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

The Signs That You Need to Replace Your Toilet

Monday, October 24th, 2022

woman with plunger at her toilet, while on the phoneToilets are functional items, and the most attention people pay to them is to ensure they are clean. Homeowners rarely think about having to replace a toilet, because it’s easy to consider these large porcelain appliances secured to the bathroom floor as invincible. Except for a situation with catastrophic damage, why would a toilet need a replacement?

But toilets age just like any other appliance, and toilets work every day in a house. Wear and age will eventually make it necessary to replace any toilet—and sometimes it’s a good idea to replace one early because of the amount of water older models waste. 

How can you know it’s time to replace one of your toilet? We’ll look at several of the more prominent signs.

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The Holiday Season Is a Time to Be Careful With Your Garbage Disposal

Monday, October 10th, 2022

sink-drain-with-water-flowing-downOctober marks the start of the “Big Three Holiday” months: three months in a row with significant holidays that combine food and feasting and merriment. It’s a terrific time of the year, although people do get exhausted from all of it. 

If you want to make the season less tiring and more fun, then take some steps to keep your garbage disposal in good shape. Trust us, garbage disposals are at a high risk of breaking down during the season of big meals and plenty of cooking. 

What can you do to keep your garbage disposal in top shape through the holiday barrage? We have some advice.

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What You Need to Know About Finding Hidden Plumbing Leaks

Monday, July 18th, 2022

magnifying-glassHere’s the tricky part about hidden leaks: they’re hidden. A leak gushing from under your kitchen sink because the supply line broke is easy to detect. Leaks occurring in pipes behind walls and under the floor are much more difficult to detect until they start causing major damage. You don’t want leaks to get to that point, so it’s helpful to know how you can spot the signs of hidden leaks so you can have professional plumbers act on them.

Our plumbers use the best leak detection equipment available to find hidden leaks in a house so we can repair them. You don’t have the same equipment, but you can pick up on several indicators of pipe leaks so you can call us for plumbing repair in Winnetka, IL. Below are the most common ways to detect hidden leaks.

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Common Bathroom Plumbing Troubles You’ll Need Help With

Monday, July 4th, 2022

Modern bathroomBathrooms contain the highest concentration of plumbing pipes and fixtures in a house. Consider how much is compressed into this space: a sink, a faucet, a toilet, a bathtub or shower (sometimes both), supply lines for the fixtures and multiple drainpipes to remove wastewater. Bathroom plumbing can run into a range of issues, and you won’t be able to DIY most of them. They’ll require the knowledge and tools of professionals.

Below are a few of the most common troubles you may run into with the plumbing in your bathroom that will probably require a plumber in Winnetka, IL to correctly repair.

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How Do I Know If I Need Emergency Plumbing Help?

Monday, June 6th, 2022

water-spill-on-floorPlumbing problems cause worry, even smaller ones like clogged drains. When the problems are larger, they might make you feel panicked and think you need a professional plumber on site ASAP. 

We offer 24-hour plumbing in Des Plaines, IL because we understand how urgent plumbing troubles can be for homeowners. Bad plumbing can lead to a complete loss of water, backed-up sewer lines, and flooding. Our plumbers are here ‘round the clock to ease your worries and protect your home.

But how can you know if the plumbing problem is an actual emergency or only seems like one? We’ll look into this question to help you know how to manage the next plumbing crisis to come along.

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Water Stain on the Ceiling? That’s a Serious Plumbing Problem!

Monday, April 25th, 2022

stain-on-ceilingWe often talk about the problem of hidden leaks in residential plumbing. It’s easy for these leaks to go unnoticed for weeks or months while they raise water bills and inflict damage on building materials. But today we’re going to look at when a hidden leak becomes an obvious leak. Unfortunately, it’s an obvious leak that people often still overlook or delay at getting fixed. We’re looking at the water stain on the ceiling!

You’ve probably come across this phenomenon at some point; if not in your own home than in another building. A brownish-red discoloration spreading through the drywall or other material of the ceiling. Unsightly, but maybe you only need a bit of paint to touch it up…

No, don’t do this! That stain is the sign of a leak, and it means you need fast service to have it fixed. You can worry about painting over the stain later. 

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How Long Will a Garbage Disposal Last?

Monday, April 11th, 2022

white question mark on blue backgroundYou probably use your kitchen sink garbage disposal every day, and that kind of appliance becomes easy to take for granted. Even though a disposal uses a powerful motor and does the action of grinding down food waste, people often make the assumption that a disposal will just keep running without the need to replace it. 

Of course, this isn’t true. In fact, the average life expectancy of a garbage disposal is about 10 years. After that point, although the disposal may continue to run when it turns on, it will have worn down enough that it will start to clog more frequently because it can no longer grind down food as effectively.

We can help you with your garbage disposal in Northbrook, IL when it comes time to repair it or replace it, as well as help you determine which is the best choice.

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Do You Know How to Shut Off Water to Your Home During a Plumbing Emergency?

Monday, March 14th, 2022

plumbing-valves-and-tubesNobody wants to deal with a huge plumbing emergency, but you have a great source for help when one does happen: you can call our team for 24-hour plumbing in Des Plaines, IL or anywhere else in our service area in the Northshore and Northwest Chicagoland. But before you call us, you may want to shut off the water to your house to stop potential flooding problems. This will help you get a handle on the situation and avoid excess damage and expensive remediation costs later.

But wait … do you know how to shut off your home’s water supply? If the answer is no, then we’re glad you stopped by our blog today. We can help you find out how so you’ll be prepared in case of a big plumbing emergency.

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Why Does My Dishwasher Smell?

Monday, February 28th, 2022

girl-pinching-noseThe job of your dishwasher is to make keeping clean easy—specifically, cleaning your dishes. A dishwasher is not only a time-saving device, it can also help reduce water consumption compared to hand-washing dishes. Dishwashers also use hotter water for cleaning than you can get out of your sink faucet, which more effectively kills off bacteria and gives the dishes a deep cleaning that makes them safer to use as well as more pleasant smelling.

So a dishwasher that doesn’t smell nice … that’s going against expectations. Unfortunately, dishwasher odors are a problem that can often strike kitchen plumbing in Winnetka, IL and in some cases may require professional cleaning or even a replacement.

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Where Plumbing Leaks Are Most Likely to Occur in Your Home

Monday, February 14th, 2022

bursted copper pipe with water leaking out, 3d illustrationLeaking pipes and fixtures are one of the most persistent of plumbing problems. When people visualize water leaks in their home, they often think about water spraying in large amounts from a burst pipe. This can happen, but the majority of leaks are much more insidious and often happen where you can’t see them easily at first. You have to watch for warning signs like water stains and a rise in your water bills.

To help you better understand where you may need leak repair in your home, we’ve put together a list of the most common spots for household water leaks. Pay attention to these areas so you can catch leaks early.

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