Water heater and drain repair in Merriam Park, Saint Paul, MN 55104

A 40 gallon tank was plenty for the couple who bought the house in 1985. Put four college students or a family of six in the same foursquare and the hot water runs out halfway through the second shower. Add sediment from years without a flush and the tank holds even less. Popping, rumbling or lukewarm water are the usual signs.

We start by testing the burner or elements, the thermostat and the dip tube, because a cheap part sometimes solves the problem. If the tank is old or leaking, we talk through sizing. A larger tank, a high-recovery model or a tankless unit may fit better. We handle the gas, venting and permit, and haul the old heater away.

Under most Merriam Park kitchens, a short PVC trap ties into an old galvanized or cast iron branch that heads to the main stack. Over the decades grease and scale narrow that branch to a fraction of its size. Pouring hot water helps for a week. Then the sink fills again, usually the night before a holiday dinner.

We clear the branch all the way to the stack with a cable sized for the pipe, then run water to confirm it's flowing at full speed. When the old pipe is too far gone, we replace the horizontal run with PVC. We'll also tell you what not to pour down the drain, without the lecture.

Landlords with properties between Cleveland and Cretin know the summer turnover rush. Toilets that run, faucets that drip, slow tubs and a water heater that limped through the school year all need attention before new tenants arrive in late August. Small leaks left alone become water damage in the unit below.

We can walk a rental with you, fix what's failing and list what's likely to need work soon. That might include replacing worn supply valves, resetting toilets with new wax rings or swapping a garbage disposal. You get one visit, clear notes and a plumbing system ready for another year. Give us a ring at (651) 215-2087.