Plumbing FAQs

Sidekick Plumbing is based at 55 Madison Ave Suite 400, Morristown, NJ 07960. We serve all 39 municipalities of Morris County, NJ from this location.

Yes. Sidekick Plumbing operates under New Jersey Master Plumber License #36BI01357700 and carries full general liability and workers' compensation insurance. We pull permits for every job that requires one.

We serve all of Morris County, New Jersey — including Morristown, Madison, Chatham, Florham Park, Parsippany, Denville, Randolph, Mendham, Chester, Harding, Mountain Lakes, Boonton, Kinnelon, Rockaway, Morris Plains, Morris Township, and the rest of the county's 39 municipalities.

If you have active water damage, a sewer backup, no hot water, or another urgent plumbing issue, call (973) 397-5347 or book online. We will confirm current appointment availability before you commit.

Call us at (973) 397-5347, email [email protected], or use the secure online request form on our website. For most jobs we provide a fixed, written price after an on-site assessment. Diagnosis is included when repair work is approved; any standalone visit fee is disclosed before booking.

Diagnosis is included when repair work is approved. If a standalone visit fee applies, we disclose it before you book so there are no surprises.

Appointment availability varies by schedule, location, and job scope. Call or book online and we will confirm the earliest available appointment option before you commit.

Sidekick is owned and led by James Shopp, a New Jersey Master Plumber. James is the master plumber of record, sets the standards for the team, and manages field work call by call.

A standard 40 or 50-gallon tank swap usually takes 2–3 hours. Tankless conversions take longer — often 4–6 hours — because we may need to upsize gas lines, run new venting, or add condensate drains. We always give you a fixed price and a timeline before any work begins.

Tankless makes the most sense if you have high hot-water demand, want to free up basement space, or plan to stay in your home 8+ years. They cost more upfront but use 24–34% less energy and last roughly twice as long as a tank. A Sidekick tech can size the right unit for your home in one visit.

Watch for rusty water, popping or rumbling sounds (sediment buildup), water pooling at the base, or hot water that runs out faster than it used to. Most tanks last 8–12 years — if yours is past 10 and showing symptoms, replacement is usually smarter than repair.

Yes. If your tank has burst or you have no hot water, call (973) 397-5347 or book online and we will confirm the earliest available appointment before you commit.

Once a year for tank units in Morris County. Hard-water towns like Parsippany and Florham Park benefit from twice-yearly flushes. Tankless units need a vinegar descale annually if you don't have a softener installed.

Yes — we install homeowner-supplied tanks and tankless units regularly. We'll inspect the unit before installing to make sure nothing is missing or damaged, and we warranty our installation labor in writing.

Rule of thumb: 2 people = 30–40 gal, 3–4 people = 40–50 gal, 5+ people = 50–80 gal or tankless. But your hot-water habits (back-to-back showers, large soaking tub, high-flow shower heads) matter as much as occupancy. We size it correctly during the estimate.

If the same drain backs up every few months, the clog isn't really being removed — it's being pushed downstream until it catches again. We run a camera through the line to find the root cause: tree roots, a belly in the pipe, grease buildup, or a partial collapse. Once we know, we can fix it permanently.

We strongly recommend against them. Drano and similar products generate heat, eat away at older galvanized and cast-iron pipes, and rarely fix the actual blockage. They also make it dangerous for a plumber to snake the line afterward. Mechanical clearing is faster, safer, and more effective.

Most single-fixture drain cleaning calls (kitchen sink, tub, bathroom drain) are flat-rate in the $200–$350 range. Main-line snaking from a cleanout typically runs $350–$550. Hydro-jetting and camera inspections are priced separately. You always get the price upfront — never surprises.

Hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water (up to 4,000 PSI) to scour the inside of your sewer line, removing grease, scale, and roots that a snake just punches through. It's the most thorough way to clean a main line and is recommended every 2–3 years for older Morris County homes with clay or cast-iron pipes.

It can help with very minor grease clogs in kitchen sinks. For anything more — slow drainage, multiple fixtures affected, gurgling, or sewage smells — you need mechanical clearing. Don't pour boiling water down PVC drains; it can warp the pipe.

Drain cleaning timing depends on the fixture, access, pipe condition, and whether camera inspection or hydro-jetting is needed. We explain the expected scope before work begins.

Yes. For older Morris County homes with frequent backups (Mountain Lakes, Morristown Historic District, Madison Borough), we offer 6-month or annual main-line maintenance plans that catch problems before they become backups.

The clearest signs: multiple drains backing up at once, sewage odors in the yard, soggy patches over the pipe path, gurgling toilets, or repeated main-line clogs. A 30-minute camera inspection will confirm the issue and show you exactly what's going on inside the pipe.

Instead of digging up your entire yard or driveway to replace a broken sewer line, trenchless methods use small access points to either pull a new pipe through the old one (pipe bursting) or coat the inside of the existing pipe with a new resin lining (CIPP). It's faster, less destructive, and often more affordable than full excavation.

Costs vary widely based on length, depth, and method. Spot repairs can be $1,500–$3,500. Full trenchless replacements typically run $6,000–$15,000 for a Morris County home. We'll camera the line first, then give you a fixed-price quote with options before any work begins.

Most standard homeowners policies do NOT cover damage to the sewer lateral itself, but many cover the resulting interior damage. Some Morris County towns also offer sewer-line warranty programs through the water utility. We document everything for you to give your insurer the best chance of approval.

A typical 50–80 foot lateral lining or pipe burst is a one-day job. Add half a day for permit pickup, a day for the repair, and the line is back in service the same evening. Full excavation jobs can take 2–4 days depending on length and depth.

With trenchless methods (CIPP lining or pipe bursting), no — we work from two small access pits, usually one near the house and one near the curb. Traditional excavation does require a trench, but we restore the lawn and any hardscape.

Absolutely — especially for any Morris County home built before 1980, or any home where the seller can't confirm sewer line history. A $300–$450 sewer scope can reveal $10,000+ in upcoming repairs.

Morristown's municipal water meets EPA standards, but many homeowners still install whole-home filtration to remove chlorine taste, sediment, and pharmaceutical byproducts. If you're on a private well in Harding, Mendham, or Chester, filtration is essentially required — we recommend annual testing for bacteria, nitrates, and arsenic.

A water softener removes calcium and magnesium ('hardness') that cause scale on fixtures and appliances. A whole-home filter removes contaminants like chlorine, sediment, and chemicals. Most Morris County homes benefit from both, especially well-water properties.

RO is a final-stage drinking water system installed under one sink — typically the kitchen. Whole-home filters protect your plumbing and provide good general-quality water; RO produces near-distilled drinking water. They work together, not as alternatives.

A salt-based softener needs salt added every 4–8 weeks depending on usage, plus a resin cleaning roughly once a year and a full inspection every 2–3 years. We offer maintenance plans so you never have to think about it.

Yes for municipal supplies (Morristown, Madison, Chatham, Florham Park, Parsippany, Madison Water Department) — they all meet or exceed EPA standards. Many homeowners still install whole-home filtration for taste, odor, and hardness reasons. Wells require homeowner-managed testing and are far more variable.

Pre-filters every 6–12 months, the RO membrane every 2–3 years. We offer scheduled service to handle this so you don't have to remember.

No — properly sized softeners exchange calcium and magnesium for sodium ions in trace amounts. The water doesn't taste salty. If you want zero added sodium, a salt-free conditioner or potassium-based softener is an option.

An unexplained jump in your water bill, the sound of running water when nothing is on, mildew smells, warped flooring, peeling paint, or warm spots on a slab floor are all classic indicators. If your water meter dial moves while every fixture in the house is off, you have a leak.

Yes — that's the whole point of leak detection. We use acoustic listening devices, thermal imaging, and pressure testing to narrow the leak down to a 12-inch radius before opening anything. In most cases we end up making one small access cut instead of demolishing a wall.

Standard residential leak detection in Morris County is typically $250–$450, applied as a credit against the repair if you hire us to fix it. Slab leaks and underground service line leaks may cost more depending on access.

If you can see active water damage (water dripping, pooling, or actively running), yes — turn off the main shutoff valve, usually located near where the water service enters your home (basement or utility area). Then call us. If the leak is slow or intermittent, you can usually wait until we arrive.

No — that's the entire point. We use non-invasive acoustic and thermal tools to locate the leak before opening anything. The single small access cut we make is far less invasive than the demolition that would be required without leak detection.

We stop the leak and dry the immediate area, but full water-damage restoration (drywall removal, dehumidification, mold remediation) is a specialty trade. We'll refer you to a vetted Morris County restoration company and coordinate with your insurance.

Shut off the main valve if you can do so safely, then call (973) 397-5347 or book online. We will confirm the earliest available appointment and explain any special scheduling requirements before you commit.

Natural gas is naturally odorless — utilities add a chemical called mercaptan that smells like rotten eggs or sulfur. If you smell it, leave the house immediately, don't touch any switches or appliances, and call PSE&G at 1-800-880-PSEG. After they shut it off, call Sidekick to find and repair the source.

Yes — every Morris County town requires a permit for new gas piping or any modification to an existing line. We pull the permit, perform the work to NJ Uniform Construction Code, and coordinate the inspection. Doing gas work without a permit can void your homeowners insurance and cause major issues at resale.

Absolutely — switching from electric to gas (or relocating a gas range) is one of the most common gas jobs we do. We assess your existing gas service capacity, run new piping in CSST or black iron, install the shutoff valve, and pressure-test the line.

A typical residential gas line run for a single appliance — including permit, materials, labor, and pressure testing — usually falls between $500 and $1,500. Longer runs or jobs requiring a utility-side service upgrade cost more. We always quote a fixed price after seeing the site.

Yes — generator gas line installation is one of our most common gas jobs. We assess capacity, run the line, install the fuel shutoff and regulator, and coordinate with the electrician on transfer-switch sizing.

A single-appliance run (range, dryer, water heater) is typically a half-day job once permits are in hand. Larger jobs (generator, pool heater, multiple appliances) may take a full day or two.

NJ requires an inspection of every new gas piping run before the gas service can be turned on. We coordinate the inspection directly with your town's building department — you don't have to do anything except confirm an access window.

Yes. We install homeowner-supplied faucets, toilets, sinks, and shower trim every day. We'll inspect the unit before installing to make sure nothing is missing or damaged, and we warranty our labor. If a defective fixture causes a problem, we'll work with you to swap it out.

A typical 3-bath Morris County home takes 2–4 days for a full repipe in PEX, including drywall access cuts. Copper takes longer. We work room-by-room so you always have water in at least part of the house, and we coordinate any drywall patching.

PEX is our usual recommendation for residential repipes — it's flexible (fewer joints), freeze-resistant, quieter, and 30–40% cheaper than copper. Copper still has a place for some applications and is required by code in a few rare scenarios. We'll explain the tradeoffs at your estimate.

Recurring pinhole leaks, low pressure throughout the house, brown or rust-colored water, banging pipes, or galvanized steel piping (common in pre-1970 homes) are all signs. A single repair patch on old galvanized is usually a waste — once one section fails, the rest is on borrowed time.

Less than people expect. We work room-by-room so you always have water in some part of the house. Drywall access cuts are made at strategic points (typically 6×12 inches) and can be patched by us or a separate trade. A 3-bath home is usually 2–4 days.

Yes — for older Morristown and Madison homes, we frequently source brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, or unlacquered brass fixtures that match the home's era. We can recommend specific lines (Rohl, Kohler, Delta) that hold up.

Sidekick backs our labor on whole-home repipes with a written workmanship warranty — we’ll spell out the exact terms on your written quote. The PEX or copper materials also carry their own manufacturer warranty (typically 25 years for PEX, 50 years for copper).