing, toilet plumbing repairs

commercial plumbing
Commercial plumbing is any plumbing repairs or installations that take place in a commercial building. Commercial plumbing is different than residential plumbing because it often deals with commercial-sized water heaters, boilers, larger piping and more involved plumbing systems. Some plumbing contractors in Contra Costa County specialize in commercial plumbing while others focus on residential plumbing. A few plumbing companies will provide plumbing services and repairs for residential, commercial and industrial clients.

Also known as: commercial building plumbing services, industrial plumbing, multi-tenant building plumbing, store plumbing, shopping center plumbing

coupling
A pipe coupling is a fitting that connects two pieces of pipe. Common couplings for piping and plumbing include elbow fittings, tee fittings, cross couplings, cap couplings, plug fittings, nipple couplings, barb fittings and pipe reducer couplings. Plumbing system fittings can include closet flange couplings, trap primer couplings, clean-out fittings, combo-tee fittings, sanitary tee and double sanitary tee couplings, sanitary cross fittings and wye fittings.

Also known as: pipe couplings, couplings, fittings, pipe valves, PVC couplings, CPVC couplings

drain cleaning
Drain cleaning is a method of clearing organic debris and other materials from plumbing, drains and pipes. Drain cleaning for residential structures and commercial buildings includes drain pressure washing, drain snaking, drain cleaning chemicals, clearing clogged drains, drain tree root clearing and pipe degreasing services.

Also known as: clog removal, degreasing, pipe cleaning, drain clearing, unclogging, clean drainage pipes

elbow
An elbow is a pipe fitting that has two openings and which changes the direction of the plumbing line. Pipe elbows come in a variety of degrees to account for the various angles of piping.

Also known as: el fitting, ell coupling, pipe elbow, plumbing elbow, plumbing ell

fittings
Fittings usually refer to faucets, shower valves, and tub fillers. Fittings may also refer to piping coupling such as elbow fittings, tee fittings and flange fittings.

Also known as: plumbing fitting, fitting, pipe coupling

fixtures
In plumbing, fixtures are the objects that water comes from. Plumbing fixtures include water spigots and faucets, shower, sinks, toilets, urinals, and external plumbing system fixtures.

Also known as: fixtures, faucets, kitchen fixtures, bathroom fixtures, plumbing fixtures

GPM
GPM, or gallons per minute, is the rate of water flow from faucets and shower heads. GPM flow is regulated by the federal government. New showerhead flow rates can’t exceed 2.5 GMP and new faucet water flow rates can’t exceed 2.5 GPM or 2.2 GPM depending on the pressure. Installing low-flow faucets and fixtures can result in water savings between 25 and 60 percent without a noticeable change in water pressure.

Also known as: gallons per minute, flow rate

GPF
GPF, or gallons per flush, is the amount of water a toilet uses per flush. The rate of water flow by which toilets and flush valves are measured and regulated. Current law requires maximum of 1.6 GPF. Older styles were usually 3.5 GPF.

Also known as: gallons per flush, flush flow rate, flush capacity

ID
ID is the abbreviation for “inside diameter,” which refers to the size of the diameter of a plumbing pipe when measured from the inside edges. All pipes are referred to according to their ID.

Also known as: inside diameter

kitchen plumbing
All plumbing and plumbing fixtures in a kitchen are referred to as kitchen plumbing. Contra Costa County plumbers install new kitchen plumbing systems including sinks and faucets, dishwashers, garbage disposals, sink plumbing, kitchen piping, sink drains, S-traps, slip joints, drain lines and supply line water pipes.

Also known as: kitchen fixtures, kitchen pipes, kitchen plumbing repair, kitchen plumbing installation

new plumbing installation
New plumbing installation refers to the installation of new plumbing lines, water pipes, drain lines, faucets and plumbing fixtures. New plumbing may be installed in new construction or in existing homes.

Also known as: plumbing installation, commercial plumbing installation, residential plumbing installation, industrial plumbing installation, plumbing replacement, plumbing reinstallation

OD
The abbreviation for outside diameter, OD, refers to the dimension commonly used to size water pipes and tubing for plumbing.

Also known as: outside diameter

PVC pipes
PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a hard white or cream-colored plastic that is used to form plumbing pipes. PVC pipes are often used in venting and waste water systems that are not pressurized. PVC will melt if exposed to hot temperatures, so PVC pipes are used for cold water distribution.

Also known as: polyvinyl chloride, PVC piping

rooter service
Rooter service is a drain-cleaning service that unclogs pipes, cuts tree roots out of sewer lines and clears home piping to allow for better plumbing drainage.

Also known as: plumber’s snake, drain snaking, drain rootering, drain rooting, pipe rooter service, pipe snaking

rough-in
The rough-in is the initial part of a plumbing installation that lays out all the basic plumbing lines without permanently connecting them. The rough-in generally includes water supply lines, water drains, water waste and vent lines that run to each fixture (toilet, sink, shower, etc.). Roughing in is generally done before the plumbing inspection.

Also known as: roughing in, to rough in, roughing

toilet repair
Some toilet repairs can be simple enough for some homeowners to handle themselves, or they may require a plumber to fix them. The most common toilet repairs include a toilet running continuously, a loose toilet handle or a sticking toilet handle, water on the floor around the toilet, leaking toilet tanks, poorly flushing toilets, clogged toilets, noisy toilets and toilet tank repairs.

Also known as: toilet problems, toilet problem repairs, toilet part replacement, toilet tank repairs, toilet unclogging, fixing the toilet

Read on to find the answers to the most commonly asked of and about plumbing contractors.

Q: Why choose Diamond Certified Plumbers?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose a plumbing company with confidence by offering a list of top-rated local companies who have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only plumbers rated Highest in Quality earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with in-depth and ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you’ll feel confident choosing a Diamond Certified plumbing contractor.

Q: Why won’t some plumbers in Contra Costa County give estimates over the phone?
A: Many good plumbers won’t give estimates over the phone because it can be hard or impossible to accurately diagnose a plumbing problem without seeing it first-hand. Since plumbing fixtures and materials greatly vary, plumbing contractors who give estimates over the phone may end up changing the diagnosis and the fee after arrive on the site to repair the problem or install the fixtures.

However, many plumbers will give free estimates when they come to look at the plumbing problem in person. Others may charge for estimates but might apply the fee toward your repair costs if you hire them to do the plumbing repairs.

Q: Is it an advantage to hire a Contra Costa County plumber who carries parts and equipment in their work trucks?
A: It can be an advantage to hire plumbing companies who has a well-stocked work truck. These prepared plumbers can usually repair common plumbing problems faster because they have with them all the materials required, rather than having to drive to a plumbing supply store.

Q: My plumber wants me to sign a Waiver of Right to Cancel for my emergency plumbing repairs. What is this and is it legal?
A: In the state of California, consumers who sign a contract with a company that comes to their home to provide a service or product have three days to cancel the transaction. However, while that might be a protection for the consumer in some cases, it can cost plumbers thousands of dollars if a consumer decides to cancel the contract after an emergency plumbing service has been rendered. That’s because unlike products, consumers can’t return services, so if a customer cancels the transaction, the plumber will have, in essence, don all the work for free.

For that reason, some plumbers ask emergency plumbing customers to sign a Waiver of Right to Cancel, meaning that they accept and will pay the charges for the emergency plumbing repairs. Asking a customer to sign this waiver is legal, but only if the repairs are for a true emergency. To protect yourself from plumbers who try to take advantage of customers by asking them to sign a waiver in a non-emergency situation, make sure the repairs you’re having done are truly required immediately.

Q: How can I prevent drain clogs?
A: Frequently hiring a plumber to unclog your drains can get to be expensive. If you find yourself regularly calling your plumber to fix clogged drains, there are some simple solutions that can help you avoid trouble in the future.

• First, find out what type of pipes you have. Older pipes such as iron pipes or galvanized pipes can rust and clog more easily. You may choose to hire a local plumbing company to repipe your home using copper or PVC pipes, which are less likely to clog and will not rust.
• Install stoppers and hair traps on all your sinks and bathtubs.
• Do not pour cooking grease or other liquids down your sinks that may solidify when cool.
• Regularly flush sinks and bathtubs with running water.
• Remove hair and other debris from sink stoppers before it can be flushed down the drains.
• Never use your toilet as a garbage disposal or flush baby wipes or paper towels.

Q: My drains are running slow. Can’t I just use a Liquid Plumber-type drain cleaner?
A: You may be able to fix clogged drains and stopped up sinks by using drain-cleaning chemicals you buy at the store or a non-toxic baking soda drain cleaner. However, for tough clogs that you can’t clear after a few attempts or drains and pipes that clog constantly, you may need to call a Contra Costa County plumbing company to professionally remove the clog or snake out your pipes and drains to keep clogs from forming in the future.

Q: I think tree roots may be growing in our pipes. What should I do?
A: First, have a good plumber confirm that you have roots in your piping. Some plumbers in Contra Costa County have camera equipment that can prove where the problem is, that it is roots growing in the pipes, and can give them a view of how to repair the problem. They can also advise you on the best method to prevent the problem. This may entail removing the bushes or trees that are growing into the piping, using a root-killing product, replacing the affected pipe with a stronger material, or snaking out the pipe or using high-pressure water to jet out the pipe and line it with an epoxy material.

Q: Is there anything we should do to keep the plumbing and fixtures working in guest bathrooms and other infrequently-used bathrooms?
A: Toilets, piping and fixtures should be regularly flushed with water. This keeps the water traps full and avoids the backflow of odors and gasses into the home. Once a week, you should use or turn on the fixtures to keep them functioning. You can also pour a bucket of water in each toilet, sink, shower and floor drain in the unused bathrooms in your home.

Q: What are on-demand water heaters?
A: On-demand water heaters, also called tankless water heaters, heat water as you use it rather than heating and storing hot water in a tank. Because tankless water heaters don’t waste energy storing and maintaining the temperature of unneeded hot water, their operating costs can be up to 30 percent lower than those of a traditional water heater. And with the emphasis on energy-saving appliances, tax credits may be available to consumers purchasing an on-demand water heater.

Q: Should I buy a low-flow showerhead or low-flush toilet? Why?
A: Low-flow plumbing fixtures like low-flow toilets and low-flow showerheads save substantial amounts of water over traditional showerheads and toilets. This saves water, energy and expense. Numerous water-saving fixtures have been available since the National Energy Policy Act that mandated low-flow toilets was passed in 1995. While some consumers complained that early models of low-water fixtures had weak pressure and didn’t work as well as the standard fixtures.

Q: What other types of water saving plumbing fixtures are available in Contra Costa County?
A: These days, there are many options for energy-saving plumbing fixtures, or green plumbing solutions. Some include air-assisted toilets, gravity toilets, power-assisted toilets, aerators, green plumbing fixtures, tankless water heaters, gray water recycling fixtures, composting toilets, dual-flush toilets, waterless urinals, sensor-operated faucets, solar water heaters, hot water re-circulating pumps and many others. Call your local plumbing contractor in Contra Costa County for more information on available water-saving plumbing products and which ones will work best for you.