Plumbing questions, answered directly

The short answer comes first. Follow the link for the causes, the safe checks and when a plumber is needed.

Emergencies

When is a plumbing problem considered an emergency?: When water or sewage is entering the house and you can't stop it, when you smell gas, or when you have no water at all. Full answer →

Symptoms and causes

What to do if you smell gas in your house?: Leave the building now, taking everyone with you, and leave the door open behind you. Full answer →
Water heater leaking?: Find where the water starts before deciding anything. Full answer →
No hot water?: No hot water at all usually means the heater lost its heat source: a gas pilot or igniter that won't light, a tripped breaker or failed element on an electric heater, or an error lockout on a tankless unit. Full answer →
Why is my water heater making noise?: Popping and rumbling almost always mean sediment: minerals settled on the bottom of the tank trap water, which boils in bursts under the layer. Full answer →
Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs?: If only the hot water smells, the cause is almost always inside the water heater: sulfate-reducing bacteria react with the tank's magnesium anode rod and produce hydrogen sulfide. Full answer →
Why is my toilet constantly running?: A toilet runs when water keeps leaving the tank, so the fill valve keeps refilling it. Full answer →
Toilet overflowing?: Take the tank lid off and push the flapper down to stop water entering the bowl, then turn the shutoff valve behind the toilet clockwise. Full answer →
Why is my drain backing up?: When water comes up from one drain while another is used, such as the tub filling when the toilet flushes or the floor drain overflowing when the washer drains, the blockage is in the main drain line downstream of both. Full answer →
Sink not draining?: A single slow sink is almost always clogged within a few feet of the drain: hair and soap at a bathroom pop-up stopper, grease and food in a kitchen trap. Full answer →
Why is my drain gurgling?: A gurgle is air being pulled through the water in a drain trap. Full answer →
Garbage disposal jammed?: If the disposal hums but doesn't spin, something is wedged between the plate and the grind ring. Full answer →
Sewer smell in the house?: Most sewer smells come from a trap that has lost its water seal, usually a floor drain, an unused shower or a basement sink. Full answer →
How do I know if I have a hidden plumbing leak?: Turn off every faucet and appliance, then watch your water meter's leak indicator for 15 minutes. Full answer →
Why is my water bill so high all of a sudden?: Compare the gallons used, not the dollars: if usage is up, the most common causes are a running toilet, an irrigation leak or schedule change, a dripping fixture or a hidden leak, and your meter's leak indicator will show which. Full answer →
Water leaking from the ceiling?: Protect people and the electrical system first: keep away from light fixtures that are wet, and turn off power to that area if water is near them. Full answer →
Basement flooding?: First identify the source, because it decides everything else. Full answer →
Why are my pipes banging or making noise?: A loud bang when a faucet, washer or dishwasher shuts off is water hammer: moving water stopping suddenly sends a shock through the pipes. Full answer →
Why is my tap water brown or rusty?: If it started suddenly and neighbors have it too, the cause is usually city work: hydrant flushing or a main break stirs up iron sediment, and it clears after running cold water for a few minutes. Full answer →
No water in the house?: If no faucet has water, check outside the house first: ask a neighbor or check your utility's outage notices for a main break or planned work. Full answer →

Repairs and services

What should I do if a pipe bursts?: When a pipe bursts, shut off the main water valve first, then turn off electricity to any wet area and open faucets to drain the lines. Full answer →
What causes low water pressure?: Low pressure at a single fixture usually means a clogged aerator, showerhead or cartridge. Full answer →
When should a sewer line be replaced?: Sewer line replacement installs a new pipe from your house to the public sewer (or septic tank) when the old line is collapsed, broken in many places, badly sagged, or made of a material that's failing throughout, such as Orangeburg. Full answer →
How do frozen pipes get fixed?: If a faucet gives little or no water in freezing weather, a pipe feeding it is likely frozen. Full answer →
What does an emergency plumber do?: Call an emergency plumber when water or sewage is actively damaging the home and you can't stop it, when you have no water at all, or when a water heater is leaking heavily. Full answer →

Guides

How to shut off your water in an emergency?: Close the main shutoff valve where the water line enters your home: turn a round (gate) handle clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever (ball) valve a quarter turn so the handle sits across the pipe. Full answer →
How to check a plumber's license (state by state)?: Ask for the license number, then look it up on the licensing board's own website for your state, or your city or county where licensing is local. Full answer →
Why does my drain keep clogging?: A drain keeps clogging when the cause was never removed: buildup still coats the pipe walls after a clog was punched through, something in the pipe (a sag, a broken joint, roots) keeps catching debris, or the drain is receiving grease or wipes it can't carry. Full answer →
How long does a water heater last?: A standard tank water heater commonly lasts around 8 to 12 years, and less with hard water or no maintenance. Full answer →
Tankless vs. tank water heaters?: A tank water heater is cheaper to buy and install and delivers a large burst of hot water, but it can run out. Full answer →
Gas vs. electric water heaters?: Gas tank heaters heat water faster, so they recover sooner after showers and suit larger households, but they need a gas line, venting and combustion air. Full answer →
Is hard water bad for plumbing?: Hard water isn't a health problem, but it is hard on plumbing. Full answer →
When should a sewer line be repaired, and when replaced?: Repair a sewer line when the damage is in one place and the rest of the pipe is sound: a single cracked section, one root-intruded joint or one belly. Full answer →
How to winterize your plumbing?: For a home you're living in, winterizing means protecting the pipes the heat doesn't reach: shut off and drain outdoor faucets, blow out irrigation lines, insulate pipes in crawl spaces, garages and exterior walls, and keep the heat on. Full answer →
How long do plumbing repairs usually take?: Most everyday repairs, such as clearing a sink, replacing a toilet part or fixing a leaking trap, take under two hours once the plumber arrives. Full answer →