NEVER Pour Grease and Cooking Oil Down the Drain

NEVER Pour Grease and Cooking Oil Down the Drain

by | May 21, 2020 | Drain Maintenance

After you have finished cooking some bacon or using oil or grease when cooking it’s easy to dump the excess grease and oil down the drain without giving it second thought. This greasy mess can cause a lot of damage to the sewer, but it can also clog up your pipes as well.

If you have ever left bacon grease in the pan for too long, you’ll notice that it completely solidifies as it cools and can be very difficult to clean off. This is an example of what the inside of your pipes may also looks like!  Your home’s piping will suffer the effects of hardened fat and grease, which will eventually block the pipe entirely.

Pouring grease or oil down the drain can be a plumbing disaster that could cost you thousands of dollars in plumbing repairs in the future.

How to Tell if Your Drain is Clogged with Grease

  • Early warning signs of clogged drainage system include:
  • Slow water drainage
  • Gurgling sound
  • A bad smell emanating from your drains

If you are experiencing a clog in your kitchen sink and you have put grease down the sink, then it may be a grease clog, but more than likely it is a combination clog. Sometimes a piece of hard material can get stuck in your drain. Excessive grease build-up, when coupled with this type of obstruction, can really speed up the clogging process.

There are better ways to dispose of unwanted grease and oil. 

Dump the grease it in a cup, wait for it to cool, and throw it in the trash, because even a small amount of oil dumped down the drain can build up over time and wreak havoc on not only your drainage system, but your town’s whole sewer. If you are asking the question, can you pour grease down the drain? The answer is a strong NO!

How to Properly Dispose of Grease and Oil

Once the grease has completely cooled in the pan, scrape as much as you can out and throw it right into the trash can. You can then use a paper towel to thoroughly wipe down the pan.  You do not want to rinse and wash the pan without doing this first, as excess grease can still go down the drain.

And if you do not feel like wiping and all that, transfer the grease/fat/oil to another container after cooking and place the container in the fridge or freezer. Once it hardens, you can simply throw the whole block away.

Need HELP? Give us a call at 630-638-8651 or visit our website at: https://www.dupagehomeservice.com/

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BEWARE Put Down That Commercial Drain Cleaner

BEWARE Put Down That Commercial Drain Cleaner

by | Apr 25, 2020 | Clogged Drains, Drain Cleaners

BEWARE – Put Down That Commercial Drain Cleaner!

When a bathroom or kitchen drain becomes clogged many homeowners will reach for a commercial drain cleaner to clear the clog. While chemical drain cleaning products can be very effective at removing grease, hair and other organic material, they can be hazardous to your health and damage your plumbing if not used in a safe manner.  Chemical drain cleaners often contain chemicals such as lye, sodium hydroxide or sodium nitrate. Many of these chemicals can cause severe burns and blindness and must be handled with extreme care.

Enzyme Drain Cleaners

One safe and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical drain cleaners are enzymatic drain cleaners. Natural bacteria or enzymes are put into the drain to feed on hair, food waste and other organic material. These living organisms multiply inside the pipe and gradually clean the clog away. While not as fast acting as chemical cleaners, they are generally not harmful to people.

Home-made Drain Cleaner

Another way to safely clean out a drain is to use vinegar and baking soda.

Step 1 – pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain.

Step 2 – pour half a cup of vinegar.

Step 3 – Wait 15 minutes

Step 4 – pour in hot tap water.

An alternative method is to mix equal parts salt, vinegar and baking soda. Pour the mixture into the drain. Wait one hour, and then pour in hot water.

Got a plumbing problem give us a call at 630-638-8651

Finding the Main Water Shutoff Valve

Finding the Main Water Shutoff Valve

by | Apr 25, 2020 | Water Main shut off

Finding the Main Water Shutoff Valve

Water damage from frozen pipes, ruptured washer hoses, leaking supply lines and dripping water heaters costs billions every year. Knowing where to turn off your water supply is important information for everyone to know!

After the water passes through the city-installed valves, it comes to what is known as the main shutoff valve in your home. This is the valve that you need to be able to locate in an emergency.

Find it before an emergency occurs so, when you are in a pinch, you know where it is. This valve is usually in the basement or on an outside wall in a utility area of the house. The main shutoff valve allows a full flow of water through the pipe when it is open. Turning off this valve (by turning it clockwise) cuts off the water supply to the entire house.

Types of main shutoff valves:

There are two types of main shutoff valves: the gate valve and the ball valve. The gate valve is common in older homes and has a round handle that must be turned several times to open or close the valve. Gate valves are designed to be fully open or fully closed. Water flowing through a partially open gate valve can wear away the metal and cause the valve to fail over time. The ball valve is more common in newer construction and has a lever handle that needs to be turned 90 degrees to turn the water on or off. You can immediately tell if it is open or not: In the closed position, the lever is perpendicular to the pipes; in the open position it is parallel.

After the water passes through the city-installed valves, it comes to what is known as the main shutoff valve in your home. This is the valve that you need to be able to locate in an emergency. Find it before an emergency occurs so, when you are in a pinch, you know where it is. This valve is usually in the basement or on an outside wall in a utility area of the house. The main shutoff valve allows a full flow of water through the pipe when it is open. Turning off this valve (by turning it clockwise) cuts off the water supply to the entire house.

Got a plumbing problem give us a call at 630-638-8651 or visit our website at www.dupagehomeservice.com

 

Got Rusty Pipes?

Got Rusty Pipes?

by | Mar 18, 2020 | Rusty Pipes

If your home has an aging plumbing system, especially with galvanized pipes, rust can leech off of your pipes and flow into the water that comes out of your taps.

Rust is oxidized iron. It can originate anywhere from a water main to your own plumbing. Tap water can turn reddish brown due to iron particles that break free from sediment inside corroded iron or steel pipes

Discolored water. Rust can turn your water yellow, orange, red or brown. In addition, you might notice small pieces of rust floating in your water.

Stains on your plumbing fixtures. When your water becomes discolored due to rust, it can stain plumbing fixtures like toilet bowls, toilet tanks and sinks. In addition, running a washing machine with rusty water can stain your clothes.

Strange tasting water. People often report that water with rust in it has a metallic taste.

The proper method for removing rust from your drinking water depends on the source of the rust. If the problem comes from old pipes in your home, your best bet is to install new pipes.

if you have rusty pipes, plumbing repair should happen as soon as possible to prevent more rust from developing and weakening the metal pipe. Minerals in water that build up inside metal plumbing cause corroded water pipes. Pinhole corrosion is common and leads to small amounts of water leaking from the pipe.

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Signs Your Water Heater Is About to Fail

Signs Your Water Heater Is About to Fail

by | Mar 12, 2020 | water heater info

You can avoid the disruption and damage of a failing water heater. Here are four indicators that your water heater may be on its last legs:

1. How old is your water heater?

It’s crucial to know the age of your water heater. Find the age by looking for the serial number on the manufacturer’s sticker on the upper portion of the water heater
The serial number contains the date that the water heater was manufactured. But it won’t look the way a date is normally written. Instead, the serial number will have a date code such as “F051052638”.
F is for the month and F is the sixth letter in the alphabet, so it represents the sixth month, June. Next, the first two digits of the serial number are 05, which represents the year, 2005. So this water heater was made in June 2005. Each manufacturer has a similar date code, and they can vary; check the manufacturer’s website to learn more.
Generally, most water heaters that are more than 10 years old should be considered for replacement. If your water heater is in a location that will not cause damage if there is a leak, you can wait until it develops a leak before replacing it, but that really is not recommended.
If your water heater is in a location that will cause damage to your home, you should strongly consider replacing it after 10 years (or before, if any of the following symptoms occur).

2. Rusty water

If you discover rusty water coming from your water heater and it only comes from the hot side piping in your home, this can be a sign that your water heater is rusting away on the inside and it may begin to leak soon.

But if you have galvanized piping, you may have rusty pipes. A good test to avoid replacing a functioning water heater is to drain a few five-gallon buckets of hot water out of the water heater. By the third bucket, if the water from your heater is still coming out rusty, then most likely the water heater (not the piping) is at fault.

3. Rumbling and noise

As a water heater ages, sediment will build up on the bottom of the tank. As the sediment is heated and reheated, it eventually will harden.

When this happens, you can often hear rumbling or banging sounds coming from the water heater as it is heating up. This is a sign that the water heater is at the end of its useful life.
The layer of hardened sediment means:

  • Less efficiency — the heater will have to use more gas or electricity to heat the water.
  • More damage — the extra time spent heating the water will cause more wear on the metal tank and lead to more brittle metal that can crack and develop tiny holes. If you start to hear rumbling from your water heater, keep an eye out for any small leaks. If you find one, then it may be time to replace your water heater.

4. Water around the water heater

If you notice moisture around your water, you may have a small leak or a fracture in the tank. As the metal heats, it expands and if there are slight fractures, water may leak from the tank. Once the metal has cooled the inner tank will stop leaking.
However, before replacing your water heater, make sure there are no other leaks coming from either the fittings or connections to the tank. Also, make sure the temperature/pressure overflow pipe is not leaking. If all of the connections and fittings are dry, it may be time to replace the water heater.
If you are concerned about water heater failure or if you discover any of the signs above, contact a plumber or a company that services water heaters.

If you need help with your water heater, give us a call at 630-269-3995

 

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Give Your Kitchen or Bath a New Look

Give Your Kitchen or Bath a New Look

by | Mar 5, 2020 | Kitchen Bath Fixture Replacement

The spring home selling market is NOW!! If you are considering selling (OR even if it’s just for YOU) – Now is the time to freshen up your home, by making it more inviting to potential buyers. There are ways to make that happen without breaking the bank which includes updating your kitchen or bath fixtures which will create a fresh new look. Overall, you can expect to get a good return on the money.

Just as old fixtures can instantly date a room, new fixtures can make an entire space look more modern and inviting. This is good news for homeowners, since swapping out things like bath or kitchen faucets and shower heads don’t have to be super expensive. There are a variety of style choices and a range of costs to make your bathrooms or kitchen shine.
If upgrading the plumbing fixtures is the only change that you’re intending to make to the space, be sure that you pick fixtures that complement (rather than clash with) the rest of the bathroom. Even if you go a more modern route, you’ll still want to match the rest of the colors in the room and the general style.

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Bathroom Remodel on a Budget

Bathroom Remodel on a Budget

by | Jan 9, 2020 | Bath remodel on Budget

Homeowners who are looking to renovate their bathroom on a budget or who only want to tackle a couple of upgrades in the space should set their sights on the types of renovations that pull in the highest returns. This allows you to allocate your funds to the areas that will pack the biggest punch, and helps you prioritize your project tasks.

A mid-range bathroom remodel (think updated tile, fixtures, toilet, counters, and lighting) will get you a return of 70.1 percent nationally. And like the kitchen, doing more doesn’t equal getting more. An upscale bathroom remodel is only going to get you a 56.2 percent return, and a new bathroom addition just 54.6 percent.

New plumbing fixtures:

Just as old fixtures can instantly date a room, new fixtures can make an entire space look more modern and inviting. This is good news for home renovators, since swapping out things like faucets and shower heads don’t have to be super expensive at the outset.

If upgrading the plumbing fixtures is the only change that you’re intending to make to the space, be sure that you pick fixtures that complement (rather than clash with) the rest of the bathroom. Even if you go a more modern route you’ll still want to match the rest of the colors in the room and the general style.

Vanity upgrades:

If you’ve got a bit more to spend, consider upgrading the entire vanity, which includes not just faucets but also cabinetry and sinks. You can buy vanity kits that have all of the elements you need for one price, or you can put together the perfect vanity yourself. Make sure to choose materials that will have more appeal with buyers. For example, marble and granite are usually top picks for counter tops, while tile and laminate can look a bit too retro.

Flooring:

If you’re looking for a dramatic change, then upgrading the flooring in your bathroom is a good way to go. The average cost per square foot of bathroom flooring is about $2.50 on the low end and $4.00 on the high end plus labor costs (assuming you don’t install the flooring yourself). If you really want to take the floors to the next level, you could install radiant heat mats under the tile, which warm the floors for a cozy feel post shower or bath. On average, that costs an extra $5.00 to $8.00 per square foot. New bathroom floors—even when taken further with radiant heat—are one of the less expensive renovations you can do, but can also completely change the look, feel, and utility of the space.

Energy efficient updates:

Adding more energy efficiency into your home isn’t just good for the environment—it’s good for your home’s resale value, too. Your shower, sink, and toilet can all be optimized for low flow, which means less water usage and more savings on your water bill. It’s a strong pull for buyers too, so when you’re making changes to fixtures in your bathroom go for the picks that promise to use energy.

Is a Bathroom Renovation Worth It?

It’s up to each homeowner to decide if a bathroom renovation is worth the expense. Overall though, you can expect to get a good return on the money that you spend, plus a high joy score out of the project. If having a bathroom that you enjoy being in matters to you, then go for it. It’s just icing on the cake that you’ll get to recoup a lot of the associated costs as well.

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Clogged Drains

Clogged Drains

by | Jan 9, 2020 | Clogged Drains

It’s important to take caution when discarding food scraps down sink drains. Although it’s best to be careful all year, food accumulates in pipes more easily during colder winter months.

If you do not have a garbage disposal system, it is best to throw as many food particles into the trash as possible. Grease, oil, and fats from certain foods should never be inside your plumbing system. Even with a garbage disposal, grease can cause significant damage to your pipes. Need HELP? Give us a call at 630-638-8651 or visit our website at: https://www.dupagehomeservice.com/

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Time To Replace Your Toilet

Time To Replace Your Toilet

by | Dec 16, 2019 | bathroom repairs

There is one appliance in your home that receives its fair share of daily use. Yet chances its not one of the things that makes your list when you talk about remodeling or upgrading. It’s your toilet.

The life expectancy of a toilet can vary greatly, but like everything in our homes, there comes a point in time when replacing it is the better solution.

How do you know if you’ve reached that point?

Cracks
Cracks can occur either in the tank or in the bowl. In many cases they are hard to spot. If a crack goes unnoticed, it can quickly grow and build, releasing a flood of water in a short period of time. A simple way to determine if you have a crack is to drop a few drops of food coloring in to the tank. Wait a few minutes. If the food coloring seeps into the bowl, you have a leak and it may be caused by a crack.

Age
If your home was built in the 80s or before, and the toilet has never been upgraded, you are still operating with a full flush toilet. Toilets from this era used 3.5 gallons of water or more with every flush. In 1992, the Energy Policy Act was signed into law, making 1.6 gallons per flush a maximum for all new toilets produced. With today’s technology, you can find low flow toilets at this water level and below – ever considered a dual flush toilet in your home? You may be surprised by all the options available to you.

Cost
When a toilet reaches a certain point, you may be spending more on replacement parts then you would by replacing the entire toilet. If you’ve replaced a part more than once per year, its time to look at replacing the entire unit rather than working your way through part by part.

Clogs
A toilet constantly clogs, it may be time for an upgrade. Especially with an older low flow toilet, if you find yourself consistently plunging, or flushing more than once on a regular basis, it’s a wise decision to upgrade.

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Learn About Tankless Water Heaters

Learn About Tankless Water Heaters

by | May 28, 2019 | water heater info

Tankless water heaters use on-demand technology for maximum energy efficiency and performance. Millions of consumers have opted for tankless technology to ensure safety, save storage space, and cut back on energy costs. Standards and certifications like Energy Star run multiple tests on home appliances to ensure fire hazard safety and low maintenance costs. So, what makes a tankless water heater an on-demand technology? (1)

A non-storage unit uses continuous flow to heat water through the device into the taps. It does not store or re-heat anything for future use. Most traditional and modern units consist of copper heating elements. These offer easy thermal conduction and fabrication. Plus, they prevent limescale, mineral, calcium build-up. There are all kinds of on-demand models such as hybrid, point-of-use, and combination broilers. But what’s more important than this categorization is knowing which is gas-powered and electric-powered.

Certain technologies use the following processes to heat water quickly:

Continuous circulation: In this method, the unit constantly pumps water through the water inlet to each corner of the unit. However, this spends more energy than required and was the first kind of technology for heating systems. People are now opting for more modern and energy-efficient on-demand heating technologies.

Timer-controlled: When a device is time-controlled, it consists of a re-circulating pump which shuts off heating water when the timer goes off. Once the timer is on track, the heating element is activated and cold water is treated. This is one of the most efficient methods and also helps reduce consumption of water.

Pump: For pump-driven models, a pump is installed under the sink which can be turned on with a push of a button. Once it is turned on, the pump uses most of the hot water supply from the unit. This kind of technology is good for when you want single use only.

Temperature-controlled: Temperature-controlled models are most common in the industry. A sensor is placed inside the unit which helps maintain the desired water temperature by activating the burner responsible for running the main heating element. A sensor circuit will cut the power supply of the pump once the temperature reaches its ideal point. And it will in-turn turn the pump back on as soon as the water drops below the pre-determined temperature.

How do they work?

The best tankless water heater comes with a heating element which continuously heats water and supplies it to your home’s main pipeline. This heating element is also powered by the unit’s power source, which is either electric or gas-powered. When you turn on the tankless water heater, the unit uses minimal energy (unless it’s not energy efficient) to supply a continuous stream of hot water for as long as the tap is turned on.

In comparison we found that electric-powered heaters are much slower in delivery than gas-powered units. This is because an electric-powered heater consists of the following features:

  • A sensor
  • A burner
  • A thermostat

These features work something like this: When the switch of the unit is turned on, the sensor that’s placed in the heating element of the electric-powered heater kick-starts the burner. The burner heats the water flowing in the unit in a constant cycle, while the thermostat maintains the desired temperature of the water flow.

When using natural gas or propane heaters, make sure the unit has enough ventilation support for smooth performance. It can be placed through a ceiling or outside the house, close to all the main pipelines. Hot water is the only priority when using the best tankless water heater. And so, you shouldn’t have to wait a long time for hot water after turning the tap on. That said, opting for a larger tankless water heating system that can run two taps, such your dishwasher line and a kitchen faucet, simultaneously is important.

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