FAQ
Plumbing questions, answered straight
The questions every homeowner asks before hiring a plumber — answered without sales pressure. For service-specific answers (drains, water heaters, sewer lines), each service page has its own FAQ section.
General plumbing FAQ
It depends on the pro's current workload, your location, and conditions — freezes and storms spike demand everywhere. Requesting help now puts you in the queue, and true emergencies route first when water is actively flowing. We never promise a specific arrival time we cannot control.
The main factors are what failed and where it is located, the pipe material and home layout, whether walls or concrete must be opened, parts needed, and timing — nights and weekends typically carry an emergency rate. We do not quote prices sight unseen; a pro assesses your specific job.
No. FlowFast is a free referral service. We connect you with up to three independent local plumbing professionals, and you work directly with the pro you choose. We do not employ plumbers, own trucks, or perform the work ourselves.
Shut off the water main first — know where it is before an emergency. Then kill power or gas to a leaking water heater, move valuables out of the water's path, and photograph damage for insurance. Then call: if water is still flowing, it is an emergency request.
We advise against it for real blockages. Chemical cleaners rarely clear anything beyond minor buildup, they can damage older pipes, and they make the eventual professional visit hazardous. A plunger or hand auger is safer; a pro's cable or hydro-jetter solves the stubborn ones.
Safe DIY covers plunging, cleaning stoppers and aerators, replacing a toilet flapper, and shutting off the water main. Call a pro for anything inside walls, anything gas-related, sewage, main-line clogs affecting multiple fixtures, and installations requiring permits.
We connect homeowners with independent plumbers across all 50 states — from major metros to smaller cities. Enter your ZIP on any location page to check coverage in your area.
Repair when the unit is under about 8 years old and the problem is a replaceable part — element, thermostat, or valve. Replace when the tank itself leaks, the unit is past 10–12 years, or you are calling for repairs every year.
The most common cause is a hidden leak — a running toilet, a weeping supply line, or a slab leak. Check the water meter: note the reading, use no water for two hours, and read it again. If it moved, you have a leak worth professional detection.
They solve different problems: softeners remove hardness minerals (scale, spots), while filters address taste, odor, chlorine, and sediment. A simple water test shows what your water actually needs — get tested before buying equipment.
Service-specific FAQs
Each service page explains the process in detail and answers the questions people ask most about that job.
Still not sure what you're dealing with?
Describe it in the request form — or just call. We'll ask a few questions and connect you with an independent local pro who can assess it properly.
FlowFast connects you with independent local plumbing pros. It does not perform plumbing work itself.
Plumbing problem? Don't wait on it.
Tell us what's happening and we'll connect you with an independent local plumber who fits the job.