Why Is My Water Heater Making a Humming Noise?
A humming water heater is usually caused by a vibrating heating element or sediment buildup, not an imminent explosion. The fix is usually simple. In the vast majority of cases, the fix is well within reach. Understanding the cause helps you decide whether to fix it...
How to Prep Your Home’s Plumbing for Northeast Florida’s Hurricane Season
Every June, Northeast Florida homeowners start watching the tropics with that familiar mix of alertness and dread. The St. Johns River has a long memory, and so does Black Creek in Clay County, which can swell from a manageable waterway to a neighborhood threat in...
Gas Line Safety: How to Know If You Have a Gas Leak
A natural gas leak in your home is an immediate safety hazard that requires quick, decisive action. Knowing how to recognize the sensory signs of a leak through smell, sound, and sight can help you protect your family and get everyone to safety before a crisis occurs....
DIY Faucet Fix or Call a Plumber? How to Know the Difference
A dripping faucet is easy to dismiss as a weekend chore. But that steady drip carries a real cost. Drips add up fast. According to the EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week program, a single faucet dripping once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year,...
Banging or Whistling Pipes? Here’s What It Means
That sudden bang behind the drywall at 2 a.m. or the high-pitched squeal every time someone turns on the shower: those sounds are not random. Your plumbing is telling you something, and the message is usually more specific than you might expect. At Lance Maxwell...
How Long Does a Water Heater Really Last?
If you are wondering how long does a water heater last, the typical answer is about 8 to 12 years for a traditional tank water heater, while a well-maintained tankless water heater may last 15 to 20 years or longer. Those numbers are useful guidelines, but they are...
What to Expect When Repiping Your House
If you are wondering what to expect when repiping a house, the short answer is that most whole-home repiping projects take about one to three days, and you should expect some temporary interruptions to your water service along with limited access to certain rooms...
Hydro Jetting vs. Drain Snaking: What’s the Difference?
When a drain starts slowing down or stops flowing altogether, the first question is usually simple: how do you get it open again? The answer depends largely on what is causing the blockage and how much buildup is inside the pipe. In the hydro jetting vs. snaking...
What Is Leak Detection and How Does It Work?
A hidden plumbing leak can be frustrating because the problem is often easy to notice but difficult to locate. You might hear water running when every faucet is turned off, notice a damp spot on the floor, or receive a water bill that suddenly looks more like a car...
How To Replace a Bathtub Faucet
Your Neighbor the Master Plumber's Guide to Replacing a Bathtub Faucet That slow, rhythmic drip from your tub faucet has a way of getting louder at 2 a.m. than it ever does during the day. And if you've already checked your water bill and winced, you already know a...