Plumbing advice
Plumbing advice for Fraser and Macomb County homeowners
Straight answers to the plumbing questions Fraser and Macomb County homeowners ask most: frozen pipes, wet basements, water heaters, sewer lines and what to check before you call.
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Guides for Michigan homes
Backflow testing and who in Macomb County needs it
Who in Macomb County has to test a backflow preventer, how often Fraser asks for it, and the two credentials Michigan now expects from the person holding the gauge.
Backwater valve or sump pump and which problem each one solves
A backwater valve and a sump pump fix two different kinds of basement water. Here is how each one works, what each one can't do, and how to tell which one your house is missing.
Why your basement floor drain backs up when it pours
When a floor drain fills during a storm, the water is coming from somewhere else. Here is how to read what's in your basement, what to do while it's rising, and which fixes hold up.
Galvanized pipes in a 1950s house and when to repipe
Gray threaded pipe, weak upstairs pressure and rusty first draws point to galvanized steel. Here's how to identify it, check your service line and decide on a repipe.
How to choose a plumber in Macomb County
A practical checklist for hiring a plumber in Macomb County, with the state license lookup, the permit and insurance questions to ask, and the red flags that should make you wait.
How to find a hidden water leak before it does damage
A spinning meter with every tap off means water is going somewhere. Here's how to run the meter test, check the usual suspects and know when to call for leak detection.
How to keep pipes from freezing in a Michigan winter
The pipes that freeze in Macomb County homes are almost always in the same few places. Here is where to look, what to fix in the fall, and what to do when the forecast drops below zero.
Hydro jetting or drain snaking for a stubborn clog
A snake punches a hole through a clog. A jetter scrubs the whole pipe wall. Here's how to match the tool to the clog, and when neither should go in blind.
Why a sewer camera inspection belongs in your home purchase
Home inspectors don't run a camera down the main sewer, and in cities like Fraser and Warren the buyer inherits that pipe all the way to the main. Here's what a scope shows and how to use it.
Signs your water heater is close to failing
Water at the base, popping, odd smells, rusty hot water and a weeping relief valve each mean something different. Learn which ones can wait and which can't.
Smell gas at home and what to do first
The order of steps when you smell natural gas at home, the habits that can ignite a leak, and what happens with repairs after the utility clears the house.
A sump pump checklist for before the spring thaw
Late winter is when a sump pump gets tested hardest. Work through this checklist in the pit, along the discharge line and at the outlet before the snow melts.
Tank or tankless for a Michigan home
Winter inlet temperatures, gas supply, vent routes and scale decide whether tankless makes sense in a Michigan house. We run the numbers with Fraser's own water data.
Tree roots in your sewer line and how they get fixed
Roots don't crack a healthy sewer pipe. They find a leaking joint and move in. Learn the signs, what a camera shows and how each repair holds up.
Trenchless or open-trench sewer replacement
Pipe bursting, cured-in-place lining and open trench each fit different damage. Learn which one your camera footage points to, plus MISS DIG and permit basics.
Do you need a permit to replace a water heater in Michigan?
Fraser and Warren both list water heaters on their permit applications. Here's who can apply, what the current fee schedules show and what the inspection covers.
What drives the cost of replacing a water heater
The tank is only one line on a replacement quote. Venting, gas piping, code items, access and permits decide the rest, and this guide walks through each one.
What not to put down a garbage disposal
The foods and household items that jam disposals and clog kitchen drains, why each one causes trouble, and what the regional sewer authority asks you to do with cooking grease.
What to do in the first 10 minutes after a pipe bursts
A burst pipe is a race against gallons. This minute-by-minute plan covers the main shutoff, the water heater, draining the lines and the photos your insurer will ask for.
Why your toilet keeps running and what it's costing you
The handful of tank parts that make a toilet run, a ten-minute test from the EPA that confirms a leak, and the water numbers behind a worn flapper.