Section B — DIY Guides
Step-by-step DIY plumbing repair guides for WA homeowners — with tools, costs, and WA plumber review on every guide.
49 repairs, rated like trails
Easy Moderate Hard
Green circle — you've got this Easy
34 guidesAdjust toilet float
Toilet running or short-flushing? Adjust the float. Ball float: bend the brass arm. Cup float: turn the screw on the riser. Free, five-minute fix.
Bleeding a radiator
If your hydronic radiator is cold at the top and hot at the bottom, it has trapped air. Bleeding it takes a key, a towel, and five minutes. Here's how.
Choosing a plumber
Verify any WA plumber on the L&I Verify portal before signing. Here's the 5-minute homeowner-protection checklist that catches the most common scams.
Clean P-traps annually
Pulling and cleaning the P-trap under each sink once a year prevents slow drains and odor. Here's the procedure, the WA-specific notes, and when not to try.
DIY Plumbing Beginner’s Guide for Washington Homeowners
Plumbing basics for beginners — the tools, terms, and first repairs any WA homeowner can handle. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
DIY Plumbing Safety Tips for Washington Homeowners
Safety essentials before any DIY plumbing job — water shutoff, tools, gas, and when to stop and call a pro. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
Drip the faucet during a freeze
Yes — open the most distant faucet to a pencil-lead trickle, both hot and cold, when overnight lows drop below 25°F. Here's why and how.
Essential Plumbing Maintenance Tips for Washington Homeowners
Simple plumbing maintenance habits that prevent costly repairs in Washington homes. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
Essential Plumbing Tools Every Washington Homeowner Should Have
The core plumbing tools worth owning for common home repairs, and what each one is for. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
Garbage Disposal Maintenance for Washington Homeowners
How to keep a garbage disposal running — the dos, don'ts, and simple fixes for jams and odors. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
Home Plumbing System Overview for Washington Homeowners
How your home's supply, drain, and vent systems work together — a plain-English overview for WA homeowners. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Choose a Plumber in Washington State: What to Look For
How to vet and hire a licensed Washington plumber — L&I checks, quotes, and red flags to avoid. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Choose Bathroom Plumbing Fixtures in Washington State
How to choose faucets, showerheads, and toilets that fit your bathroom and WA water. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Choose the Right Toilet for Your Washington Home
How to choose a toilet — flush type, height, bowl shape, and water use — for your Washington home. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Choose the Right Water Heater for Your WA Home (2026 Guide)
How to choose a water heater for your WA home — size, fuel type, and efficiency explained. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to descale a showerhead
Descale a showerhead with a vinegar bag or bowl soak — 30 minutes for light scale, overnight for heavy. Spokane and Eastside need it every 2–3 months.
How to Find and Use Your Main Water Shutoff Valve (WA Homeowner Guide)
Where to find your main water shutoff valve and how to use it fast in a plumbing emergency. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Fix a Leaky Faucet in Your Bathroom (WA DIY Guide)
Step by step: stop a dripping bathroom faucet by replacing worn washers and cartridges. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Fix a Running Toilet in 4 Steps ($8 in Parts)
Stop a running toilet in four steps with about $8 in parts — flapper, fill valve, and chain. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Flush and Maintain Your Water Heater (Step-by-Step WA Guide)
Step by step: flush sediment and maintain your water heater to extend its life. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Insulate Pipes for Winter (Washington State Guide)
How to insulate pipes to prevent freezing in Washington winters — materials, spots, and method. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to prevent pipes from freezing
Disconnect hoses, insulate vulnerable runs, drip faucets when overnight lows hit 25°F, hold heat at 55°F when away. The full WA freeze-prep checklist.
How to Unclog a Drain: Step-by-Step Guide (WA Homeowner Guide)
Clear a clogged sink, tub, or shower drain step by step without damaging your pipes. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger in Washington State
No plunger? Clear a clogged toilet with hot water, dish soap, and common household items. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Use Drain Cleaners Safely: A Washington Homeowner’s Guide
When chemical drain cleaners are safe, when they damage pipes, and safer ways to clear a clog. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Winterize Your Plumbing System (Washington State Guide)
How to winterize your plumbing before a Washington freeze — pipes, outdoor faucets, and shutoffs. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
Insulate exposed pipes
Foam pipe sleeves slip over copper or PEX in 30 seconds and add R-3 to R-5 of freeze protection. Here's how to size, fit, and seal them right.
Insulating a toilet tank
Cold WA water + warm humid bathroom = condensation on the toilet tank. Foam liner kit ($15) or anti-sweat tempering valve ($100) stops it before subfloor rots.
Plumbing Pipe Materials Guide: Choosing the Right Pipes in Washington
PEX, copper, PVC, ABS and more — the common pipe materials in WA homes and where each is used. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
Shut off main gas valve
Every Washington homeowner should know how to find the gas meter, identify the manual shutoff, and close it with a wrench. Here's the rule and the routine.
Tankless vs. Tank Water Heater: Which Is Right for WA Homeowners? (2026)
Tankless vs. tank water heaters compared for WA homes — cost, efficiency, and lifespan. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
Water Heater Types Guide: Choosing the Best Option for Your Washington Home
Tank, tankless, heat-pump, gas or electric — how to choose the right water heater type for your WA home. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
When to Hire a Plumber in Washington State: DIY vs. Pro Decision Guide
How to decide when a plumbing job is a safe DIY and when to hire a licensed WA pro. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
Winterizing a toilet
To winterize a toilet, shut off water, flush and sponge the tank, then pour RV antifreeze (pink, not green) into tank and bowl. Skip a step and the porcelain cracks.
Blue square — go slow Moderate
12 guidesDrain-and-flush water heater
Annual flushing keeps sediment from cooking your water heater's bottom element. Here's the procedure, the WA-specific schedule, and the pitfalls to avoid.
How to Earthquake-Proof Your Plumbing in Washington: Straps, Flex Gas Lines, and Shutoff Valves
Water heater straps, flexible gas connectors, and seismic shutoff valves for WA homes — what code requires, what it costs, and what to do first. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to find a water leak in your house
Find a water leak in nine steps: meter test, toilet dye test, fixture inspection, thermal scan. Most home leaks self-diagnose without a plumber's bill.
How to Fix a Gurgling Toilet When the Shower Drains (Step-by-Step)
Why your toilet gurgles when the shower drains — a vent or blockage issue — and how to fix it. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to Fix a Leaking Shower in Washington State
Step by step: find and fix a leaking shower before it causes water damage or mold. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to light a pilot on a gas water heater
Pilot relight on a standing-pilot water heater is a homeowner job — if there's no smell of gas. Here's the standard procedure and when to call a pro.
How to Replace a Faucet (Step-by-Step WA Guide)
Replace an old or leaking faucet yourself with basic tools — a step-by-step WA guide. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
How to thaw a frozen pipe
Open the faucet, apply heat from the faucet end backward, and never use an open flame. Here's the full safe-thaw procedure and what to do if it bursts.
How to winterize a Washington cabin
Full winterization for WA cabins: shut off main, drain supply lines and water heater, antifreeze in traps, irrigation blow-out. Costs $20-60 DIY.
How to winterize an outdoor irrigation line
Air-blow out the irrigation system at 50-80 psi, drain the backflow assembly, leave test cocks slightly open. Schedule before mid-October in WA.
Hydro-Jetting Drain Cleaning in Washington State: What to Expect and When to Call a Pro
How hydro-jetting clears tough drain and sewer clogs with high-pressure water, what it costs, and when to call a pro. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
Winterizing piping
Winterizing means draining all water lines, the water heater, and traps before a long absence. Here's the umbrella procedure for WA homes.
Black diamond — consider a pro Hard
3 guidesHow to Repipe a Home in Washington State: Costs, Process and What to Expect
What a whole-home repipe involves in Washington — materials, process, cost, and what to expect. Reviewed by a WA plumber.
Seal old gas line after appliance removal
Capping a disconnected gas line is a permitted, pressure-tested job in WA. Here's why a closed shutoff valve isn't enough, and what the right fix looks like.
Trenchless Sewer Repair in Washington State: Cost, Methods and What to Expect (2026)
How trenchless sewer repair works in Washington — pipe lining vs. bursting, cost, and what to expect. Reviewed by a WA plumber.