Earthquake Gas Shutoff Valve Installation
Seismic valve at the meter, reset after a shake.
Read about itAlum Rock, San Jose, CA · Answered 24/7
Plumber in Alum Rock, close to where two faults meet
Alum Rock sits in the East San Jose foothills, near where the Hayward and Calaveras faults converge. That makes earthquake readiness part of everyday plumbing here.
Quick answer
Alum Rock is covered from our North San Jose service office, and phones are answered 24/7. The Hayward and Calaveras faults converge near Alum Rock Park, and a magnitude 5.6 earthquake was centered just north of the neighborhood in 2007, so gas lines, shutoff valves and strapped water heaters matter as much here as anywhere in the city.
Close to the faults
Alum Rock Park, established in 1872, is California's oldest municipal park, and the Hayward and Calaveras faults converge close to it. The magnitude 5.6 Alum Rock earthquake of October 30, 2007 was centered about five miles north-northeast of the neighborhood.
In a strong quake, the weak points inside a house are the water heater, the gas connectors and shutoff valves that will not turn. Two straps on the heater, sound flexible connectors and an earthquake gas shutoff valve cover most of the risk.
Gas lines and shutoffs
Older gas connectors, a meter shutoff nobody has tested and a main water valve seized in place are common in East San Jose homes. Gas line repair is pressure-tested before anything is relit, and a shutoff valve replacement means you can stop the water the moment a pipe breaks.
The homes behind the calls
Most single-family homes in San Jose were built between 1950 and 1975, and many Alum Rock houses are of that age, which is why original water heaters, supply lines and drain lines are reaching the end of their life here. When a gas water heater needs replacing, the water heater replacement page covers the options, including electric models.
Most called for in Alum Rock
The plumbing jobs we get asked for most in Alum Rock
Gas Line Repair
Corroded black iron, failed flex connector.
Read about itGas Leak Detection
Rotten-egg smell, pressure drop test.
Read about itShutoff Valve Replacement
Main house shutoff, angle stops under sinks.
Read about itWater Heater Replacement
Leaking tank, 40 to 50 gallon gas swap.
Read about itEmergency Plumber
24 hour plumber, after hours plumber.
Read about itPlaces we cover here
More of San Jose and the county
FAQ
Plumbing questions from Alum Rock
It is worth considering this close to the Hayward and Calaveras faults.
Yes, with a pressure test before anything is relit.
Gas smell, the water heater straps and the main shutoff.
Yes; it is a quick job that matters in an emergency.
Yes; phones are answered 24/7 and emergencies are dispatched any hour.
Plumber needed in Alum Rock?
Call any hour; a dispatcher answers and sends a plumber from North San Jose.