RT Olson Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning logo
Resources

Plumbing, Heating and Air Resources

Guides, checklists, and explainers from RT Olson Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning on plumbing, water heaters, drains, heating, and air conditioning.

Water Treatment in Corona, CA: Softeners, Filters, and RO Systems Explained
October 6, 2026

Water Treatment in Corona, CA: Softeners, Filters, and RO Systems Explained

Corona's groundwater runs very hard. Here's how a water softener, carbon filter, and reverse osmosis system differ, which one your home needs, and what installation costs.

20 Ways to Save Money on Your Water Bill
October 4, 2026

20 Ways to Save Money on Your Water Bill

Cut your water bill with 20 real tips, from fixing a single dripping faucet to spotting the signs of a hidden leak, plus how to tell when a high bill is really a hidden leak.

Automatic Leak Detector & Shut-Off Valve: How It Works
October 4, 2026

Automatic Leak Detector & Shut-Off Valve: How It Works

An automatic leak detector and shut-off valve senses flow down to one drop per minute and can cut water to the house before a slab leak spreads. Here's how it works, what it catches, and what installation involves.

Heating Repair in Canyon Lake, CA: What It Actually Costs and When To Call Someone
October 4, 2026

Heating Repair in Canyon Lake, CA: What It Actually Costs and When To Call Someone

Furnace short-cycling or blowing cold air in your Canyon Lake home? Here's what a heating repair call covers, real cost ranges, and how to tell repair from replacement.

How Does a Water Softener Work?
October 4, 2026

How Does a Water Softener Work?

A water softener uses ion exchange to pull calcium and magnesium out of hard water. Here's how the resin bed, brine tank, and regeneration cycle work, plus what it costs to run.

How Much Does a Water Softener Cost? (2026 Corona, CA Price Guide)
October 4, 2026

How Much Does a Water Softener Cost? (2026 Corona, CA Price Guide)

Most installed water softeners for a single-family home run about $1,500 to $3,000. See what drives the price, monthly upkeep costs, and when a basic system isn't enough.

How to Drain a Washing Machine (Manually, Safely, and Without Flooding the Laundry Room)
October 4, 2026

How to Drain a Washing Machine (Manually, Safely, and Without Flooding the Laundry Room)

Tub won't drain? Shut off the power and water lines, free the drain hose, and siphon it into a bucket below the water line. Here's the full step-by-step, plus how to tell a pump clog from a house drain problem.

How to Drain a Water Heater (Step-by-Step, Plus When to Just Flush It)
October 4, 2026

How to Drain a Water Heater (Step-by-Step, Plus When to Just Flush It)

How to drain and flush a water heater step by step, how long a 50-gallon tank takes to drain, why it drains slowly, and what to check while you are at it.

How to Find a Water Leak in Your Home's Plumbing (Step by Step)
October 4, 2026

How to Find a Water Leak in Your Home's Plumbing (Step by Step)

Use your water meter to find out if a leak is inside your home, outside in the yard, or underground. A step-by-step test any Corona, CA homeowner can run today.

How To Get Rid Of Drain Flies (And Keep Them From Coming Back)
October 4, 2026

How To Get Rid Of Drain Flies (And Keep Them From Coming Back)

Small flies hovering around your sink or shower drain? Here's what drain flies are, why bleach often fails to kill them for good, and when it's a clog, not a bug problem.

How to Install a New Garbage Disposal
October 4, 2026

How to Install a New Garbage Disposal

Step-by-step guide to replacing a garbage disposal yourself: tools needed, mounting the flange, wiring, and when to call a licensed plumber instead.

How to Remove Chlorine From Tap Water
October 4, 2026

How to Remove Chlorine From Tap Water

Whole-house carbon filtration and under-sink reverse osmosis remove chlorine, chloramine, and by-products from tap water. Here's what actually works, what doesn't, and how to test your water first.

How to Replace a Bathtub Faucet (Step-by-Step)
October 4, 2026

How to Replace a Bathtub Faucet (Step-by-Step)

Learn how to replace a bathtub faucet spout in under 30 minutes. Step-by-step instructions for both screw-on and set-screw styles, plus when to call a plumber.

How to Replace Your Toilet's Water Supply Line
October 4, 2026

How to Replace Your Toilet's Water Supply Line

Replace a toilet water supply line in under 30 minutes: shut off the valve, drain the tank, swap in a braided steel line, and avoid the leaks a cracked rubber line causes.

How To Size A Water Softener (Step-by-Step Grain Calculation)
October 4, 2026

How To Size A Water Softener (Step-by-Step Grain Calculation)

Sizing a water softener comes down to 3 numbers: your water's hardness in grains per gallon, your household's daily water use, and the weekly grain capacity those two multiply into. Here's the full calculation, worked example included.

How to Unclog a Garbage Disposal (Step-by-Step)
October 4, 2026

How to Unclog a Garbage Disposal (Step-by-Step)

A sink full of standing water and a disposal that just hums? Here's how to clear a garbage disposal clog yourself, tool by tool, before you call a plumber.

How to Unclog a Shower Drain (And a Slow Bathroom Sink)
October 4, 2026

How to Unclog a Shower Drain (And a Slow Bathroom Sink)

How to unclog a shower drain with standing water, a hair clog, or a slow bathroom sink: safe DIY steps, what to skip, and when a Corona, CA plumber should take over.

No Hot Water in the Shower? Here's What's Actually Going On
October 4, 2026

No Hot Water in the Shower? Here's What's Actually Going On

No hot water in the shower but it's fine at the sink? Here's how to tell a water heater problem from a shower valve problem, plus what fixes each one.

Why Is My Water Heater Making Noise?
October 4, 2026

Why Is My Water Heater Making Noise?

Popping, banging, hissing, or crackling water heater? Here's what each sound means, which ones are urgent, and how hard water sediment causes most of them.

What Is PEX Piping?
October 4, 2026

What Is PEX Piping?

PEX is flexible cross-linked polyethylene tubing that has replaced copper in most new construction and repipes. Here's what it is, where it holds up, where it doesn't, and the PEX-A vs PEX-B vs PEX-C difference.

What Size Tankless Water Heater Do I Need?
October 4, 2026

What Size Tankless Water Heater Do I Need?

Sizing a tankless water heater comes down to flow rate (GPM) and temperature rise, not just household size. Here's how to calculate both for your home.

Best Leak Detection Company in Corona, CA: Our Top Pick and How To Compare
October 2, 2026

Best Leak Detection Company in Corona, CA: Our Top Pick and How To Compare

The best leak detection company in Corona, CA: RT Olson Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, 4.9 stars across 612 Google reviews, licensed and local since 2014. See how the top options compare.

Cooling Repair in Chino, CA: What's Actually Wrong and What It Costs to Fix
September 29, 2026

Cooling Repair in Chino, CA: What's Actually Wrong and What It Costs to Fix

AC blowing warm air in Chino? Here's how to read the warning signs, what cooling repair actually costs, and when a repair stops making financial sense.

Duct Cleaning in Chino Hills, CA: What It Costs, What It Does, and When You Actually Need It
September 24, 2026

Duct Cleaning in Chino Hills, CA: What It Costs, What It Does, and When You Actually Need It

Considering duct cleaning in Chino Hills? Here's what professional duct cleaning costs, how the process works, when it's worth it, and how to avoid getting oversold.

How Much Does a Plumber Cost in 2026 (Real Price Ranges by Job)
September 20, 2026

How Much Does a Plumber Cost in 2026 (Real Price Ranges by Job)

Service calls, drain cleaning, water heaters, slab leaks, here are the real 2026 plumber cost ranges by job type, plus the four factors that push a number up or down.

Licensed Plumber in California: What a C-36 Means and How to Verify One in 60 Seconds
September 18, 2026

Licensed Plumber in California: What a C-36 Means and How to Verify One in 60 Seconds

A C-36 is California's plumbing contractor license. Here's what it covers, which jobs legally require one, and how to verify any plumber's license on the CSLB website in under a minute.

How to Pick the Best Plumber Near Me (A Homeowner's 10-Minute Checklist)
September 8, 2026

How to Pick the Best Plumber Near Me (A Homeowner's 10-Minute Checklist)

Searching for the best plumber near you? Use this checklist to compare quotes, spot red flags, understand flat-rate vs hourly pricing, and hire with confidence the first time.

August 28, 2026

Local Plumber vs National Chain: What Actually Changes When You Call

Who owns the truck, who sets the price, and how dispatch works at 2am, here's what's actually different between a local plumber and a national plumbing franchise before you book.

Pipe Burst? What To Do in the First 10 Minutes
August 17, 2026

Pipe Burst? What To Do in the First 10 Minutes

A pipe just burst? How to shut off your home's water, what to do in the first 10 minutes, what not to do, and when to call a plumber.

August 12, 2026

Low Water Pressure in Your House? Here Are the Usual Suspects

August 9, 2026

Tankless vs Tank Water Heaters: Which Is Right for Your Home?

August 6, 2026

Furnace Repair or Replace? The 50% Rule and Other Ways To Decide

August 3, 2026

Hydro Jetting vs Snaking: Which Drain Cleaning Method Do You Need?

How Long Do Water Heaters Last? When To Repair vs Replace
July 29, 2026

How Long Do Water Heaters Last? When To Repair vs Replace

How long a water heater should last (tank vs tankless), how to tell its age from the serial number, warning signs it is going out, and when to repair vs replace.

7 Warning Signs of a Slab Leak (and What To Do About Them)
July 27, 2026

7 Warning Signs of a Slab Leak (and What To Do About Them)

What a slab leak is, what causes one, the 7 warning signs to watch for, and what to do (and not do) before a plumber arrives.

July 21, 2026

Chemical Drain Cleaners vs Calling a Plumber: What Actually Works

Need help instead of reading?

We answer the phone 24/7.

Call Now: (951) 344-5596