Straight answers to common plumbing questions.

Call your water utility or a plumber to identify exactly where the leak is. The utility generally owns the meter and the public side of the connection, while the property owner is generally responsible for plumbing on the customer side. If the leak is at the meter or the boundary is unclear, contact the utility before authorizing a repair.

Leaky faucets are usually caused by worn-out rubber washers, damaged cartridges, or corroded internal valve seats. In many cases a simple replacement of these parts fixes the issue, but sometimes the entire faucet needs to be replaced.

Turn the disposal off and disconnect its power at the plug or circuit breaker before troubleshooting; never put a hand into the grinding chamber. With power still disconnected, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the reset button or use the supplied wrench from below to free a jam. Remove the wrench before restoring power. If the unit leaks, hums without turning, or will not reset, stop and call for service.

Always keep in mind what is being flushed or dumped down your drains. Things like hair, oils, grease, coffee grounds, pasta, or rice should not go in the sink. A drain stopper or filter can help, but remember that oils and grease can go through a stopper and should never be poured down a drain.

A drain line inspection uses a waterproof camera in an accessible drain or sewer line. It can show visible blockage, roots, cracks, offsets, sags, corrosion, or other conditions along the camera’s path, but it cannot prove every hidden defect or by itself guarantee pipe strength.

Tankless water heaters can be a good fit for some homes, but they need the right gas, venting, water-quality, and maintenance plan. A plumber should review the existing setup before you choose one.

Send your city, the service you need, how urgent it is, and a short description of what is happening. Photos can help when the problem is visible.