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What’s Causing Your Leaking Pipes? Elgin, IL

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What Causes a Pipe to Leak?
When pipes corrode, they leak and cause many unwanted problems to your home.

High Water Pressure:
High water pressure can cause wear and tear on your pipes. Water running through your pipes at high speeds can cause your pipes to burst or leak.

Tree Roots:
Roots of trees, bushes and big shrubs growing in through the connection points of the pipes can cause obstructions that are tough to deal with as a homeowner.

The long thin roots form masses that can grow into tight balls and then grow until they fill the pipes in every direction causing them to leak.

Keeping your home drains free of roots and obstructions is a worthwhile endeavor. Tree roots can apply a lot of pressure to the system as they grow. They can even crush pipes rendering them useless.

Power rodding can save you the hassle and expense of such repairs. To date, power rodding remains one of the best ways to deal with this invasive and irritating problem.

Broken Water Line or Leaking Pipe in Elgin IllinoisTemperature Changes:
Winter in Elgin and most of Illinois, brings snow, ice and plummeting temperatures that can wreak havoc on plumbing. A ruptured water line can cause extensive, costly damage and disrupt your life or business.

Make sure you winterize your property outdoors, draining pools and irrigation systems and hoses, insulating and covering outdoor faucets and securing doors and windows in garages and outbuildings with water supplies.

Foundation Shifts:
Small shifts in your home’s foundation as it settles over time can create your water lines to move, causing them to disconnect or rupture.

Call Us At (847) 624-3872

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Schaumburg, Il – Do you have basic plumbing skills?

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Can you tell if the plumbing in your home needs work?

Would you like to learn ways to make plumbing improvements yourself? If you want to learn more about how to better maintain your home’s plumbing, read on for some ideas. The advice in this article will show you how to streamline your own plumbing.

Because pipes have a tendency to freeze in the winter months, it’s a good idea to insulate pipes that are in colder spaces. Think about crawl spaces, basement bathrooms, outside water sources, etc. Insulation can be wrapped around pipes, and is available at any hardware store. Proper insulation will save your pipes from any damage, and as an added bonus, your hot water will stay a lot hotter as it travels from the water heater.

When attempting to tighten a pipe, you should know that over-tightening the pipe is bad news. Only tighten until leaks are stopped, because going further can damage threads, and maybe cause pipe cracks.

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Pump your septic tank every five years to keep it working well. Doing this prevents any sediment from getting built up within the tank, which causes a backup in your home or causes your entire septic system to fail. Although it could cost a good deal of money to pump out your septic tank, it will cost a lot more to have a backflow emergency, having to clean sewage backup, or having to fix or replace a septic tank.

Property owners have the option of installing flood alarms to alert them of flooding danger. Flood alarms work on the same principle as smoke alarms. They run on batteries and will have an alarm go off when they touch water. Flood alarms can alert you to leaks or potential floods.

Now that you have the advice in hand, you can get going on taking care of your own plumbing needs. These new ideas may help yield positive results in your work. If they do not work, keep trying until you get pleasant results!

Talk To A Pipes & Drain Specialist Today

Call Us At (847) 624-3872

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Elgin, Il – Get Those Pipes Working Again With These Tips

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Drain and Pipes Maintenance Tips

Take a few minutes to read these helpful maintenance tips in the article below. You’ll be glad you took the time to learn more knowledge about plumbing in case any issues arise.

You have an easy repair if you hear hammering and squeaking noises coming from your pipes. You must anchor exposed pipes to get rid of the noises. You may want to call a plumber to help with pipes that require you to cut a hole in a wall, ceiling or floor.

The Powerful Use Of Baking Soda & White Vinegar
A cup of baking soda followed with a cup of white vinegar each month will keep your drain running smoothly. Cover the drain and wait for the chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda to happen in your pipes.

Wait for at least 10 to 15 minutes before you pour boiling water down the drain. This method should clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.

Use Lots Of Cold Water
To keep your garbage disposal working at its best, use lots of cold water when it’s on. The cold water helps keep the blades nice and sharp and will allow for a much smoother disposal.

When you use hot water, any grease that is in the garbage disposal will melt and be more prone to stopping up your drain.

fox valley plumbing kitchen garbage disposal install

A Water Hose That Has Been Improperly Installed
If you have water leaking into the dishwasher, luckily it’s an easy fix. The hose that runs from the kitchen sink to the dishwasher is not installed properly, and can be corrected quickly. The hose going from the dishwasher to the sink must go downhill, and then uphill, to prevent water mixing from the two devices.

Knowing some basics about general plumbing will help save you a bunch of money!

fox valley plumbing dishwasher water hose

Talk To A Pipes & Drain Specialist Today

Call Us At (847) 624-3872

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Elgin, Il – Plumber Uses A Drain Camera To Find Your Lost Valuables

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Watch This Before You Hire A Plumber To Find Your Valuables

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Barrington, Illinois – Does Your Home Have A Good Sump Pump System?

The April rains are our friends but the flooding, leaks, mold, and other plumbing hazards they can cause will put a poop on your party. The good news is with a little preparation you can avoid all the mess that goes along with a flooding home…

Beat The Storm

Be Sure Your Home Has A Good Sump Pump System: Does your area get hit with tons of water? If you live in Illinois, the answer is yes. It’s time to ponder a sump pump system. Sump pumps redirect water from your home to the outside. If your basement sits below the water table and is a continual flood hazard it would be a good idea to get a backup support sump pump system during a big storm. Large volumes of water will rush into your basement if you do not have the correct system in place.

Remove Clutter: Make sure storm gutters and drains cleared of all debris. It’s a good practice to routinely inspect your water flow stays free. This will ensure your pipes remain free of debris to prevent blocked pipes.

Call Us Today (847) 624-3872

After A Bad Storm

Watch for Mildew: Mildew is caused when moisture accumulates in dark places where not a lot of air flows. Not only can it destroy things, but it can seriously cause issues with your health (and possibly could affect the resale value of your home).

Mildew Can Be Recognized by:

  • Visible mold (generally, black texture)
  • Stinky smell
  • Peeling drywall
  • Breathing issues

 

Mildew isn’t just limited to basements. Check for moisture or smells in your floors and walls. Slow pipe leaks as well as steady leaks can go without being noticed for a long time. This is what leads to treacherous Mildew growth. Also over time it can cause critical issues to your home’s foundation.

Run the Tap Water: Run your shower & sink faucets. If you notice a slow down in the water pressure, it might mean that you have a busted pipe or leak of some kind caused by heavy rains. Be sure you keep an eye out for dirt, debris, or generally funny colored water. This could signify damaged or corroded pipes.

Watch for Blocks: Pipes can become backed up after rainstorms due to debris deposited into storm drains and downpipes during storms. This type of clog is best left to the pros — not corrosive cleaners.

Call a Pro: If you’re unsure how to detect or repair plumbing damage caused by storms, it’s best to call the pros. Fox Valley Plumbing & Backflow’s professional plumbers have the expertise and tools needed to replace sensitive plumbing components like sump pump sensors, pipes, and fittings.

At the first sign of storm damage, call Fox Valley Plumbing & Backflow to keep your plumbing flowing…

Call Us Today (847) 624-3872
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Safe & Proven Drain Cleaning‎ – Schaumburg, Illinios

Is your tub or sink draining slower than usual, or won’t drain at all?

Need Drain Cleaning Services You Can Trust? Call (847) 624-3872
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Schaumburg, Illinois – What To Do When A Water Main Breaks

water main break in Schaumburg, Illinois

What To Do When A Water Main Breaks

A few months back, thanks to some sub par work completed by a “contractor”, some City folks were privileged to an surprising site: a city main blasting H20 five stories into the air.

Water main leaks & breaks are certainly nothing new in the older neighborhoods. In newer areas these things are a little less likely.

After A water mason breaks sludge, silt, rust and debris start to show up in a homeowner’s water lines.

After this happens, homeowners are often clueless on what to do, especially when they can’t find outward signs of plumbing damage in their homes.

#1 Flood out the pipes Immediately After a water main break

The easiest way to flood a home’s plumbing lines is to open a large faucet or tap while all other taps remain closed. The bathroom usually has the largest faucets. These are ideal for this task.

Turn on the cold water valve in the tub. Pay attention for a hissing and spitting sound. This a sign that air is still in the line.

Flush the water until it is clear, and no additional air bubbles are released.

The restroom’s tap provides the ideal situation for tackling water main problems. The tub’s faucet is bigger than those that serve the sinks. It can discharge debris particles in the water line without getting backed up.

Trash and other mess stops up the lines in smaller faucets and can cause problems that require costly repairs. Debris can get caught in water lines connected to toilets and sinks. In rare cases appliances, boilers and even water heaters.

Every now and then, a piece of debris is the system is large enough to close off a water supply pipe completely.

If you have no water at all, contact the city’s water and sewer services to see whether they’ve turned off the water to your home as part of a repair process. If they verify the water is on, contact a plumber to help you find and free up the clog.

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#2 Double check your insurance for water main break coverage

It’s equally important to mention that your city won’t pay to repair damage to a your home’s plumbing system, even if the damage occurred as a direct result of the water main break.

Homeowners must be prepared to repair the damages and replace appliances themselves. Often, most homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover “clean water” damage unless you have it specified in the policy.

Check your policy for this coverage now, and take necessary action if your policy won’t pay for water main break damage.
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Call Us Today (847) 624-3872

#3 Install a water main filtration system

One of the single best ways to keep foreign debris out of your plumbing system is to install a water main filtration system. This addition will help reduce sediment, sand and rust that comes from the municipal water supply.

By keeping these contaminants out of your home’s plumbing, you can improve the water quality in your home and reduce the incidence of damage caused by these free-floating hazards.

If you would like more information about a water main filtration system for your home, please contact Fox Valley Plumbing BackFlow Services we’d be happy to recommend and install a whole-house filtration system that will help keep your home’s water fresh and your plumbing and appliances safe from accidental damage.

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Barrington IL – Avoid A Winter Plumbing Catastrophe

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Winter Plumbing Problems

Winter plumbing problems are on a steep rise as winter is here. We hope you prepared your plumbing for the freezing weather.

Home & businesses that aren’t properly insulated pose a risk to the plumbing fixtures inside, and if the pipes are exposed to freezing cold temperatures, they freeze up fast. Frozen plumbing is one of the worst plumbing problems that can happen in your home especially in the dead of winter.

Frozen busted pipes will result in costly water damages, which is why it’s critically important to properly winterize your plumbing before the first freeze hits.
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Do You Have Frozen Pipes? Call (847) 624-3872

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Keep An Eye Out For Ice

Avoiding a frozen plumbing catastrophe means not ignoring the warning signs of a frozen pipe and most importantly knowing how to prevent them.

If your pipes are frosty, it may be inviting to try and defrost the plumbing yourself, but correcting the problem should be the job of a licensed plumber. Your plumbing is tricky, and it can be extremely dangerous without the right training, tools and certification.

The quicker you treat frozen plumbing, the better, as the built-up pressure inside can burst your plumbing over an extended amount of time. To dodge a plumbing disaster, here are a few cautioning signs to watch for.

• Ice on Pipes
See if you can locate any of the plumbing inside your home or business. If you see any ice accumulating outside the pipes, that can be a sign that the plumbing is nice and frosty.

• No Flowing Water
Ice pipes freeze all running water from flowing from your faucet. If there is no H2o flowing out of the faucet, it means it’s frozen.

• Stinky Odor
If you smell something funky, perhaps something funky stinky, the issue could be a frozen pipe. Pipes that partially or completely clogged, give any foul odors no place to go but back up.

• Creepy Noises
If your pipes are frozen, that means there is air that can’t escape the sewer line, and the result is a air under water sound when you flush the commode or use the basin. Screeching, banging, and clanking sounds are also noises to listen for, as they can specify a damaged pipeline.
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Do You Have Frozen Pipes? Call (847) 624-3872

Wintertime Plumbing Groundwork

Besides knowing when it’s time to contact a professional plumber, the best way to protect your plumbing is with proper preparation.

Winter, and the frigid temperatures that come with it are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean you or your plumbing have to suffer this winter season. To spare yourself the costly repairs of a few busted pipes, here’s what you can do to prevent your plumbing from freezing.
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• Insulate Your Pipelines
Insulation is the best type of protection between your plumbing and the freezing temperatures, which is why it’s important to add a layer of insulation to your plumbing if you haven’t already.

Using some foam pipe insulation, which can be found at any local hardware store, make sure you seal any gaps.

• Insulate Your Home
To protect your plumbing, it’s important that your house is properly insulated as well, which means sealing any air leaks. Check the insulation inside your home, and replace any damaged insulation. Attics and basements should be checked for any air leaks from doors, windows, and vents.

• Let Your Faucets Run a Little
If it’s below freezing outside, let your faucets run a low and steady drip. Letting your faucets drip eliminates pressure that can build up between the faucet and an ice blockage.

A constant small running stream of water inside your pipes can not only prevent some freezing, but a burst pipe in case the water does freeze.
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Do You Have Frozen Pipes? Call (847) 624-3872

• Don’t Forget Your Hose Bibs
It’s easy to do, but don’t forget the plumbing outside your house. Garden hoses should put away, and the hose bibs, drained and properly insulated.

Hose bibs that are left exposed to the frigid temperatures, can cause some serious damage to the valves leading up to them.

• Open Pantry and Cabinet Doors
Keeping your home well-heated helps to prevent frozen plumbing, but proper heating requires proper circulation. Leaving all the pantry, cabinet, and otherwise closed doors open allows the heat to fully circulate throughout
your house.

Don’t Wait Until Your Pipes Burst

Malfunctioning plumbing is a pain, and a busted frozen pipe can lead to costly repairs and devastating flood damage. That’s why it’s important to winterize your plumbing before a plumbing catastrophe can happen.

Your warmth and comfort should never be at stake when it comes to your plumbing. Luckily with some preparation, you can stay warm and enjoy your plumbing without the damages. Call us today, and let them answer any winter plumbing concern for you.

Call Fox Valley Plumbing & Backflow Today for more details on your winter plumbing…
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Do You Have Frozen Pipes? Call (847) 624-3872
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This Is How You Prevent Frozen Pipes

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Preventing Frozen Pipes

Winter has stormed into Elgin and most of Illinois, bringing snow, ice and plummeting temperatures that can wreak havoc on plumbing.

A ruptured water line can cause extensive, costly damage and disrupt your life or business. Worse, floodwater can pose numerous safety and health risks, ranging from electric shock to illness from waterborne pathogens or even toxic mold.

With your family or business on the line, you want to do everything you can to prevent water from freezing inside your plumbing. But if you do think a pipe is frozen, don’t panic; frozen pipes don’t always rupture, and there are steps you can take to prevent pipes from bursting and safely thaw them.

Looking For A Quality Plumber In Elgin, Illinois To Repair Your Frozen Pipes? Call (847) 624-3872

A frozen pipe will not necessarily burst if the faucet valve is open to release pressure moving down the pipe.

Start with prevention

We’ll go into tips for thawing pipes below, but let’s start with steps you can take right now to reduce the risk of frozen pipes. Make sure you winterize your property outdoors, draining pools and irrigation systems and hoses, insulating and covering outdoor faucets and securing doors and windows in garages and outbuildings with water supplies. Also, be sure to follow these tips from the American Red Cross:

• Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas. Look in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
• When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
Source: American Red Cross

elgin-illinois-plumber-winterization-tips

Picturesque winter weather brings the risk of frozen, ruptured pipes and costly water damage.

If pipes freeze, don’t panic, do this:

If you wake up one morning and the water won’t come on in your kitchen, don’t panic. While horrifying visions of water filling crawl spaces and mold spores sprouting may be unavoidable, a frozen pipe will not necessarily burst if the faucet valve is open to release pressure moving down the pipe. Take a deep breath, then follow these American Red Cross tips to safely thaw your pipe:

• If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
• Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
• Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
• Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
• Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

These tips should help minimize the risk plumbing ruptures from frozen pipes. But sometimes nature simply shoves aside our best efforts and the worst happens. If you find yourself facing a water damage catastrophe from frozen, ruptured pipes, Call Fox Valley Plumbing & Backflow any day of the week. You’ll talk to a real person, and professional help will be on the way.

Looking For A Quality Plumber In Elgin, Illinois To Repair Your Frozen Pipes? Call (847) 624-3872
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What to do if you Suffer from Busted or Leaking Pipes in Schaumburg, Illinois

It is true that dealing with broken or leaking pipes at home is not something that occurs everyday.

In fact, a homeowner may face such plumbing problems once or twice in a decade. Suffering from plumbing problems is a serious headache for the homeowners in Schaumburg, Illinois, especially during the winter season.

Irrespective of the causes and time of busting or leaking pipes, it is quite obvious that most of the homeowners will find themselves in a state of stress and panic as soon as they come to know about the broken pipes.

There can be various reasons behind such plumbing problem and several steps should be followed to come out from those problems.

Do You Suffer from Busted or Leaking Pipes In Schaumburg, Illinois? Call (847) 624-3872

If you ever find yourself in such a situation, what you need to do to come out from the problem?

Signs of Busted Water Line or Leaking Pipes

Facing plumbing problems is quite common in Schaumburg, Illinois. You avoid the stress and tension of severe problems if you can find the early signs of leaking or busted pipes.

The first and foremost thing you should do is to observe the presence of any stream of water appearing through the foundation wall or on any other place in the property.

Once you find the water leaking source or fail to locate the source, you should call professional plumbing service for leaking pipe repair near Schaumburg, Illinois to make sure about the source of water leakage.

Another sign of leaking or busted pipes is the rumbling or hissing sound producing from the main point of where the pipe gets inside the house. This sound should be heard only when water is being used. Such hissing sound is a strong sign that water inside the pipe is leaking out at some place in-between the house or on the main roadway.

Experiencing the sudden loss of water pressure is also another common indication of busted pipes. Although not every water leak is necessarily linked up with the loss of water pressure, you should investigate the problem by a licensed plumber.

Do You Suffer from Busted or Leaking Pipes In Schaumburg, Illinois? Call (847) 624-3872

How to Fix the Broken Water Line or Leaking Pipe

Once you are sure enough that a problem is occurring with your household pipelines, it is time to repair the problem as soon as possible so that it cannot become a serious one.

Apart from small leaks in the pipeline that you can fix with simple plumbing materials, it is always suggested to contact a professional plumbing service in your locality.

Facts to Consider for Fixing the Leaking Pipes

When you consider hiring plumbers for leaking pipe repair near Schaumburg Illinois, you must think about a few things. Some most important facts to consider for fixing the water line leak are the age of the pipe, its material and whether it has already undergone through any repair previously.

Unless the plumber finds the problem severe, you should not go forward to repair the water main. Sometimes fixing the problem with simple steps can also lead to a leak again in the water line. In that case, you may have to invest again in the future which can increase your repairing cost. Hence, it is better to replace the entire pipeline if the plumber thinks it wise.

Do You Suffer from Busted or Leaking Pipes In Schaumburg, Illinois? Call (847) 624-3872
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