Matthews, NC · Repairs, drains, hot water and pipes
Plumbing services in Matthews, NC: find the one that matches the problem you have
Start with what you can see or hear: water on a floor, a drain that will not clear, a heater that has gone cold. Call (833) 571-0120 with the street address and we tell you which service fits.
Sixteen services are listed here, grouped by the problem that sends people to the phone.
Water is somewhere it should not be
These four start with water that is already moving. The first move is the same each time: close the main shutoff, then call.
- A pipe that split or froze: stopping the flow and replacing the failed section.
- A leak you cannot find: tracing a bill that rose or a wall that stays damp without tearing it open.
- A leak under a concrete floor: warm spots, a meter that keeps moving and the choice between spot repair and a reroute.
- Water that has already soaked the house: removal and drying only, on its own phone line.
If you are not sure which of these applies, call. The first questions we ask are where the water is and whether it is still running.
Drains and sewer lines
A slow sink and a backed-up main line feel alike at first. The difference is whether one fixture or the whole house is affected.
- A sink, tub or toilet that drains slowly: clearing the local clog and finding out why it formed.
- Grease or roots that keep coming back: scouring the pipe wall with pressurized water after a camera look.
- A sewer line that is cracked, bellied or collapsed: digging out the failed section and what the permit and utility call involve.
- A damaged sewer line you would rather not dig up: lining the pipe from inside when the pipe has not collapsed.
Hot water
A water heater fails in a few predictable ways. The choice is repair, replace like for like, or change type.
- A heater that is cold, lukewarm or noisy: what is worth repairing on a tank and what is not.
- A tank that has reached the end of its life: sizing, venting, permits and who may legally install one.
- Switching to a tankless unit: gas line, venting and electrical questions that decide the price.
The Department of Energy puts a storage tank's life at 10 to 15 years, according to its water heater guide. Check the date on the label before a heater fails on a weekday evening.
Fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom
- A faucet that drips or a sink that leaks below: the part that wears first and when a new fixture is the better buy.
- A toilet that runs, rocks or will not flush: the dye test, the usual parts and when the wax ring is the cause.
- A disposal that hums, jams or leaks: reset steps, what to try and when to replace.
Whole-house piping and business buildings
- Replacing every supply line in the house: polybutylene, galvanized and repeated pinhole leaks.
- Maintenance plans for a business: restrooms, grease traps and a plan before something fails.
Polybutylene pipe was installed in homes from about 1978 to 1995, per WRAL. If your house falls in that window, the repiping page explains how to identify it.
Repair or replace: how to decide
Most service decisions come down to the same two questions. How old is the part, and what will it cost to be here again in a year? The table below gives the usual starting point.
| Situation | Usually repair | Usually replace |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater | A part has failed and the tank is under about ten years old | The tank itself leaks, or it is near the end of its 10 to 15 year range |
| Faucet | A drip from one cartridge or washer | Corrosion, a cracked body or several leaking parts |
| Toilet | A flapper, fill valve or wax ring | Cracks in the bowl or tank |
| Disposal | A jam you can clear with a hex key | A leaking housing or a seized motor |
| Supply pipe | One pinhole in an otherwise sound line | Repeat leaks in different places |
For rough price ranges on the larger jobs, see the cost page. For short answers on permits, utilities and bills, read the plumbing questions page.
Leaking heaters, repeat clogs and rising bills: linked problems
Plumbing problems often travel in pairs. A water heater that leaks may be dripping onto a floor that now needs drying. A drain that clogs every few months may be a sign of roots in the sewer line. A bill that keeps rising may be a toilet that runs or a slab leak that has not shown itself.
Say what you have seen when you call, even if it seems unrelated. A plumber who knows the whole picture picks the right service the first time and does not charge you to diagnose the same problem twice.
Questions about cause, permit, scope and who does the work
- What failed, and how did you confirm it?
- Is this a repair or a replacement, and why?
- Does the job need a permit, and who files it?
- What does the written scope include and leave out?
- Who is the licensed plumber responsible for the work?
North Carolina requires a plumbing license for plumbing work done for pay, with an owner exception on their own property, under G.S. 87-21. Ask for license information before work begins. Clear answers let you compare quotes line by line.
Where we work
All sixteen services are available across Matthews, Stallings, Indian Trail, Mint Hill and Weddington, and in the four neighborhoods with their own pages. The service areas page lists ZIP codes 28104, 28105 and 28106 and the utility numbers for each side of the county line.
Tell us the street and what you see. We confirm your address by phone.
Call (833) 571-0120