The Unfortunate Reality of Slab Leaks

July 5th, 2021

woman-and-child-dancing-on-wood-floorFor those people who have already dealt with a slab leak, the term is pretty scary. It describes a leak that occurs in either the hot water (more common) or cold water lines that lie underneath your concrete foundation, and is a problem for the homes it happens in. Not only do slab leaks create a lot of water waste, they also can damage the property, lead to the growth of mildew and mold, plus add extra strain to the water heater if the leak is occurring in the hot water lines.

Our trained and experienced professional plumbers are well equipped to accurately locate and repair these issues. But what causes a slab leak to begin with? Shouldn’t a plumbing pipe that is set down in your concrete be pretty protected from the damage that can lead to pipe breaks and pinhole leaks?

Well actually, there are a few different things that can create a slab leak. Read on to learn more.

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Do You Have a Plumbing Leak?

June 21st, 2021

brown-pipe-with-leakPlumbing leaks definitely make the top of the list when it comes to common problems faced by homeowners in our area. Pipes are designed to last a very long time, however, factors such as age and water pressure do take their toll eventually. As a result, a leak can spring up and leave you with property damage or at least wasted water. Our professionals can conduct professional leak detection services to determine where your leak is and accurately repair it.

It is imperative that you allow a trained and experienced professional handle a problem like this. Of course, you also need to know when it’s time to even call for leak detection services. Are there signs you can watch out for that you may have a plumbing leak? There certainly are! Read on to learn more.

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The Benefits of Trenchless Sewer Relining

June 7th, 2021

sewer-line-dug-upWhen it comes to modern homes, there probably isn’t a more important plumbing component than the sewer line. A broken sewer line leads not only to unsanitary conditions, but it can totally stop up any plumbing use you have in your home. Pretty much, you won’t be able to use your plumbing until you get it fixed. And for that, you’ll need a professional who can get the job done as quickly as possible.

The good news is, you’ve come across this blog post, so you have access to professional plumbers with extensive experience in the Glenview area and beyond! We have a number of techniques and tools we utilize for reliable plumbing repairs, including trenchless technology. In the past, repairing an underground pipe meant digging up landscaping, and potentially even breaking through slab inside your property. It was time-consuming and expensive for homeowners! Fortunately, now there is trenchless sewer relining, which we are pros at! Read on to learn more about the benefits of this service.

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Does Your Home Need Pipe Relining?

May 24th, 2021

sewer-line-unearthedTo answer this question, it first helps if you understand what pipe relining is. This describes a process where we insert, through trenchless technology, an inflatable lining that hardens once it’s inserted into your sewer line. This is the easiest way to fix leaks and other damage that may have occurred to your sewer line.

Most homeowners don’t really think about this much, but the sewer line of your plumbing system is probably the most important part of your plumbing system, removing wastewater from your home safely and hygienically.

Sewer lines are usually buried beneath the yard, which keeps them unexposed so they’re less likely to suffer from damage that can come due to weather-related wear and tear or animals. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean they’re immune to problems, and those problems can be hard to spot since the sewer line is underground.

So how can you spot sewer line trouble, such as a leak?

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Don’t Ever Put These Items Down Your Kitchen Sink Drain!

May 10th, 2021

drain-with-water-going-downBefore you toss that banana peel down your kitchen sink drain and turn on your garbage disposal system, read on! Although garbage disposals are very convenient and simply to use, they’re not designed to chew up all uneaten scraps. In fact, there are many items that homeowners wouldn’t even think are damaging for their garbage disposal system or their kitchen sink drain, however, they can do a lot of damage.

So, we’re here this week to provide homeowners with a quick guide on what should and should not go down the kitchen sink drain. Hopefully, you and your family can avoid some plumbing catastrophes with these tips.

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Why Are Tree Roots Bad News for Plumbing?

April 26th, 2021

split-drainage-pipe-with-roots-in-itThere are a number of reasons that your plumbing system’s sewer line is buried beneath your property. For starters, your yard and home are more visually appealing this way. It’s also for functionality as well as safety and hygiene.

Unfortunately, this does mean that your sewer line is out of sight—so hard to spot problems with it when those problems occur. One of the problems that sewer lines are susceptible to is tree root infiltration.

Tree roots, since they’re constantly searching for a water source, actually are a fairly common find inside damaged sewer lines. And not only do they lead to leaks in the line, but they cause clogs and backups too. Even the smallest leak that exists in the sewer line can attract them too.

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When Is It Time to Call a Professional Plumber?

April 12th, 2021

woman-looking-under-sink-at-leaking-pipe-while-on-phoneSometimes, it can be difficult to detect the kind of shape that your plumbing is in. In fact, most homeowners don’t think about their plumbing system very much at all, particularly when nothing is necessarily going terribly wrong. Out of sight, out of mind after all, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t the best mindset to have about your plumbing.

It’s pretty much inevitable that at some time, you will need a plumbing repair. When this does happen, it’s important that you’re able to address it right away in order to prevent it from becoming a bigger emergency. So, what are the signs that it’s time to call in a pro?

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What’s a Slab Leak and How Do You Know You Have One?

March 29th, 2021

modern-kitchenYou may have heard the term slab leak before and not thought much of it. If you are a homeowner or even a renter though, then it’s a term you want to know. It’s the term given to any leak that occurs in the cold or hot water pipes that run beneath the concrete foundation of your home. Slab leaks not only create substantial water waste, but can also result in property damage, leading to mold and mildew growth among other issues. A slab leak can also add extra strain to your water heater if the leak is happening in the hot water lines—and this is most frequently where they occur.

Fortunately, you have our professional and reliable plumbers on your side to help. But what causes a slab leak anyway. Shouldn’t a pipe set down in concrete be well insulated from such problems?

The thing is, there are a number of factors that can lead to a slab leak. We’ll uncover them below.

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How to Protect Your Garbage Disposal and Kitchen Sink Drain

March 15th, 2021

sink-drain-with-water-flowing-downIf you are one of hundreds of homeowners throughout Skokie and beyond that utilizes a garbage disposal in their kitchen sink, then you probably think it can handle just about anything. Garbage disposal systems are very convenient and easy-to-use. But, this system was not designed to chew up all your uneaten scraps. In fact, it doesn’t “chew up” much of anything.

Your garbage disposal functions by using a motor to spin impeller “blades” to break up what’s going down the drain. This is great if you have cooking scraps or leftovers involving things like boneless meat, and most fruits (without pits) and veggies. There are some things though, that really shouldn’t go down the drain, both for the sake of the garbage disposal system and the sink drain itself. Keep reading to learn what these things are.

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Heed These Signs You Need Toilet Repair

March 1st, 2021

toiletDo you know what part of your plumbing system gets the most use every day? If you guessed your water heater, you’re probably right.

Okay, do you know the part of your plumbing system that gets the second most use every day? Your toilet! And it’s a plumbing appliance that you really need to be able to rely on, right? But when you use an appliance like this every day, it’s naturally going to accumulate wear and tear, and eventually, you will need some kind of repair, no matter how minor.

Fortunately, the pros from Reliance are here for you when that happens. But how do you know when to give us a call? You’d need to know the signs that your toilet is in trouble. Read on to learn what a few of these signs are!

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