Plumbing tips & how-tos.
Honest fixes you can try yourself — written by a working plumber, not a content mill. We'll tell you exactly what to do, and exactly when to stop and call one.
Why these exist
Straight from the truck:
- Real fixes — the same steps we'd try first on your job
- Know when to stop — every guide says when it's a pro job
- No upsell — if a $0 fix works, we'll say so
- Stuck anyway? — 24/7, free estimates, flat-rate pricing
The guides, by topic.
Thirty-two guides and counting — every one field-tested by a working plumber.
- Drains & clogs
- Sewer line
- Leaks & water pressure
- Water heaters
- Toilets, faucets & disposals
- Rain, quakes & emergencies
Drains & clogs
Kitchen, bath, toilet and laundry clogs. Need a pro? See drain cleaning · hydro jetting.
How to unclog a kitchen drain
Grease and food cause most kitchen sink clogs. Three steps, in order — no chemicals, no special tools.
Read the guide → 02 · GuideHow to unclog a drain without chemicals
Bathroom sink, tub or shower slow? Stopper, zip tool, plunger, snake — in that order. No caustic bottles.
Read the guide → 03 · GuideHow to unclog a shower drain
Remove every common type of cover and stopper, pull the hair, plunge with the overflow sealed.
Read the guide → 04 · GuideHow to unclog a toilet
Stop the overflow, plunge it the right way, then soap and hot water or a toilet auger — and when it's the main line.
Read the guide → 05 · GuideHow to use a drain snake
Pick the right auger, feed and crank it without kinking — and the signs a clog needs jetting instead.
Read the guide → 06 · GuideWashing machine drain overflowing?
Lint, a bad hose setup or a short standpipe — and how to tell when it's really the main line.
Read the guide → 07 · GuideGurgling drains: what it means
Partial clog, blocked vent or main line? A quick cross-fixture test tells you which.
Read the guide → 08 · GuideWhy your drain keeps clogging
A clog that comes back in weeks isn't a clog problem — it's a pipe problem. What's really going on down there.
Read the guide → 09 · GuideHydro jetting vs. snaking: which does your drain need?
A snake punches a hole through the clog. Jetting scrubs the pipe wall clean. How to know which one your drain actually needs.
Read the guide → 10 · GuideWhat not to flush: the real list
"Flushable" wipes, grease, and a few surprises. What actually clogs sewers versus what the packaging claims.
Read the guide →From the blog: Drain cleaning cost · Kitchen sink keeps clogging · Double sink, one side backs up · Bathtub drain keeps clogging · Bathroom sink drains slowly · Toilet keeps clogging · Laundry sink backing up · Drains clogged after a remodel
Sewer line
Backups, roots, smells and what’s under the yard. Need a pro? See sewer camera inspection · sewer line repair & replacement · sewer cleanout installation.
Main sewer line backup: what to do
Sewage coming up a drain? Stop water use, relieve it at the cleanout safely, and clean up without getting hurt.
Read the guide → 02 · Guide7 signs your sewer line is failing
Backups in more than one drain, gurgling, smells, a soggy yard. Four checks to run before you call.
Read the guide → 03 · GuideTree roots in your sewer line
How roots get in, how to confirm them, and root foaming vs. hydro jetting vs. relining — honestly compared.
Read the guide → 04 · GuideSewer smell in the house: where it's actually coming from
Rotten-egg odor has a short list of usual suspects. Work through them in order before you panic.
Read the guide → 05 · GuideHow to find your sewer cleanout (and why you want one)
That capped pipe is the best access to your sewer line. Where to look — and why installing one pays for itself.
Read the guide → 06 · GuideWhat a sewer camera inspection actually shows
Cracks, roots, bellies, offsets — what the footage means, what it doesn't, and when it saves you thousands.
Read the guide → 07 · GuideTrenchless vs. digging: which does your sewer need?
The honest way to tell whether your line is a lining candidate or a dig job — before anyone sells you either.
Read the guide → 08 · GuideClay, cast iron or Orangeburg?
What your sewer pipe is made of, how each one fails, and which repairs make sense.
Read the guide → 09 · GuideBuying a home? Inspect the sewer
When to schedule a sewer camera inspection in escrow, what to ask for, and how to use the results.
Read the guide →From the blog: Broken sewer pipe symptoms · When to book a sewer camera · Sewer camera inspection cost · Tub and toilet backing up together · Main line keeps backing up · How often to clean the main line · Sewer line belly · Repair vs replacement · Sewer line replacement cost
Leaks & water pressure
Hidden leaks, high bills, low pressure and noisy pipes. Need a pro? See leak detection · slab leak repair · repiping.
How to shut off your main water valve in 30 seconds
The one thing every homeowner should know before a leak starts. Find it now — not during.
Read the guide → 02 · GuideHow to find a hidden water leak
The full meter test — plus the house-vs-yard split that tells you where the leak is before you call.
Read the guide → 03 · GuideWhy is my water bill suddenly so high?
No new habits but the bill doubled? The usual suspects, in order — and how to check for a leak yourself.
Read the guide → 04 · GuideSlab leak warning signs: catch it early
Hot spots on the floor, running-water sounds, a bill that jumped. How to catch it before it gets expensive.
Read the guide → 05 · GuideHow to fix low water pressure
One faucet or the whole house? Aerators, showerheads, the main valve and the pressure regulator — in order.
Read the guide → 06 · GuideBanging pipes? Stop water hammer
What causes that bang when a valve shuts off, and how to fix it: pressure, air chambers, arrestors, loose pipes.
Read the guide →From the blog: How to tell if you have a water leak
Water heaters
Keep it running, and know when it’s done. Need a pro? See water heater repair & installation · tankless water heaters.
7 signs your water heater is dying
Rusty water, rumbling, puddles, lukewarm showers. Read the warnings before it floods the garage.
Read the guide → 02 · GuideHow to flush a water heater
Get the hard-water sediment out of a tank heater — safely, and in the right order.
Read the guide →From the blog: Water heater replacement cost · Tankless water heater cost · SoCalGas water heater rebate · Water heater repair or replace?
Toilets, faucets & disposals
The everyday fixes. Need a pro? See toilet & faucet repair.
How to fix a running toilet
That endless hissing is money down the drain — literally. Two cheap parts cause 90% of running toilets.
Read the guide → 02 · GuideGarbage disposal dos and don'ts
What it can handle, what kills it, and the reset-button trick that saves a service call.
Read the guide → 03 · GuideHow to reset a jammed garbage disposal
Humming, clicking or dead silent? Cut the power, free it with a hex key, press reset. When it's actually done.
Read the guide →Rain, quakes & emergencies
Get ready before it happens. Need a pro? See 24/7 emergency plumber · backwater valves.
LA rainy season drain prep
Clear yard and driveway drains, aim downspouts, check the cleanout cap — before the first big rain.
Read the guide → 02 · GuideEarthquake plumbing checklist
Shutoffs, water heater strapping, flexible connectors and an after-quake leak check for LA homes.
Read the guide →Tried it and still stuck?
24/7 emergency service · Free estimates · Upfront flat-rate pricing