Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Plumbing’

Winter Seasoning for Your Plumbing: Preparing for Cold Weather

Monday, October 9th, 2023
icicles-hanging-off-pipe

It’s not winter yet, but you never want to be caught unprepared for the first serious cold snap. Your plumbing is extremely vulnerable to cold weather, specifically frozen pipes that can lead to severe damage from pipes bursting. Take some time during the fall lull to properly winterize your plumbing as well as take other steps that will make it easier for your home to make it through the coming cold.

Below we’ve listed some key preparations to make. You can contact a great plumber in Glenview, IL at Reliance to provide assistance with several of these jobs. We can conduct an inspection of your plumbing if you want to locate any weaknesses where pipe freeze can take hold. 

Continue Reading

Choosing a New Shower for Your Bathroom

Monday, June 5th, 2023
showerhead-ceiling-running

Any plumber will work extensively with bathroom plumbing, since this is the room of a house that has the highest concentration of pipes, drains, and fixtures. Along with the many bathroom plumbing repairs and drain cleaning that our professional plumbers perform, we also handle new shower installation in Glenview, IL.

You may be in a situation where you’ve got an older shower that’s an eyesore or isn’t working effectively anymore and you want to upgrade it. You might have someone in your home with mobility issues who would benefit from a different type of shower. Whatever the reason, you’re looking to have a new shower installed. There are several choices of shower types to consider. We’ll go over the most common shower types and look at their benefits.

Continue Reading

Knocking Pipes: What This Symptom Means for Your Plumbing System

Monday, October 25th, 2021

woman-holding-hand-to-ear-to-listenLet’s say you’re sleeping, or at least relaxing comfortably, in your home, and all of the sudden you’re aware of a perhaps soft but persistent knocking coming from your walls…

It can be quite alarming! Fortunately, it’s not a plumbing emergency, but it’s still a plumbing problem you’ll want to pay attention to. Ignore it and you’ll only notice the sound getting louder and louder.

So what is it that you’re hearing? Knocking pipes!

There are solutions to this nuisance, which we will get into below. In the meantime, if you need reliable plumbing services, emergency or not, don’t hesitate to dial our number!

Continue Reading

What to Know about Drain Cleaning Solutions

Monday, September 13th, 2021

water-running-down-a-drainThe #1 thing you should know about drain cleaning solutions is that if using them is your method to clean your drains on a regular basis, then you’re actually doing more harm than good to your plumbing system.

Let us elaborate!

First off, we understand. One of the most irritating plumbing issues a homeowner deals with is clogged or backed-up drains. You may be doing something as seemingly benign as brushing your teeth when all of the sudden you have a backed-up and overflowing sink. It’s only natural that you want a quick and simple fix. And nothing is faster and easier than using a bottle of store-bought drain cleaning solution, right?

Unfortunately, fast or even affordable does not necessarily mean effective. Read on to learn more!

Continue Reading

Why Your Tankless Water Heater Needs Maintenance

Monday, August 2nd, 2021

tankless-system-on-green-bathroom-wallWhen you look at a standard, conventional tank water heater, it’s probably clear why it would need regular maintenance. It’s large, it has a number of components to it in order for it to work, and it’s metal full of water–two things that don’t typically go together without rust and corrosion. Tankless systems are so different though, right? They don’t hold water in them–instead, they heat water on demand when a tap or a plumbing appliance requires it. So you don’t have to worry about rust or corrosion as much. They don’t have as many components either, so their repair needs are limited.

So, why does your tankless water heater need maintenance? Well, it’s due to a little something called scaling, which actually impacts all types of water heaters, not just conventional tank systems.

Continue Reading

The Unfortunate Reality of Slab Leaks

Monday, July 5th, 2021

woman-and-child-dancing-on-wood-floorFor those people who have already dealt with a slab leak, the term is pretty scary. It describes a leak that occurs in either the hot water (more common) or cold water lines that lie underneath your concrete foundation, and is a problem for the homes it happens in. Not only do slab leaks create a lot of water waste, they also can damage the property, lead to the growth of mildew and mold, plus add extra strain to the water heater if the leak is occurring in the hot water lines.

Our trained and experienced professional plumbers are well equipped to accurately locate and repair these issues. But what causes a slab leak to begin with? Shouldn’t a plumbing pipe that is set down in your concrete be pretty protected from the damage that can lead to pipe breaks and pinhole leaks?

Well actually, there are a few different things that can create a slab leak. Read on to learn more.

Continue Reading

Do You Have a Plumbing Leak?

Monday, June 21st, 2021

brown-pipe-with-leakPlumbing leaks definitely make the top of the list when it comes to common problems faced by homeowners in our area. Pipes are designed to last a very long time, however, factors such as age and water pressure do take their toll eventually. As a result, a leak can spring up and leave you with property damage or at least wasted water. Our professionals can conduct professional leak detection services to determine where your leak is and accurately repair it.

It is imperative that you allow a trained and experienced professional handle a problem like this. Of course, you also need to know when it’s time to even call for leak detection services. Are there signs you can watch out for that you may have a plumbing leak? There certainly are! Read on to learn more.

Continue Reading

Why Are Tree Roots Bad News for Plumbing?

Monday, April 26th, 2021

split-drainage-pipe-with-roots-in-itThere are a number of reasons that your plumbing system’s sewer line is buried beneath your property. For starters, your yard and home are more visually appealing this way. It’s also for functionality as well as safety and hygiene.

Unfortunately, this does mean that your sewer line is out of sight—so hard to spot problems with it when those problems occur. One of the problems that sewer lines are susceptible to is tree root infiltration.

Tree roots, since they’re constantly searching for a water source, actually are a fairly common find inside damaged sewer lines. And not only do they lead to leaks in the line, but they cause clogs and backups too. Even the smallest leak that exists in the sewer line can attract them too.

Continue Reading

When Is It Time to Call a Professional Plumber?

Monday, April 12th, 2021

woman-looking-under-sink-at-leaking-pipe-while-on-phoneSometimes, it can be difficult to detect the kind of shape that your plumbing is in. In fact, most homeowners don’t think about their plumbing system very much at all, particularly when nothing is necessarily going terribly wrong. Out of sight, out of mind after all, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t the best mindset to have about your plumbing.

It’s pretty much inevitable that at some time, you will need a plumbing repair. When this does happen, it’s important that you’re able to address it right away in order to prevent it from becoming a bigger emergency. So, what are the signs that it’s time to call in a pro?

Continue Reading

How to Protect Your Garbage Disposal and Kitchen Sink Drain

Monday, March 15th, 2021

sink-drain-with-water-flowing-downIf you are one of hundreds of homeowners throughout Skokie and beyond that utilizes a garbage disposal in their kitchen sink, then you probably think it can handle just about anything. Garbage disposal systems are very convenient and easy-to-use. But, this system was not designed to chew up all your uneaten scraps. In fact, it doesn’t “chew up” much of anything.

Your garbage disposal functions by using a motor to spin impeller “blades” to break up what’s going down the drain. This is great if you have cooking scraps or leftovers involving things like boneless meat, and most fruits (without pits) and veggies. There are some things though, that really shouldn’t go down the drain, both for the sake of the garbage disposal system and the sink drain itself. Keep reading to learn what these things are.

Continue Reading