Homeowner guides · Des Moines & Central Iowa
Plumbing & HVAC, demystified.
Real prices, honest repair-vs-replace advice, and what to do when something breaks — written by the techs who do the work in Des Moines.
HVAC · 7 min ·
AC Replacement Cost in Waukee, Iowa: 2026 Guide (and Why Fall Is the Time to Buy)
Most central AC replacements in Waukee run $4,500–$8,500 installed in 2026. A single-stage system for a smaller home lands near the low end; larger two-stage or variable-speed systems for big newer homes run toward the top. New systems use R-454B refrigerant, so the indoor coil is usually replaced along with the outdoor unit.
Read the guide →Emergency · 7 min ·
Water Heater Leaking? What to Do in the Next 10 Minutes
Water heater leaking? Shut off the cold supply, kill the gas or power, find the source and protect the floor. The 10-minute plan, plus repair costs.
Read the guide →HVAC · 7 min ·
Do Heat Pumps Work in Iowa Winters? Cold-Climate and Dual-Fuel Systems Explained
Do heat pumps work in Iowa? Yes, with limits. How cold-climate and dual-fuel systems handle sub-zero nights, what they cost and when they make sense.
Read the guide →Iowa Homeowner Tips · 7 min ·
Daylight Saving Ends: The Fall-Back Home Safety Checklist for Iowa
Clocks fall back Nov. 1, 2026. Use the extra hour for this November home maintenance checklist: alarms, furnace filter, sump pump, water heater and more.
Read the guide →Plumbing · 7 min ·
Spooky Plumbing Noises Explained: Gurgling Drains, Water Hammer and the Toilet That Runs by Itself
A toilet running by itself is usually a leaky flapper. What gurgling drains, banging pipes and a popping water heater mean, and which ones need a plumber.
Read the guide →Plumbing · 7 min ·
Sump Pump Replacement Cost in Des Moines (Plus a Fall Testing Checklist): 2026 Guide
Most Des Moines sump pump replacements run $400 to $900, and $600 to $1,200 to add a battery backup. Costs, a fall test and frozen discharge line fixes.
Read the guide →HVAC · 7 min ·
Furnace Filters Explained: MERV Ratings, 1-Inch vs 4-Inch, and How Often to Change Them
Change a 1-inch furnace filter every 1–3 months and a 4-inch media filter every 6–12 months. Which MERV to buy, and which way the arrow goes.
Read the guide →Plumbing · 7 min ·
Drain Cleaning Cost in Urbandale, Iowa: 2026 Guide
Most Urbandale drain cleaning runs $95 to $350, or $400 to $800 for hydro-jetting. Costs for sinks, toilets and main lines, and why roots are so common.
Read the guide →Emergency · 7 min ·
Carbon Monoxide Safety for Iowa Homes: Furnaces, Water Heaters and Detectors
Carbon monoxide from a furnace, water heater or garage: where CO detectors go, when to replace them, and what to do the moment one goes off.
Read the guide →Plumbing · 7 min ·
Sewer Smell in Your Basement? Dry Floor Drains, P-Traps and What Else It Could Be
A sewer smell in the basement is usually a dry floor drain trap. How to fix it in minutes, the other common causes, and when it's a sewer line problem.
Read the guide →HVAC · 7 min ·
Furnace Replacement Cost in West Des Moines: 2026 Guide
Most West Des Moines furnace replacements run $4,000 to $9,000. Cost by efficiency, what drives the price, and when to replace the AC too.
Read the guide →Plumbing · 7 min ·
How Much Does a Plumber Cost in Des Moines? 2026 Price Guide
Most everyday Des Moines plumbing repairs run $95 to $700; bigger jobs run into the thousands. 2026 prices for common jobs and how plumbers charge.
Read the guide →HVAC · 7 min ·
Furnace Not Turning On or Blowing Cold Air? 7 Checks Before You Call
Furnace not turning on or blowing cold air? Try these 7 safe checks first: thermostat, power, door switch, filter, gas, error code and condensate drain.
Read the guide →Iowa Homeowner Tips · 7 min ·
How to Winterize Outdoor Faucets in Iowa Before the First Hard Freeze
How to winterize an outdoor faucet in Iowa: pull the hose, tell frost-free from standard, shut off and drain the line, and spot a split sillcock in spring.
Read the guide →Plumbing · 7 min ·
Water Heater Replacement Cost in Ankeny, Iowa: 2026 Guide
Most Ankeny water heater replacements run $1,000 to $2,000 for a tank and $2,800 to $5,500 for tankless. 2026 costs by type and what adds to the bill.
Read the guide →HVAC · 7 min ·
Fall Furnace Tune-Up in Des Moines: What's Included and Is It Worth It?
A fall furnace tune-up in Des Moines runs $99 to $150. What a real 20-point check covers, what it catches before January, and how to spot an upsell visit.
Read the guide →Plumbing · 7 min ·
How Much Does Water Heater Replacement Cost in Des Moines? [2026 Pricing Guide]
What does a new water heater cost in Des Moines in 2026? Real numbers for tank, tankless, gas, electric — plus what drives the price up or down.
Read the guide →HVAC · 6 min ·
7 Signs Your Furnace Is Dying (Before It Quits in January)
Iowa winters don't forgive a dead furnace. Here are 7 warning signs we look for — catch them now and you'll never be the house without heat at -15°F.
Read the guide →Iowa Homeowner Tips · 6 min ·
Frozen Pipes in Iowa: How to Prevent Them and How to Thaw Them Safely
What every Iowa homeowner needs to know about frozen pipes — why they happen, how to stop them, and what to do (and NOT do) when a line freezes.
Read the guide →Emergency · 4 min ·
Plumbing Emergency in Des Moines? The First 5 Minutes Matter Most
What to do in the first 5 minutes of a plumbing emergency — shut-off locations, what to photograph, what to tell us when you call. Save this page.
Read the guide →Got a leak? A weird noise? No AC?
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