Is Your Water Heater Ready to Call it Quits?

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

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

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

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

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

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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How to Properly Care for Your Commercial Garbage Disposal

August 19th, 2019

tools-sitting-on-kitchen-sinkIf we called your residential plumbing system complex, what do you think we’d call your commercial plumbing system? Especially if you run a kitchen? There are a number of components that must run efficiently, but also effectively, safely, and cleanly.

Something like a Glenview commercial garbage disposal system causing a backup in your commercial kitchen sink can be detrimental to business interruptions. So, are you caring for yours properly? Read on to find out!

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Is a Slab Leak a Big Deal?

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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How to Detect Subtle Leaks Before They Become Emergencies

July 22nd, 2019

pipe-with-blue-cloth-tied-around-leakIn an ideal world, you’d never need an emergency plumber in Evanston, IL. Unfortunately, however, the occasional plumbing emergency is almost a rite of passage for any homeowner. In fact, it’s one of the most common home problems we deal with around here.

Even a minor leak such as a dripping faucet can waste gallons of water over the course of a year—as much as they trick you into thinking they’re not a big deal. The good news is, there are signs you can watch out for that indicate you have a leak, before that leak becomes a huge, costly and home damaging emergency.

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Does Your Home Need a Sump Pump?

July 8th, 2019

birds-eye-view-of-sump-pump-systemIf you live in one of our service areas, the answer is most likely going to be a “yes,” but please allow us to elaborate!

Essentially, if you’ve ever had standing water in your home’s basement or crawlspace, you need a sump pump. Considering how much rain and snow melt we get every year, this is a very real threat in the Evanston and greater Chicagoland area. Expertly installed sump pumps, however, are created to keep your home free of this standing water and flooding in order to protect your entire home from side effects such as mold and mildew growth, and rot that can develop from both.

When you’re ready to have on put into your basement, simply call the professional and trusted Evanston, IL plumbers on our team. In the meantime, read on to learn more about these convenient and necessary devices.

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