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

It’s Not a Ghost! The Truth About the Hammering in Your Pipes

Monday, July 15th, 2024
close-up-view-of-copper-pipes

Houses make noise. They may creak and groan as they settle. Appliances turn themselves on and off. Perhaps mice scuttle in the walls. But if you’re hearing a sudden hammering sound, it can be very startling! Don’t worry, your house isn’t haunted. But if a ghost isn’t knocking around, banging into your plumbing, what could that terrible sound be?

This sound is caused by a serious plumbing problem. It’s called water hammer, and if you’re hearing it, you need a plumber. What’s going on in your pipes to make that sound? We’ll tell you all about it.

Continue Reading

Wait! Don’t Put That Down Your Garbage Disposal!

Monday, June 17th, 2024
water-swirling-down-a-sink-with-garbage-disposal

It’s incredibly handy to have a garbage disposal in your kitchen sink. It makes cleanup so much easier, especially if you have a large family or frequently host guests. And it can cut down on unpleasant odors from your trash can, since it won’t be full of decomposing food. So you want to take excellent care of that disposal, and keep it in good condition for as long as possible.

The most critical thing you can do is to make sure the disposal doesn’t get damaged by items that shouldn’t have gone down the sink at all. This means knowing exactly what should go down the disposal and—most importantly—what shouldn’t. How can you tell? Consult this handy list!

Continue Reading

Be Prepared for Plumbing Emergencies

Monday, June 3rd, 2024
water-spraying-out-of-a-damaged-pipe

We spend a lot of our lives hoping that disaster won’t strike. But, at least in minor ways, some amount of disaster is inevitable. It’s important not to dwell on it too much, but it’s equally important to do what you can to be prepared. And plumbing emergencies are one of those things that can really throw us for a loop when they happen!

The best way to minimize damage and additional problems as a result of a plumbing emergency is to stay calm. You’ll be able to take the necessary steps to get the problem resolved as quickly as possible if you know what those steps will be. Read on to find out how to make sure that you’ll be prepared when a plumbing emergency does occur, so you can relax, knowing you can tackle whatever happens.

Continue Reading

7 Signs You Need A Water Leak Detection Test 

Monday, May 20th, 2024
7 Signs You Need A Water Leak Detection Test

Water leaks in your plumbing can lead to various issues, from structural damage to mold growth. Detecting leaks early can save you from costly repairs and water wastage. Here are seven signs that indicate your Glenview home needs a water leak detection test.

Continue Reading

Slab Leaks: All You Need to Know!

Monday, May 6th, 2024
Finger Plugging Water Leak

Have you ever heard of a slab leak? It’s not a term that comes up often in everyday conversation, but understanding what it is and how to deal with it can save you from significant headaches down the road. This comprehensive guide will give everything you need to know about slab leaks in Evanston, including what they are, how to spot them, what causes them, the risks of ignoring them, and crucial prevention tips.

Continue Reading

Slab Leaks: All You Need to Know!

Monday, April 22nd, 2024
Finger Plugging Water Leak

Are you familiar with the term “slab leak”? If not, you’re not alone. Slab leaks are a lesser-known but potentially serious issue affecting homes, especially those with concrete slab foundations. In this blog post, we’ll delve into slab leaks, their causes, how common they are, signs to watch out for, and what steps to take if you suspect a slab leak in your Evanston home.

Continue Reading

Spring Cleaning? Make Plumbing Maintenance Part of It!

Monday, March 11th, 2024

As the days grow longer, it is time for homeowners to start thinking about spring cleaning. Sure, Spring cleaning will involve washing walls, ceilings, baseboards, and windows but it also is the perfect time to tackle various home maintenance tasks, and plumbing maintenance should definitely be on your list.

Here are a few things you can do to aid with plumbing maintenance in Des Plaines. By inspecting and maintaining your home plumbing, you can keep things running smoothly for longer.

Continue Reading

The Effects of Water Hammer on Your Plumbing

Monday, February 12th, 2024
hammer-house-wrench

You hear a sudden clang coming from the walls of your home, like a hammer striking metal. It’s not a ghost… it’s the plumbing. The sound you’re hearing is the result of water hammer, which occurs when there are no air cushions in the pipes to absorb the shock wave that occurs when water suddenly stops moving because a tap is shut off.

The name “water hammer” sounds intimidating. Is water hammer dangerous in Glenview? Is it bad for your pipes? We can ease your mind about the “dangerous” part: water hammer isn’t something that poses a physical threat to you or your family’s health. As for whether it’s bad for the pipes—that’s a definite yes. In fact, water hammer has several deleterious effects on plumbing, which is why we encourage you to call for our professional plumbers to look into water hammer in your home as soon as you begin to notice it.

Continue Reading

Why You Should Only Hire Licensed Plumbers

Monday, January 15th, 2024
sink-drainpipe-plumber-at-work

We can’t stress enough how important it is that you turn to licensed plumbers, and licensed plumbers only, when you need plumbing work in your home. Too many people like to attempt to tackle plumbing problems as DIY projects, and far too many others will turn to an unlicensed “handyman” when they’ve got plumbing woes. Neither is a good idea—especially when it’s easy to reach out to us and hire our licensed plumbers in Evanston, IL, or elsewhere in the Northshore and Northwest Chicagoland Area.

Why licensed plumbers? There are many reasons, but here are the five main ones…

Continue Reading

The Impact That Hard Water Has on Your Plumbing

Monday, December 4th, 2023
pipes-corroded

You’ve probably heard about hard water and know that it’s not something you want flowing through your home’s plumbing. Hard water refers to water that contains a high volume of dissolved minerals, mostly magnesium, calcium, and gypsum. Hard water is common in cities: the minerals seep into the water through the ground and enter the pipes so water treatment plants can’t counteract it. 

The best way to eliminate hard water in your home is to have a special water softener installed. You can call on our plumbers in Glenview, IL to install one of these devices, which uses sodium ions to replace the hard water ions. 

But why bother at all? Since hard water isn’t harmful to drink, why make the effort to put in a softener? The answer is that hard water is often ruinous for plumbing and appliances. It comes with several other side effects that can make life in your house a bigger hassle. We’ll look at what hard water does to your plumbing so you’ll know why a water softener is a good idea.

Continue Reading