Wolff Water Heaters LLC

10/06/2026

What is a Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV)? A small valve that does a big job.

Most homes receive water from the city at a higher pressure than fixtures and appliances are designed for. A PRV is a valve that reduces that pressure to a safer, more consistent level inside the home - we prefer 50-70PSI.

When a PRV starts to fail, it can leak and/or stop regulating pressure (like the old one in these photos). High pressure puts extra stress on pipes, faucets, toilets, washing machine hoses, and water heaters.

We covered this in our August newsletter, visible here: https://mailchi.mp/af7b484310bd/august-newsletter-1821513

If you're noticing higher-than-normal pressure, banging pipes, or a leaking valve near you main shut-off, we'd be happy to take a look for you!

10/02/2026

The infamous "I hit it with my shovel" call..

A long-time customer of ours accidentally hit her main water line while digging a couple days ago. She was able to connect a solid repair section herself, but it wouldn’t hold pressure. That’s when she called us.

We got out to her the same day, replaced the damaged section with a strategic repair, and had her water back on securely and leak-free again within a couple hours.

Even the most careful homeowners have those “oops” moments. The great part about working with the same customers for years is they already know we’ll show up and take care of it when the "oops" emergencies happen.

Have a surprise plumbing oops of your own? Give us a call or send us a picture and we'll be there for you!

10/01/2026

This simple upgrade that makes a difference once the weather turns!

Older hose bibs often use multi-turn handles and aren’t frost-free. The newer ones we install are frost-free with quarter-turn valves. These are faster to use and far less likely to freeze when overnight temps dip.

We’ve already had a few hose bib replacement calls as the nights have cooled. If yours aren’t frost-free, it’s a good time to start covering them or consider swapping them out before a hard freeze.

We’re happy to take a look if you’d like hose bibs upgraded!

09/30/2026

Behind the walls and under the floor!

Before any tile, drywall, or fixtures go in, this is what the plumbing looks like. We have exposed studs with the shower valve and head lines roughed in, the support structure under a future shower pan, and the clean stub-outs waiting for a vanity.

Getting this stage right is, by far, the most important task! A proper layout and solid backing ensure the finished bathroom is reliable and make service down the road easier.

We take care of bathroom remodels from rough-in through final install. It's always interesting to see the bones of the job before everything gets covered up!

09/25/2026

This air filter came out of a 6-year-old Navien, Inc tankless water heater.

The homeowners were pretty convinced the unit needed to be replaced (or that a shower valve was the problem) and were ready for a replacement quote. We asked if we could take a look first.

What we found was an air filter packed with dust and debris, A failing check valve, and a flow sensor needing replaced..plus the unit was overdue for standard descaling and maintenance.

At only 6 years old, there was no reason to replace the whole heater. As a family-owned company, we’d rather fix what’s actually wrong than sell a new unit when it’s not needed.

If your tankless, or tank, isn't functioning the way it should or used to, it’s often worth diagnosing before deciding it has to go. Give us a call and we'd be happy to take a look!

09/22/2026

Commercial electric boiler install ✅

We installed this Electro Industries electric boiler for a temple in Seattle. Unlike a standard water heater, this unit provides hydronic heat through multiple zones, supports several mens' and womens' bathrooms and showers, and a kitchen.

You can see the electric boiler on the left, expansion tank in the middle, and the copper manifold with zone pumps feeding the red PEX lines that run out to different areas of the building.

Electric boilers like this are a clean option when gas isn’t available or when the building needs precise zone control. We made sure everything is laid out for easy service and clear flow.

This was definitely an interesting system to work on and a good example of how different commercial and residential plumbing can be!

09/21/2026

Slow kitchen drain? Here’s what we actually do to find the problem.

For this call, we started under the sink with a drain snake, then ran our Milwaukee Tool camera scope down the same line so we could see exactly what was going on inside the pipe. The screen showed some buildup, but no solid blockage yet.

Later we used a cleanout in the basement to keep tracking where the restriction was. While we cleared some small buildup from these drain accesses, we did not hit any large blockage. This property may need a closer look into the main drain line in the future.

The camera is one of the most useful tools we carry. It takes the guesswork out of drain issues and shows us (and the homeowner) what’s really happening inside the pipes instead of just hoping the snake fixed it.

If you’ve got a drain that’s been running slow, it’s usually better to take a look before it turns into a full clog.

09/19/2026

PROPANE TANKLESS WATER
We only do a handful of these each year, but they’re a solid option for homes that don’t have natural gas, especially more remote properties that still want the efficiency of tankless.

A few things worth knowing:

1 Propane tankless units do run a bit dirtier than natural gas models, so regular descaling and maintenance are important.
2 They’re still significantly more efficient than a standard electric tank.
3 They also tend to be more reliable than many electric tankless units, which can be finicky with power quality and flow rates.

If you’re off the natural gas lines but want endless hot water without a big tank, propane tankless is worth considering.

Have questions about whether it would work for your place? Give us a call and we can evaluate your space together!

(pictured is a Rinnai propane tankless unit, our preferred tankless manufacturer)

09/18/2026

If you're not sure what type of gas water heater you have, you’re not alone — most homeowners don’t.

There are four main venting styles a gas water heater could have:

Atmospheric Vent
The most common type. A metal vent pipe up through the roof carries exhaust up, as hot air rises naturally. You'll see an upside cone or funnel shape where your tank meets the vent piping. (pictured)

Direct Vent
Pulls in outside air and vents exhaust back outside through a horizontal or vertical pipe (often PVC or metal). System with a box between the tank and the vent piping. (pictured)

Power Vent
Has a fan that pushes the exhaust out, usually through a side wall. Gives more flexibility on placement. System with a fan between the tank and the vent piping.

Direct Vent Power Vent
Combines both — sealed combustion and a fan. Less common, but useful in certain installs. (pictured, black box/fan)

Knowing which venting style you have helps with maintenance, replacement options, and safety.

If you’re not sure what yours is, feel free to send a photo or give us a call! We're happy to help you figure it out.

09/12/2026

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Here is the September Newsletter:

With the increase in main line and inside-the-home leaks we were called out to during July and August, we felt the need to discuss Emergency Shut-Off Readiness in our September Newsletter.