Plumbing FAQs

Plumbing covers a wide range of fixtures, pipes, and appliances such as your toilet, tub, sink, sewer lines, and more. Our licensed plumbers provide professional plumbing installation and repair services. Many of our clients ask us a lot of questions before and during their services. We are here to help answer some of the frequently asked questions for you.

How long do water heaters last?

The lifespan of your water heater will depend on the type of water heater you have and how often you perform maintenance on it. In general, conventional hot water tanks last between 10 and 15 years, while tankless heaters last up to 30 years.

What are signs that you need sewer line repairs?

Signs that indicate you need sewer line repairs include slow draining, gurgling sounds, soggy yards, sewage smells, and an increase in your water bills.

What is hydro jetting?

Hydro jetting is a method of clearing out clogged or slow-moving sewer lines. It uses highly pressurized water to clean out debris that is stuck in sewer lines. It is less abrasive than traditional methods of clearing clogs and is sometimes more effective.

Should I get a tankless water heater?

That depends on your unique situation. Tankless water heaters require a larger upfront investment. However, they last longer, need less maintenance, and use less energy to provide you with hot water.

Do I need to replace my sump pump?

Your sump pump should be replaced every 7 to 10 years. Repairing sump pumps during this part of their lifespan will cost about the same as a replacement. Signs that indicate your sump pump is at the end of its life include it constantly running, making loud noises, clogging, and its age.

Why is my toilet constantly running?

A toilet that is constantly running is caused by an issue with the overflow tube, flush valve, or fill valve. You should open the lid of the water reservoir and check the fill valve to make sure it is properly aligned. A misaligned fill valve will cause the reservoir to keep getting filled and the extra water to be filtered through the overflow tube. If that is not the issue, the flapper may not be properly secured.

Contact Us Today for Plumbing Repairs!

At Harry Clark Plumbing and Heating Inc., we provide affordable plumbing repair services to the Oakland, CA area. When you need help repairing any of your plumbing fixtures such as the toilet, tub, water heater, or sink, give us a call. Our licensed plumbers can repair any issue or replace any fixture. Contact us today to schedule your plumbing repair services!

I've been using Harry Clark for few years and always have a great experience with their plumbing and heating services. Last week I had a bad leak under my kitchen sink, the plumber came on time and was very professional, fixed the leak and tested a couple times. I highly recommended this company their prices are fair and they are reliable.

It was during a big storm and Harry Clark was slammed. A huge tree had fallen and broken a water pipe and was flooding underneath the house. Electricity was out, tree was covering the valve to turn off water and East Bay Mud evaluated and could do nothing until the tree was removed. This could be days. Bradley managed to gather a crew with a generator and pump and was at the site within 30 minutes of the call. The guy pumped all the water out from under the house and with unbelievable ingenuity managed to get access to the water source and identify the broken pipe and clamped it down stopping all the water from rushing under house. It was a Superman moment!!! Thank you Harry Clark for responding to a 911 situation with all that was going on and being better than anyone expected!!!

I have had great results with Harry Clark Plumbing. They did such a great job from the 2000's until present day (yesterday- my old sump pump finally gave out) The sump pump well they installed has gotten compliments from drainage consultant to electrician working in that area of the crawl space- anyone who happens to be working in that area of my house has commented that "they did a very nice job on that pump well". Yes, it's true I'm sump pump proud. Thank you Harry Clark! On time, responsive, communicative, dependable, great work!

The entire company from the people that helped schedule the jobs to the service professionals that came out to our home were fantastic. We had a 100+ year old home in Oakland that had a gas line that was leaking in the kitchen and they were able to immediately identify the leak and replace the valve. They also hooked up our new gas range and did all the appropriate tests to confirm proper function and no additional gas leaks in the home. Separately we had them come out to install a new toilet in our downstairs half bath. Within an hour the new toilet was installed and running better than we could have hoped saving us water. Fast, efficient and fair priced for each service. Communication was outstanding We could not be happier and highly recommend.

Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness

I had to have lateral sewer system replaced as it was shot. Everyone from office staff, workers on site, and owner was very professional, efficient, neat and friendly. While that was happening the supervisor on the job noticed a constant flow of water from the house and notified me, and Harry Clark got a plumber out right away and got that fixed too! Thank you to everyone at Harry Clark!

Services: Outdoor plumbing system repair, Toilet repair

Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Responsiveness, Value

This review is long overdue-- for a number of years I have used Harry Clark for any plumbing or heating problem in my home or four plex. They communicate clearly, arrive when promised, work with my or tenant's schedules, fix the problem and give information about cause and prevention. Their pricing is fair and reasonable. The phones are always answered during business hours. After using different plumbers from time to time, it's come down to this one company I can depend on. If you are looking for one company to handle plumbing and heating issues, I recommend Harry Clark.