Independent homeowner resource
Plumbing Problem? Start Here.
Understand what may be wrong, what you can safely check yourself, and when it's time to call a licensed plumber.
What's going on?
Pick the closest description. Each guide explains what may be happening and how urgent it usually is.
- Water leakingA drip, a stain, or water where it shouldn't be
- Drain won't emptySlow or blocked sink, tub, or shower
- Toilet problemWon't flush, keeps running, or backing up
- No hot waterCold showers, or hot water running out fast
- Low water pressureWeak flow at one fixture or the whole house
- Strange plumbing smellSewer, sulfur, or musty odor indoors
- Sewer backupWaste water coming back into the home
- Water heater problemLeaks, noises, or a unit near end of life
- Garbage disposal problemHumming, jammed, dead, or leaking
- Frozen or burst pipeNo water in cold weather, or a pipe has failed
- Sump pump problemWon't run, runs constantly, or basement water
- Plumbing emergencyIs this urgent? Start here
Before you grab a wrench
Some plumbing problems are simple to look into. Others aren't.
Plenty of issues start with a check any homeowner can make — a shut-off valve, a tripped breaker, a visible blockage. Others can cause major water damage, drinking water contamination, gas hazards, scalding, or expensive structural repairs if they're handled the wrong way. Knowing which is which is the most useful thing you can do in the first ten minutes.
Guides come first
We're not a plumbing company, and the guides are written to help you decide what to do. If you'd like us to connect you with a pro, that's ProGini Local, which our team also operates.
Plain English
Jargon gets explained. Every guide is written for a homeowner standing in a wet bathroom, not for a tradesperson.
Honest about limits
We don't diagnose your home remotely, publish guaranteed prices, or invent reviews and listings.
Tips & guides
Practical background reading — useful before something goes wrong.
How to Find and Use Your Water Shut-Off Valve
The one piece of plumbing knowledge worth having before you need it — locating and testing your main shut-off valve.
Read guideDrains & SewersWhat Not to Flush (and Why 'Flushable' Isn't)
A short list that prevents a large share of avoidable drain and sewer blockages.
Read guideHomeowner Plumbing QuestionsQuestions Worth Asking Before You Authorize Plumbing Work
What to ask about licensing, insurance, written estimates, permits, and warranties before work begins.
Read guide