Problem guides
Browse plumbing problems
Every guide follows the same structure: what's happening, how urgent it is, what you can safely check, what to avoid, and when to call a licensed plumber.
Drains & Sewers
Clogged drain
Water drains slowly or not at all from a sink, tub, or shower. Often local to one fixture — sometimes a sign of something larger.
MediumSewer backup
Waste water coming back into the home through drains, toilets, or floor drains. Treat this as a health hazard.
EmergencySewer smell in house
A sewer, rotten-egg, or musty odor indoors. Usually a dry trap, a venting issue, or a seal that's failed.
MediumGarbage disposal problems
The disposal hums without turning, does nothing at all, backs up, or drips underneath.
Low
Pipes
Leaking pipe
Water escaping from a supply or drain pipe — sometimes visible, often hidden inside a wall, ceiling, or floor.
HighBurst pipe
A pipe has failed and is releasing water quickly. This is the situation where shutting off the water main matters most.
EmergencyFrozen or burst pipe
No water at a fixture in cold weather, usually with a frozen section in an unheated space. The risk is what happens when it thaws.
High
Toilets
Running toilet
The toilet keeps refilling, hisses between flushes, or cycles on its own. Usually a worn tank part — and a large, quiet waste of water.
LowToilet won't flush
The bowl doesn't clear, the flush is weak, or water rises instead of going down. Sometimes the toilet — sometimes the drain beyond it.
Medium
Water Supply
Water Heaters
No hot water
No hot water at all, not enough, or it runs out quickly. The pattern points toward the cause.
MediumWater heater repair
Leaks, noises, discolored water, or a unit near the end of its life — and the repair-or-replace decision that usually follows.
HighTankless water heater problems
Fluctuating temperatures, error codes, or a unit that won't fire. Tankless units fail differently from tanks.
Medium