Clay sewers
Mesopotamians use clay sewer pipes. The earliest examples are found at Nippur and Eshnunna.
SoCal plumbers
Drip. Clog.Cold shower.Plumber now.
Leaks, clogs, no hot water, a toilet that won't stop running. Tell us what's wrong and how soon, and plumbers near you quote the fix.
Meter
Still
Still
Main On
Leak or drip
Water where it shouldn't be. A drip under a sink can run all day before anyone sees the cabinet floor.
The fix: leak detection →Tap a yellow dot. Drag the red valve to shut the main.Illustration only
Why people call
Water where
it shouldn't be
Most plumbing calls start with something you see, hear or smell. Tap yours and we'll open the right kind of plumber.
SEE
Drip or leak
A stain on the ceiling, a damp cabinet, a faucet that never quite stops.
Leak detectionFEEL
No hot water
Lukewarm, then cold. Or the tank makes popping and rumbling noises.
Water heater repairFEEL
Low pressure
A weak shower or a faucet that sputters. One fixture or the whole house?
Plumbing repairHEAR
Running toilet
It hisses or refills on its own. EPA says one can waste 200 gallons a day or more. EPA
Plumbing repairSMELL
Sewer smell
Often a drain that's rarely used and has lost the water in its trap. Sometimes a vent or a cracked line.
PlumberSEE
Sewage backup
Dirty water coming up a floor drain or tub. Keep people and pets away from it.
Sewage cleanupPLAN
Old water heater
Rust at the base, water around the tank, or it just can't keep up anymore.
Water heater installCHECK
Check the license
Look up any contractor's license and complaint history with the CSLB before work starts.
CSLB lookup ↗How it works
Two systems,
one house
Every home runs two separate plumbing systems. Clean water comes in under pressure. Used water leaves by gravity. Most problems live where they meet.
- 1
Supply: in under pressure
Water comes from the meter, past your main shutoff, and splits into cold lines and a line to the water heater.
- 2
Fixtures: where you use it
Faucets, showers, toilets and appliances. Washers and valves wear out here, and that's where drips start.
- 3
Traps: the water seal
The U bend under a drain holds a little water that keeps sewer gas out. Alexander Cumming's 1775 S-trap used the same idea, and it's still in use.
- 4
Drains and vents: out by gravity
Drain lines slope down to the sewer, and vent pipes through the roof let air in so the water flows and traps keep their seal.
Drip math, from the EPA
Small drips,
big numbers
Leaks are easy to ignore because they're quiet. Here's what the EPA's WaterSense program says they add up to.
gal / yr
An average household's leaks
More than 9,300 gallons wasted every year.
gal / yr
One drip per second
A faucet dripping once a second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year.
gal / yr
A dripping showerhead
At 10 drips a minute, more than 500 gallons a year.
gal / day
A running toilet
It could be wasting 200 gallons or more every day.
% of homes
Big leakers
Nine percent of homes have leaks that waste 50 gallons or more a day.
% off the bill
The payoff
Fixing easy household leaks can save about 10 percent on water bills.
The food coloring test
Put a few drops in the toilet tank. If color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, it's leaking. Flush right after so it doesn't stain.
The two hour meter test
Read your water meter, use no water for two hours, then read it again. If it moved, you likely have a leak somewhere.
Numbers from EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week and its family fact sheet.
The jobs
Pick the
fix
Not sure which one? Pick the problem up top and we'll light up the right one.
01Drips, stains, high bill
Leak detection
Find where the water is going, then fix the pipe, fitting or fixture.
- Under sinks
- Walls and ceilings
- Slab and yard
02Slow, backed up
Drain cleaning
Kitchen, bath, tub and main lines cleared so water goes where it should.
- Sinks and tubs
- Main line
- Camera check
03Cold showers
Water heater repair
Pilot, burner, element, thermostat or valve. Tank or tankless.
- Gas or electric
- Tank or tankless
- Leaks at the tank
04Time for a new one
Water heater install
Old tank out, new one in, strapped for earthquakes the way California requires.
- Same size swap
- Tankless
- Seismic straps
05Everything else
Plumbing repair
Running toilets, low pressure, faucets, valves, garbage disposals and pipe repairs.
- Toilets
- Faucets and valves
- Pressure
06Backup
Sewage cleanup
Sewage coming back into the house needs fast cleanup and a cleared line.
- Backups
- Cleanup
- Line clearing
Before you need it
Find your
shutoff
A burst pipe is a lot smaller if you can stop the water in a minute. Here's how a SoCal water district says to do it.
- Look outside first. The house shutoff is usually outside, in the front, side or back yard, sometimes in the garage.
- Find the hose faucet next to the house. The valve is on the pipe coming up out of the ground below it.
- Wheel or lever? Turn a wheel clockwise until the water stops. Turn a lever a quarter turn.
- Check it. Open the hose faucet. The water should stop as you close the valve.
- Turn it back on slowly. Opening it too fast can damage pipes. Run the hose faucet to clear the air.
From Eastern Municipal Water District's how to turn off the water at your house.
Strap the water heater
California requires water heaters to be strapped against earthquakes, at least twice: once in the upper third, once in the lower third. LADBS
The history
Six thousand
years of pipe
"Plumbing" comes from plumbum, Latin for lead. Swipe the pipe.
Copper pipe
Copper piping shows up in Egypt, at the Abusir temple complex.
Plumbum
Romans run water through lead pipes, stamped with inscriptions to stop water theft. Lead gives plumbing its name.
A flush toilet
John Harington describes a forerunner of the flush toilet and installs one for Queen Elizabeth I.
The S-trap
Alexander Cumming's trap uses standing water to seal out sewer air. It's still in use.
The tank heater
Edwin Ruud, in Pittsburgh, invents the first automatic storage tank gas water heater.
Lead out
The US bans lead in the solder used for drinking water plumbing.
1.6 gallons
Under the 1992 Energy Policy Act, new toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush.
WaterSense
The EPA launches WaterSense. Labeled fixtures use at least 20 percent less water than the federal standard.
Book from your phone
Tell us the problem and how soon, compare plumbers near you, and book on Lokuli.
Dates from Wikipedia's plumbing, flush toilet, water heating and WaterSense articles.
Know before they start
Check the
license
In California, plumbing contractors are licensed by the Contractors State License Board. A plumber's license is the C-36. Here's what the state says to check.
Contractors State License BoardLook up a license number or business name, including complaint disclosuresCheck a license →
CSLB · C-36 Plumbing ContractorC-36 covers water, gas and waste piping, water heaters, and safety devices like backflow preventersWhat C-36 means →
CSLB · since Jan 1, 2025Without a license, someone can only take jobs under $1,000 total, labor and materials, that need no permitThe $1,000 rule →
CSLB · 10 tipsAvoid paying more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less, and don't pay in cashTen tips →
US EPA WaterSenseLeak checks for inside and outside the home, from meters to toilet flappersFix a Leak Week →
Metropolitan Water District · SoCal Water$martRebates on water saving devices like high efficiency toilets. They vary by water agency and fundingResidential rebates →
Three steps
Drip to
done
- Tell us the problemWhat's going on, how soon, and your ZIP. That's what a plumber needs to quote.
- Pick a plumber and timeCompare plumbers near you and request a slot on Lokuli.
- Check, then let them inLook up their license on the CSLB site and get the job in writing before work starts.
Near you
Plumbers
around town
Good to know
Plumbing questions
Water is spreading. What do I do first?
Shut off the water. Use the fixture's own valve if it has one, or the main shutoff for the house, which is usually outside near a hose faucet. Turn a wheel clockwise or a lever a quarter turn. Then book a plumber.
How do I know if I have a hidden leak?
The EPA suggests reading your water meter, using no water for two hours, and reading it again. If it changed, you probably have a leak. A big jump in your bill during a cold month is another sign.
Why does my drain smell like sewer?
Every drain has a trap that holds water to block sewer gas. If a drain isn't used for a while, that water can dry out. Running water in it may help. If the smell stays, a plumber can check the trap, vent and drain line.
Does a plumber need a license in California?
Since January 1, 2025, the CSLB says someone without a contractor's license can only take jobs under $1,000 in total labor and materials that need no building permit and no hired workers. Anything bigger needs a license. A plumbing contractor's license is the C-36. You can look one up on the CSLB website.
How much should I pay up front?
The CSLB says to avoid paying more than 10 percent down or $1,000, whichever is less, to avoid paying in cash, and not to let payments get ahead of the work.
Does my water heater need straps?
Yes. California requires water heaters to be strapped to resist moving in an earthquake. LA's building department says at least two straps, one in the upper third and one in the lower third.
Are there rebates for water saving fixtures?
Often. The Metropolitan Water District's SoCal Water$mart program lists rebates for things like high efficiency toilets, but amounts vary by water agency and funding. Check with your water provider.
How much does a plumber cost?
Each plumber sets their own price based on the job. Plumbers quote you through Lokuli, so you can compare before you book.
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