Comparing water heater replacement quotes: tank, tankless or heat pump
How to compare water heater bids in Washington. Covers tank, tankless and heat pump options, sizing, the code items an inspector checks (permit, seismic straps, expansion tank, relief valve piping), what a quote should itemize, parts vs labor warranties, and red flags.
Heat pump water heater rebates in Washington (2026)
How heat pump water heaters work and where they fit in a Northwest home, plus the 2026 utility rebates from PSE, Seattle City Light, Snohomish PUD, Tacoma Power and Clark Public Utilities, the state HEAR program, and the end of the federal tax credit.
Hiring a plumber in Washington: licenses, permits and your rights
What a Washington plumbing contractor license means, how to check one on L&I Verify, what each plumber certificate allows, who pulls the permit, disclosure statements, liens and deposits, doing your own plumbing, the Homeowner Recovery Fund, and where to complain.
How plumbers price: flat rate vs hourly, trip fees and memberships
How plumbing companies set prices, from flat-rate price books to time and materials, plus trip and diagnostic fees, after-hours premiums, membership plans and add-on recommendations, and how to get quotes you can actually compare.
Sewer scope before you buy a house: what to ask for
Why Seattle Public Utilities recommends scoping the side sewer before you buy, what the inspector should hand over, how to read common findings like roots, offsets, sags and old pipe, who should do it, indicative cost, and using the results in negotiation.
Side sewer replacement: what to ask before you sign
Who owns the side sewer, why a camera inspection comes first, spot repair vs open trench vs pipe bursting vs lining, permits, contractor registration, what a bid should itemize, and indicative Seattle costs from Seattle Public Utilities.