Plumbing emergencies are among the worst types of household emergencies you can run into. Nobody wants to be caught with a burst appliance that’s sending water all over the place or unusable toilets. But we have some good news for you. Two pieces of good news, actually.
First, you have a reliable 24-hour plumber ready to help you—Reliance Plumbing! No matter the date or the time, you can reach us for emergency plumbing service.
Second, you can take preventive steps to lower the chance of running into big plumbing emergencies. Below are some ways you can keep emergency calls to a minimum.
Schedule routine professional maintenance for your plumbing
This is the best way you can avoid not only emergencies with your plumbing, but all other types of repairs and annoyances. You’ll prevent most drain clogs, catch parts of the plumbing that are decaying, and have hidden leaks located faster. We offer membership in a special maintenance program that helps take care of your plumbing so it works in peak condition around the year.
Pay close attention to what goes down drains and toilets
Clogs, damaged drain pipes, and sewer line problems are leading causes of major plumbing emergencies. You can’t prevent all of these troubles, but you can fend off most of them if you know what you should and shouldn’t put down drains and toilets. For toilets, only human waste and toilet paper should ever get flushed down them. Never flush sanitary wipes, even if they claim they’re “flushable.” These wipes can wreck sewer lines when they clump together into a difficult-to-remove emulsion. For other drains, try to keep out fats, oils, and grease (important for kitchen drains) and hair. We recommend using drain strainers to help keep your drains clean.
Properly winterize your pipes
The winters in Illinois are harsh, and burst pipes are a major source of plumbing emergencies during the season. In fall, take steps to winterize the pipes: use insulation sleeves for exposed pipes, never let the house temperature drop lower than 55°F when you’re away, drain outdoor hoses and disconnect them from bibs, and occasionally allow faucets to drip. If you need help winterizing your pipes, just call us.
Don’t use corrosive chemicals on your drains
Unfortunately, many people are lured by the “easy” solution to cleaning out drain clogs: using store-bought “drain cleaner” chemicals. These chemicals are highly acidic and will lead to long-term damage to your drains because of their corrosive action. They’re not good for you, your family, or your pets as well because of their high toxicity levels.
Act quickly when you notice water pressure changes
If water pressure in your house drops, even slightly, don’t ignore it. These small changes may come from a minor problem (such as silt in an aerator), but if they’re occurring all around your house, they can warn of problems like massive leaks or damage to the water main. Call for plumbers as soon as you can and you’ll help to head off a big emergency later on.
For expert plumbing service, installations, or maintenance contact Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc. Our knowledgeable plumbers serve the North Shore and Northwest Chicago suburbs. Rely on Reliance!