Plumbing in Montclair: What We See Most
Montclair incorporated in 1956, as Monte Vista, and took its current name a couple of years later. Most of the city's single-family homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s on modest lots, in the post-war boom that filled the west end of the valley. Many still have a good share of their original plumbing, or a patchwork of repairs layered on it.
Those homes are now past 60 years old, and the failures are the classic ones for that era. Galvanized supply lines narrow from the inside until pressure drops at every tap. Cast iron drains scale and crack. Clay sewer laterals let roots in at the joints. Original gas connectors and water heater installs often fall short of current code. Hard water speeds up the wear on what remains.
The most common Montclair plumbing problems:
- Galvanized supply lines in 1950s and 1960s homes losing pressure
- Rusty or discolored water from corroded pipe
- Clay sewer laterals with roots and offset joints
- Cast iron drain lines that have scaled or cracked
- Water heaters without a second strap, expansion tank or proper venting
- Old gas flex connectors at ranges, dryers and water heaters
None of this means every home has these problems, and a good plumber will tell you when yours does not. It does mean the diagnosis starts with knowing what is likely in this area, which saves time and keeps you from paying for the wrong repair.