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...
That Grey Pipe Might Be Poly B
That grey plastic pipe behind the water heater? It might be the most expensive problem hiding in plain sight. Poly B piping went into millions of homes between 1978 and 1998, and it's earned a reputation for failing without much warning. We've crawled through enough Surrey basements to know what...
7 Pipe Noises You Should Never Ignore
7 Pipe Noises That Signal Real Risk Your pipes make noise for a reason. Banging, whistling, humming, rattling, screeching, gurgling, phantom water sounds: each one points to something specific happening inside your walls. Some are harmless quirks. Others are early warnings you don't want to ignore. If you've been hearing...