Plumber in Star, ID: new-home water and fixture help

In the American Community Survey for 2020 to 2024, Star city has a median year built of 2011 (table B25035, margin of error 2 years). Table B25034 estimates 1,710 of Star's 5,519 housing units were built in 2000 to 2009, 1,677 in 2010 to 2019 and 1,200 in 2020 or later. Only about 357 units, near 6 percent, date from before 1980. With most plumbing in its first decades, calls tend to be about water heaters, fixtures, water quality and builder-installed parts, not worn-out pipe.

NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the Boise Airport station show a low at or below 20 degrees F on 9.2 days in December and 7.5 in January, and a low at or below 32 degrees on 0.8 days in May. A National Weather Service Boise paper counts 29 times since 1962 that Boise fell below zero, with most of the arctic outbreaks among them in December and January. Star sits in the same valley, but its own readings can differ from the airport's.

The City of Star Building Department is at 10769 W State St, P.O. Box 130, Star, ID 83669, phone 208-286-7247 ext. 9011, email [email protected]. Permits and inspection requests go through its online permit portal, and an inspection for the next day has to be requested before 4 pm on the prior business day. Its adopted-codes page names the 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code, which it says rests on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code, and its FAQ says plumbing, mechanical and electrical permit reviews are finished the day the related building permit is approved. DOPL's inspector schedule also names a state plumbing inspector for Star. For a repair or a water heater swap with no building permit, ask the department first whether the permit comes from the city or from DOPL at 208-334-3950.

• If the water looks orange or brown, run one cold tap. The district says naturally occurring iron and manganese react with its chlorine and settle in pipes, and it says the discoloration is not a health concern.
• A rotten-egg smell comes from hydrogen sulfide, the district says, and does not affect the sanitary quality of the water. Call the district at 208-286-7388 if it is new or strong.
• Keep fats, oils and grease out of drains. The district links them to sewage backing up into a home, and says a garbage disposal does not stop grease reaching the pipes.
• Before you connect a sprinkler or outdoor hookup, ask the district about its rules. It provides domestic water only and does not permit cross-connections.
• When orange stains show in sinks or a water heater starts to rumble, call (208) 781-4118.