Emergencies
A burst pipe or a flooding basement. The first five minutes decide how bad it gets.
Plumbing tips for Paramus, NJ homes
Paramus was built out in the 1950s and 1960s, and its ranches, splits and capes share the plumbing of their era. Here is what is wearing out now, and how to find a licensed plumber.
Paramus grew from farmland into a suburb in a single generation after the war, and most of its houses date from the 1950s and 1960s: ranches, split levels, capes and bi-levels on neat lots between the highways. Sixty years on, the plumbing installed then is due for attention in a predictable set of places.
What the houses have
- Copper supply pipe, generally in good condition, with the occasional pinhole in a house with aggressive water or old solder joints.
- Cast iron drains from the same era, now at the age where the horizontal runs under the slab or in the crawl space rust through. Slow drains, smells and damp spots on a basement floor are the signs.
- Original water heaters and boilers long gone, but the replacements are themselves getting old. Check the date on the label.
- Split levels and bi-levels with a bathroom over the family room, where a failed tub seal shows as a ceiling stain below.
- Additions from the 1980s onward, with plumbing that may have been done with or without permits. Gurgling and weak flushes often trace to added bathrooms that were never properly vented.
Basements and yards
The flat ground and clay soils leave many Paramus basements damp in a wet spring. Sump pumps are standard, and the discharge should reach well away from the foundation. Lawn irrigation is common, and in New Jersey the backflow preventer on an irrigation system needs an annual test.
Water
Public water from the regional utility, at moderate pressure across most of the borough. If the pipes bang or a relief valve drips, measure the pressure first.
When you need a professional
Plumbing in New Jersey is done under a licensed master plumber, and the license is verifiable online. The Find a plumber page opens a search near Paramus and explains the check.
Plumbing topics for Paramus
Clogs and drains
Kitchen sinks, tubs, toilets and the old sewer lines under many Bergen County streets.
Hot water
Looking after a water heater, and knowing when it has reached the end.
Steam and hot water heat
Older Bergen County houses often have radiators. They are simple systems once you understand them.
Kitchen and bath fixes
The small repairs that save a service call, with honest notes on how hard each one is.
Upkeep and hiring
Seasonal checks, and how to hire a plumber in New Jersey without regretting it.
Common questions
The original cast iron drain in my Paramus house is leaking. Does it all have to go?
Not necessarily. Cast iron fails section by section, usually along the bottom of horizontal runs. A plumber can replace the failed section with plastic and leave sound pipe in place, though once one section goes, others tend to follow within a few years.
Are there permits for a water heater replacement in Paramus?
Yes. New Jersey requires a permit and inspection for a water heater replacement, obtained from the borough's building department by the licensed plumber doing the work.
Need a professional?
When it is more than a quick fix, search for plumbers near your town and verify the New Jersey license in a minute.