Plumbing FAQs

When water pressure drops in a home, it’s easy to assume there’s a big plumbing issue. But when only one faucet is affected while the rest of the house runs normally, the problem is usually isolated—and often easier to fix than you might think. This kind of issue is actually pretty common in residential plumbing [...]

Low-flow toilets are often marketed as an easy upgrade. They use less water, lower utility bills, and meet modern efficiency standards. On paper, they make sense. But in many older homes, replacing a traditional toilet with a low-flow model can quietly create new plumbing problems—especially in drain systems that were never designed for reduced water [...]

If you’ve ever run your dishwasher only to see water spraying out of the little cylinder on your sink, you know how frustrating—and messy—it can be. That cylinder is called a dishwasher air gap, and while it may look like a minor plumbing detail, it plays a critical role in keeping your kitchen clean and [...]

Tiny homes, with their compact design and focus on efficiency, require building materials that are flexible, space-saving, and cost-effective. When it comes to plumbing, PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) piping stands out as an ideal option. Its unique properties align well with the core principles of tiny home construction, including simplicity, flexibility, and sustainability. Here's a closer [...]

Coming home from a relaxing vacation only to find your shower water running brown can be an alarming and unpleasant experience. Whether you’ve been away for a few days or a few weeks, discoloration in your water often signals a deeper plumbing issue. If you’re dealing with brown shower water, don’t panic – here’s what [...]

Unless you have been out to sea recently or your toddler has left fish in your shower, it really should not smell like fish. So, what’s going on? If your shower drain has a distinctly fishy odor (and not a more like a rotten egg smell) then that may be a sign of a few [...]

No one wants to be in the position where they need to call an emergency plumber. It’s not just that having a plumbing emergency is costly, it’s also a huge hassle, can do damage to your home, and may even be gross. We go to more than our fair share of plumbing emergencies, and homeowners [...]

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a great way to add more space and functionality to your property. However, you don't have carte blanche when you build an ADU. There are general California-wide requirements for ADUs and specific ones in Fremont that you will need to follow. One sticking point is often the bathroom: do [...]

There are quite a few problems that you can have as a homeowner when it comes to your plumbing. Some of them are annoying but easy fixes. Others can cause a lot of problems and can even cost you your health and/or life. Below we are going to look at some of the most common [...]

A collapsed sewer line is a severe problem, so you’d spot one right away if it were to happen, right?Well, maybe not.Sometimes, collapsed sewer lines have symptoms that don’t make sense to homeowners. You may be expecting a sudden gush of water on your lawn or the street, but that’s not always how sewer line [...]

We’ve received calls from frantic homeowners who feel that their toilet is overflowing for no reason. They didn’t put anything in it, sometimes they didn’t even flush it, but’s pouring water onto their bathroom floor anyway. Sometimes it really seems like a toilet is overflowing for no reason. Let us explain what’s probably going on [...]

So you’ve just finished your business, and hit the lever to flush the toilet. Then from behind you, comes a strange noise. Gurgle…bloop…barble… And now you’ve got weird sound coming from your shower drain. Fantastic. Now you’ve got plumbing issues, which is the last thing you needed added onto your ever-growing list of things to [...]

It’s an inevitable issue that nearly every comes across at one point or another. You’re about to use the bathroom, when you notice something disgusting. There’s a weird black ring inside of your toilet, and it’s looking pretty gross and gnarly. Generally, it’s an easy enough fix with some toilet cleaner and a brush. But [...]

Does your town have hard water? Likely it does, as more than 85 percent of Americans homes have hard water. Not to worry, there are hard water solutions that can make your water more comfortable to drink, shower in, and use in general. But, they’re not all equal. While getting a water filter might fix [...]

There are a lot of weird plumbing questions floating around on the internet. Perhaps we develop these questions because we have nothing better to do but think and wonder when we’re showering or getting ready for our day in the bathroom. However you stumbled upon your weird plumbing question, we’re not about to stand in [...]

Have you already tried to pour Drano down your shower drain without luck? Most shower drain clogs are caused by hair, either from normal hair loss or shaving in the shower. The clog holds water, which dilutes the Drano and lessens its potency. Never mind that hair is hard to dissolve. What should you do [...]

Have you ever stepped into your shower, awaiting a nice, refreshing shower, only to be struck by an awful smell? Just what makes you shower drain smell like sulfur? Whatever you do, don’t dismiss the smell. It could be the sign of a serious problem, a sewer leak. We’ll discuss what you need to know [...]

A slab leak happens when a leak develops in or near the concrete foundation of your home. If you have one, you may be surprised to learn that slab leak insurance coverage is complex. Not all homeowner’s insurance policies cover all aspects of a slab leak by default. We’ll walk you through what you need [...]