Living in Long Beach has its perks, from the cultural scene to the ocean breezes. With such a unique locale comes a blend of homes that each have their own plumbing personalities. Whether you live in a condo or a craftsman, plumbing needs can be all over the map. In an older home, you might wrestle with the pipes that have weathered many a storm. Conversely, in a newer construction, you might face water-efficient plumbing that just can’t keep up with demand. Regardless, understanding the ins and outs of the property you call home can make all the difference when it comes to finding the right plumbing solution.
Use your water habits as a starting point. A rambunctious household puts a very different kind of strain on plumbing than a serene, single-occupant space. How many showers, sinks, and appliances are in constant rotation on any given day? A larger family has plumbing—even in bathrooms; even at the kitchen sink—that's under continual pressure to perform.
In contrast, a studio apartment might only need tweaks to maintain efficiency without reinventing the plumbing wheel. In each instance, use a pen, pencil, or keyboard to make a list of what happens in this space day by day. Then.check for areas that might benefit from some plumbing forethought.
Yet another aspect to consider is the climate of Long Beach, which can at times exert pressures on plumbing systems. Being on the coast, we have the salt in the air—a silent killer, if you will, that over time can really do a number on any plumbing not perfectly maintained. Then, too, there are the sudden seasonal changes that might invite as yet unforeseen challenges. Water usage, for instance, really gets pushed during those heat waves we sometimes have because we're trying to keep cool. The plumbing, poor thing, is also trying to keep up under those extreme conditions. Then, as if plumbing hasn't been put through the wringer enough, the some-March, some-April weather can bring frost that causes pipes to expand (and contract) in ways they’re not used to, which causes problems usually not anticipated unless you're a plumber who knows Long Beach's climate intimately.
