Homeowner Resources

Is a 12-Year water heater worth the extra money? Here's how we help homeowners decide. They call because they don't have hot water, their water heater is leaking, the pilot light won't stay lit, or they've been told it's time for a replacement. Once we've determined that replacing the water heater makes sense, we usually present two options: a standard 6-year model and a 12-year model.

At McCray & Sons Home Services, we've been helping homeowners throughout West Sacramento, Sacramento, Davis, Natomas, and the surrounding communities make that decision of whether to repair or replace your water heater for more than a decade. One thing we've learned is that there isn't one answer that's right for everyone.

If you're researching the difference between a whole house fan and an attic fan, you're not alone. These two systems are often confused because both help manage heat—but they serve very different purposes.

Have you ever noticed the outlets in your bathroom or kitchen with the little "Test" and "Reset" buttons? Those are called Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets, and they're one of the most important electrical safety devices in your home.

Summer has a way of flying by. Before you know it, the hottest weeks of the year have arrived, and your home has already spent months battling heat, sun, dust, and daily wear. Taking just a little time in July, using this mid-summer home maintenance checklist, to inspect a few key areas can help prevent costly repairs later this year.

If you’ve owned a home long enough, chances are you’ve adapted to little plumbing annoyances. Maybe the toilet runs for a few seconds every now and then. Maybe the kitchen sink takes a little too long to get hot water. Maybe there’s a faucet handle everyone in the house knows not to touch “too hard.”

If you’ve ever turned on the shower, bathroom sink, or kitchen faucet and waited… and waited… and waited for hot water to arrive, you’re definitely not alone. Many homeowners assume something is wrong with their water heater when the real issue may simply be how far the hot water has to travel through the plumbing system before it reaches the fixture. That’s where a hot water recirculation pump system may help.

Most homeowners don’t think about their main water shutoff until something goes wrong. A pipe bursts, a supply line fails, or water starts leaking where it shouldn’t. In those moments, every minute matters.

If you’ve ever had a plumber suggest replacing angle stops, or a shutoff valve under your sink or behind your toilet, your first thought might be that it’s never given me a problem why replace it now?

If your bathroom outlet suddenly stops working, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common issues we see in homes around West Sacramento and the greater Sacramento area. Before you assume something is broken or start thinking you need electrical repairs, it’s worth checking a few simple things first. A lot of the time, the fix is quick and doesn’t require tools.

If you’ve ever turned on your shower or kitchen faucet and suddenly noticed weak water flow, you’re not alone. A water pressure drop is one of the most common issues homeowners deal with, and it can definitely catch you off guard.

When a toilet keeps running, it means water is continuously moving from the tank into the bowl. Even if it seems minor, that slow, steady flow can add up quickly on your water bill. Some toilets run nonstop, while others cycle on and off throughout the day. Either way, it’s a sign that something inside the tank isn’t doing its job correctly.

Here are 10 of the most common warning signs we see in the field that may indicate your water heater is starting to fail.

We performed a targeted slab repair, replacing the damaged section of pipe, pressure testing the system, and restoring the concrete. When it failed, we addressed the issue at its source, and performed a full domestic repipe, rerouting the system overhead through the attic.

At McCray & Sons Home Services, we recently completed a tank to tankless water heater conversion in Sacramento, helping a homeowner make better use of space in a compact home.

When a West Sacramento homeowner realized his kitchen storage was no longer working, he reached out to McCray & Sons Home Services for help. We had worked together previously, so when new frustrations surfaced in his mobile home kitchen, he knew who to call.

Learn how to prepare for a home service visit to avoid delays and ensure a smooth appointment. Helpful tips for homeowners in West Sacramento and surrounding areas.

We recently helped a homeowner who had been quietly managing a sewer issue for years without realizing how severe it had become. Like many sewer problems, it didn’t start with a sudden failure. It developed slowly and, for a long time, appeared manageable.

Gas leaks are one of those issues homeowners often sense before fully understanding them. A faint smell that comes and goes. Something that does not feel urgent, until it suddenly does.

The start of a new year is usually when people reset routines. Calendars get updated. Old habits get reconsidered. Things that have been “good enough” suddenly feel worth addressing. Your home’s plumbing deserves the same kind of reset. Not because something is failing, and not because you need a major project, but because many plumbing issues quietly become part of daily life without anyone realizing they do not have to be.