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

How to Detect a Leak

Monday, September 28th, 2020

brown-pipe-springing-leakOne of the most common, and equally annoying, plumbing problems a homeowner can face is that of a leak. While some plumbing problems make themselves pretty well known right away—a lack of hot water from your water heater, a running toilet—leaks can be subtle and can even be hidden in pipes behind walls and beneath the floor.

Unfortunately, this means you may not actually know you have a leak until it’s done considerable damage, and/or when you see a huge wet spot forming on the wall or ceiling or even puddles in the yard or bathroom. While you do need a professional to pinpoint the exact location of a leak and repair it, there are fortunately signs you can watch out for that signal you may in fact have a leak. Read on to learn more about them and rely on Reliance and contact us when you need a Glenview, IL plumber!

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How to Avoid This #1 Winter Plumbing Emergency

Monday, September 14th, 2020

It may seem really odd to already be talking about winter. After all, summer hasn’t even officially ended, and cooler temperatures haven’t quite steadied out yet. Still though, even if you’ve lived in our area for only a year, you know just how chilly, and unpredictable, lower temperatures and associated weather can be. So it’s important that your home is ready!
How do we propose you do that? Well, start by looking at your plumbing. Burst pipes are among the most common reasons we get Winnetka, IL emergency plumbing calls. And they’re caused by frozen pipes. Fortunately, this can be prevented. Read on to learn more.

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Do Knocking Pipes Spell Trouble?

Monday, August 17th, 2020

Let’s get straight to it–no, knocking pipes don’t automatically spell trouble. But they certainly can lead to problems if you just ignore them. And knocking pipes are easy to ignore at first. Sure, it’s a little alarming the first time you hear it, but it’s not that loud, and it’s easy to get used to.

Please don’t let yourself get used to it though! It could very well lead to plumbing problems which is the least thing any homeowner wants. Read on to learn more!

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What’s the Deal with Slab Leaks?

Monday, August 3rd, 2020

slab-floor-in-kitchenThey’re bad news—that’s what!

Okay, clearly we need to elaborate on that a bit more. After all, you may not even know what a slab leak is. 

“Slab leak” is a phrase used to describe any leak that occurs in the cold or hot water lines that are set beneath the concrete foundation of your home—the slab. Not only will this type of leak cause significant water waste, but property damage as well. It leads to mildew and mold growth, drywall rot, and more. Plus, a hot water line leak can put extra strain on your tank water heater too, which has to run longer to keep a steady supply of hot water available.

So, what causes these slab leaks? Shouldn’t a pipe beneath your slab be sturdy enough to handle anything? These pipes may certainly seem sturdy, but there are absolutely factors that can lead to leaks. Read on as we uncover a few. 

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How to Spot a Hidden Leak

Monday, July 20th, 2020

white-pipe-with-blue-cloth-tied-on-itThe tough thing about hidden leaks is, well, they’re hidden! This means they can do a lot of damage, since it may be days or even weeks until you realize the problem is even occurring. The pipes tucked away in the various areas of your home, like the basement, inside a cabinet under the sink, or behind walls, tend to hide their problems well.

Fortunately, there are signs you can watch out and listen for. Being aware of these indicators could be the difference between a minor repair from our professional plumbers or an emergency service call to our team as well as carpenters to help fix your drywall and flooring after a leak has gone on for too long. Read on to learn what these signs are! 

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Time to Test Your Sump Pump: Here’s What to Do

Monday, July 6th, 2020

backup-sump-pumpHow often do you think about your sump pump? If your answer is “rarely,” you might be doing a disservice to yourself and your home. Households in this area are susceptible to flooding—there’s no denying that. But the good news is that it can be prevented, with a professionally installed and adequately cared-for sump pump.

But how do you know if your sump pump is in good condition? Do you need to call a plumber every time it’s about to rain to find out? Goodness no! While your sump pump should be professionally maintained at least once a year, you can and should test your sump pump on your own each quarter. Read on to learn more about what to do.

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How Not to Treat Your Bathroom Plumbing

Monday, June 22nd, 2020

water-running-down-a-drainDrain clogs are pretty much an inevitable and unfortunate part of homeownership. They’re even worse when they happen in one of the most used spaces in your home—the bathroom. Managing backed-up drains tends to be a fairly basic job for professional plumbers, but that doesn’t mean you should attempt it on your own.

In fact, trying to remove drain clogs on your own with the most “affordable” option there is—store-bought chemical drain cleaner—can lead to more problems than good. Unfortunately, these “solutions” are very caustic, eating away at your pipes and never actually effectively removing the clog. It may just move it around a bit for water to get through before it just clogs up again a few months later. This isn’t how you should treat your bathroom plumbing! So how should you treat it?

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Is DIY Plumbing a Good Idea?

Monday, June 8th, 2020

gloved-hands-under-sink-working-on-plumbingCan’t a general handyman, or even a diligent homeowner, where you’d need to pay less money, do just as effective a job as a professional Evanston, IL plumber?  We know this is a tempting solution to your plumbing woes, however, your results simply won’t be the same. Our professional plumbers have been in the industry for many years, and we’ve seen what can happen when homeowners believe they can watch an online video and resolve issues on their own. Plumbing is a tough job! Anything beyond clearing up a superficial clog or replacing a sink faucet aerator can benefit from the expertise of a professional.

Read on as we uncover why it is so important that you hire a licensed and insured plumber to do work in your home. Although hiring an inexperienced handyman or taking this on as a DIY project might save you money upfront, in the long run making this decision could end up costing you more.

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Your Sewer Line Vs. Tree Roots: What To Do

Monday, May 11th, 2020

split-drainage-pipe-with-rootsHave you ever wondered why your plumbing system’s sewer line is buried beneath your yard? You might have just assumed it looks more attractive this way. And that’s true, but the real purpose of this placement is for safety and functionality.

Unfortunately, this means it’s out of sight, making it harder to spot problems right away, and making it susceptible to problems like tree roots searching for a water source. This is actually a relatively common cause of sewer line damage and clogs, both of which require professional sewer line services to resolve.

As you’d expect, tree roots crave water and fertilization. So even the smallest leak from your sewer line can attract them. While tree roots aren’t the only threat to your sewer line, they’re certainly a big one, and worth discussing.

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Signs It Is Time to Give a Plumber a Call

Monday, April 27th, 2020

close-up-of-mans-hand-using-cell-phoneA lot of homeowners think any plumbing job can be a DIY-project. It’s true that in some cases this can be okay. For instance, perhaps you have a superficial clog that’s near the drain surface of your sink, and you can just eliminate it with a plunger or maybe even a drain snake.

We don’t discourage all DIY-plumbing fixes, but there are certainly times where you should call in a professional plumber in Des Plaines, IL, to avoid potential hazards or further damage to your pipes. You might even leave yourself more susceptible to problems in the future if you try to attempt plumbing work on your own. There are two plumbing issues in particular that we really advise you to give us a call for.

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