Commercial Plumbing in Jamul, CA

What happens when you call

Tell us what kind of property it is, where it is and what's wrong. Jamul's land is mostly semi-rural residential and rural lots, often 10 to 80 acres, with small village areas, so the plumber will want to know how far the building sits from the meter and the road. You'll be connected with an independent local plumber who takes commercial work in Jamul. The plumber should diagnose first, explain the options and tell you how pricing works before any work starts.

Cost factors

• Distance and access on larger rural parcels
• Long supply or drain runs between buildings
• Locating buried lines before any digging
• Backflow assembly repair parts and the required retest
• County permits and inspections
• Off-hours visits for businesses that can't close

Jamul water, backflow and permits

Otay Water District names Jamul among the communities in its service area of about 125 square miles in southeastern San Diego County. Part of Otay's supply is desalinated seawater from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant, alongside imported water. We haven't confirmed that every rural parcel is inside the district, so check the water bill.

Otay's cross-connection program reaches well beyond irrigation. An approved backflow assembly is required on all non-residential connections and on residential services the District rates as low or high hazard. Devices go on the customer's side of the service connection. They must be tested at least once a year from the installation date and again after any repair, replacement or relocation, by a District-approved certified tester, at the owner's expense. Noncompliance can bring fines or a water shutoff. Questions go to the Backflow Department at (619) 670-2263.

Because Jamul is unincorporated, plumbing and water heater permits go through the County of San Diego Planning and Development Services. We haven't verified how every property handles wastewater, so tell the plumber whether the building is on public sewer.

Jamul's median home was built around 1985, and about 39 percent of housing units predate 1980. SDG&E is the gas and electric utility for the county, though we haven't confirmed that gas mains reach every rural parcel. If anyone smells gas, leave first, then call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343 from a safe place. If the building uses propane, leave and call 911 and your propane supplier.

Before the plumber arrives

• Know where the meter, the main shutoff and the backflow assembly are
• Find your last Otay test report and due date
• Note gates, codes or directions for reaching the building
• List every building or fixture affected
• Mark any known buried lines, tanks or irrigation runs