Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

“Should I be Concerned about Water Hammer?”

Monday, January 6th, 2020

woman-covering-her-earsFirst, it’d probably be helpful for you to know what water hammer is, so we can appropriately answer this question. It sounds ominous, but it describes a sound—a sound that resembles knocking, coming from inside your pipes. You may have heard it before and had no idea what the cause of the noise was.

Water hammer isn’t an emergency, but it is something to be concerned about in the sense that you want to have it addressed by a professional ASAP. To find out why it’s occurring and the problems it presents, keep reading!

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Beware the Insidious Slab Leak!

Monday, December 23rd, 2019

insidious-slab-leaks There is no plumbing system anywhere that is 100% flawless. At some point or another, you’ll need a clog cleared out or a pinhole leak repaired. You may even need a sewer line cleared out of tree roots or a leaky faucet replaced. There is one plumbing problem in particular though that is especially insidious, and that’s a slab leak.

What is it that makes a slab leak so bad? After all, aren’t all leaks created equal? Well, that’s something we’re going to explore below—and we will also provide some tips for helping you spot the signs of a slab leak so you can take quick action if and when you encounter one in your home. Give us a call if you have any questions or concerns!

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How to Spot a Plumbing Leak

Monday, November 25th, 2019

water-running-down-a-drainIf you’re lucky, you’ll never need an emergency plumber in Evanston, IL. Of course, nobody can guarantee this—but we can certainly lower your risk! How so? By detecting and repairing leaks quickly and accurately.

Here’s the thing—plumbing leaks are notoriously hard to locate and even tougher to fix for the average homeowner. Most of your plumbing system, after all, is hidden from sight, and the problems that usually impact this system are subtle to start. This is why we recommend you scheduling yearly preventive maintenance with our team.

But in addition to that, we think you should familiarize yourself with the warning signs that your plumbing system is having some type of problem. On the rare chance that a problem occurs between maintenance sessions, you’ll be able to detect it quickly and have it repaired. Keep reading to learn about common symptoms and what they may mean.

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Is Your Water Heater Ready to Call it Quits?

Monday, November 11th, 2019

technician-serving-water-heaterThere’s something you should know about this time of year, especially if you have a water heater. No, we’re not about to warn you against frozen pipes—though that is a very real threat it’s unlikely to affect your water heater! But the cold winter air can have a negative impact on your water heater, especially if it’s aging. The chilliness causes the metal of your water heater tank to expand and contract, threatening the structure of the system.

Regardless of whether or not your water heater is old or new, one thing is for sure—this is a vital part of your overall Wilmette, IL plumbing system, and it needs to be taken care of properly through regular maintenance. Otherwise, you can find yourself facing a broken down water heater when you need it the most. Is your water heater about to call it quits? Keep reading for some common signs of a water heater in disrepair.

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Avoiding Holiday Hazards in Your Kitchen

Monday, October 28th, 2019

washing-lettuce-in-kitchen-sinkAs much as we don’t want to think about it quite yet, Thanksgiving is just a short month away. Are you hosting this year? Perhaps this means you’ll be doing a considerable amount of cooking? We can’t necessarily help you with any culinary tips, but we can tell you how to treat your kitchen sink this time of the year.

There are some important factors to be aware of when you’re cooking big meals, regardless of whether or not you have a garbage disposal system, but you may even want to be more vigilant about kitchen sink care if you do have a disposal system. Remember, when you need professional help with your plumbing in Des Plaines, IL, we’re the team to call. In the meantime, read on about how to avoid some common holiday hazards.

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How to Protect Your Home against Heavy Rain

Monday, October 14th, 2019

heavy-rain-causing-floodingWhen you think about Evanston in the winter, or really any part of Chicagoland, you likely think about snow. Snow and snowmelt do indeed pose a threat to the integrity of your home, but there is another concern that not too many homeowners think about, and that’s rain.

The last thing you need to deal with this winter is a flooded basement or any other type of water-related damage. The good news is, there are Evanston, IL plumbing systems that can help! No, they won’t stop the rain or snowmelt of course, but they can absolutely prevent the damage that can occur due to winter weather.

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Avoid This Winter Plumbing Problem

Monday, September 30th, 2019

icicles-hanging-off-pipe“Wait, what?” you might be wondering, “Why are we already talking about winter? Didn’t Fall just start?”

Well, yes. But honestly, this is an important topic, and we’d rather you be safe than sorry by planning ahead. Once our temperatures do drop to a point below freezing, your pipes are in danger. This may not seem like an urgent need, but if you’ve reached the middle of January to all of the sudden find yourself with a burst pipe or similar plumbing problem, you’ll be sorry if you didn’t take precautionary measures.

And that’s what we’re going to talk about today. We want to help you take the appropriate steps to make sure that frozen—or worse, burst—pipes won’t become an issue for your living space. We’d like you to take warning now, so that it won’t even be a concern later. Frozen pipes are a problem enough, but what they lead to when they thaw—burst pipes—is even worse. Of course, if you do run into any sort of plumbing problem, you can reach a trusted plumber in Evanston, IL just by dialing our number. In the meantime, read on to learn how to avoid this common winter plumbing problem.

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The #1 Way to Prevent Plumbing Emergencies

Monday, September 16th, 2019

homeowner-dealing-with-plumbing-emergencyWe’re going to cut right to the chase here—the best way to avoid a call for emergency plumbing in Evanston, IL is by properly caring for your plumbing system, with routine plumbing maintenance.

You probably already know that plumbing systems can develop problems in all kinds of ways, most of which can be difficult to detect. In fact, by the time a plumbing issue does advance far enough to start causing obvious symptoms, it’s probably already done considerable damage. You, of course, don’t want that to happen! This is why preventing plumbing maintenance is so important. Keep reading below to learn more about this service and how often you should schedule it.

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Are Your Pipes Knocking? Water Hammer and Other Common Plumbing Problems

Monday, September 2nd, 2019

plumber-working-on-pipesDo you know how to watch for the biggest signs that you have a plumbing problem on your hands? Some signs are obvious of course—like water gushing from a burst pipe across your kitchen floor, a toilet that won’t flush, or a clogged up kitchen drain that a plunger has no hope of relieving.

Not every problem with your water lines in Glenview, IL is obvious though! Some are sneaky, particularly if they start small. Let’s say you hear a faint knocking, for instance. You may brush it off as a sound coming from outside, or even your house “settling.” But that knocking could actually be from your pipes, and is a sign of water hammer!

This means there’s too much pressure inside your plumbing system, or valves have become loose. This can eventually lead to leaks, and should be remedied by a professional plumber right away. Water hammer isn’t the only common plumbing problem we get called for, either. Keep reading for 4 more signs you need a professional plumber.

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Is a Slab Leak a Big Deal?

Monday, August 5th, 2019

kitchen-slab-flooringLet’s put it this way—it’s not minor! In fact, once a slab leak has progressed to the point that you actually see the damage it’s causing, if it’s after-hours then it’s time to call for 24-hour plumbing in Park Ridge, IL.

Now, the chances that you’ll own a home for 50 or so years and never run into a problem with your plumbing system are very slim. Some plumbing problems are in fact very minor—such as a leaky faucet or a slow-moving drain that requires a pro with a drain snake to easily remove (please, don’t use caustic, store-bought “solutions.”)

So, what makes a slab leak so bad? After all, all leaks are equal, right? Well, it’s not that a slab leak is unique or special in some way, but the damage it can and does inflict is nothing to take lightly.

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