Slab Leak Repair
Copper under post-war and 1970s slabs develops pinholes, and we pinpoint them before opening the floor or decide with you whether rerouting overhead is the better fix.
See the detailsPlumbing repair in north, west and central Orange County
Our Orange County coverage reaches across the north, west and central parts of the county, from Buena Park and Fullerton down through Santa Ana and Irvine to the coast at Huntington Beach. Call us at any hour.
Plumbing in Orange County, in short
Across north, west and central Orange County we handle slab leaks, aging clay sewer laterals, water heater replacements, polybutylene and galvanized repipes, and corrosion near the coast. We use cameras and leak detection gear to find the cause, explain the repair and its typical cost, and start once you approve. The phone is answered 24/7.
How we cover Orange County
We cover a large share of Orange County: Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Orange, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Buena Park and Westminster, along with the smaller cities between them. The south county, from Mission Viejo and Laguna down to San Clemente, falls outside our regular area. If you are unsure which side of that line you are on, call and ask.
Plumbing across this part of the county follows the order in which it grew. The oldest houses sit near the historic centers of Anaheim, Fullerton, Orange and Santa Ana. Post-war tracts spread across Garden Grove, Westminster, Buena Park, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach as farmland gave way to housing. Irvine came later as a planned city, largely from the 1970s onward, with different pipe materials and a different set of failures.
Homes and pipes
Four kinds of Orange County housing we work on
- Historic cores and older bungalowsOld Towne Orange, older Santa Ana neighborhoods and the original street grids in Anaheim and Fullerton hold early 20th century houses, often on raised foundations with cast iron drains and clay laterals.
- Post-war slab tractsMuch of Garden Grove, Westminster, Buena Park and Costa Mesa was built in the 1950s and 1960s on slabs, with copper or galvanized supply lines under the floor.
- Planned villages in IrvineIrvine's neighborhoods date mostly from the 1970s on, and homes from the late 1970s to the mid 1990s may carry polybutylene supply pipe, while copper in some tracts has developed pinhole leaks.
- Coastal corrosionIn Huntington Beach and the coastal side of Costa Mesa, salt air eats at exposed copper, brass hose bibs, gas meter fittings and outdoor heater connections faster than it does inland.
What people call about
The repairs Orange County homeowners ask for most
Sewer Line Repair
Clay laterals in older tracts and historic neighborhoods crack, separate at the joints and fill with roots from mature parkway trees.
See the detailsWhole-House Repiping
Polybutylene in some planned-community homes and rusted galvanized lines in older houses often reach the point where full replacement beats chasing leaks.
See the detailsWater Heater Replacement
Hard water shortens tank life across the county, and every new heater needs two seismic straps, sound venting and a permit from the city where the house sits.
See the detailsOutdoor Spigot Repair
Near the coast, salt air wears out hose bibs and their valves until they drip, seize or crack.
See the detailsTankless Water Heater Installation
Owners in Irvine and Costa Mesa often switch from a tank to tankless, which usually means a larger gas line, new venting and a plan for descaling.
See the detailsWorking across Orange County cities and utilities
Orange County has no single plumbing authority. Each city issues its own permits, and water comes from a city utility or a district such as the Irvine Ranch Water District, depending on where you live. Sewer service is split among cities, local districts and regional agencies. Before a job that needs a permit or a shutoff at the street, we confirm which offices serve your address.
Sewer trouble in the older tracts tends to follow a predictable path. A clay lateral that has carried waste for sixty years develops offset joints and root intrusion, and the first backup usually lands in the lowest shower or tub. We clear the line, then put a camera in it so you can see the condition on screen. Depending on the footage, the fix may be a spot repair or replacing the lateral without a long trench.
Slab leaks deserve a note of their own. Our article on slab leak warning signs was written about San Fernando Valley houses, but the same signs apply to Garden Grove and Westminster tracts built in the same era. Once a house has had more than one slab leak, a repipe through the attic and walls usually ends the cycle. Neighbors in Long Beach and the rest of LA County share the same route, and we answer the phone 24/7.
Inside the county
Pages for communities in Orange County
Questions we hear
Questions from Orange County
How far into Orange County does your service area reach?
We cover north, west and central Orange County, including Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Orange, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Buena Park and Westminster, plus the smaller cities between them. South county communities such as Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel and San Clemente are outside our regular route. Call and we will tell you right away whether your address is covered.
Should I worry about polybutylene pipe in an Irvine home?
If your home was built from the late 1970s into the mid 1990s, take a look. Polybutylene is gray plastic pipe, often visible at the water heater, under sinks or at the main shutoff. It tends to fail at the fittings without warning. Replacing it with PEX or copper before a leak costs far less than repairing water damage after one.
Why do older Santa Ana and Orange houses have so many drain problems?
Houses from the early 20th century usually drain through cast iron inside and clay out to the street. Cast iron rusts from the inside and narrows, while clay joints let roots in. Slow drains, gurgling and repeat clogs are the common result. A camera inspection shows which section is failing, so you only replace what actually needs it.
Do Huntington Beach homes need different plumbing materials because of salt air?
Not inside the walls, but outside it pays to choose carefully. Exposed copper and brass corrode faster near the coast, so we use fittings and covers suited to marine air, keep exposed pipe insulated, and check gas meter connections and water heater vents on each visit. Small upgrades like these add years to outdoor plumbing.
Next door
Nearby areas we also cover
Anaheim 92805
Drain, sewer, water heater and leak repair across Anaheim, from Colony homes near downtown to slab tract houses and hillside homes in Anaheim Hills.
Local detailsIrvine 92614
Leak detection, slab leak repair, repiping and water heater service for Irvine houses, townhomes and condos across the city's planned villages.
Local detailsLong Beach 90802
Drain, repipe, gas line and water heater work for Long Beach apartment buildings, older bungalows and condos from downtown to the east side.
Local detailsLos Angeles County
Leaks, sewer clogs, water heaters and gas work across the county, from Valley tract homes to harbor bungalows and foothill cities.
Local detailsPlumbing trouble in Orange County?
One phone line, answered around the clock. Tell us the street and what you are seeing.