Guides for San Gabriel houses
Old houses keep their own habits. These guides explain the ones we meet most often in town.
Notes from around the Mission
Some houses here predate the 1930s, others went up after the war. The guides below are written with both in mind, with sources where numbers appear.
- Slab leak warning signsWarm floor spots, a meter that spins with every tap closed and the sound of running water are classic slab leak clues.
- Clearing a slow bathtub drain in an older houseOlder San Gabriel tubs drain through brass or galvanized piping that narrows with age.
- Descaling a tankless water heaterTankless heaters need regular flushing to clear mineral scale from the heat exchanger.
- Fixing a leaking outdoor hose bibHose bibs that drip at the spout or leak behind the wall are common on older San Gabriel houses.
- A rocking toilet and the seal under itA toilet that rocks or leaves water around its base has a failed seal or flange.
- Is a water softener worth it here?San Gabriel County Water District averages about 97 ppm hardness.
- Replacing old under-sink shutoff valvesOld multi-turn shutoffs under sinks and toilets often seize or drip when you need them.