A Compton Plumber for Mid-Century Homes, Repipes, Water Heaters and Sewer Backups

Compton's housing element says the majority of the city's residential development took place between 1940 and 1959, and its table of housing stock by age puts 51.6 percent of units in that span. Census survey data puts owner occupancy at 57.4 percent and the average household at 3.84 people. Houses that old with that many people at home make for plumbing that is worked hard, and that is what many Compton calls involve.

Repiping in Compton: When a Repair Stops Making Sense

One leaking joint in an old line is a repair. Three leaks in a year, rusty water or weak pressure in every fixture is a pattern. We found no city document naming a typical pipe material for Compton houses, so the plumber should open a section and say what it is. The whole-house repipe page lays out how repair and replacement are compared, and the leak under the slab page covers lines that run under the floor.

Compton's own handout on permits for work without plans calls for a permit on repairs tied to water pipe repair or replacement, and lists water heater replacement as its own item. That is a published City form, so repiping and pipe repair here involve a permit. Settle with the plumber who applies for it. The Building and Safety Department is at 205 S. Willowbrook Avenue, phone (310) 605-5509, open Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Keep the paperwork: After a repair or repipe that the City's handout covers, ask for the permit number and the inspection sign-off, and file them with your house records.

Two Water Systems in Compton: Check Your Bill

Two suppliers serve Compton. The City Water Department has its office at 205 S. Willowbrook Avenue. Liberty Utilities runs the Compton and Willowbrook system. A secondary data site splits the population between them, but we found no primary map of who serves which street, so the bill is the answer.

Liberty also states that its Compton and Willowbrook system has no lead or galvanized service lines requiring replacement, based on 708 verified lines. That covers the line out to your meter and says nothing about the pipes inside your house. The leaking tank repair page covers heater problems that scale and age cause.

Water Heaters in Compton: Permit and Replacement

The same City permit handout lists water heater replacement as a permit item and notes that energy compliance forms are due when the permit is issued. For the swap itself, the installing a water heater page lists sizing, venting, strapping and a new shutoff valve, and the tankless conversion page covers the gas line change. Gas line permits are not covered in the handout text we read, so ask the office about those.

Sewer Lines and Backups in Compton

Compton's Public Works Department covers the sewer collection system, and a City notice describes a yearly sewer maintenance assessment for the City of Compton sewer system. The City's sewage spill guide says owners are responsible for service laterals, including the section under the street. We did not find an after-hours number on a Compton page; the Public Works and Engineering office is (310) 605-5505.

The spill guide lists grease, tree roots, cracked pipes and groundwater infiltration among the usual causes of sewer trouble. A camera shows which applies. The repairing a cracked sewer pipe page explains the options, and the hydro jet drain clearing page explains how a line is cleaned.

Leaks, Fixtures and Water Damage in Compton

A climbing bill starts with the meter check on the leak testing steps page. Dripping faucets and running toilets are on the fixture repair visit page. A buried supply line is covered on the water service line replacement page. Water that has already reached drywall needs water damage after a pipe burst. Shops and restaurants along Compton Boulevard can use the plumbing for offices page.

Calling Compton at Night or on a Weekend

Someone is on the dispatch line at every hour. For urgent problems the homepage lists emergency plumbing steps to take while a plumber is on the way.

Where We Work in Compton: ZIP Codes, Streets and Landmarks

Compton's five ZIP codes are all listed below. East Rancho Dominguez and Willowbrook are unincorporated communities next to the city, so tell the dispatcher your address, not just the neighborhood name.

• 90220
• 90221
• 90222
• 90223
• 90224

• Compton City HallCity Hall at 205 S. Willowbrook Avenue.
• Compton LibraryLos Angeles County library at 240 W. Compton Boulevard.
• Compton CollegeCommunity college at 1111 E. Artesia Boulevard.
• Compton/Woodley AirportCounty-owned general aviation airport at 901 W. Alondra Boulevard.
• Wilson ParkCounty park and community center at 123 N. Rose Avenue.
• Gonzales ParkPark at 1101 W. Cressy Street.

The housing element names Rosecrans Avenue, Compton Boulevard, Alondra Boulevard, Walnut Street and Artesia Boulevard, with Central Avenue and Avalon Boulevard on the fault zone boundaries. Give the dispatcher the nearest cross street.

Cities Close to Compton on Our List

• Lynwood plumbers 8.0 miles from Artesia

Open Compton, CA in Google Maps

Also handled: gas pipe work and on-demand heaters.

Compton Plumbing Questions Answered

Does repiping need a permit in Compton?

A City handout on no-plan permits lists pipe repair and replacement among the work that needs one. Call Building and Safety at (310) 605-5509 and settle who applies for it.

Who supplies my Compton water, the City or Liberty?

Both operate in Compton, and we found no primary map showing which streets belong to which. The bill names your supplier, and the supplier's own report gives hardness for your water.