Start with what you know.
The questions we are asked most, answered properly rather than in a sentence. If yours is not here, call and ask.
Before you call
Two things make any plumbing call faster and cheaper. Know where your main shutoff is, and be able to say which room, what you can see or hear, and roughly when it started. Photographs help when they are safe and easy to take.
Common questions
What does a visit cost?
There is a service call and diagnostic fee, quoted on the phone before we come. If you go ahead with the repair on the same visit, it is credited against the work. Repairs are quoted with a scope before anything starts.
Where is my main shutoff?
Usually where the supply enters the building — a garage wall, a crawlspace, a utility room — and otherwise at the meter box near the street. Find it and label it on a calm day, so you can get to it in the dark.
Should I shut the water off before you arrive?
If water is actively escaping and the shutoff is safe to reach, yes. Stay away from standing water near outlets or an electrical panel, and tell us on the phone if water is anywhere near electrical service.
How long should a water heater last?
Eight to twelve years for a standard tank in this water, longer if the anode rod has been replaced on schedule. Tankless units last longer but need descaling; skipping that closes the gap quickly.
Are chemical drain cleaners a bad idea?
Usually, and on older cast iron they can do real harm. They also make a subsequent visit more hazardous for us, so please tell us if one has been used.
Can you help plan work that is not urgent?
Yes, and it is the cheapest kind of plumbing there is. Fixture changes, a bathroom layout, or deciding whether to repipe in stages all benefit from an assessment before materials are chosen.
Do you work with insurance claims?
We document what we find and provide a written scope and photographs, which is normally what an adjuster needs. We do not handle the claim itself.
What areas do you cover?
Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, Gig Harbor, University Place and Federal Way, plus the surrounding South Sound. If you are just outside, call. Sometimes the drive makes sense and sometimes someone closer will serve you better, and we will say which.
Tell us what the house is doing