Guides
Plain answers for Twin Cities homes
The questions we get asked in kitchens and basements every week, answered the way we'd answer them in person — with the Minnesota specifics, an honest word on what's worth trying yourself, and what to do if it isn't.
Why does my hot water take so long to get hot?Your water heater is fine — you're waiting for the cold water already sitting in the pipe between the heater and the faucet to clear out.Read the answer →How old is my water heater, and how do I tell?The manufacture date is coded in the serial number on the heater's label, and every brand encodes it differently.Read the answer →Why is my water heater rumbling, popping, or knocking?That noise is water boiling underneath a layer of mineral scale and sediment on the bottom of the tank.Read the answer →How do I keep my pipes from freezing in a Minnesota cold snap?Pipes freeze where they meet cold air: exterior walls, unheated basements, crawlspaces, garages, and the outdoor spigot.Read the answer →How do I make sure my sump pump is ready for the spring melt?Test it before the melt, not during: pour a bucket of water into the pit and confirm the float rises, the pump kicks on, the water leaves, and the pump shuts off.Read the answer →How much salt should my water softener use, and which kind?On typical Twin Cities hardness of 15 to 25 grains, a family of four uses roughly one 40-pound bag of salt a month.Read the answer →A pipe burst — what do I do right now?Shut off the main water valve first — usually in the basement where the line enters the house, near the meter.Read the answer →Where is my main water shutoff valve, and how do I turn it off?In most Twin Cities homes it's in the basement on the wall facing the street, where the water line enters the house, right beside the water meter.Read the answer →Why does my toilet gurgle when the tub or sink drains?The gurgle is air being sucked through the toilet's water seal because the drain system can't breathe properly.Read the answer →Why does my basement floor drain smell like sewer?Nine times out of ten, the trap under the floor drain has dried out, and sewer gas is coming straight up the pipe.Read the answer →Do I need a permit for plumbing work in Minnesota?Usually, yes.Read the answer →Should I hire a handyman or a plumber for a small plumbing job?In Minnesota, plumbing is a licensed trade: anything involving supply or drain piping, water heaters, or gas must be done by a licensed plumber — or by you, on your own home.Read the answer →Tank or tankless water heater — which is better in Minnesota?Both work well here — but tankless has a Minnesota catch: winter groundwater arrives around 40°F, so a tankless unit must raise it 70°F or more and delivers far less flow than its box rating.Read the answer →Why is my water bill suddenly so high?A sudden jump in the water bill nearly always means a leak, and the most common one is a running toilet, which can waste hundreds of gallons a day without a sound.Read the answer →Should I get a sewer line inspection before buying a house in the Twin Cities?Yes — especially on any home built before about 1980.Read the answer →Is Twin Cities tap water safe to drink?Yes.Read the answer →
Looking for what's in your water? That's its own library — hard water, chlorine, PFAS, lead, and more — or get your city's numbers in the free WaterIQ report.
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