Plumber in Northridge

Northridge plumbing carries a memory. The magnitude 6.7 earthquake of January 17, 1994 was centered here, and the damage to gas and water systems became a textbook case for how homes should be protected. Today that shows up as routine questions about strapped water heaters, flexible gas connectors and automatic shutoff valves. A local plumber visits the property through us. For neighboring communities, see the areas page.

What did the 1994 earthquake teach about plumbing in Northridge?

The USGS recorded maximum shaking intensity of IX near the community, and ground failure along Balboa Boulevard broke pressurized water trunk lines and gas lines. Escaping gas ignited, and the fire burned several houses. The state commission that studied the fires found that gas appliances were the main source of gas-related ignitions.

The California Seismic Safety Commission's report on natural gas safety puts the water heater share of post-earthquake gas ignitions at 71 percent for Northridge. The same report describes mobile homes that fell off their supports and severed their gas lines. Sources differ on how many mobile homes burned, so treat any single count with caution.

Three protections came out of that record, and all three are plumbing jobs. A water heater has to be braced or strapped. Flexible gas connectors let an appliance move without tearing the pipe. And an automatic seismic gas shutoff valve closes the line when shaking passes a set threshold. Our pages explain resetting an earthquake gas shutoff valve and emergency gas shutoff valves.

What should Northridge homeowners check on a water heater?

Start with the straps. A gas or electric tank needs a pair of straps anchored to wall studs, one high on the tank and one low, and a flexible gas connector rather than rigid pipe. A tank that leans or rocks when pushed is a hazard in a quake. Check these when you see rust at the base or a drip from the relief valve.

Age is the next check. An aging tank can fail with no warning, and a heater in a hall closet or attached garage puts water on finished floors. Look for the manufacture date on the label. Our page on how often a water heater needs replacing gives the range, and gas valve replacement on a water heater covers control faults.

Gas work stays with a professional. Should gas be in the air, get out, phone SoCalGas (1-800-427-2200) from the yard or street, and add 911 whenever someone is at risk. Leave switches and flames alone on the way out.

What kinds of homes and pipes does Northridge have?

Northridge is mostly postwar. After World War II orchards gave way to housing tracts, and the community's population roughly doubled by 1950 and again by 1960, according to the Wikipedia history of the area. City historic reports describe whole tracts built in a few years in the mid-1950s, plus later districts of the late 1950s and 1960s. The Cal State Northridge campus is a major landmark.

Homes from that era are the ones most likely to have galvanized steel supply lines if they have never been repiped, along with copper from later work, and clay or cast iron drains. After the 1994 quake many houses were repaired, so a single street can mix original pipe with replacement lines. Ask for an inspection of what is actually in the walls instead of assuming from the build year. Options for an older home are laid out in what it costs to replace plumbing in an old house.

Wikipedia notes that apartments built in the 1960s and early 1970s were hit hard in 1994, and many Northridge buildings are multifamily. Shared water heaters and long risers in those buildings raise their own questions. Our apartment building hot water page covers who handles what.

How much does plumbing cost in Northridge?

Prices follow regional ranges, and the written quote gives the true figure. For orientation, our cost pages put a water heater swap near $1,500 to $6,500 and a repipe between $1,500 and $15,000. For earthquake work, the extras are modest compared with the tank itself, but they belong on the quote as separate lines.

Ask whether a replacement includes new straps, a flexible gas connector, a pressure relief valve and its drain line, and the permit. A seismic shutoff valve is a separate item that your quote can add. For a mobile home, the water heater and supports differ, and mobile home water heater replacement cost covers that.

What local rules apply to plumbing in Northridge?

Northridge belongs to Los Angeles proper, so LADBS handles plumbing permits and LA Sanitation sets the sewer rules. A water heater replacement usually needs an LADBS permit, and the work belongs to a contractor holding a California license. Confirm current requirements with LADBS before work begins.

State law has new and replacement water heaters braced or strapped, and an inspector checking a permitted job looks at the straps, vent, relief valve and gas connection. An unpermitted job can also cause trouble later when you sell or file an insurance claim.

The sewer rule is the same across the city. According to LA Sanitation, the owner keeps up the whole private lateral out to the street main. Older Northridge tracts with mature street trees are exactly where that rule applies.

How do you book a plumber in Northridge?

Tell us about the job on the quote page and we line up a local plumber for the property. Give the age of the house, the age and location of the water heater if you know them, and whether a seismic valve is already fitted. A written quote arrives ahead of the work. The office answers weekdays, 9am to 5pm.

If you are planning ahead, a pre-earthquake check is a sensible visit: straps, connectors, shutoff valve and the main water shutoff. Other services are on the Lankershim Plumbing home page, and what to do with a burst pipe is worth reading before you need it.

Questions people ask

Why do Northridge plumbers talk about earthquake gas valves?

The 1994 earthquake was centered in Northridge, and gas fires from broken appliance connections were a major hazard afterward. An automatic seismic shutoff valve closes the gas line when strong shaking is detected. It is a plumbing job that needs a professional and, in most cases, a permit. Ask for it on the quote when a water heater is replaced.

Do water heaters have to be strapped in Northridge?

Yes. State law demands bracing or strapping against quake movement, and a Los Angeles permit inspection looks at the straps. A water heater that leans or is held by a single weak strap should be corrected. A plumber can add proper straps and a flexible gas connector in the same visit.

What should I budget for plumbing in Northridge?

Our cost pages give about $1,500 to $6,500 for a water heater replacement and $1,500 to $15,000 for a repipe, as a guide only. Older tract homes, permit fees and extras such as a seismic valve change the total. The written quote sets the price, so ask for labor, parts and permit as separate lines.

Who owns the sewer line problem in Northridge?

LA Sanitation holds the property owner responsible for the whole private sewer lateral, from the house all the way to the street main. Tree root blockages are included. A problem in the city main goes to LA Sanitation. A camera inspection pinpoints the break.