Plumbing companies are always looking for ways to discern themselves from their competition, and those that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award are already several steps ahead. In addition to its Diamond Certified status, Star Rooter and Plumbing, Inc. differentiates itself by offering one of the quickest response times in the industry–a practice that co-owner Fred Ramos says is indicative of the company’s approach to customer service. “We do our best to respond to any call within 45 minutes, which allows us to minimize plumbing-related damage and disruption as much as possible. We look for long-term solutions that benefit our customers, not short-term fixes.”

Star Rooter and Plumbing has been providing residential and commercial plumbing services, sewer and drain cleaning, trenchless sewer repair, and repiping services for Bay Area residents since 2004. Mr. Ramos and co-owner Juan Coronado are veterans of the plumbing industry with more than two decades of combined experience. In order to guarantee top-quality work and maintain their company’s reputation for excellent service, both owners personally inspect every job before it’s completed.

Unlike plumbing companies that take multiple service calls to resolve problems, Star Rooter and Plumbing emphasizes the importance of performing each job correctly the first time. When the company is called to clear a clogged sewer, for example, its plumbers snake the pipes, use a camera to inspect the sewer line and immediately diagnose additional problems at no additional charge. “If there’s a bigger problem, we’ll spot it on that first call,” confirms Mr. Ramos. “Our attention to detail ensures our customers won’t have to worry about reoccurring plumbing problems.”

Another distinguishing feature of Star Rooter and Plumbing is its highly trained and experienced journeymen plumbers, all of whom are on call 24/7 (at no extra charge) for customers’ convenience. “Our plumbers are very reliable,” says Mr. Ramos. “Not only do they work efficiently, they also leave homes and offices cleaner than when they arrived. They work fast and know how to keep our customers happy.”

Regularly maintain your sewer line to avoid a costly replacement in the future. As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the working order of your sewer laterals (the pipes that connect your home to the main sewer) in the same way septic tank owners are accountable for their private home sewage treatment systems. By taking simple maintenance steps, you can avoid the possibilities of sewer backflows, tree root intrusions and poorly functioning drainage systems. To keep your plumbing system operating trouble-free, consider the following tips:

• Don’t rinse cooking fats and grease in your kitchen sink. Instead, wipe them off or collect them in a tin and throw them away.
• Don’t flush non-dissolvable waste down the toilet. Throw away solid waste such as wet towels, diapers and hygiene products.
• To avoid tree root intrusion, don’t plant trees and plants with spreading roots near sewer laterals.
• Conduct weekly drain cleaning maintenance to keep your drains flowing freely. Pour 1/4 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Wait a few minutes before rinsing the mixture with boiling water.
• Install sewer backflow devices (SBDs) to avoid the backflow of contaminants into your home’s drinking water.
• Have a professional plumber conduct periodic sewer line inspections to rule out or fix major obstructions.

If you start smelling sewage or notice wet patches in your yard, your sewer line probably needs to be replaced. Replacing a sewer line can be expensive, so before you commit to any work, it’s important to determine if your pipes can be repaired instead. The best way to establish the condition of your sewer line is to have a professional plumber run a camera through it, but there are a few basic things you can look for that can help you decide between repair and replacement.

Repair your sewer pipe if…
• It’s reasonably accessible
• It’s sized properly for the occupants of your home
• It has a reasonable life expectancy for the cost of the repair

Replace your sewer pipe if…
• It’s undersized for the occupants living in your home
• It’s bellied, collapsed, deformed or deteriorated
• It’s beyond the life span of the existing pipe
• You desire a worry-free solution to your sewer issue

Q: Are you local to the East Bay Area? Can you respond quickly?

A: Yes. We keep six plumbing trucks at our Hayward location and have a plumber on call in the Berkeley/Albany area. We can usually respond within 45 minutes, regardless of when you call.

Q: Are your employees professional and trustworthy?

A: Absolutely. All our service trucks are clearly marked and our plumbers wear uniforms to identify themselves as veterans of both the industry and our company.

Q: Why do you use an in-line camera and locator?

A: Using an in-line camera and locator allows us to pinpoint the exact location and extent of any problem within your pipes, which makes for a more effective diagnosis and ultimately saves you money.

Q: Why is my drain system moving so slowly? Is it clogged?

A: Clogged or slow moving drains are normally the result of one of two problems. The first is tree and plant roots. Roots growing into a pipe or joint will clog and eventually crush the pipe, so having your pipe systems cleaned at regular intervals will help extend their lifetimes. The second is clogs in the line. Obstructions, offset joints and age are frequent causes of drain problems. We’re highly trained and utilize the best equipment, which gives us the flexibility to dislodge almost any blockage.

Q: What are the advantages of trenchless sewer line replacement?

A: First and foremost, it’s quicker and less expensive than the traditional ‘dig and back-fill’ method, which requires you to replant your yard, replace sections of your fence, and repair your driveway or sidewalk. The trenchless replacement process requires only two access holes, so your lawn, patio, driveway, sidewalk, fence, and cable and gas lines will remain unscathed. The cost is comparable to, if not less than, the cost of traditional sewer line replacement.