Before you call a plumber

Know your shutoffs

The main shutoff stops water to the whole house. Every toilet and sink has its own valve underneath. Find them before you need them.

What is an emergency

Water you cannot stop, sewage backing up, no water at all, a gas smell (leave and call the gas company first). Everything else can wait for a scheduled visit at a better rate.

What is not

A slow drain, a running toilet, a dripping faucet, a water heater that is a little slow. Plenty of time to get a written price.

How plumbers price

Some charge by the hour, most residential plumbers charge flat rates by the task from a price book. Ask which, and ask whether the trip charge is applied to the repair.

Water heaters

Tanks last 8 to 12 years. A leak from the tank itself means replacement; a leak from a fitting or valve is a repair. Ask about tankless and heat pump water heaters when you replace; both cost more up front and less to run.

When to camera the sewer

Repeated main-line clogs, a house built before 1975, or before you buy. A camera inspection shows roots, bellies and breaks that a cable just punches through.