Winterizing a Tri-Cities Home: Pipes, Hoses and Crawl Spaces
A fall checklist for the spots that freeze first in local houses.
GUIDES
Guides for Tri-Cities Homes
Written for houses in a desert town with cold winters, crawl spaces and two rivers.
Prevention and Planning
A Month-by-Month Water Damage Calendar for the Tri-Cities
What tends to go wrong each season, and the five-minute check that heads it off.
How Old Is Your Water Heater? Reading the Label
Decoding serial numbers and the signs a tank is near the end.
Irrigation and Sprinkler Line Breaks Near the Foundation
How a yard leak ends up under the house, and what to check.
Swamp Cooler and AC Condensate Leaks
Summer leaks from cooling equipment, and how to spot them early.
Finding and Understanding Damage
Where Water Hides in Tri-Cities Homes
Crawl spaces, slab edges, wall cavities and attics: where leaks go unseen.
Why Dry-Climate Homes Still Get Mold After a Leak
Low humidity outside doesn't dry a soaked subfloor.
When Snow Does Come: Ice Dams and Roof Leaks
Why a rare snowfall can still put water through the ceiling.
Water Damage Glossary: Terms You'll Hear From Contractors and Adjusters
Plain definitions, from Category 3 water to equilibrium moisture content.
Local Homes and Rivers
Alphabet Houses and Mid-Century Plumbing
What a leak means in Richland's Hanford-era and postwar homes.
Yakima River Flooding: West Richland, Benton City and Prosser
Flood stages at Kiona, flood insurance, and cleaning up after river water.
Water Damage in Manufactured Homes
Belly-board leaks, skirting and why water spreads differently.
Money, Claims and Rentals
What Drives the Cost of Water Damage Cleanup
The factors behind the bill, and how to read a scope of work.
What Adjusters Look For After a Water Claim in Washington
Coverage basics, the evidence that matters, and why claims stall.
Landlords, Tenants and Water Damage in Washington Rentals
Who reports what, who fixes what, and what renters insurance covers.