Plumbing problem guides
Start with the symptom. Each guide covers the likely causes, the checks you can safely do yourself, what not to do, and when to bring in a licensed plumber.
How to shut off your water
The single most useful thing to know before a plumbing emergency. Where your main shutoff is likely to be, how to close it, and the smaller valves that can isolate one fixture instead of the whole house.
Read the guide
Burst pipe: first steps
A burst pipe can release a lot of water in a short time. This is the order to do things in, what to photograph, and how to keep it from happening again when the next hard freeze reaches North Texas.
Read the guide
Water heater leaking from bottom
Water under a water heater doesn't always mean the tank is finished. Work out where the water is actually coming from, what's repairable, and when replacement is the only real option.
Read the guide
Water heater not heating
No hot water, not enough hot water, or water that goes cold fast. Safe checks you can do for gas and electric tank heaters, and how to describe the problem if you need a plumber.
Read the guide
Slab leak signs
Slab foundations with water lines running underneath are very common in McKinney. How to spot the signs of a leak you can't see, run a meter test yourself, and rule out the more common causes first.
Read the guide
Sewer line problems
When more than one drain is acting up, the problem is often the main sewer line, not a single fixture. How to recognize it, what causes it, how a camera inspection works, and who to call in McKinney.
Read the guide
Drain backing up
A backup is different from a slow drain: water is coming back out. Which drain is backing up, and when, tells you a lot about where the blockage is.
Read the guide
Clogged drain
Most single-drain clogs can be cleared without a plumber if you use the right method in the right order. What works, what to skip, and the signs that the clog isn't a DIY job.
Read the guide
Low water pressure
Whether the low pressure is at one fixture, only on the hot side, or throughout the house tells you where to look. Step-by-step checks, from a two-minute aerator clean to signs of a hidden leak.
Read the guide
Leaking toilet
Toilets are the most common source of hidden leaks in a home. How to tell a silent tank leak from a base leak or a supply leak, and which fixes are simple DIY jobs.
Read the guide
Garbage disposal not working
Most disposal problems are a jam, a tripped reset button, or a clog, and all three are usually fixable in minutes. Here's how to tell which one you have, and what a leak means.
Read the guideNeed a plumber in McKinney?
Describe the problem once and we'll connect you with an independent local plumbing professional. Our referral service is free to use.
McKinney Plumbing Guide is a free referral service. We connect you with independent local plumbing professionals; we don't do plumbing work ourselves. How it works