TL;DR: A small leak can run for days while you are away, and the damage grows every hour. Before any summer trip, close the main water shut-off valve, set your water heater to vacation mode, and work through the seven checks below. Ten minutes of prep protects your home until...
Prep Your Hoses and Taps for Patio Season
TL;DR Before connecting a hose this spring, turn your outdoor tap on full and cover the spout with your thumb. If you can stop the water, you may have a cracked pipe inside the wall. Inspect taps, hoses, and washers now to avoid leaks and burst pipes once patio season...
Hidden Water Leak? Your Meter Knows in 15 Min
TL;DR: Think you have a hidden leak? Your water meter will settle it in about 15 minutes. Shut off every tap and water-using appliance, write down the meter reading, then wait without touching the water. If the number moves, something is leaking out of sight. Key Takeaways The whole test...
How Often to Test a Sump Pump? A 5-Minute Check
TL;DR Test your sump pump every three months, with an extra check before fall. It takes five minutes and a bucket of water. That's the best free basement insurance you can set up. Key Takeaways Quarterly testing is the minimum, with monthly checks during the wet season The Pacific Northwest...
5 Signs of Winter Pipe Damage to Check This Spring
Winter pipe damage is not always dramatic. It does not always look like a burst pipe or water pouring through the ceiling. A lot of the time, the first signs are smaller: a dripping outdoor tap, weaker water pressure, a musty smell, new pipe sounds, or a water bill that...
Winter Pipe Damage: Stop Hidden Leaks [7 Checks]
Finding Slow Leaks Before Spring Arrives TL;DR Summary Here's a quick summary of what to look out for. Once the spring thaw hits, we usually find winter pipe damage hiding in crawlspaces, unheated garages, and exterior walls. Catching these slow leaks early saves you from major repair bills and keeps...
5 DIY Plumbing Checks to Make This March
How to Catch Winter Damage Before Spring Rain Hits March in Surrey means the freeze-thaw cycle is winding down and spring rain is picking up. That's when hidden winter plumbing problems finally show themselves. The good news? You can catch most of them with five simple DIY plumbing checks, about...
3 DIY Sump Pump Checks to Save Your Basement
Is Your Sump Pump Ready for the February Rain? Here is why basement flooding happens in February and the easiest safe checks you can do this weekend. Few things are more stressful than hearing the rain start pounding on the roof and wondering if your basement is going to stay...
How to Safely Thaw Frozen Pipes (And When to Stop)
Frozen Pipes? 3 Spots to Check Before You Call for Help Here are the safest ways to get water flowing again in your home without causing a flood. Few things are more frustrating than turning on a tap in February and hearing nothing but silence. You expect the rush of...
Dishwasher Won’t Drain? 4 Spots to Check First
Fixing a Dishwasher That Won't Drain Properly There's nothing quite like opening a dishwasher expecting clean dishes and finding a pool of murky, food-flecked water sitting at the bottom. It's frustrating and usually triggers an immediate call for help. The fix, though, is often simpler than homeowners expect. Most dishwasher...