Plumbing Tips & Articles

Maintenance guides and plumbing advice from the Stollwerck team

PreventionOctober 1, 2026

Fall Plumbing Checklist for Snohomish County and Whidbey Island Homes: What to Do Before the First Freeze

The first hard freeze around Puget Sound usually arrives in late November or December, and most of the winter plumbing calls we take could have been prevented in October. Seven jobs for the season, in the order the weather makes them matter, with the hose bib, water heater, pressure, crawl-space and sump calls from the past year that show why each one is on the list.

RepairsSeptember 30, 2026

Bathroom Faucet Repair in Mukilteo: A Hallway Faucet in Harbour Pointe That Would Not Stop Running

A homeowner at the south end of Harbour Pointe called about a two-handle bathroom faucet that ran constantly no matter how the handles were set. Logan and Connor laid out a rebuild against a replacement, the homeowner chose a new Moen widespread, and two days later it went in with three dump tests, a five-minute standing fill and every supply connection checked.

CommercialSeptember 29, 2026

Plumbing for Property Managers in Everett and Snohomish County

A property manager needs a plumber who can be handed a unit number and come back with the problem fixed, a photo of the work and an invoice the owner can read. A year of work orders from one Highway 99 business park, a 14-unit Everett apartment building with no cleanouts and three associations shows how we do it: paired hose bibs, back-to-back toilets, a planned building-wide shutdown and a sewer emergency told honestly.

RepairsSeptember 23, 2026

Kitchen Faucet Questions, Answered from Real Snohomish County Service Calls

A kitchen faucet fails in a handful of predictable ways, and most of them are repairs, not replacements. Eight questions our crew hears in kitchens from Mukilteo to Whidbey Island: which part is dripping, why the sprayer will not switch back, what a puddle under the sink means, whether the warranty covers the cartridge, and whether the faucet you bought will fit.

RepairsSeptember 22, 2026

Toilet Replacement in Lynnwood: A New One-Piece in the Hall Bath, Tested From the Crawl Space

A homeowner on Lynnwood's west side called about a sewer smell nobody could trace, a tired hose bib and a hall-bath toilet due for replacement. Logan and Willie ran two smoke tests that found nothing wrong with the venting, replaced the hose bib from the crawl space, and set a new one-piece toilet, flushing it from above while Logan watched the drain from below.

Pipe RepairSeptember 17, 2026

Galvanized Pipe on Rucker Hill and Across North Everett: What Fails, Where We Cut, and When to Repipe

Galvanized steel pipe fails at its threads, and in north Everett's early-1900s houses the short nipples between cast fittings and the stubs behind faucets go first. Four jobs from Northwest Everett, Bayside, Riverside and Boulevard Bluffs show what fails, why Everett's soft water does not help, where we cut back to sound metal, and when a spot repair stops making sense.

RepairsSeptember 16, 2026

Moen Cartridge Replacement in Everett: One Visit, No More Drip

A hall-bath shower in Cascade View, Everett, had been dripping day and night, and the master-bath tub spout had been cut into by someone trying to remove it. Connor and Logan pulled the worn Moen 1225 cartridge, fitted a new one, replaced the spout like for like, and left with both bathrooms tested and dry in one visit.

RepairsSeptember 9, 2026

Garbage Disposal Questions, Answered from Real Snohomish County Service Calls

Most disposal calls in Mukilteo and Everett are a jam, a tripped reset or a problem that belongs to the drain or the faucet beside it. A humming unit, the reset button, a metal spoon, backups into the other basin, smells, tripped breakers and what should never go down one, answered the way we would at your sink.

RepairsSeptember 8, 2026

Toilet Rebuild in Old Town Mukilteo: The Tank Was the Leak

An Old Town Mukilteo toilet left water on the floor after every flush, and the tank moved under a hand. Connor and Logan confirmed the leak was the tank-to-bowl joint, not the wax ring, fitted a new gasket and bolts, and flushed it five times to prove it. Sound porcelain, kept.

RepairsSeptember 2, 2026

Toilet Questions, Answered from Real Snohomish County Service Calls

Toilet rebuilds are one of the most common jobs in our books, which means we answer the same good questions in Everett, Mukilteo and Edmonds bathrooms every week. Ghost flushing, rocking bases, sewer smells, tank tablets and more — answered the way we would standing next to your toilet.

RemodelingSeptember 1, 2026

Condo Trim-Out in Edmonds: A Full Kitchen and Bath Finish

A condo remodel in the Edmonds Bowl reached the day every remodel waits for, and Logan took the trim-out solo — every fixture connected and tested in a day, including the defective dishwasher drain hose he caught on its test cycle instead of a month later.

PreventionAugust 26, 2026

Summer Hose Bib Failures in Mukilteo: Why Outdoor Faucets Leak

Most of the leaking hose bibs we repair in Mukilteo each summer did not fail in summer — they failed over winter or wore out over years, and the first hose of the season tells the truth. The five failures those calls actually turn out to be, from real June and July jobs.

Drain CleaningAugust 24, 2026

Main Drain Backup in Everett: The Pipe Was in the Concrete

A whole bathroom group backing up at once points past the fixtures to the main. With no cleanout on the house, Logan pulled the toilet, ran the machine, sent the camera — and then crawled under the house to find a failed drain line cast into the concrete itself.

PreventionAugust 20, 2026

Water Pressure Questions, Answered for Snohomish County

We put a gauge on a hose bib on almost every service call, so we have a lot of real readings from houses in Everett, Mukilteo, Edmonds, and Lynnwood. Eight questions about water pressure, answered with those numbers instead of national averages.

SewerAugust 13, 2026

8 Warning Signs You Need Sewer Line Repair

Sewer line problems start quietly — a slow drain here, an odd smell there — and get worse until you have a full backup. Here are the eight warning signs worth acting on, what causes sewer failures in Snohomish County, and how often you should have your line inspected.

PreventionJuly 29, 2026

How to Find Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve

When a pipe bursts, knowing where your main water shut-off valve is — and that it still works — is the difference between a minor cleanup and thousands of dollars in damage. Here is where to look in Snohomish County homes, how to operate each valve type, and when to use it.

RepairsJuly 16, 2026

Hose Bib Replacement in Mukilteo: Chasing a High Water Bill

A Harbour Pointe homeowner had a water bill climbing for no obvious reason and nothing visibly leaking. Chase started at the meter, worked outward, and found a front hose bib that was dripping and would not shut off. What a proper leak diagnostic actually looks like.

SewerJuly 14, 2026

Sewer Repair in Mountlake Terrace

A Mountlake Terrace homeowner had a sewer issue diagnosed and fixed quickly at a fair price. Here are the sewer problems we see most often, the warning signs worth acting on, and how we approach a repair.

RepairsJuly 14, 2026

Faucet Repair and Plumbing Leak Repair in Mukilteo

A repeat Mukilteo customer needed a faucet and leak repair scheduled fast and quoted accurately. Here are the faucet and leak jobs we fix most often, how we price a repair, and when it makes more sense to replace than repair.

Water HeatersJuly 10, 2026

Same-Day Water Heater Replacement in Everett

An Everett homeowner’s water heater failed without warning and we replaced it the same day. Here’s what to do the moment yours dies, and why a same-day replacement is usually within reach.

Water HeatersJuly 8, 2026

Water Heater Replacement in Marysville

A Marysville homeowner spotted rust and a puddle before their 14-year-old water heater failed. Here’s how we weigh repair against replacement, the warning signs to watch for, and why catching it early beats the alternative.

Water HeatersJuly 6, 2026

Water Heater Installation in Langley

A Langley property owner needed a new water heater for a vacation rental. Here’s why rental properties place different demands on a water heater, how we schedule around bookings, and when tankless is worth it on Whidbey Island.

RemodelingJuly 2, 2026

Kitchen Remodel Plumbing in Mukilteo

A Mukilteo homeowner brought us in to handle the plumbing side of a full kitchen remodel — garbage disposal, faucet, and outdoor work, on time and on budget. Here is what remodel plumbing actually involves, and the surprises we budget for.

RepairsJune 24, 2026

Sink and Faucet Repair in Mukilteo

A Mukilteo homeowner needed a sink and faucet repair. Here are the common faucet and drain problems we fix, when to repair vs. replace, and why preventive drain maintenance pays off.

RepairsJune 20, 2026

Toilet Repair After Tile Work in Lynnwood

A Lynnwood homeowner had a toilet problem after a bathroom tile job. The toilet issues we fix, what goes wrong when tile work disturbs a toilet, and how we serve Lynnwood same-day.

Top 7 Summer Plumbing Problems in Snohomish County

PreventionJune 18, 2026

Clearing a Tough Drain Clog in Everett

Not every clog gives up easy. When an Everett homeowner had a drain that just wouldn’t clear, Chase and Willy stuck with it until the line ran free. Here’s what causes stubborn clogs — and how the pros clear them.

RepairsMay 4, 2026

Toilet Repair in Langley

A Langley homeowner needed a toilet repair. Here are the most common toilet problems we fix, when to repair vs. replace, and how we serve Whidbey Island.

Water HeatersApril 29, 2026

Thermal Expansion Tank Installation in Mukilteo

A Mukilteo homeowner needed a thermal expansion tank to protect their water heater. Here’s what these tanks do, the warning signs you need one, and why we install Therm-X-Trol.

RepairsApril 13, 2026

New Hose Bib Installation in Mukilteo

A Mukilteo homeowner needed a new outdoor faucet. Here’s when to replace a hose bib, why frost-free models are worth the upgrade in the Pacific Northwest, and how Stollwerck got it done the same day.

Pipe RepairMay 15, 2025

Signs Your Pipes Need Repair in Everett — And How Stollwerck Fixes Them

Copper pipes are built to last decades — but they don’t last forever. We recently completed copper pipe work for South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue. Here’s what every Snohomish County homeowner should know about copper pipe problems and how professionals solve them.

NewsApril 28, 2023

Expanding Our Service Area!

Stollwerck Plumbing is expanding! We're bringing our team to Granite Falls, Arlington, Monroe, Camano Island, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Woodinville, Seattle, Shoreline, Kirkland, and more.

Water HeatersFebruary 28, 2023

Why My Water Heater Talks to My Electric Company

New Washington state law requires electric water heaters sold after January 2023 to include a communications port. Here’s what it does, and what it doesn’t do.

Water HeatersDecember 8, 2022

10 Reasons Why Your Tankless Water Heater Is Making Noise

A tankless water heater shouldn’t sound like a freight train. If yours is humming, popping, or whining, here are the most common causes and what to do about them.

PreventionFebruary 8, 2022

Basic Plumbing Tips to Teach Your Kids

A short guide for parents — the essentials about toilets, sinks, and hot water that every kid should learn before they accidentally turn the bathroom into a swimming pool.

Water HeatersJanuary 24, 2022

Why We Recommend Tankless Water Heaters

Why a tankless water heater might be the right call for your Mukilteo home: rebates and tax credits up to $550, why we install Navien, and why electric tankless units aren't yet practical in the Pacific Northwest.

DIYNovember 29, 2021

Top 10 Plumbing Pitfalls

Some of the most expensive plumbing repairs we see started as well-intentioned DIY projects. Here are the ten classic plumbing pitfalls — and how to avoid them.

Water HeatersNovember 1, 2021

Top 5 Signs You Need a New Water Heater

The most common signs your water heater is failing — from age and odd odors to slow recovery, banging noises, and rusty leaks — and when to call a plumber before you end up with water damage.

RemodelingOctober 5, 2021

Add Accessibility Features to Your Kitchen and Baths

A walkthrough of the plumbing-side decisions for an aging-in-place or ADA-compliant kitchen or bath remodel — from in-wall bracing and thermostatic valves to lever faucets, touchless fixtures, smart showers, ADA-height toilets, bidets, and curbless shower pans.

TipsJuly 30, 2021

40 Plumbing Tips and Tricks for Everett

Owning a home or commercial space comes with the responsibility to understand your plumbing. Here are 40 practical tips from the Stollwerck team — covering daily habits, maintenance, repairs, and outdoor systems.

PreventionApril 14, 2020

What Not to Flush Down the Toilet — The Top 10

A list of the things that should never go down your toilet, no matter what the package says. Save yourself a sewage backup and an emergency plumber call.

SewerApril 8, 2020

What Is a Sewer Scope?

A plain-English explainer on sewer scope inspections — what the camera does, why you'd want one before buying a home or for an older property, how the process works, and the difference between wastewater and stormwater.

PreventionOctober 9, 2016

The Complete Seattle Plumbing & Sewer Winterization Guide

Pacific Northwest winters can do real damage to homes that aren’t properly winterized. Here’s how to protect your plumbing and sewer system before the cold sets in.

Hiring a PlumberOctober 9, 2016

The 7 Red Flags When Hiring a Plumber

Plumbing is one of the easier trades to get scammed in. Here are the seven warning signs that the plumber you’re about to hire isn’t the one you want.