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Mountain View, CA · Sewer Laterals, Water Heaters and Flood Zones · ZIPs 94035 and 94039 to 94043
Emergency Plumber in Mountain View, CA: Sewer Laterals, Water Heaters and Flood Zones
A Mountain View plumbing job can need two different permits for one sewer line, and a water heater swap has its own rule about what kind of unit is allowed. About an eighth of the city also sits in a flood hazard area, from Bay tides and Permanente Creek. This page covers those points, and how a call from outside the verified list is handled.
Sewer backup in Mountain View: where your pipe ends and the City's begins
The owner maintains the private section of the sewer lateral and the City maintains the public section. The dividing point is the property-line cleanout. Sewage backing up or in the street goes to Public Services at (650) 903-6329, or (650) 903-6395 on weekends and after hours.
The City's FAQ also says a lateral should have a backwater device that stops sewer water flowing into the home. It adds that owners are responsible for damage from an improperly built lateral, including a required device that is missing.
- Find the cleanout. It marks where your responsibility ends.
- Stop running water. A backup rises at the lowest fixture first.
- Call the City if the main may be involved. A backup in the street points to the public side.
- Ask your plumber about the backwater device. Whether one is present, and whether one is required, is a question to settle before an overflow.
Backed up now? Call and stop running water while we talk.
Call (833) 840-2034Mountain View sewer lateral: building permit and excavation permit
The City's permit page splits lateral work by location. The private side, up to the property-line cleanout, needs a building permit. The public side, from the cleanout to the City sewer main, needs an excavation permit from Public Works.
| Where the work is | Permit |
|---|---|
| Private property up to the property-line cleanout | Building permit |
| Cleanout to the City sewer main | Excavation permit from Public Works |
| The cleanout itself | Either permit may apply |
| Work on both sides | Both permits |
Plan the permits before choosing a method, because a trenchless replacement still touches both sides when the old pipe is cracked all the way to the main.
Mountain View water heater permit, bracing and electric-unit rule
A mechanical permit is required for every new installation and replacement, before work starts. For the same location and a tank between 30 and 150 gallons, no plans are needed and the permit is issued automatically online the same day, for a flat fee from the City's fee schedule.
The rule that surprises people is for electric units. The City's page says electric water heaters must be heat pump type, so a conventional electric tank is not allowed. That can also bring a load calculation and a minimum service size, so budget for a possible panel upgrade.
- Two seismic straps on the tank, with the relief valve drain pointing down to the outside.
- In a garage, the pilot and controls at least 18 inches above the floor.
- A drain pan in an attic, and a sediment trap on a gas line.
- In a flood zone, the appliance raised to or above flood elevation.
A like-for-like gas replacement follows the venting and clearance rules in the Building Division's guide. Replacing an air conditioning unit in an existing single-family home requires a heat pump under the City's reach code page.
Water in Mountain View: three sources, soft to moderately hard
The City provides water to most homes. About 87 percent is treated surface water from the San Francisco system's Hetch Hetchy supply, and the rest is Valley Water plus a small amount from City wells. California Water Service serves small areas from Grant Road east and around Highway 85, and its water quality line is (650) 917-0152.
| Supply area | Hardness | In grains per gallon |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco supply (Zones 1 and 2) | 10 to 30 mg/L | 0.5 to 1.7 |
| Valley Water supply (Zone 3) | 75 to 120 mg/L | 4.3 to 7.0 |
The City says a softener is generally unnecessary. We are not quoting a pH figure for the City, because its pages give none. Check your bill to see whether the City or Cal Water supplies you, and call (650) 903-6329 for the City's water quality group.
Flood zones, Permanente Creek and a backwater valve
About 12 percent of Mountain View sits in special flood hazard areas, with flooding from Bay tides and Permanente Creek. A standard homeowner policy does not cover floods, and the City recommends flood insurance.
The City also recommends basement floor drains and interior or exterior backwater valves. A backwater valve is the part that keeps a surcharged main from pushing sewage up through a low drain.
- Check your flood zone with the City, at (650) 903-6311 for flood map information.
- Sandbags are provided at 231 North Whisman Road.
- A substantial improvement in a flood hazard area needs a flood development permit and an elevation certificate.
From slow fixtures to a sewer backup inside: Mountain View symptoms
| The problem | Go to |
|---|---|
| More than one fixture draining slowly | Opening up slow drains |
| A root-filled or broken lateral | Lateral repair |
| A concealed leak, or a rising bill | Leak tracing |
| A heater that fails or leaks | Heater repair |
| Water inside after a sewer backup | Water removal and drying |
Our answer for a Mountain View address
Mountain View's ZIP codes, 94035 and 94039 to 94043, sit outside the verified list, so the city is not listed as covered.
Call with the street address and you will know on the first call whether a plumber of ours can come, which saves time if you need one nearer.
Not sure we reach your street in Mountain View? Call and ask.
Call (833) 840-2034Permits, electric tanks and sewer backups in Mountain View
Do you serve Mountain View?
Mountain View's ZIP codes, 94035 and 94039 to 94043, sit outside the verified list, so Mountain View is not listed as covered. Call with an address and we tell you if a visit works.
Which permit does sewer lateral work need in Mountain View?
A building permit for the private side up to the property-line cleanout, and an excavation permit from Public Works from the cleanout to the City main. Work on both sides needs both.
Can I replace my gas water heater with an electric tank in Mountain View?
The City's page says electric water heaters must be heat pump type, so a conventional electric tank is not allowed. A same-location replacement needs a mechanical permit.
Is the water in Mountain View hard?
The City says it is soft to moderately hard. Its FAQ gives 10 to 30 mg/L for San Francisco-supplied areas and 75 to 120 mg/L for the Valley Water-supplied area, and says softeners are generally unnecessary.
Who do I call about a sewer backup in Mountain View?
Public Services at (650) 903-6329 on weekdays, or (650) 903-6395 on weekends and after hours.
Call with a Mountain View street address
Call with the street address. We state whether a visit is possible, then give a written range before work begins.