Free knowledge
The stuff we tell our own neighbors.
Homeowner Plumbing & Heating Resources
Ten minutes of reading that prevents the expensive kind of phone call. When prevention fails. That's what the phone number is for.
House wisdom
Six habits of homes that never call us in a panic.
Find your main water shutoff, today
It's usually where the water line enters the house: the basement wall facing the street in most Rhode Island homes, a utility closet in slab houses. Everyone in the house should know it. In a burst-pipe emergency, this valve is worth more than any phone number, including ours.
The braided hose behind your toilet has a lifespan
Supply lines and washing machine hoses fail more floors than burst mains. If yours are older than 8-10 years, or show any rust at the crimp, replace them. It's a $15 part protecting a $15,000 floor.
Grease sets at 78°F. Your drain is colder than that
Grease leaves the pan as a liquid and becomes a pipe-narrowing solid a few feet down the line. Pour it into a can, not the sink. Your future self (and our jetter) will thank you.
Your boiler wants a September appointment
An annual tune-up before the season restores efficiency, catches failing parts while the weather is friendly, and keeps manufacturer warranties valid. Booked online, it's $20 off.
Hose bibs freeze from the inside
Disconnect garden hoses before the first hard frost, a connected hose traps water in the pipe, which splits inside the wall and floods in spring. Frost-free spigots help; disconnecting is still the rule.
Know what your water heater's age means
The serial number encodes the manufacture date. Past year 8-10 for a tank, start planning; past year 12, you're on borrowed time. A planned Tuesday replacement always beats a flooded Saturday one.
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