Gray's Precision Plumbing

If water is going where it shouldn't (burst pipe, sewage backup, active flooding), that's an emergency. Same with no hot water when it's below freezing, or any sign of a gas leak.

Shut off your main water valve right away and call us at (440) 723-8850. We cover Elyria, Lorain, Avon, and all of Northeast Ohio.

Your main shut-off valve is usually located near your water meter, in the basement, crawl space, utility room, or outside near the foundation. Turn it clockwise (righty-tighty) to shut off all water to the house.

Individual fixtures also have their own shut-off valves, under the sink or behind the toilet tank. Know where your main shut-off is before you ever need it.

Banging pipes, called "water hammer," happen when fast-closing valves cause a pressure surge that slams water to a sudden stop. It can also be caused by loose pipe straps, high water pressure, or worn fittings. Over time it can damage joints and connections.

A plumber can install a water hammer arrestor or dial back your pressure regulator to fix it for good.

Act fast.. Here's what to do:

1. Shut off the main water supply immediately.
2. Turn on faucets to drain remaining water from pipes.
3. Turn off electricity to any affected areas to prevent shocks.
4. Call Gray's Precision Plumbing at (440) 723-8850.

Do not attempt to patch a burst pipe yourself — improper repairs can fail under pressure and cause further damage.

Permits are required in most Ohio municipalities for major plumbing work: water heater replacements, sewer line repairs, new installations, and repiping. Minor repairs like fixing a leaky faucet or clearing a clog typically do not require permits.

We handle the permit applications on jobs that need them. You don't have to deal with the paperwork.

The most common causes depend on the drain location:

• Bathroom drains: Hair, soap scum, and toothpaste buildup.
• Kitchen drains: Grease, cooking oil, and food particles.
• Multiple drains slow at once: Usually points to a main sewer line blockage, often tree root intrusion or a collapsed section of pipe.

Don't use them. Products like Drano contain lye and harsh acids that eat away at older pipes, damage rubber seals, and put out toxic fumes. They almost never fully clear a clog. They just push it down for a while.

A drain snake or hydro jetting gets the job done right and won't chew up your pipes in the process.

For most houses, every 1–2 years is a good target. If you have older pipes, a big family, or trees growing close to your sewer line, once a year is smarter.

If you're already seeing slow drains or hearing gurgling, don't put it off. A small clog can turn into a full sewage backup fast.

Hydro jetting shoots a high-pressure stream of water (up to 4,000 PSI) through your pipes to blast out grease, mineral buildup, root tendrils, and anything else a snake can't touch.

Before we jet anything, we run a camera through the line to make sure the pipes can handle it. It's especially good for stubborn clogs, grease buildup in restaurant or commercial kitchens, and older cast-iron lines.

Warning signs of a failing sewer line include:

• Multiple slow or backing-up drains simultaneously
• Sewage odors inside the home or in your yard
• Wet patches or unusually lush, green grass over the sewer line
• Gurgling or bubbling toilets
• Sinkholes or depressions forming in your yard

A camera inspection tells us exactly what we're dealing with. In most cases we can fix it without digging up your yard — trenchless repair is usually an option.

Traditional tank water heaters typically last 8–12 years. Tankless (on-demand) water heaters last 15–20 years with proper maintenance. Regular flushing to remove sediment can extend a tank heater's life.

If yours is over 10 years old and giving you trouble — rusty water, inconsistent heat, water pooling near the base, or strange noises — get it looked at before it fails on you.

The most common causes include:

• Electric heaters: Failed heating element or faulty thermostat.
• Gas heaters: Malfunctioning pilot light, burner, or thermocouple.
• All types: Heavy sediment buildup reducing heating efficiency.
• Tankless units: Undersized unit for your household demand, or a clogged inlet filter.

In most cases we can find and fix it in one visit.

A good rule of thumb: if your water heater is under 8 years old and the repair cost is less than half the replacement cost, repair makes sense. If it's over 10 years old, repairs are recurring, you're seeing rust in your hot water, or the tank is leaking from the bottom, replacement is the smarter investment.

We'll tell you straight what we think after we take a look — repair or replace, whatever makes sense for your situation.

Instead of keeping 40–80 gallons hot around the clock, a tankless unit heats water as you use it. The real-world differences you'll notice:

• Lower energy bills: Usually 20–35% less than a tank heater.
• Hot water that doesn't run out: No more cold showers because someone beat you to it.
• Lasts longer: 15–20 years compared to 8–12 for a tank.
• Smaller footprint: Mounts on the wall and frees up floor space.

You'll spend more upfront, but the energy savings add up. We work with all the major brands.

Once a year. Sediment builds up at the bottom of the tank, cuts down on efficiency, causes that rumbling noise, and slowly eats the tank from the inside out. If you have hard water (and most of Northeast Ohio does), every 6 months is even better.

Test your sump pump at least twice a year, in early spring before heavy rain season and in fall before the ground freezes. Pour a bucket of water slowly into the sump pit and confirm the pump activates and drains quickly.

Also make sure the discharge pipe is clear and pointed away from the house. If the pump doesn't kick on when you test it, call us — a dead sump pump in a storm means a flooded basement.

If you have a basement in Northeast Ohio, get a battery backup. The worst flooding always happens during storms, which is exactly when the power goes out and your primary pump goes with it.

If your basement is finished, or you've had water down there before, it's not optional. We install combo systems that keep both pumps running together.

The most common causes of sump pump failure are:

• Power outages (most common during storms)
• A stuck or broken float switch
• Frozen or clogged discharge line
• Motor burnout from running continuously
• Age (most sump pumps last 7–10 years)

Annual testing catches these problems before a storm exposes them. We do sump pump inspections and replacements all over Lorain County.

Yes. For larger projects such as water heater replacement, sewer line repair, or repiping, we provide free estimates. For service calls and diagnostic visits there is a standard trip and diagnostic fee, which is applied toward the cost of the repair if you proceed with the work.

We use upfront, flat-rate pricing — you always know exactly what you'll pay before we start. No surprises on the final bill.

We cover these communities throughout Lorain County and Northeast Ohio:

• Elyria
• Lorain
• Avon
• Avon Lake
• North Ridgeville
• Sheffield
• Westlake
• Bay Village

Not sure if we cover your area? Call us at (440) 723-8850.

Yes. We're fully licensed and insured in Ohio. All our plumbers are trained and we carry general liability and workers' comp, so you're covered if anything goes sideways on a job.

Yes. Plumbing problems don't keep business hours. Call (440) 723-8850 for burst pipes, sewage backups, flooding, water heater failures. Whatever it is, call us.

We serve Elyria, Lorain, Avon, Avon Lake, North Ridgeville, Sheffield, Westlake, Bay Village, and surrounding Lorain County communities.

Most standard repairs (faucet, toilet, drain cleaning, small leaks) take 1–2 hours. Water heater installs usually run 2–4 hours. Sewer line work varies depending on what we find, but we'll give you a straight timeframe before we start.