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

Can You Detect a Leak on Your Own?

Monday, December 11th, 2017

faucet with slow dripLet’s say you’ve found yourself with unexplainable high water bills. Naturally, your water bills will change each month, depending on how much you use certain plumbing fixtures (for instance, you won’t be using your irrigation system in the dead of winter!) But when your utility bills spike for no reason, it’s time to take a close look at what’s going on with your plumbing.

But can you detect a leak on your own? Well, yes and no, which we’ll get to in a moment. First, it’s important that you understand why even the smallest leak is actually a pretty big deal. The US EPA states that a faucet leaking at just one drop per second wastes 3,000 gallons of water per year. And considering that a “small” leak can happen anywhere along your water lines—including underneath your slab or behind walls—this can be detrimental to your home and your water bills.

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Minor Clog or Major Plumbing Issue?

Monday, November 27th, 2017

a pipe with a pinhole leak Have you noticed a seemingly minor clog somewhere in your home? Maybe your kitchen sink drain is a bit sluggish. Or perhaps you noticed your toilet bubbling while using another plumbing fixture. Your first instinct may be to go get some of that liquid drain cleaner you can buy at pretty much any hardware store, and solve your problem that way. Unfortunately, not only is this only a temporary solution, but it can also actually damage your plumbing.

Additionally, if it’s not a minor clog as it may seem, and you actually have a more serious plumbing issue progressing, then you may be delaying repairs that could have prevented a huge plumbing emergency later on. The best thing for you to do to prevent minor clogs and major plumbing issues is schedule routine Glenview, IL drain cleaning services. Even outside routine service though, there are signs that are good to be aware of so you can call for drain cleaning before the problem gets too advanced.

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This Holiday Season, Protect Your Kitchen Sink

Monday, November 20th, 2017

Closeup of the hands of a woman washing a lettuce and some other vegetables in the kitchen sinkAs the weather chills off and we inch closer to the end of November, there’s no denying that the holidays are just around the corner. This is the time of year for giving, but also for plumbing issues! Homeowners unknowingly dispose of certain items down their kitchen drain incorrectly, overuse their garbage disposal, or don’t invest in maintenance before this heavy period of use.

As a result, they find themselves making an emergency call to a Evanston, IL plumber. While we’re available for emergencies, we would like to help you avoid them. After all, nobody wants to face a holiday plumbing disaster, right? Keep reading for some tips on how to protect your kitchen sink this holiday season.

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When Your Plumbing Problem Requires an Emergency Call

Monday, October 30th, 2017

woman with plunger at her toilet, while on the phoneGood plumbing companies often offer emergency services for those times when a plumbing problem simply cannot wait. And let’s face it, leaks, clogs and other major issues very rarely happen at a “convenient” time, let alone during normal business hours. Because your plumbing system is such a vital component to your home, you’re usually unable to just sit on the problem until you can schedule an appointment.

Calling our team for emergency services will ensure the issue gets fixed right away, and that your plumbing system will be back up to speed shortly. But how do you know when you need this particular professional Des Plaines, IL plumbing service? Well, it depends on a number of circumstances. For instance, a small drip coming from a faucet, naturally, will not be much cause for concern. If however, there’s water spreading across your kitchen floor, that’s a whole different story.

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Should You Be Concerned about Frozen Pipes?

Monday, October 16th, 2017

Portrait of male plumber fixing a sink in bathroomIf you’ve lived through even one winter around here, then you know how bitterly cold it gets. With that drop in the temperature comes an unfortunately common winter enemy—frozen plumbing. And, frozen pipes can result in a good amount of damage if not addressed. As water in your pipes freezes, it expands and puts pressure on the walls of the pipes, leading to leaks or even ruptured pipes.

To protect your plumbing from this fairly common wintertime problem, there are a few steps you can take. Read on the learn more about what you can do. And if you discover any issues with your plumbing as we progress into fall and approach winter, be sure to contact a professional plumber in Des Plaines, IL, such as any member of our team!

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Why You Should Hire a Professional for Your Commercial Plumbing Needs

Monday, October 2nd, 2017

High pressure pipe leakingPlumbing problems are likely something you’ve dealt with before in your home, and hopefully were able to resolved quickly and affordably. Unfortunately though, this is not always the case, as plumbing fixtures are mostly hidden from view and it can be hard to detect when something is wrong. When this happens in your commercial building or business, then the problem is amplified even more.

A commercial plumbing problem means a huge inconvenience for you as a business owner, and potentially even a costly business interruption. This is why when you do have a problem, you contact a professional plumber in Evanston, IL who specializes in commercial plumbing.

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Consider This When Installing Bathroom Plumbing

Monday, September 18th, 2017

Beautiful bathroom No matter what area of your home that it is, putting in new plumbing can be a tricky endeavor. It’s one that we do not recommend you take on as a “do-it-yourself” project, either. Even a seemingly minor installation that doesn’t look like it requires too much work, like putting in a new sink faucet, can turn into a disaster is handled inappropriately.

Instead, we encourage you to seek out the experts in Des Plaines, IL plumbing services, such as the pros on our team. To help you better understand why it’s so important to trust a trained and experienced professional plumber, we’ve provided a brief guide on what to consider when installing bathroom plumbing.

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Don’t Underestimate Slab Leaks

Tuesday, September 5th, 2017

Beautiful New Hardwood floors home interiorLet’s face it, without modern plumbing, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy much of the convenience and comfort you live with today. This is why any problems with your plumbing system should be considered serious enough to call for professional plumbing services in Skokie, IL. That being said, it’s important to remember that not all plumbing problems are emergencies—like a dripping faucet (which should absolutely be addressed but you wouldn’t necessarily need to make an emergency call).

There’s one plumbing problem, however, that certainly is an emergency—and that is a slab leak. These types of leaks are notoriously hard to detect, meaning you may get one that has been around for awhile before you notice anything is wrong. Slab leaks also cause real damage, so it’s important to give us a call the minute you suspect you have one.

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Should I Have an Automatic Shut Off Valve Installed?

Monday, September 4th, 2017

plumbing components laying on paperwork and blueprintsNo matter what time of the year it is—the beginning of fall, during the holidays, in the middle of winter—there is never a good time to deal with a major plumbing problem. In fact, nothing kills a good mood more quickly than a leak or similar issue that forces you to call in a professional plumber in Des Plaines, IL. The good news is, you may be able to avoid this in many cases, by taking the preventive step of having an automatic shut off valve installed.

This plumbing component is placed at the apex of your home’s plumbing system, and measures the flow rate of water through your pipes. When this rate increases past the prescribed amount (which indicated that water is actively leaking out of your system), the valve seals itself shut, cutting off the water supply for your home and successfully stopping the leak before it can grow. The benefits of such a device seem pretty clear, but we’ve highlighted the two main advantages below.

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Slab Leaks: What They Are and Why You Should Care

Monday, August 7th, 2017

a pristine looking kitchen with wood flooring, island, and cabinetsTake a good look at the image above. This is what a slab leak looks like.

That’s right, slab leaks are hidden—it all takes place beneath the foundation of your home, but as a result, can and often do cause significant property damage. The term is given to any leak that happens in the cold or hot (more common) water pipes set down in that concrete foundation. It could also refer to a pipe down in a rock surface, however, for residential buildings it almost always applies to the foundation.

In addition to the damage they can do to your house, slab leaks end up wasting extensive amounts of water and can lead to the grown of unhealthy mold and mildew. They can also place undue stress on your water heater if the leaks do occur in the hot water lines—which 80% of the time, is the case. Fortunately, our professional plumbers are well equipped and trained in slab leak detection and repair in Northbrook, IL.

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