Changes a Tankless Water Heater May Require in Your House

March 27th, 2023
tankless-water-heater

We are big advocates for tankless water heaters at Reliance. Installing a tankless unit in a house is a great way to cut down on energy costs—keep in mind that a home’s water heater consumes more power than almost any other appliance. Tankless water heaters also save space, last for years longer, and have the benefit of never running out of hot water.

There are downsides to tankless water heaters compared to more traditional water heaters, however. One is the initial cost of installation. A tankless water heater can pay back that initial cost in a few years, but it can present a barrier for some homes. In addition to the price tag, tankless water heaters can’t always be simply snapped into place after taking out the home’s older water heater. The home may need several plumbing and electrical upgrades to accommodate the new water heater. We’ll look at several below.

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How Tree Roots Can Damage Your Plumbing

March 13th, 2023
tree-root-cutaway

If you look out the window of your house, do you have a pleasant view of trees and bushes around a well-kept yard? It’s a relaxing sight to look at—but you might not be aware that those trees and other plants can present a danger to a part of your house. The growth of plant roots can wreak havoc on the plumbing for your house, potentially creating sewage back-ups. 

Tree-roof infestation is a major problem for residential plumbing in Evanston, IL and elsewhere in the Chicago suburbs. Our climate is conducive to the growth of trees with aggressive root systems: silver maples, poplars, and willows. As these trees grow, their roots can spread far and wide, seeking sources of water and nutrients, including your plumbing system. 

So although you may love having a tree-filled yard in the suburbs, you need to be aware of the ways tree roots can damage plumbing and what you can do to prevent it. 

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Signs You Need Sewer Lining for Your Home

February 27th, 2023
Broken-Sewer-Pipe

You don’t like to think about the sewer line that carries waste from your home out to the municipal sewer system. Why would you? It’s not a pleasant subject. Most of the time it won’t even cross your mind.

Unfortunately, sometimes it needs to come onto your radar, because sewer lines aren’t indestructible. They age and can suffer from damage that will lead to leaking and clogs. A damaged sewer line is a nasty problem that can bring your life to a halt and make your home temporarily uninhabitable. 

The good news is that you have expert plumbers who can repair sewer lines and even replace them entirely with sewer lining Winnetka, IL. This process doesn’t require ripping open your yard and spending a few days fixing the trouble. We can do the work with trenchless technology, which is fast, effective, and leaves your property virtually untouched.

But first, you have to know you’ve got sewer line problems starting. Catching trouble early is the key to stopping a sewage fiasco. Below are some of the signs to call us for sewer lining service.

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No Water in Your Home? What to Do About It

February 13th, 2023
faucet-dripping

When it comes to major plumbing emergencies, one of the biggest and most likely to cause a homeowner to panic is when there’s no water from any of the faucets or taps. Running water is a necessity for modern daily life, so if you run into a “no water” situation, you’ll want to find out what’s wrong and have it corrected, quickly.

We’ll look at several of the most common reasons for having no running water in your house and what you can do about them. If you need to call for 24-hour plumbing in Skokie, IL, our team is standing by to help you. We’re experts when it comes to handling all types of plumbing emergencies.

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What You Need to Know About the P-Trap Under Your Sink

January 30th, 2023
white-pipe-with-blue-cloth-tied-on-it

If someone asked you to describe what the plumbing under your bathroom or kitchen sink looks like, you would probably mention that the drainpipe has a “U”-shaped bend to it. It’s something everyone can recognize about household plumbing but which few people think much about. 

Well, we’re going to talk about that bend in the pipe, which is known as a p-trap. It’s an important part of your kitchen and bathroom plumbing and the more you know about it, the easier it’ll be to avoid problems with it.

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What Are the Best Ways to Prevent Drains Clogs From Starting?

January 16th, 2023
sink-drain-with-strainer-in-it

We’ve written posts before about the best ways to unclog drains. This is one of the most common types of plumbing problems that affect homes, and people want quick solutions. 

But there’s an even better way to handle clogged drains in a home, and that’s to prevent them from starting in the first place! Prevention is the best tool of all when it comes to your plumbing.

There is no way that you can prevent all clogged drains. Some debris will manage to slip down the drains, and sometimes large objects may accidentally fall down into drain pipes (or intentionally, as is often the case with young children wondering what they can flush down a toilet). But, if you follow our tips below, you can significantly reduce the chance you’ll have to deal with an annoying clogged drain in Des Plaines, IL in the future.

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Common Plumbing Question: “What’s the Curve in the Pipe Below the Drain For?”

December 19th, 2022
p-trap-with-hand-gripping-it

If you’re looking for the best plumbing information from a skilled plumber in Winnetka, IL, you’ve come to the right people. Today, we’re going to look at a common questions people have about the plumbing in their home:

Why does the drainpipe under the sink have a curve in it?

Maybe you haven’t asked this out loud, but the thought has probably crossed your mind if you don’t already know the answer. We’ll explain in this post the important purpose of the drainpipe’s shape, as well as some problems you may run into with it.

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Three “Nice” Ways to Clean Your Drains—And One “Naughty” One

December 5th, 2022
Christmas-black-lab

It’s December, and we think that’s a great time to make our own “Naughty and Nice” list. We’re not Santa Claus, so we can’t make any judgments about people’s behavior. But we are exceptional plumbing professionals, so we can make judgments about the tools and methods used to clean drains. We’ve got a list with three “nice” ways to clean your drains and one extremely “naughty” one that might as well be a lump of coal jammed down a drain. 

Okay, let’s make that list, check it twice, and help you make the best decision when it comes to drain cleaning in Evanston, IL.

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Avoid Frozen and Burst Pipes in Winter With These Basic Tricks

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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Meet the Two Types of Hybrid Water Heaters

November 7th, 2022
tankless-water-heater

Today people often associate the word hybrid with hybrid electric cars that combine a combustion engine with electrical power. Hybrid is also a description for a type of water heater. Two types, actually, both of which offer specific benefits for homes. Not every home is suited for one of these hybrid water heaters, but we strongly recommend customers who are looking into water heaters in Winnetka, IL for a new installation consider the possibility of installing one.

Ah, but which one? Let’s look closer at the two water heaters that fall under the “hybrid” name.

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