Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Wilmette’

Can I Handle Many Plumbing Jobs on My Own?

Monday, July 3rd, 2023
tools-sitting-on-kitchen-sink

It’s great to be handy around the house, isn’t it? If you’ve got the right tools, a little know-how, and dedication, you can take care of small troubles in your house without the need to call for a professional service.

Does this apply to plumbing? We won’t lie to you and say there aren’t plumbing tasks you can do as DIY projects. It’s easy to replace the aerators on faucets for example, some of which you don’t even need a wrench to remove. But when it comes to most plumbing jobs, a belt of tools and an online tutorial won’t cut it. You need licensed plumbers in Wilmette, IL to take care of the job. We’ll explain why.

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What You Need to Know About Home Flood Control Systems

Monday, April 24th, 2023
heavy-rain-causing-flooding

Spring is when Illinois experiences heavy rainfalls and even flooding. It’s not pleasant to think about flooding for your home, but if you have good flood control systems in Wilmette, IL, you’ll have much better peace of mind. (And remember, even when it’s not the rainy season, a major plumbing disaster in your home can also result in flooding.)

But do you have a good flood control system? Unfortunately, homeowners often don’t think about this until flooding happens, either in their home or across their outside property. There are various components of flood control systems to help homes deal with yard drainage, basement drainage, and rain harvesting.

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Avoid Frozen and Burst Pipes in Winter With These Basic Tricks

Monday, November 21st, 2022
Ice cubes

Nobody wants to call for an emergency plumber in Wilmette, IL in the middle of winter because frozen or burst pipes have brought their home to a standstill. Unfortunately, burst pipes are one of the most common plumbing issues to strike homes during our winters, and it often feels to homeowners as if pipe freeze is inevitable—at some point, it’s going to strike your home.

But this isn’t true: pipe freeze leading to burst pipes is something you can avoid if you know the precautions to take. Right now in November is the right time to take them! We’ll go through the basic tricks of stopping pipe freeze and the plumbing emergency it causes.

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How the Water Heater Can Raise Your Energy Bills

Monday, September 12th, 2022

Few appliances in a home use up as much power as the water heater. Heating and air conditioning systems account for significant power consumption, but these are seasonal appliances. A water heater will run almost every day, and whether it’s an electric or gas-powered unit, it’s probably the biggest source of energy consumption in your house.

So when you start to see a sharp rise in your utility bills, one of the first culprits to consider is the water heater. Is your home’s water heater responsible for these high energy costs?

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What You Need to Know About Water Heater Tank Flushes

Monday, March 28th, 2022

tank water heaterThe water heater in your house can account for around 17% of the energy used in your home each year. That makes it the appliance that consumes the most power of any single indoor appliance in the household. Unlike a gas-powered furnace, you rely on your water heater almost every day, so it’s especially important to have it well taken care of. Without regular maintenance, a water heater can quickly become a huge energy drain and will wear down far faster.

The water heater tank flush is one of the key parts of regular maintenance that keeps a water heater running at higher energy efficiency and helps ensure a long service life. We’ll answer some important questions about tank flushes in this post. 

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How to Resolve (And Prevent) Frozen Pipes

Monday, December 20th, 2021

icicles-hanging-off-pipeWhen you live in a place with icy winters, you’ll face the same concern every year with your plumbing: the fear of frozen pipes. Handling frozen pipes is an important job for anyone who does professional plumbing in Wilmette, IL for a living. We’ve certainly handled our fair share of frozen pipe repairs in the years we’ve been in business.

What can you do about frozen pipes? The simple answer is to call us. There are various “home remedies” you can uncover online, but attempting to thaw a frozen pipe often leads to the pipe bursting because of the increase in internal pressure. We’re ready to help when you have frozen pipes, and we have 24/7 service available. We are here for you!

For the rest of this post, we’ll go into some important tips on how you can avoid frozen pipes in the first place. 

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What to Know about Drain Cleaning Solutions

Monday, September 13th, 2021

water-running-down-a-drainThe #1 thing you should know about drain cleaning solutions is that if using them is your method to clean your drains on a regular basis, then you’re actually doing more harm than good to your plumbing system.

Let us elaborate!

First off, we understand. One of the most irritating plumbing issues a homeowner deals with is clogged or backed-up drains. You may be doing something as seemingly benign as brushing your teeth when all of the sudden you have a backed-up and overflowing sink. It’s only natural that you want a quick and simple fix. And nothing is faster and easier than using a bottle of store-bought drain cleaning solution, right?

Unfortunately, fast or even affordable does not necessarily mean effective. Read on to learn more!

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Is Your Sewer Line Damaged?

Monday, February 1st, 2021

sewer-line-with-tree-rootsIf there is any part of your plumbing system that’s most important, it may very well be the sewer line—the pipe that removes wastewater from your property and moves it into the civic sewer system cleanly away from your home. Sewer lines are usually buried underground, in your back or front yard, safe from damage that can come from inclement weather and other types of wear and tear.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that your sewer line is immune to all problems. Your landscaping like trees and shrubs can grow roots that infiltrate the line, for instance. A shift in the soil could cause instability and pipe breakage, too.

Fortunately, if this does happen, all you need to do is give our team a call. But, how do you know when it’s time to call? Read on as we uncover some common signs of sewer line damage.

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Top 5 Signs You Have a Plumbing Leak

Monday, January 18th, 2021

brown-pipe-with-pinhole-leakWe’ve all seen those movies or TV shows when a character walks into their home on a rainy day to discover water pouring from a spot on their ceiling. There are usually buckets involved and as dramatic as it is, it’s also usually resolved pretty quickly.

We have some bad news for you. Fiction is definitely not reality. The truth is, most leaks are actually from plumbing systems, not damaged roofs and rainy days. And once they’re coming through your ceiling or drywall, they’ve gotten really bad. They’ll require professional plumbing repairs and probably repair to your property as well.

We’d like to help you avoid getting this far. Fortunately, there are some ways you may be able to detect a leak before that leak grows dramatic-movie-worthy. Read on as we uncover the top 5 signs that you have a plumbing leak.

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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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