Leaks, clogs, water heaters, and the calls that can't wait. We're right next door in Huntsville, and you'll get the price before we start any work.
Madison grew fast in the 1980s and 90s and kept on building. A lot of those houses are now old enough that the original plumbing is starting to wear out. Here's what's worth knowing.
Homes built between about 1978 and 1995 sometimes have polybutylene supply pipe. It's gray and flexible, and it has a history of failing at the fittings. If your house is from that stretch, take a look under a sink or near the water heater.
How to tell if you have itTank water heaters commonly last around 8 to 12 years. If yours was already there when you moved in, check the date on the label. Replacing one on your schedule beats replacing it on a Sunday night with water on the floor.
When to repair or replaceMost of Madison's water is Tennessee River water, treated at the Quarry Water Treatment Plant, with wells brought in when demand runs high. River water around here is moderately hard. You'll see it as scale on faucets and sediment in the bottom of the water heater.
What hard water does to plumbingIn most North Alabama cities, the utility takes care of the meter and the street side. The line from the meter to your house is usually yours. Found a wet spot in the yard? If it's at the meter, call Madison Utilities. If it's between the meter and the house, call us.
How to check for a hidden leakMost plumbing problems in Madison houses are the ordinary kind. A water heater that’s reached the end. A toilet that won’t quit running. A kitchen drain that’s slow for the third time this year. Those are all fixable, and most of them aren’t emergencies, even when they feel like one at 9 p.m.
Houses from Madison’s big building years are now at the age where parts start wearing out on their own schedule. Water heaters, toilet fill valves, faucet cartridges, and the rubber supply lines behind toilets and washing machines all wear out eventually. If you live in one of those houses, a slow Saturday with a flashlight is time well spent. Check the date on your water heater, look at the lines under your sinks, and find your main shutoff before you ever need it.
Tell us what’s happening and where the house is. If water is going somewhere it shouldn’t, close the main first and then call. You’ll get a time window before anyone heads over. If it turns out to be something you can fix yourself with a part from the hardware store, we’ll tell you that too.
All of Madison, on both sides of the county line, plus the communities just outside it.
Madison is right next to our home base in Huntsville, so it's one of the shorter drives we make. When you call, we'll give you a real time window based on that day's schedule.
Usually, yes. Start by turning off every faucet and appliance and watching the meter for a few minutes. If it still moves, something's leaking. We can track it down, whether it's a running toilet, a line in the yard, or a leak under the slab.
It depends on your house and how much the scale bothers you. Madison's water is mostly treated river water, which is moderately hard. Plenty of people are fine without a softener. We'll give you an honest answer either way.
It's worth getting a price before you list. Inspectors tend to flag it, and buyers often ask for a repair or a credit. Whether you replace it first is your call, and having the number in hand makes that decision a lot easier.
Tell us what's going on and we'll take it from there. Quick questions are welcome.
Call or text, anytime(256) 207-5134