Plumber in Somerset, Bellflower, CA
Plumbing help for homes, rentals and apartment buildings in the original Somerset townsite of Bellflower, from drains and water heaters to hidden leaks.
Plumbing in Somerset, the Original Bellflower Townsite.
Before there was a city called Bellflower, there was Somerset. Historians trace the name to a 1905 Pacific Electric streetcar stop, and developer Frank Woodruff formed the Somerset Realty Company in 1906. The Somerset School District was formed in 1909, but postal authorities turned down the Somerset name for a post office, and Bellflower was suggested as the replacement in 1910.
The name is still on the map. Somerset Boulevard, Somerset High School and the Bellflower-Somerset Mutual Water Company all carry it, and real estate sites list a Somerset Acres area in the city. The town took the Bellflower name around 1910, and the city incorporated on September 3, 1957.
The City does not publish a boundary map for Somerset, so we do not draw one here. We think of it as the original townsite near downtown, where Somerset Avenue, now Bellflower Boulevard, once ran. When you call, give us your street address and cross streets and we will go from there.
What Homes and Rentals Look Like in the Somerset Area.
The City's 2013 housing element, using 2010 figures, reports that 82.7 percent of Bellflower's housing stock was built before 1970 and that nearly half is single-family detached homes. About 57 percent of units are rented. Data sites that cover the Somerset Acres area describe a similar mix of apartment buildings and single-family homes, many built between 1940 and 1969, with most units renter-occupied.
Those numbers are citywide context, not a survey of your building. A building's age tells you when it went up, not what is inside the walls. We would rather test than guess, so a camera inspection, pressure check or leak test comes before any recommendation to replace pipe.
Slow or Backed-Up Drains
Kitchen, bathroom and main-line clogs. See drain cleaning.
Water Heater Trouble
No hot water, leaks and noisy tanks. See water heater repair.
Hidden or Slow Leaks
Damp spots, high bills and warm floors. See leak detection.
Aging Pipe and Sewer Lines
Repeated breaks and recurring backups. See sewer line repair and repiping.
If You Rent in Somerset.
Landlords and tenants both call about plumbing, and it is not always clear who should. California Civil Code section 1941.1 lists lawful plumbing facilities and a water supply capable of producing hot and cold running water among the basic habitability requirements for rentals. If something is failing in your unit, tell your landlord or property manager in writing first so there is a record. Call us when you want to understand the problem or when you manage the building.
Before you call, note when the problem started, which fixtures are affected and whether you rent. We schedule an assessment, explain the repair options and the cost before work begins, and document what we find so you can share it with a landlord or insurer.
Which Water Provider Serves a Somerset Address.
Bellflower has four separate water providers, and the Bellflower-Somerset Mutual Water Company is the largest. The Somerset name does not guarantee that a given address is on that system, since each company serves its own territory. Your water bill names your provider, and that matters for hardness questions and backflow test notices. Our guide to Bellflower's four water providers explains the difference.
Nearby
Common Questions
Which part of Bellflower is Somerset?
Somerset is the original townsite, near downtown, where Somerset Avenue (now Bellflower Boulevard) once ran. The City does not publish an official boundary for it, so give us your address and cross streets when you call.
Do you work on apartment buildings and rentals in Somerset?
Yes, we take calls from tenants, owners and property managers. Tell us who you are and who owns the unit, since repairs to the building generally go through the owner.
How do I know which water provider serves my Somerset address?
Your water bill names your provider. If you have just moved in and have no bill yet, the City's public works department keeps records of which provider serves which area.
Is the Somerset name still used officially?
In places, yes. Somerset High School, Somerset Boulevard and the Bellflower-Somerset Mutual Water Company all use it. The city itself is Bellflower, which took that name around 1910 and incorporated on September 3, 1957.
What should I do before calling about a leak?
If it is safe, shut off the water at the fixture valve or the main shutoff and turn off power to any wet area. Take photos for your landlord or insurer, then call us at (562) 488-9614 to describe what you see.
Sources: City of Bellflower 2013 Housing Element, Bellflower, California (Wikipedia), LA Street Names: Bellflower, NeighborhoodScout, Somerset Acres, California Civil Code section 1941.1.
Plumbing question in Somerset?
Call (562) 488-9614 and tell us what is happening.