Homeowner Help: plumbing answers for the Upstate
Short, practical articles written for Greenville area homes. Where the shut-off hides, what your pressure reading means, when a water heater is done, and how to keep pipes from freezing.
Edited by Sidney Treadway, Homeowner Help Editor
All Homeowner Help articles
Winter Plumbing Checklist for Upstate Lake Homes
How to protect plumbing in lake homes on Keowee, Hartwell and Greenwood that sit empty in winter, from draining lines to well house heat.
Read the articleWhy Does My House Smell Like Sewer?
The most common causes of sewer smells in Upstate homes, from dry traps and bad wax seals to vent and crawl space problems, and how to fix them.
Read the articleHow to Check What Your Water Service Line Is Made Of
A simple magnet and key test to tell lead, galvanized, copper and plastic service lines apart, plus what Upstate homeowners should do next.
Read the articleWhat Size Water Heater Does Your Home Need?
How to size a tank or tankless water heater for an Upstate home using household size, bathrooms and peak demand, with a free calculator.
Read the articleClogged Toilet? What to Do Before You Call
How to stop a clogged toilet from overflowing, plunge it the right way, and tell whether the problem is the toilet or the main line.
Read the articleKeeping Pipes From Freezing During an Upstate Cold Snap
Simple steps that protect pipes in Greenville homes when temperatures drop into the teens, and what to do if a pipe freezes anyway.
Read the articleWhat Your Water Pressure Reading Means
How to test home water pressure with a hose bib gauge, what the 40 to 80 psi range means, and when a pressure reducing valve is needed.
Read the articleBackflow Testing Explained for Homes and Businesses
What a backflow preventer does, why many water providers require annual testing, and what happens during a test.
Read the articlePolybutylene Pipe: How to Spot It and What to Do
Why many 1980s and early 1990s Upstate homes have polybutylene supply pipe, how to identify it, and how replacement works.
Read the articleHow to Find Your Main Water Shut-Off in an Upstate Home
Where the main water valve usually hides in Greenville crawl space and slab homes, how to close it, and what to do if it will not turn.
Read the articleSeven Signs Your Water Heater Is Near the End
How to tell when a tank water heater is worth repairing and when it is time to replace it, with notes for gas and electric units.
Read the articleTankless or Tank: Choosing a Water Heater in the Upstate
A plain comparison of tank, tankless and heat pump water heaters for Greenville area homes, including sizing for cold winter water.
Read the articlePlumbing Habits That Keep a Septic System Healthy
Everyday habits that protect septic lines and tanks in rural Upstate homes, and the signs that a septic line needs attention.
Read the articleCrawl Space Plumbing Leaks: What to Look For
How to spot plumbing leaks under a crawl space home before they rot framing, and what a plumber checks during a crawl space inspection.
Read the articleWhat Not to Put Down Your Kitchen Drain
The foods and products that cause most kitchen drain clogs in Greenville homes, and simple habits that keep lines clear.
Read the articleNeed a plumber now?
Call any time. A Plumbcraft plumber answers, day or night, and heads out from Greenville or Belton.