Don't Be Alarmed Over Fizzy Tap Water

Hey Johnston: Bellevue recently replaced the water main in front of our house. Now our drinking water comes out "fizzy" with little air bubbles in it. The air bubbles go away in minutes if the glass is left standing. But what causes this, and is it harmful?

Answer: Mike Jackman, who is the water-quality guy for the Bellevue water department, said a pocket of air is in your main line but should go away pretty soon.

When the work was being done on the water-main line, air got in the big pipe, and every time you turn on your water, some of that air ends up inside your house.

As you noted, the air bubbles dissipate in a few minutes.

Jackman said there is nothing unhealthful about the water, but it may be unsightly to some. He said if the problem continues, call his office, and the department will send out a crew to drain the water main and make sure only clear water is flowing out.

Hey Johnston: Since Market Street was widened at Juanita Bay Park, motorists have been driving over a metal cover in the road, and the buses thump it every 10 minutes. You can hear it echo throughout the valley.

I've called Puget Sound Energy and Kirkland, but everybody's giving me the shuffle. All they need to do is put rubber around the cover!

Answer: You could hear doors slamming at the Kirkland street department as crews rushed out to solve this problem. But they reported they stood at this intersection for a half-hour, watched traffic whiz by and never heard a bump or thump.

They needed a more exact location, and we supplied it. Your bumps and thumps will be checked and, we hope, silenced.

Hey Johnston: If a neighbor requests we take a tree down to enhance his view, who pays?

Answer: If your neighbor wants your tree removed to improve his view, the neighbor should pay for it.

Even if your tree fell down and crushed your neighbor's house, his home insurance would pay the damage unless he could prove that he warned you that your tree was a danger.

Hey Johnston: We have a realtor who has represented us admirably. He is to receive his portion of a 6 percent real-estate commission.

What is industry thinking and my realtor's expectation of an additional tip for doing good work? If appropriate, how is such a tip calculated?

Answer: We were so stunned by your question that we had to send it to Elizabeth Rhodes, who covers real estate like the morning dew for The Seattle Times. We are used to people complaining about service, not saying they are happy with it.

Elizabeth said your agent doesn't "expect" to receive anything above and beyond his cut of the commission - many folks think that is enough - but the standard tip for services is 15 percent. You have to decide on 15 percent of what - sales price? Total commission? His commission?

Mr. Johnston would be happy with a letter sent to the head cheese at the guy's office, saying what a wonderful job he did and how you would recommend that office to all your friends and family members. ------------------------------- How to Just Ask Johnston: This column appears Mondays and Wednesdays in the Eastside edition. Leave your questions on Steve Johnston's voice mail at 206-464-8475. Or write: Just Ask Johnston, c/o The Seattle Times, 10777 Main St., Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98004. The e-mail address is east@seatimes.com