Real plumbing work looks different from the stock-photo version. The best way to show what we do is to show the actual jobs: the garages with water pooling on the floor, the 20-year-old tankless units that finally gave up, and the water bills that crept up for months before anyone noticed why.
So here is a look at the plumbing work our team took on across the Triangle this June, from emergency water heater swaps to the kind of quiet leak that slowly doubles a water bill.
Most of this work was handled by two of our plumbers, Nick Pleasants and Chris Dick, who covered homes in Apex, Cary, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Fuquay-Varina, and Knightdale. Here is what they ran into, what caused it, and how they fixed it.
Water heaters: the month's busiest category
Water heaters were far and away the most common call this June, and they showed up in every form.
In Apex, a homeowner with a 20-year-old tankless unit lost hot water because the controller no longer registered. At that age, a repair is throwing good money after bad, so Nick and Chris replaced it with a new Rinnai RXP199IN that includes recirculation and a pre-scale filter, set it to 120 degrees, and leak-checked every gas and water connection before leaving.
Another Apex home had water pooling at the base of the heater. The cause was one many homeowners never think about: there was no expansion tank, so pressure had nowhere to go. Chris installed a pressure expansion tank and Nick added a main shut-off valve for easier future maintenance, and the leak was gone.
In Knightdale, a 40-gallon electric heater was leaking from the base in the garage, which almost always means the tank itself has failed. Nick replaced it with a new unit, added an expansion tank and insulation, and backed it with a six-year manufacturer warranty plus a one-year service warranty.
We also handled a faulty expansion tank in a Cary apartment (the culprit behind inconsistent water pressure) and traced heavy corrosion on a second heater's cold water line in a Raleigh (27614) attic, where Nick laid out a plan for metal drain pans and properly placed flood-stop sensors.
Pro tip: if your
water heater has no expansion tank, or you spot rust on the connections, get it looked at. Both are small fixes that prevent leaks and add years to the unit's life.
Hidden leaks behind walls and under patios
Some of the most satisfying jobs are the ones where the symptom and the source are in completely different places.
A Raleigh (27614) homeowner noticed a wet spot on a basement wall. Nick traced it to a failing hose bib under the back patio, cut a small 8 by 8 inch access opening in the basement playroom drywall, replaced the bib, sealed it with hydraulic cement, and installed a permanent access panel so the next inspection is easy.
In another Raleigh (27612) home, a persistent leak at the powder bathroom faucet came down to worn Moen cartridges and a bad garage hose bib. Nick replaced the cartridges and the bib, and both the leak and the stiff handles were resolved.
Water pressure problems with simple answers
Two pressure complaints this month had refreshingly straightforward causes.
In Apex, a homeowner frustrated by low pressure throughout the house simply had a main water valve that was not fully open, something that happens easily during other maintenance. Chris opened it fully and pressure returned to normal.
In Raleigh, a kitchen sink that had lost flow turned out to be a clogged aerator. Nick cleaned it, restored the flow, and flagged a few other small items (a broken soap dispenser and a temperamental garage hose bib) for the homeowner to consider.
Pro tip: a sudden drop in pressure at one fixture is often just a clogged aerator. A drop across the whole house is worth checking at the main valve before you assume the worst.
Running toilets and surprise water bills
A running toilet is easy to ignore until the bill arrives.
A Chapel Hill homeowner opened a water bill six times higher than normal. Chris found that toilets in both upstairs bathrooms had failing fill valves and flappers and were running continuously. He replaced the fill valves, flappers, and supply lines on those toilets plus the downstairs unit, and the waste stopped.
In Raleigh, Nick diagnosed an intermittently running toilet caused by an aging mechanism that no longer sealed, and in Cary, Chris handled a leaking toilet valve and even waived the dispatch fee while coordinating with the homeowner's flooring contractor on timing.
Pro tip: if you hear water running when no one has used the toilet, check the flapper and fill valve. A two-part fix can save thousands of gallons and a startling bill.
Free whole-home inspections, and what they catch
Several June visits were complimentary whole-home plumbing inspections, and they are a good example of catching problems early. Across homes in Cary, Apex, Raleigh, and Fuquay-Varina, Nick and Chris documented system condition with photos and flagged issues like aging pipes and badly corroded washing-machine shut-off valves before they could fail. In each case the homeowner walked away with a clear report and upfront pricing, no pressure attached.
Frequently asked plumbing questions
Why does my water heater need an expansion tank?
An expansion tank gives water somewhere to go as it heats and expands. Without one, that pressure pushes back on the tank and fittings, which leads to leaks and shortens the life of the unit. Several of our June leak calls traced back to a missing or failed expansion tank.
How do I know if my running toilet is costing me money?
If you hear water running when the toilet has not been used, or your water bill jumps with no change in habits, the fill valve or flapper is usually the cause. It is an inexpensive repair that can stop a large amount of wasted water, as one Chapel Hill homeowner found after a bill six times higher than usual.
How often should I get a plumbing inspection?
A whole-home inspection every couple of years is a good rule, and sooner if your plumbing is more than ten years old. Inspections catch small issues like corroded valves and aging pipes while they are still cheap to fix.
What causes low water pressure throughout the house?
House-wide low pressure often comes down to a main water valve that is not fully open, which can happen after other maintenance work. Pressure loss at a single fixture is usually a clogged aerator instead.
Have a plumbing issue of your own?
Whether it is a water heater on its last legs, a mystery leak, or a water bill that does not add up, our team is ready to help. Reach out to Element Service Group to schedule a visit or a free whole-home plumbing inspection.
