Faucet Repair in Lakeside, CA

How old are Lakeside faucets likely to be?

The median Lakeside home was built around 1978, and about 52.5 percent of homes predate 1980. That means a large share of houses have plumbing that has seen several decades of use. Even where the faucet itself was swapped in a remodel, the angle stops, supply lines and the pipe stubs in the wall may be original. A plumber fixing a drip in one of these homes will usually look at the whole setup under the sink, because a new cartridge does not help if the stop below it is leaking.

Who supplies my water, and does it matter for faucet work?

Lakeside is split between two water retailers. Lakeside Water District serves Lakeside, Eucalyptus Hills, Moreno Valley, Muth Valley and Wintergardens, while Padre Dam Municipal Water District serves other parts of the Lakeside area. Both buy imported water through the San Diego County Water Authority. For the faucet itself the provider matters less than for a meter or main-line problem, but you need to know who to call if water will not stop. Lakeside Water District lists 619-443-3805 for reporting problems at any hour. Padre Dam's number is on its bills.

Imported Southern California water tends to be hard, and each district's annual water quality report gives its current mineral figures. In practice that means aerators and cartridges collect scale, so cleaning aerators a few times a year is worth the five minutes.

Will my faucet repair need a County permit?

Lakeside is unincorporated, so building permits come from the County of San Diego Planning & Development Services Building Division, which handles simple permits, inspections and fees online through Accela Citizen Access. Replacing a cartridge or washer is a repair. Moving a sink, adding a fixture or changing the supply piping is the kind of project to check with the County first, and the plumber you are connected with can tell you which side of that line your job falls on.

One more thing for Lakeside homes

Inland valley nights get colder than the coast. An outdoor spigot on an exposed north wall is the fixture most likely to suffer, so shut it off and drain it when a hard frost is forecast.