When Yelm's homes were built
60% went up 2000 to 2019
A tank put in with a 2010 house is 16 years old. Most last 8 to 12. Check yours.
Yelm, WA · Thurston County
Yelm's newer homes need a plumber too.
Six in ten Yelm homes went up between 2000 and 2019, so their first water heaters are now 7 to 26 years old. Eric Williams, a state-certified plumber from Eatonville, handles the repairs and replacements that come next.
- Licensed plumbing contractor
- Bonded & insured
- Eric does the work
Freeze watch · Yelm · live
Will Yelm pipes freeze this week?
Overnight lows for Yelm from the National Weather Service, updated every time you load this page. Nights at 32°F or below are marked.
Loading the Yelm forecast…
Source: National Weather Service forecast for Yelm, WA (api.weather.gov)
What to do if a pipe freezesWhat Eric does in Yelm
The plumbing in a Yelm house, handled.
Frozen & burst pipes
Thawed, repaired, and insulated so it doesn't happen again next winter.
Frozen pipe repairLeaks & repairs
Dripping, running, leaking or just not working right. Found and fixed.
Drains
Slow sinks, clogged tubs and backed-up lines cleared.
Bathrooms & kitchens
New fixtures, showers, tubs and full remodel plumbing.
Repipes & new lines
Old or failing supply lines replaced, and plumbing for additions and new builds.
Eatonville to Yelm
West across the valley to Yelm.
About 20 miles, 35 minutes
Yelm is the farthest west of the towns Eric covers. Call ahead and he'll tell you straight when he can get there.
City of Yelm or Thurston County
Inside city limits, permits go through the City of Yelm. Outside them, Thurston County.
Nearby, too
Yelm homes, by the numbers
A young town with long winters.
Freeze season near Yelm
77 freezing nights a year
Oct 14first freezeApr 29last freeze
SepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
Normal dates at Olympia Airport, 14 miles west. It hit 7°F on Dec 31, 2021.
Renters
1 in 3 homes is rented
Renters: call your landlord first. Landlords: Eric works with you directly.
First water heater?
The next one needs two straps and a demand response port. What's included.
Frost-free spigot?
It only drains with the hose off. A hose left on can split the pipe in the wall.
Inside city limits?
Permits go through the City of Yelm. Outside, Thurston County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 (Yelm city, 3,748 homes). NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals and daily records, Olympia Airport.
Yelm questions
Straight answers for Yelm homes.
Updated November 2026
Does ECW Plumbing work in Yelm?
Yes. Yelm is one of the 10 towns Eric Williams serves from Eatonville, along with Roy, Spanaway and Graham. Call (253) 254-4061 or send a request with your address.
Who handles plumbing permits in Yelm?
Yelm is in Thurston County, not Pierce. Inside city limits the City of Yelm handles permits and inspections. Outside city limits, Thurston County does.
My frost-free outdoor faucet froze. How?
A frost-free spigot only drains when nothing is attached. Leave a hose on and the water stays trapped inside it, where it can freeze and split the pipe inside the wall. You may not see the leak until spring, when you turn it on.
Take hoses off before the first freeze. If you think one split, open it and have someone check inside the wall or crawlspace for drips.
How cold does it get around Yelm?
At Olympia Airport, the nearest long-running NOAA station about 14 miles west of Yelm, the 1991 to 2020 normal is 77 nights a year at or below 32°F. Recent lows there: 7°F on December 31, 2021, 11°F on January 14, 2024, and 12°F on February 12, 2025.
How far is Yelm from Eatonville?
About 20 miles by road, roughly 35 minutes. Call and Eric will tell you straight when he can get there.
Water heater giving out in Yelm? Call Eric.
If water is coming through a ceiling, shut off the main first, then call.