When we started Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air, we knew all too well what people thought of plumbers. People think plumbers are unclean, rude, and untrustworthy people that stomp through homes and fix problems with tape and bubblegum. Why? Because that’s what some plumbers do. Our industry was rusted-out like cast iron plumbing under a house that needed a serious repipe.

“The water in LA is terrible!” “I only drink bottled water.” “I’m not drinking from the tap.” These statements are uttered all over LA. Everyone has an opinion on the city’s water quality. But what’s in it? Is it safe to drink? And how can you tell?

Imagine using your toilet like you always do. You flush it and think your business is over. So you continue with your day and head out to run some errands. That’s when you see it. A large stinking puddle of water is flooding your lawn. You frantically call up a plumber to fix it. Surely it’s just a leak, right? The plumber does their inspection as you watch them nervously. That’s when they find the last thing you’d ever imagine being in your pipes: Tree roots. Your stressed mind fires off questions at a rapid pace:

You finally took the dive and invested in a tankless water heater. The rave reviews about endless hot water made your choice easy. So you called up a plumbing company, and they got your tankless up and running quickly. You turn on your hot water, and a shocking realization hits you. The water isn’t instantly hot!

You turn on your shower. Cold water shoots from the showerhead and makes delicate pitter-patter sounds against your walls. You sigh and wait for the water to get warm. And wait. And wait. The seconds drag on. Soon that pitter-patter sound feels like a drumbeat in your head. Irritation rises in your throat. You reach your hand out to check the water.

Your alarm beeps, and you hop out of bed to get ready for the day. You hurry to the bathroom and come face to face with a family member with wet hair. You clench your teeth and ask “Did you just take a shower?” With a nod of their head, they send you into panic mode. You think:

Are you having any of these thoughts distracting you from more immediate concerns?

You start your day groggy and in need of a shower. You turn the hot water knob, and streams of piping hot water blasts you in the face. Now in pain, you look to your showerhead—the water spurts everywhere when all you want is a relaxing, steady stream of water.

Many questions will swirl around in your head before a plumbing or HVAC appointment. How much will this cost me? Is my technician going to be knowledgeable? How long will this process take? Will they offer me a solution that meets my budget? Once you start thinking about the whole process, you won’t be able to stop.

“How should I know what size water heater I need?!” Maybe you mumble this to yourself as you’re researching online. Perhaps you’re talking to a neighbor or loved one. You may be shouting it to the heavens as a plumber wastes your time and tracks dirt through your clean living room.