How do you know if you might be experiencing slab leaks? 

Slab Leak Repair and What to Know

Are you a business owner or a homeowner? Do you need new gas lines? If so, installing these can be a significant step toward ensuring your business or home is well-prepared for the future. New gas lines will provide your operation with reliable energy sources and efficient services, but they come with other benefits, including cost savings and environmental considerations.

This blog post will discuss why you should install new gas lines for your business and outline the steps needed to set them up.

Our Technician, Tyler, repaired the gas manifold and gas lines for a commercial building. 

What are the advantages of installing new gas lines?

• Save money on your energy bill.
• You’ll have the security of knowing your business will have a reliable energy source.
• Business assets and employees are protected.

Highlighting the potential safety hazards of an outdated gas line system

• You could be at risk for an explosion.
• A gas leak can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
• You and your family’s safety is at risk.

Tips on how to choose the right contractor

• First, the right contractor should be very experienced. At Mitch Clemmons plumbing, installing gas lines is one of the things we know well.
• Compare quotes from different contractors. We welcome this and rest assured you’ll choose us. 
• Find a contractor who is trained, licensed, and insured.

When installing gas lines, it’s essential to hire a professional. Avoid DIY attempts and trust a certified technician with all the safety requirements, training, and insurance. Mitch Clemmons Plumbing is a trustworthy source for this type of installation and maintenance job.  Our trained technicians are prepared and equipped with the proper tools to install these lines properly. Not only will this ensure all necessary safety precautions are taken, but it will also save you time and money in the long run.

Call them today if you need professional help with any plumbing needs! (562) 246-9778

Related Links

• Plumber in Fullerton You Can Trust
• Plumbing Service Repair in Long Beach
• Gas Line Sizing Chart

Toilet Install – What’s Involved?

Many homeowners think they can do the job themselves when it comes to needing a new toilet. We admire that kind of ‘can-do’ attitude. So let’s go ahead and give you the information you need to do your toilet install. If, after watching our video, you think you would rather hire a professional, please call Mitch Clemmons Plumbing. We are experienced, reliable and our prices are very fair.

So you can see that the basic steps for a toilet install include the following:

1. Remove the toilet from the box using the inner lip of the toilet bowl and the back end hole.
2. Place the toilet on a piece of cardboard on the floor.
3. When taking out the tank, use a piece of cardboard to protect it.
4. Inside the tank, you’ll find the instructions for connecting it to the bowl.
5. When connecting the bolts to the bottom of the tank that will connect it to the toilet, make sure to use the rubber washers that are included. Otherwise, there will be a leak.
6. Place the rubber part against the hole in the bottom of the tank and make sure it sits firmly.
7. Carefully place the tank on top of the toilet, lining up the bolts, and then screw the washers and nuts into place.
8. Use a foam or wax ring seat it on the hole in the floor.
9. The ring may trimmed to remove the excess or waste can get trapped in there.
10. Seat the toilet on the base and wiggle until steady. 
11. Using the parts included bolt the toilet to the floor.
12. Use a hacksaw to trim the bolts.
13. Break off the bolts with a channel lock after making sure they are secure.
14. Place the caps over the bolts
15. Use DAP quick seal Ultra for bathrooms, caulk around the bottom base of the toilet. Then use a damp sponge to clean up the excess caulk.
16. Then install the toilet seat using the included parts.
17. Put the lid on the tank and oila! 

So there you have it! All you need to do a toilet install. However, there are a couple of things you want to remember.

• First, toilets are heavy, and awkward and can be a real pain for your back if not handled carefully.
• Also, if you have leak you have to figure out if it’s from the tank or from the base of the toilet.
• Sometimes just a new tank, gasket, and/or bolts can solve your problem.
• And remember, you must be very careful not to overtighten the bolts or the porcelain may crack.    

Good luck on your endeavor. If you decide you don’t want to mess with this job please call Mitch Clemmons Plumbing. We’re always here to help you with any of your plumbing needs.

(562) 246-9778

Related Links

• Hydro jetting Service – Solve Your Drain Clogs
• PEX Pipes and their Cousin Copper Pipe
• Top Toilet Manufacturers in the US

There is too much misinformation on both sides of the argument. But yes, you can be fined. A LOT! And they can put you in jail.

I read the entire code, and a person can be fined $1000 initially and up to $10,000 plus $500 per day for not complying with the water conservation code.

Under the guise of preventing a water shortage (which is quite important), the state has given themselves, local water suppliers, and the courts broad powers to fine and even jail residents for using “too much” water in their homes. It is another area that the government is expanding control over citizens.

Should we conserve water? Of course, we should. Should we educate California residents on the potential dangers of not being careful with this most important resource? You bet! But the water code in California is quite restrictive and sets the per capita residential indoor water use at a ridiculously low level. It also uses subjective language in the code and allows for the creation of arbitrary “water conservation programs”.

So what’s the problem with the new code?

If the State of California, the county you live in, the city you live in, or the water company that serves your home decides to develop a “water conservation program”, you are required to follow the rules of the program or face fines and jail. In other words, if the water company that serves you says you can only water your lawn on Tuesdays and Thursdays and you water on Wednesday, the water company can fine you $1000 and send you to jail for up to 30 days. Additionally, they can further fine you up to $10,000 plus $500 per day. In order to fine you more than $1000 the court must find all of the following:

(A) The residential user had actual notice of the requirement found to be violated. 

 (B) The conduct was intentional.

 (C) The amount of water involved was substantial.  

That all sounds good, right?

As a hypothetical, if the city determines as part of their water conservation program that you may not shower and do laundry on the same day, the following could land you with a $10,000 fine or more.

For (A) they just have to mail you, email you, or otherwise be able to prove you were notified of the rules of the water conservation program.

For (B) you intentionally took a shower and did laundry

For (C) Since “substantial” is subjective if you used more than their ridiculously low standard of 55 gallons per person on that day they can call that substantial.

or this

As a hypothetical, if the city determines as part of their water conservation program that you may not water you lawn except one day a week, the following could land you with a $10,000 fine or more.

For (A) they just have to mail you, email you, or otherwise be able to prove you were notified of the rules of the water conservation program.

For (B) you programmed your irrigation timer to water two days a week

For (C) Since “substantial” is subjective, they can say it’s substantial because you watered twice as often as they said you could.

I could come up with hundreds of hypothetical scenarios for “water conservation programs” cities, counties, the state of CA, or your local water department could create. Essentially, the state has given themselves, cities, counties, water companies, and others the power to make rules at their whim which could cause residents to receive ridiculous fines and jail time. This is overreaching and giving the state too much power over the individual. Yes, of course, we need to be water-wise! But the state is using this to create more expansive power for itself. The water code could be more reasonable in its water usage allowances and less subjective in the language.

Don’t believe me about these things? Below is the section that talks about it in the CA water code. I’ve also included links to the full text of the CA water code below the quoted text.

(a) From and after the publication or posting of any ordinance or resolution pursuant to Section 376, a violation of a requirement of a water conservation program adopted pursuant to Section 376 is a misdemeanor. A person convicted under this subdivision shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 30 days, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both.

 (b) A court or public entity may hold a person civilly liable in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a violation of any of the following:

 (1) An ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to Section 376.

 (2) A regulation adopted by the board under Section 1058.5 or Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 10609) of Part 2.55 of Division 6, unless the board regulation provides that it cannot be enforced under this section or provides for a lesser applicable maximum penalty.

 (c) Commencing on the 31st day after the public entity notified a person of a violation described in subdivision (b), the person additionally may be civilly liable in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) plus five hundred dollars ($500) for each additional day on which the violation continues.

 (d) Remedies prescribed in this section are cumulative and not alternative, except that no liability shall be recoverable under this section for any violation of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) if the board has filed a complaint pursuant to Section 1846 alleging the same violation.

 (e) A public entity may administratively impose the civil liability described in subdivisions (b) and (c) after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing. The public entity shall initiate a proceeding under this subdivision by a complaint issued pursuant to Section 377.5. The public entity shall issue the complaint at least 30 days before the hearing on the complaint and the complaint shall state the basis for the proposed civil liability order.

 (f) (1) In determining the amount of civil liability to assess, a court or public entity shall take into consideration all relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, the nature and persistence of the violation, the extent of the harm caused by the violation, the length of time over which the violation occurs, and any corrective action taken by the violator.

 (2) The civil liability calculated pursuant to paragraph (1) for the first violation of subdivision (b) by a residential water user shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) except in extraordinary situations where the court or public entity finds all of the following:

 (A) The residential user had actual notice of the requirement found to be violated.

 (B) The conduct was intentional.

 (C) The amount of water involved was substantial.

 (g) The civil liability imposed pursuant to this section shall be paid to the public entity and expended solely for the purposes of this chapter.

 (h) An order setting administrative civil liability shall become effective and final upon issuance of the order and payment shall be made. Judicial review of any final order shall be pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

 (i) In addition to the remedies prescribed in this section, a public entity may enforce water use limitations established by an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this chapter, or as otherwise authorized by law, by a volumetric penalty in an amount established by the public entity.

 (Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 14, Sec. 2. (SB 606) Effective January 1, 2019.)

There is a lot of misinformation out there in internet land, but it is very easy to read for yourself the text of the water code and the 2018 amendment to the water code online. The problem is most people just repeat what they hear on the news, social media, or from their friends without actually taking the time to read the water code for themselves.

The section of the California water conservation code can be found here:

(Go ahead, read it yourself.)

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=WAT&division=1.&title=&part=&chapter=3.5.&article= 

And here is the Bill that the governor signed in 2018 that modified the water code

(Read it, I dare you!)

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB606  

Aside from all of this mumbo jumbo, there are things you can do to make your home more efficient and to get a better understanding of your water usage.  

One of the best things I’ve found is to install a device that can monitor your water usage. There are a few options out there, but one of my favorites is FLO by Moen with the FloProtect bundle. Features of this bundle:

1. Allows you to see your home water usage by minute, hour, day, week, and month
2. Shows you your water usage by fixture
3. Insurance Verification Letter & Water Damage Deductible Guarantee
4. Alerts you via the app if there is a leak
5. You can shut off your water through the app in an emergency
6. Proactive Monitoring + Water Concierge service

By using this device you can protect yourself from flooding in your home and it will help you identify where you use the most water so that you can make intelligent decisions on water conservation in the home. If you have a shower head that has too high of a flow rate it will show you. If you have a broken sprinkler line it will be easy to identify. If you have a toilet that runs intermittently it will tell you so.

Another device is a wifi-enabled irrigation controller (if you have a yard with sprinklers). I have the Rachio at my house, but several companies make similar units. This will help you monitor and manage your irrigation more effectively. Irrigation is almost always the biggest consumer of water in a single-family residence with a yard.  

Lastly, you can make sure you have water-saving fixtures in your house. Replacing old inefficient toilets with the new high-efficiency toilets is a huge benefit. But making sure you have low flow kitchen and bathroom faucets, and low flow showerheads are also important.

If you are pro-active about being water-wise in your own home these restrictive California water conservation codes will not be a concern of yours. Let us know if you would like more information on how to be more water-wise.

Mitch Clemmons

Founder, Clemmons Services, Inc
DBA Mitch Clemmons Plumbing
DBA Trusty Plumbers

People have been enjoying some level of plumbing since around 3,000 B.C. — and one of the major perks of having indoor plumbing is being able to use hot water. So when your water heater starts to fail, it’s important to get it replaced as soon as possible.

Here are a few ways you can tell if you should start looking into water heater replacements.

Loud noises: Today’s water heaters should be relatively quiet. So if you’re hearing loud, rumbling or banging noises, that’s a good indication that something isn’t right. Generally, water heater noises are caused by the buildup of sediment in the tank. While flushing the tank can help clear out the sediment, buildup can cause holes, leaks, and other damage. So if you’re hearing strange noises, contact your local plumber.

Old age: Like all other aspects of a home, water heaters need to be replaced when they get old. Fortunately, water heaters can last around 10 years if they’re taken care of and maintained well. But if your water heater is older than 10 years, you should definitely consider looking up replacement contractors to set you up with a new water heater.

Signs of rust: All plumbing elements are at risk of corrosion, and specifically rust. While rust can come from either the water heater itself or the pipes hooked up to the heater, rust is a sure sign that something needs to be replaced. So if you notice rusty water or see rust starting to show in the heater itself, plumbing repairs may be called for.

Insufficient heat: There’s nothing worse than going to take a hot shower only to realize the water is ice cold. If you’re noticing it takes longer for your water to heat up, or doesn’t heat up at all, it’s definitely time to call for some emergency plumbing services. Not having hot water can be a big inconvenience, so it’s important to get it taken care of quickly.

Hopefully, this article gave you a good idea of when a water heater should be replaced. While plumbing can be tricky to gauge, any of these signs warrant a call to the local plumber.

If you’re looking for water heater repair Fullerton CA residents can rely on, contact Mitch Clemmons Plumbing today. We have local plumbers available for all of your plumbing needs, big or small.