Plumbing Inspection in Coronado, CA

Coronado is a historic resort city on a tied island with a major Navy presence and some of the most expensive housing in the county. California American Water supplies the city by contract with treated City of San Diego water, chloraminated, with source-plant hardness of 8.5 to 16.4 grains per gallon. The City of Coronado runs the sewer, and the homeowner is responsible for the lateral up to and including the connection to the city main.

What to do now

1. Ask the seller whether the sewer lateral has ever been filmed or replaced.
2. Find the water heater and check its label for an install date.
3. Locate any backflow device on irrigation or fire sprinkler lines.
4. Walk the outside and note corroded hose bibs, valves and gas fittings.
5. Book the plumber early in escrow so a camera run can be added.
6. Write down any fixture that drips, runs or drains slowly so nothing gets missed.

Symptoms and likely causes

Cal Am requires backflow devices to be tested every year and kept in working order; irrigation and fire sprinkler systems need an approved device directly behind the meter unless a Cal Am cross-connection specialist approves otherwise. Cal Am also reports no lead service lines in any of its systems, including the customer-owned side.

Cost factors

• House size, number of baths and any guest quarters
• Adding a camera run of the lateral to the city main
• Access to equipment in tight garages and older crawl spaces
• Written report requirements

The City of Coronado Building Services Division issues over-the-counter permits by email for same-location water heater and tankless change-outs, gas line repairs and residential interior repipes, which keeps common follow-up work simple. In an older house, original galvanized or cast iron piping can still turn up, so ask the plumber to say plainly which findings are urgent. Cal Am's emergency line is 1-888-237-1333. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343 from outside.