How to keep pipes from freezing in a Minneapolis winter
Minnesota cold finds the weak spots in a house every January. Here is where pipes freeze, what to do before a cold snap, and what to watch for.
Updated 2026-09-08
How-to guides
Plumbing how-to guides for Twin Cities homes
Straight answers to the questions we hear on the phone every week, written and kept current by Esther Dahlberg, our how-to guides editor.
10 guidesEvery guide, newest first
What to do in the first 30 minutes after a pipe bursts
A burst pipe turns a calm evening into a flood in minutes. This is the order of operations that limits the damage, from the main shut-off to the insurance photos.
Updated 2026-09-11
Does your Minneapolis home have a lead service line?
Many older Twin Cities houses still get their water through a lead pipe. Here is how to find out what yours is made of and what to do if it is lead.
Updated 2026-09-15
Why basement floor drains back up after heavy rain
A floor drain that burps up gray water during a July downpour is telling you something about your sewer lateral, the city main, or both, and the fix depends on which.
Updated 2026-09-18
Tank or tankless: water heaters for cold Minnesota water
January water entering a Twin Cities home is far colder than in a southern state, and that one fact shapes how a tank or tankless heater performs at your shower.
Updated 2026-09-22
Hard water in the Twin Cities: do you need a softener?
Minneapolis and Saint Paul soften their water at the plant, but many suburbs and nearly every private well do not, so the softener question depends on where your water starts.
Updated 2026-09-25
Why a sewer camera check matters before buying an older home
A standard home inspection stops at the basement wall, but the clay or cast iron sewer lateral under the yard is yours the day you close, and replacing it can cost more than the roof.
Updated 2026-09-29
A sump pump checklist before the spring thaw
When the snowpack melts and the frost lets go, drain tile around Twin Cities foundations fills fast, and a sump pump that sat idle since November gets tested all at once.
Updated 2026-10-02
Signs your main water shut-off valve needs replacing
The main shut-off is the one valve you need to work instantly during a burst pipe, and in many older Minneapolis and Saint Paul basements it hasn't been turned in decades.
Updated 2026-10-06
Hydro jetting or snaking: which keeps a drain clear longer?
A cable machine and a water jetter both clear blocked drains, but they leave the pipe in very different shape, and that difference decides how soon the clog comes back.
Updated 2026-10-09
About the guides
Esther Dahlberg edits every guide here and checks each one against what our plumbers see in Minneapolis basements. They are general advice; for anything involving gas, a main sewer line or a burst pipe, call a plumber.
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