Plumbing guides
Written to help you make a decision — including the decision that you don't need a plumber yet.
Plumbing emergencies
- What to Do When a Pipe BurstsShut off the main water valve immediately, turn off electricity to any wet area, open a faucet at the lowest point to drain the lines, then call a plumber and photograph the damage for your insurer.
- Toilet Overflowing? What to Do Right NowLift the tank lid and push the flapper closed, then turn the shutoff valve behind the toilet clockwise until the water stops. Don't flush again. If other drains are also backing up, the problem is likely the main sewer line, not the toilet.
Homeowner guides
Drains
- Why Does My Drain Keep Clogging?A drain that keeps clogging usually has buildup that was only partly cleared, or a defect in the pipe — roots, a sag, or a rough joint — that catches debris. If more than one fixture is affected, the problem is in the main line.
- Sink Not Draining? Causes and FixesMost slow or stopped sinks are clogged in the P-trap or the first few feet of drain — hair and soap in bathrooms, grease and food in kitchens. Clean the trap or use a small drain snake. If more than one fixture is slow, the clog is in the main line.
- Garbage Disposal Not Working? Try This FirstIf the disposal hums, the flywheel is jammed: turn the power off and free it with a hex key in the bottom socket. If it's silent, press the red reset button and check the breaker. If it leaks from the unit's body, it needs replacing.
- How to Unclog a Drain Without ChemicalsRemove and clean the stopper, use a cup plunger with the overflow covered, clean the P-trap under the sink, or use a small hand drain snake. Avoid chemical drain cleaners: they rarely clear real clogs and are hazardous for whoever opens the pipe next.
Sewer
- Signs Your Sewer Line May Need InspectionGet your sewer line inspected if you have more than one main-line backup, gurgling drains throughout the house, sewer odor indoors or in the yard, or a soggy strip of lawn over the line. It's also smart before buying a home over 40 years old.
- Why Does My House Smell Like Sewer?A sewer smell indoors usually comes from a dry drain trap in a rarely used fixture or floor drain, a failed toilet wax seal, a blocked plumbing vent, or a cracked drain pipe. Run water in unused drains first; if the smell persists, the pipe or vent needs inspection.
Water heaters
- Tank vs. Tankless Water HeatersTank heaters cost less to buy and install and need little maintenance. Tankless heaters provide continuous hot water and use less standby energy, but cost more upfront, may need gas line or venting upgrades, and need yearly descaling.
- When Should a Water Heater Be Replaced?Replace a water heater when the tank itself leaks, when it's around 10 years or older and needs a major repair, or when rusty water and loud rumbling show the tank is deteriorating.
- Water Heater Not Heating? How to Troubleshoot ItOn an electric water heater, check the breaker and reset button first; a failed heating element or thermostat is the usual cause. On a gas heater, check that the pilot is lit and the gas valve is on; a failed thermocouple or igniter is common. Leaks from the tank itself mean replacement.
- Water Heater Leaking? What to Do NowTurn off the cold-water supply valve on top of the heater and shut off the power (electric) or set the gas control to Off. Then find the source: leaks from the relief valve, drain valve or pipe connections are usually repairable, while water coming from the tank body means the heater needs replacement.