Plumbing Answers
Practical guides for Minnesota homeowners: what to check yourself, what to leave alone, and what the fix usually involves.
All Plumbing Answers
How to thaw a frozen pipe safely, and when to stop
A step-by-step way to thaw an exposed frozen pipe with gentle heat, plus the clear signs that the job needs a plumber instead.
Private wells in Washington and Anoka counties
If your house runs on a private well, a little knowledge about the pump, tank and switch goes a long way when the water acts up.
What banging, gurgling and hissing from a boiler mean
Old boilers and radiators talk. Here's how to tell normal sounds from the ones that need a visit, for both steam and hot-water systems.
Winterizing outdoor faucets before the first hard freeze
A few minutes at each outdoor faucet in October can save you from a hidden split pipe and a wet basement wall come spring.
Why a basement floor drain backs up
A floor drain that backs up is usually telling you something about the main sewer line, the trap, or groundwater. Here's how to tell which.
Galvanized pipes in older homes: the signs it is time
Galvanized steel water pipe rusts from the inside out. Here's how to spot it, the warning signs, and how to plan replacement in an older house.
How to tell if your house has a lead service line
A five minute scratch and magnet test on the pipe where water enters your house tells you if you're likely dealing with lead.
Repair or replace an aging water heater?
Age, the kind of failure and the cost of the fix all point one way or the other. Here's how to weigh them for a tank water heater.
Hard water in the east metro: softener, filter or both
Softeners and filters solve different problems. Here's how to figure out which one your water actually needs before you spend money.
A sump pump check to do before the spring thaw
Twenty minutes in late winter can tell you if your sump pump is ready for snowmelt and spring rain, or if it needs work first.
Should you scope the sewer before buying an older house?
A standard home inspection doesn't look inside the sewer line. Here's why a camera scope is often worth it on older houses, and what it can show.
Call the Saint Paul office, day or night
A real person picks up at any hour. Tell us what you are seeing, and we will tell you what happens next and roughly what it costs.
(651) 215-2087- Phone
- Answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Office
- 289 E 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101
- Headquarters
- 50666 229th Ave, Bemidji, MN 56601
- Coverage
- Saint Paul and the east metro, see all areas