ask a plumber Archives

How To Prepare Your Lawn Faucets For Spring: Ask A Plumber

Posted on May 7, 2026May 8, 2026 by Charlie Avoles

After a long, cold Minnesota winter, it’s finally time to get your outdoor faucets ready for spring. Properly reopening your lawn faucets is essential to prevent leaks, water damage, and costly repairs. Here’s a step-by-step guide to safely energize your outdoor water system for the season. Why Winterizing Matters The Danger of Frozen Pipes Minnesota […]

Why do you need plumbing vents? – Ask a Plumber

Posted on April 23, 2026April 23, 2026 by Charlie Avoles

Understanding Plumbing Vents: What Every Homeowner Should Know Properly functioning plumbing vents are essential for maintaining a healthy and efficient plumbing system in your home. Without them, your drains can become slow, foul odors may develop, and dangerous sewer gases could enter your living spaces. In this guide, we’ll explore what plumbing vents are, why […]

Understanding Hard Water in the Twin Cities: A Plumber’s Perspective

Posted on April 16, 2026April 17, 2026 by Charlie Avoles

As your local plumbing experts at St Paul Pipeworks, we’re often asked about hard water—what it is, how it affects your home, and what you can do about it. Living in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area, hard water is a fact of life for many, but not all, communities. Let’s break it down from a […]

Converting a bathtub to a walk-in shower? Ask a Plumber

Posted on March 19, 2026April 6, 2026 by Charlie Avoles

The Rise of Walk-In Showers: A Modern Bathroom Trend St Paul Pipeworks, a team of experienced plumbers, is witnessing a surge in requests from homeowners who wish to replace their bathtub with a walk-in shower. As people age, the task of getting in and out of bathtubs becomes more challenging. Additionally, the preference for showering […]

Are You Thinking About Getting a New Water Heater? Ask A Plumber…

Posted on February 5, 2026April 6, 2026 by Charlie Avoles

Confused About Which Water Heating System Is Right for You? St Paul Pipeworks can help you decide. For many years, water heaters have been one of the least efficient appliances in your home, but recently, technology has dramatically improved the efficiency and cost of heating water. We can help you sort out which system fits […]

Why Does My Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs? Ask a Plumber…

Posted on December 4, 2025December 5, 2025 by Charlie Avoles

Understanding the Initial Situation St Paul Pipeworks recently installed an A. O. Smith Voltex Water Heater in a customer’s home. A Voltex is an electric water heater with a heat pump located inside of its tank. The heat pump is a key component that extracts heat from the surrounding air and uses it to heat […]