From the team
The PSPS Blog
Guides, project notes, and practical advice on caring for property across the Puget Sound region.
Bathroom Fans and Moisture: The Small Upgrade That Prevents Mold
A bathroom fan is one of the cheapest mold-prevention tools in a Puget Sound home — if it's sized right, vented correctly, and actually used. Here's how to tell whether yours is doing its job.
Read moreWindow Condensation in Fall: Normal, or a Ventilation Problem?
Foggy windows show up every fall as the weather cools, but the amount and pattern of that condensation tells you whether it's harmless or a sign your home needs better ventilation — and how to tell it apart from an actual leak.
Read moreLicensed, Bonded, Insured: What Those Words Actually Mean in Washington
"Licensed, bonded, and insured" gets printed on nearly every contractor's website and truck door, but the three words cover three different protections. Here's what each one actually means for homeowners and property managers hiring a contractor in Washington state, and how to verify it yourself.
Read moreWhen to Flush Your Water Heater — and When It's Too Late to Bother
Flushing a water heater is often sold as a cure-all, but it only helps under certain conditions. Here's how to tell whether flushing yours will actually extend its life — or whether you've waited past the point where it matters.
Read moreYard and Downspout Drainage: Keeping Winter Rain Away From Your Foundation
Where your yard sends winter rain matters as much as your roof does. Here's how to spot poor drainage before it reaches your foundation, and what to do about it.
Read moreWashing Machine and Dishwasher Hoses: The Most Common Water Damage Cause Nobody Checks
A cracked supply hose costs a few dollars to replace and about ten minutes to check. Left alone, it's one of the most common — and most avoidable — sources of major water damage claims we see.
Read moreWhere Is Your Water Shutoff Valve? Map It Before You Need It
When a pipe bursts, every second spent searching for the shutoff valve is a second of water damage you can't undo. Here's how to find yours, mark it clearly, and make sure everyone in the house can act fast.
Read morePrepping Rental Properties for Heating Season: A Property Manager's Checklist
Heating failures during the first cold snap generate more emergency calls than almost anything else property managers deal with. Here's the preventive checklist that catches most of them before tenants ever notice.
Read moreThe Pre-Winter Crawl Space Check: Moisture, Vapor Barriers, and What You're Looking For
Crawl spaces in older Seattle homes are where wet-season problems start quietly, months before anyone notices. Here's what to look for down there before the rains settle in for good.
Read moreHow to Test Your Sump Pump Before the Wet Season
A sump pump that hasn't run since spring won't announce that it's failed — it'll just stay silent during the storm that needed it. Here's the ten-minute test that tells you now, while there's still time to fix it.
Read moreWinterizing Outdoor Faucets and Hose Bibs: A 15-Minute Job That Prevents a Burst Pipe
A hose bib left unprotected through a Puget Sound cold snap can freeze, split, and flood a wall once it thaws. Here's the simple, step-by-step way to winterize outdoor faucets before that happens.
Read moreRoof Moss in the PNW: What It Actually Damages and When to Treat It
Roof moss looks alarming, but the damage story is more specific than most homeowners assume. Here's what moss actually does to a roof, what it doesn't, and how to know if roof moss removal in Bellevue and the rest of the Eastside is urgent or optional.
Read moreGutter Cleaning Before the Rains: Why September Beats November
Waiting until the fall rains hit to clean your gutters means doing the job in the worst possible conditions. Here's why September is the better window for Seattle-area homeowners — and what happens if you wait.
Read moreRepair or Replace? A Budgeting Framework for Aging Building Systems
Water heaters, roofs, HVAC units, and plumbing lines all wear out — the question is never if, but when to stop repairing and start budgeting for replacement. Here's how to make that call with numbers instead of guesswork.
Read more5 Warning Signs Your Rental Property's Plumbing Needs Attention Now
Slow drains, water bill spikes, and old fixtures don't fix themselves. Here's how property managers can spot plumbing problems before they turn into emergency calls and unhappy tenants.
Read more7 Signs Your Rental Property Needs Preventive Plumbing Work
Most plumbing failures don't come out of nowhere — they leave warnings first. Here's what property managers should watch for before a slow drip becomes an emergency call and a damaged unit.
Read moreHow to Read a Contractor's Estimate (And What to Watch Out For)
A contractor's estimate tells you more than just a price — if you know how to read it. Here's what every line item means, what should always be included, and the red flags that separate trustworthy bids from ones that will cost you later.
Read moreWhat to Do in the First Hour of a Water Leak
A pipe bursts or an appliance fails — what happens in the next 60 minutes determines how bad the damage gets. Here's the exact order of operations, from shutting off the water to calling for help.
Read moreFall Home Maintenance Checklist for Pacific Northwest Homeowners
Essential fall maintenance tasks to protect your Pacific Northwest home from our wet, mild winters — from gutters to heating systems.
Read morePassing Your Section 8 Inspection: A Puget Sound Landlord's Guide
What inspectors actually check, the items that fail units most often, and how to pass on the first visit — written for landlords and property managers across King County.
Read moreWelcome to the PSPS Blog
A quick introduction to what we'll be writing about — practical property advice for owners and managers across the Puget Sound.
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