Davis emergencies: call first, then protect the house
A burst pipe, a backed-up drain or a flooded garage in Davis is an emergency at any hour. Our dispatch line never closes, and when a plumber has an opening the visit can happen the same day. Until then, close the main valve and stop running water indoors.
A leaking heater often goes unnoticed in a garage or utility closet. Check there first, and photograph anything wet before you clean up.
Davis water changed with a new source, and it still matters
Source type: City of Davis 2024 water quality report.The City of Davis now draws about 80 percent of its water from the Sacramento River through the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency, and about 20 percent from five deep wells. Its weighted average hardness was 66 parts per million in 2024. In 2015, before surface water arrived, it was 306.
That is a large drop. A home with a softener tuned to the old water may now over-treat it, which is why the City of Davis suggests that softener users bypass or adjust their units. Scale left from the old water can remain in heaters and fixtures for years.
Water in Davis is softer than in Dixon, where hardness averages 163 parts per million, so scale-related calls differ between the two towns. Our water softener page explains how to think about it.
On the U.S. Geological Survey scale, 61 to 120 parts per million is moderately hard. Davis's 2024 average of 66 sits near the bottom of that band, a big change from 306, which was very hard.
Davis homes, hard and soft water side by side
Because the water supply changed in the middle of many homes' lives, plumbing here has two histories. This comparison shows how they play out.
Homes with legacy scale
- Aerators and showerheads clog with old deposits.
- Water heater tanks may hold sediment from the earlier water.
- Softeners may be set for hardness that is no longer there.
- Older faucets may stick or drip from mineral wear.
Homes with newer plumbing
- Less scale on fixtures and heating elements.
- Heaters may last closer to their rated life.
- Softeners are often optional.
- Problems are more likely from age or pressure than from minerals.
Plumbing trouble in Davis?
Call the 24/7 line. A same-day appointment is offered when available.
What brings Davis homeowners to call
Calls from Davis cluster around a few problems. The symptom is the best clue to where the trouble is.
Water heater leaking or lukewarm
Tank wear or sediment from past hard water.
Slow main drain
Tree roots can enter a sewer lateral through small cracks and joints.
Wet spot in the yard
A buried water line leak between the meter and the house.
Running toilets and dripping faucets
Worn parts that waste water and raise the bill.
Low pressure at a shower
Scale in a valve or the showerhead, or a failing pressure regulator.
Tree roots are the usual cause of repeat drain trouble, and the sewer camera inspection page shows how a plumber finds them. A buried line leak is described on the water line repair page.
Services available in Davis
These service pages cover the questions Davis callers ask most. Each has its own checklist of what to do before we arrive.
| If this is happening | Read this page | Typical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Garage floor is wet | Water heater replacement | Shut off the heater and inspect the tank. |
| Toilet runs or leaks at the base | Toilet repair | Replace the flapper, ring or toilet. |
| Faucet drips or will not shut off | Faucet repair | Replace the cartridge or the faucet. |
| Disposal jammed or leaking | Garbage disposal repair | Free the jam or replace the unit. |
Where we go in Davis
Davis sits where I-80 and State Route 113 cross, about eight miles northeast of Dixon in a straight line. We take calls from the downtown core near the university to the neighborhoods on the north and south sides of town.
Woodland and Winters are close, so call even if you are just outside the Davis city limits and the dispatcher will tell you what we can cover. Our Vacaville page covers the other direction along I-80.
Burst pipe or active leak in Davis: before we arrive
These steps keep a Davis leak small until the plumber is at the door. Start them as soon as you have called the 24/7 line.
Close the main water valve
Know the path to it and clear it before the plumber arrives.
Cut power to wet areas
Switch off breakers for rooms with standing water, and stay out of water near outlets.
Clear the area
Move people, pets, rugs and valuables away from the wet floor.
Photograph the damage
Take pictures of wet areas and damaged items for the insurer.
Note what you tried
Write down when it started so the plumber can start with the right question.
Davis plumbing questions
Yes. Our 24/7 line takes Davis calls day and night, and a licensed plumber can come the same day when availability allows.
We cover the main Davis ZIP codes, 95616 and 95618. Call from your address and the dispatcher confirms coverage.
Less than it used to be. The City of Davis reported a weighted average of 66 parts per million in 2024, down from 306 in 2015.
The City of Davis suggests that softener users bypass or adjust their units after the change in water source. A plumber can look at your settings.
About eight miles in a straight line, where I-80 and State Route 113 meet.