Field Notes

Intelligence for homeowners.

No fluff, no filler. What things cost, what fails first in the desert, and when to put the wrench down and pick up the phone.

Latest · Plumbing · 7 min read

Fixture Upgrades That Pay: Faucets, Shower Heads, Toilets, and Honest Math

Some fixture upgrades quietly repay you every month and some are just decorating. Here is the honest math on faucets, shower heads, and toilets in a city where every gallon is pumped uphill.

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Plumbing · 5 min read

Caulk: The Cheapest Insurance Your Bathroom Can Buy

A bead of caulk is the only thing standing between your shower water and your subfloor. Here is how to spot a failed bead, and why Arizona's dry heat retires caulk early.

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Plumbing · 7 min read

The Water Heater Age Test: Read the Serial Number Before It Reads You

Your water heater knows exactly how old it is; the information is printed on its side in code. Here is how to read it, what Phoenix hard water does to the countdown, and why failures prefer 2 a.m.

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Plumbing · 6 min read

Shower Valve Anatomy: What's Behind the Wall

Your shower handle is the doorknob. The machine is behind the tile. A plain-English tour of valves, cartridges, and trim, and why the repair bill depends on which one failed.

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Plumbing · 6 min read

Garbage Disposal Rules: What It Eats, What It Doesn't

The garbage disposal is the most misunderstood appliance in the kitchen, mostly because of its name. Here is what it actually handles, how to unjam it, and when to stop fixing it.

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Plumbing · 5 min read

The Real Cost of a Running Toilet

A running toilet sounds like a nuisance. By EPA estimates it can waste up to 200 gallons a day, which makes it a utility you did not sign up for. Here is the arithmetic, and the repair-or-replace call.

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Plumbing · 7 min read

DIY or Call Someone? An Honest Decision Framework

Some repairs are yours to make and some will cost you double if you try. Here is a straight framework for deciding, including the permit and code questions nobody mentions on YouTube.

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Plumbing · 6 min read

How to Read Your Water Bill Like a Leak Detector

Most homeowners read one number on the water bill: the amount due. The other numbers are a monthly leak report, and they will tell you about a problem months before your ceiling does.

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Plumbing · 6 min read

The Monsoon Prep Checklist: What to Fix Before the Sky Opens

Phoenix gets most of its annual rain in about ten weeks, and your house finds out fast whether you prepared. Here is the checklist to work through before the first storm, not after it.

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Plumbing · 6 min read

Hard Water in Phoenix: What It Actually Costs You

Phoenix tap water carries a heavy load of dissolved minerals, and every fixture in your house pays the toll. Here is where the damage shows up first and what the repair math looks like.

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