Water heater expansion tank guide
What a water heater expansion tank does, the signs it has failed, a safe way to check it, and how to decide between replacing it and leaving it alone.
Tankless recirculation pump guide
How a tankless recirculation pump works, which types exist, what causes noise and wasted energy, and how to decide if your house needs one at all.
Toilet repair parts guide
Match the symptom to the part, from a leaky flapper to a failed wax ring, and learn which toilet repairs a homeowner can do and which need a plumber.
Tankless heater and showers
How to size a tankless water heater for showers, how gas and electric units differ, what happens when two fixtures run, and why winter changes the answer.
Copper pipe leak repair guide
Why copper pipes develop pinholes and weeping joints, which temporary patches buy a little time, and when a spot repair or a larger repipe makes sense.
Repair or Replace a Water Heater
A plain decision guide for homeowners with a failing tank heater: which symptoms point to a repair, which point to replacement, and how age tips the call.
Seasonal Plumbing Maintenance Checklist
A four-season plumbing checklist for Puget Sound homeowners, covering shutoffs, hose bibs, water heaters, drains and the meter test that catches slow leaks early.
Bathroom Remodel Plumbing Plan
A pre-demo planning guide for bathroom remodels, covering rough-in positions, drain slope, venting, shutoff valves and the questions to settle before walls are opened.
Frozen Pipe Prevention and Thawing
How to protect pipes before a Puget Sound freeze, thaw a frozen line without causing a flood, and shut the water off fast when a pipe splits.
How House Plumbing Works
A homeowner's map of supply, drain, vent and shutoff systems, with a clear line between what you can safely handle yourself and what needs a plumber.
Smelly drain causes and fixes
Learn why a drain smells, how to tell a dry trap from biofilm, a vent fault or sewer gas, and which smells mean it is time to call.
Handyman or plumber for a water heater
A plain guide to hiring a handyman for a water heater install, covering gas, electrical, venting, permits, insurance and how to verify any contractor.
Snaking a clogged toilet
Learn how to snake a clogged toilet with a closet auger, why a drain snake is the wrong tool, and how to spot a clog further down the line.
Gas tankless install cost factors
See the five things that change the cost of a gas tankless water heater install, from gas line sizing and venting to condensate, power and relocation.
Cleaning out a sewer line
Find your sewer cleanout, learn the signs of a blocked main line, and see how cable cleaning, hydro jetting and a camera each fit.