Homes of every eraPre-1950 downtown to newer Lakeland
Zone pressure checkedAuburn pressure varies by zone
Upfront pricingPriced by the job, not the hour
A century of Auburn homes, a century of plumbing
Auburn incorporated in 1891 and grew up around the railroad, and its houses show it. The City’s housing assessment found that most lots near downtown were developed before 1950, that South Auburn was largely built in the 1950s and 1960s, that West Hill is mostly 1980s homes, and that Lakeland went up between 1990 and 2010. Lea Hill has a bit of everything.
That range matters when something breaks. A repair in an older house near Main Street can mean working with original shut-off valves that haven’t been turned in decades, or fixtures whose parts are hard to find. In a 1990s or 2000s house, it’s more often worn cartridges, fill valves and supply lines reaching the end of their service life. Our licensed plumbers look at what your house is built with before recommending anything.
What we repair in Auburn homes
- Dripping or stiff faucets, and shower valves that drift hot and cold
- Toilets that keep running, rock on the floor or need two flushes
- Shut-off valves frozen in place or seeping at the stem
- Garbage disposals that hum, jam or drip
- Hose bibs that leak at the handle or split in a cold snap
- Sink supply and drain connections, along with dishwasher, ice maker and washing machine hookups
Water pressure in Auburn depends on your zone
Auburn’s water utility serves four areas, the Valley, Lea Hill, Lakeland Hills and Academy, from reservoirs set high in the hills so water can flow down by gravity. The City then uses 36 pressure-reducing valves to split those areas into pressure zones, and its own design target tops out at 80 psi in the mains. Where your house sits within its zone, high or low, shapes the pressure you get at the tap.
Too much pressure
Banging pipes, faucets that spit, toilet fill valves that wear out early and dripping at the water heater’s relief valve can all point to pressure running high.
Too little pressure
Weak flow at every fixture may be a pressure-reducing valve on its way out, a partly closed main valve or a problem in the service line. One weak faucet is usually just that faucet.
A pressure-reducing valve on your side of the meter belongs to you, not the City. We test pressure at the house and replace the valve when it has stopped doing its job.
Repair the fixture or replace it?
Many faucets and toilets are worth rebuilding. Some aren’t: the parts are discontinued, the finish is gone, or the fixture has needed attention three times in two years. We price both routes so you can decide, upfront and by the job, not by the hour.
If a toilet is the fixture in question, it’s worth knowing that the City of Auburn runs a WaterSense toilet rebate program for its water customers. The City sets the rules and the application is yours to file, but we can install a WaterSense-labeled model so you’re able to apply.
Three things worth knowing before you call
- Where your main shut-off is. If it’s stuck or you can’t find it, tell us and we’ll check it while we’re there.
- Whether the problem is at one fixture or all of them. That tells us a lot about whether it’s the fixture, the pressure or the line.
- Roughly when the house was built. It helps us bring the right parts.
In Auburn, everything past the City’s meter and its short tailpiece is the homeowner’s to look after, so small problems are worth catching early. We work with you to get it fixed right.
Bigger than a repair? A leak in a wall or crawlspace belongs with our water leak repair service, and new fixtures for a remodel are covered under bathroom remodel plumbing.
Plumbing Repair FAQs
Why is my water pressure different from a friend’s across Auburn?
Auburn’s water system is divided into four service areas and then into pressure zones by 36 pressure-reducing valves, so pressure really does change from one neighborhood to the next, and with elevation inside a zone. We can measure the pressure at your house with a gauge so you know the actual number.
Who is responsible for the pressure-reducing valve at my Auburn home?
You are. The City’s utility guide lists pressure-reducing valves, pumps and backflow assemblies installed behind the meter as the owner’s responsibility, along with the service line and all the plumbing in the home. We test and replace failed pressure-reducing valves.
Does Auburn offer anything for replacing an old toilet?
The City of Auburn runs a WaterSense toilet rebate program for its water customers. The toilet has to carry the WaterSense label, and the City sets the terms, so check its water page before you buy. We can handle the installation.
My Auburn house was built before 1988. Should I think about lead?
The City says its water sources are lead-free and that it adjusts water chemistry to protect against lead, but it also notes that older plumbing in some homes may contain lead and suggests a water test for homes built before 1988. If a test result or an old fixture concerns you, we can look at what your plumbing is made of and price a replacement.
How do you price a plumbing repair?
By the job, not by the hour, and upfront. You’ll know the price before work starts. We stand behind the work, and the warranty depends on the type of work performed.