Frequently Asked Questions
Plumbing Pro Tips & Tricks - Everything You Want to Know!
Here are a few questions that we often receive. If you don't see a question that is on your mind, feel free to reach out to the Central Oregon Stark Plumbing team by phone or email!
1) Why does the toilet keep running?
The most common cause behind a running toilet are compromised parts in the tank. The flush valve or flapper may be the culprit as these parts tend to wear down over time with usage. Once the parts wear down they tend to cause water to seep slowly into the bowl. At Stark Plumbing we use high quality parts for toilet tank repairs, helping to ensure longevity to the functionality of your toilet.
2) What can I put down a garbage disposal?
A general rule to keep in mind is that if you can feed it to your baby, you can put it down your garbage disposal. Don't put expandable foods into your garbage disposal like pasta, bread, and rice. If your disposal does get jammed, in certain situations a plumber can use a special tool which is specifically designed to unjam the clog.
3) Is it safe to use chemical drain cleaners?
Drain cleaner is caustic, meaning it will eat away at your pipes — even the tougher types. If your home employs plastic pipes, use the solution sparingly, if at all. It can even eat away at metal pipes. The plumbers at Stark Plumbing do not recommend any type of Drain-O or other corrosive additive as these will compromise your plumbing system over time.
4) Why do we run out of hot water so quickly?
If your hot water runs out too fast, you may have an issue with: Too much hot water demand from multiple sources at the same time. There may also be sediment build up inside of your water heater tank. Lastly, if your tank is running out of hot water quickly or is operating sporadically and is over 10 years of age, it may be time to replace it with a new unit. The team at Stark Plumbing would be happy to provide you with an estimate for replacing your old water heater when the time comes.
5) Why does my drain get clogged?
Most bathroom drain clogs result when dirt, skin flakes, and especially hair binds to soap scum on the walls of drain pipes. Over time dirt and detritus tends to accumulate and reduce water flow particularly in the bathroom sink drains. The good news is that in most instances we can repair this issue without too much hassle. Give Stark Plumbing a call if you feel that this may need attention from a plumbing professional!
6) Is Stark Plumbing licensed and insured?
Absolutely, Stark Plumbing is a fully licensed and insured business in central Oregon.
7) Do you provide warranties?
On most types of repairs our workmanship warranty is valid for up to one year. There are certain types of repairs, however, such as drain clearing or repairs to old fixtures which cannot be warrantied and this is especially true when replacement is recommended for older fixtures.
8) What is your hourly or flat-rate fee for a service call?
We do not charge by the hour, we bill by the service required and the level of skill needed and eqipment are factored into the cost for our work. Our local standard service call cost is $175 and fuel charges apply to outlying parts of our service area.
9) What are Stark's payment expectations?
The Stark Plumbing office will email invoices within 24 hours of completed work. Payment is due upon completion of work unless otherwise specified in a contract agreement for ongoing projects.
10) What do your customers say about you?
We invite you to check out our reviews for yourself! Read Reviews
11) How much does an estimate cost?
There is no charge for local estimates for tankless water heaters and remodels. We provide offsite estimates for standard water heater replacement when photos are submitted.
12) What can I expect from your team?
Professionalism, efficient communication, friendliness and high-quality workmanship!