The southwest valley grew faster than almost anywhere in Nevada. Enterprise, the unincorporated town that includes Southern Highlands and Mountain’s Edge, had fewer than 15,000 residents in 2000 and more than 220,000 by 2020. Southern Highlands came first, with its golf club opening in 1999 and thousands of homes, many of them guard-gated, following through the 2000s. Mountain’s Edge, developed by Focus Property Group, started selling homes in 2004. Building has kept going ever since, so one street can have a 25-year-old house next to a five-year-old one.
Las Vegas Water Experts is a family owned and operated plumbing company based in Henderson. Our small family team does the work ourselves, led by owner Jason Miller. Jason has more than 24 years of plumbing experience, and we’re licensed (NV LIC# 0095727), bonded, insured and available 24/7.
Water, Permits and Who’s in Charge
Southern Highlands, Mountain’s Edge and most of the southwest valley are in unincorporated Clark County, not the City of Las Vegas, even though the mailing address says Las Vegas. Water comes from the Las Vegas Valley Water District, and it’s hard: 17 to 25 grains per gallon, about 22 typical. Permits come from the Clark County Department of Building & Fire Prevention, which requires a permit for water heater replacement, along with gas work and most concealed-pipe repairs. As a licensed contractor, we pull the permits our work requires.
Emergency Plumbing
When a supply line bursts, a water heater leaks or a drain backs up, call 702-577-5505 any time. Shut off the main valve first, usually in the garage or where the line enters the house. If you live in a guard-gated part of Southern Highlands, tell us when you call so the gate can expect us. Our 24/7 emergency service page has steps to take while you wait.
Kitec in Southern Highlands
Kitec is a brand of flexible plastic-and-aluminum water pipe (PEX-AL-PEX) with brass fittings, made by IPEX and sold from about 1995 to 2007. In the valley’s mineral-heavy water, the brass fittings could lose zinc, a corrosion process called dezincification. That restricted flow and caused some leaks. It led to a class action in Clark County District Court, In re Kitec Fitting Litigation, and settlements approved in 2009 to replumb tens of thousands of valley homes.
Much of Southern Highlands was built during the years Kitec was sold, and the class list of builders and developments includes Caparola at Southern Highlands, Park Paseo at Southern Highlands, and the first Southern Highlands neighborhoods (Canyons, Crossings, Premiere and Grand Premiere). Kitec wasn’t installed in every home in those developments. Some affected homes were replumbed and some weren’t, and that history doesn’t always come with a resale.
To check, look at exposed pipe at the water heater and under the sinks. Kitec is usually orange for hot and blue for cold, printed with a name like Kitec, PlumbBetter, IPEX AQUA or XPA, and its brass fittings may be stamped “Kitec” or “KTC.” A yellow electrical-panel sticker about non-metallic pipe isn’t proof either way. White, crusty buildup on a fitting or hot water flow that slowly drops off are warning signs.
Not sure what you have? We can inspect the visible pipe and fittings and tell you. When we repipe a Kitec home, we replace the fittings and all of the pipe at once, using PEX. The national IPEX settlement leaves out Clark County homes, and its claim deadline passed on January 9, 2020. The local settlements date from 2009. We’re plumbers, not lawyers, so we can’t say whether any settlement claim is still open for your home. What we can tell you is what’s actually in your walls.
Water Heaters: Tank and Tankless
Many homes here are on their first or second water heater, and the originals from the 2000s are past typical tank life in our hard water. Larger homes may have two heaters or a recirculation pump, and both need attention as they age. We repair and replace tank and tankless water heaters and handle flushing and descaling. See water heater flushing in Las Vegas.
Softeners and Drinking Water
Hard water scale is the main reason faucets, shower valves and water heaters wear out early. We install and service water softeners and reverse osmosis drinking water systems sized for your household. Our Las Vegas hard water guide explains the options.
Leak Detection, Slab Leaks and PEX Repipes
Homes here sit on concrete slabs. Watch for a warm floor, an unexplained jump in your water bill or the sound of running water with everything off. We locate leaks before opening anything, then explain the options: a spot repair, a reroute or a repipe. Read about slab leak signs in Las Vegas. Our repipes are PEX only. We don’t do copper repipes.
Faucets, Toilets and Angle Stops
We replace leaking faucets, rebuild running toilets and swap out the angle stops under sinks and toilets. Builder-grade angle stops from the 2000s are often stiff or seized by now, and one can snap the first time you turn it. See angle stop replacement in Las Vegas.
Drain Cleaning and Hydro Jetting
Kitchen grease and hard water soap scum narrow drain lines over time. Snaking clears a clog, while hydro jetting cleans the full pipe wall for lines that keep backing up. We’ll tell you which your line needs. Compare them in hydro jetting vs. snaking.
Gas Lines
Outdoor kitchens, fire pits and patio heaters are popular backyard upgrades. We install and repair gas lines for those and for ranges, dryers, water heaters and fireplaces, with a pressure test on every line. If you smell gas, leave the house and call Southwest Gas or 911 from outside. HOAs here often have rules for exterior work, so check yours first.
We work on existing homes, not new construction.
Nearby, we also have pages for Summerlin and Anthem in Henderson.
Plumbing Services in Enterprise & Southern Highlands
- Drain cleaning & rooter – Sinks, tubs, toilets and main-line clogs
- Hydro jetting – Clears grease, scale and roots that snaking leaves behind
- Sewer line cleaning & repair – Backups, roots and broken lines, camera inspected
- Water heater repair & replacement – Tank and tankless, gas and electric
- Water softeners & filtration – Protection from Las Vegas hard water
- Leak detection – Pinpoint hidden leaks before opening walls or floors
- Slab leak repair – Leaks under the concrete foundation
- PEX repiping – Whole-home repipes for failing or problem pipe
- Gas line plumber – Gas line installs, repairs and appliance hookups
- 24/7 emergency plumber – Burst pipes, no water, sewage backups
Other Areas We Serve
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southern Highlands in the City of Las Vegas?
No. Southern Highlands and Mountain’s Edge are in unincorporated Clark County, in the town of Enterprise. That means Clark County handles permits and the Las Vegas Valley Water District supplies water.
Does my Southern Highlands home have Kitec?
Some homes did. Several Southern Highlands developments are on the class list, but not every home in them had Kitec, and many were replumbed. Look for orange and blue pipe marked Kitec or PlumbBetter at the water heater and under sinks, or have us check.
My Mountain’s Edge home is under 20 years old. What usually fails first?
Usually the original water heater, angle stops, toilet fill valves and faucet cartridges, all of which wear faster in hard water.
Can you get through the gate?
Yes. Let us know your community when you call so we can be added to the gate list.
Need a plumber in Southern Highlands or Mountain’s Edge? Las Vegas Water Experts is a Henderson-based, family owned plumbing company. We’re licensed, bonded and insured, and we answer 24/7. Call 702-577-5505. NV LIC# 0095727. Prefer to write? Use our contact page.