Is Your Sump Pump In Working Order To Handle A Flood?

Flood preparedness is important this time of year. Especially because late winter and early spring showers can pose the threat of water-filled basements, leaving homes in ruin.

What is a sump pump? Should my basement be equipped with a sump pump? If it is, is your sump pump in working order to handle a flood?

A sump pump, contained in a sump pit, pumps out water from the lowest section of the basement before the water level reaches the basement floor level. Yes, your basement should have a sump pump and if you're not sure if your pump works, now is the time to find out -- whether you inspect the pump yourself or call a plumber, say industry experts. Water from a sudden thaw or rainstorm seeping into basements can cause thousands of dollars in damage, according to consumer reports citing information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A flood of just 1 inch of water in a 1,000-square-foot home can cause $10,600 in damage. If an inspection finds that you need a new sump pump, don't procrastinate. If you do, the damage can sink your home physically and financially.

Usually, a house in a low-lying area is equipped with a sump pump when the home is built, so it's a matter of maintaining the pump and replacing it when necessary. If you live in a home without a sump pump and the basement floods, chances are a pump needs to be installed to carry water away from the home. Basement flooding is mostly caused by water buildup in the soil that makes its way into the basement.

You know that spring is coming, even though some days it feels like it won't. So, be prepared. Contact Chicago area Morning Noon and Night Plumbing at 773-880-0072 for a thorough inspection, repair, or installation of your sump pump.

A Water Heater Is One Of The Most Important Household Appliances

Homeownership means not only understanding the different systems in your home but also knowing what regular maintenance is necessary to ensure safe and efficient operation of these systems. One of the most important systems in your home is your plumbing. Understanding your plumbing and what maintenance is necessary will save you a lot of time, money and effort in the long run. You won't regret reading the following...

Below are some tips that can help you avoid major repairs, help extend life expectancy, and in some cases even reduce energy consumption.

• Most people are astounded at the impact of even the tiniest of leaks in faucets or toilets. Leaks that are barely perceptible to the naked eye can waste thousands of gallons of fresh water a year, costing you hundreds of dollars in excess water bills. (If the leak is hot water, you'll lose energy dollars as well!) If you have a leak that you know of, get it fixed before all that money goes down the drain. It's a good idea to have a professional plumber do a complete household check-up to find leaks that escape casual notice.
 
• Your water heater is one of the most important household appliances. Over time, sediment builds at the bottom of the heater, which can hamper performance. This sediment if left unchecked, will cause corrosion in the tank that will eventually lead to premature failure of your water heater. You should have a professional plumber check this on an annual basis. During this check the tank should be drained and refilled in order to get rid of this sediment. Your technician can also check the drain valve for signs of leakage, and the anode rods for corrosion.
 
• Also important is a water heater burner inspection. A good way of telling is to check the flame under the water heater. It should appear blue with yellow tips. If it's mostly yellow or if you see a layer of soot and carbon, the flue ways may be clogged. DO NOT try anything yourself at this point. CALL A PROFESSIONAL to investigate the situation.
 
• Once a water heater springs a leak in its housing, it is beyond repair and must be replaced. Many units will last 15-20 years or even longer before this happens. (And it always seems to happen at the most inconvenient times, like when the family is coming over for the holidays!) If you have an ancient water heater, it may pay off for you to get it replaced even before it breaks down. Units made in the last 10-15 years have much higher operating efficiencies than older models. Savings in fuel costs often will pay for the new installation in just a few years.
 
• Lawn sprinklers often spring leaks over the winter. If puddles form on your lawn, you probably have seepage in some of the lines.

• Check your sump pump to make sure it's in working order before the heavy spring and summer rains fall. Watch for build-up of sand or other debris in the sump pit. This can jam the pump and burn out its motor. Also, make sure the pump's discharge pipe is not clogged.
 
• Consider getting a battery-operated back-up sump pump if your pump has been overloaded in the past from heavy rains.
 
• Keep rain gutters and downspouts clear of leaves and other debris. Water overflowing from blocked gutters collects around your home's foundation and seeps into your basement.
 
• If your home is equipped with a flood control device such as an ejector pump, have it checked by your plumbing contractor to make sure it is working properly before the heavy rains hit.

For additional tips and assistance in keeping your home's plumbing system running in tip-top shape, contact Chicago area Morning Noon and Night Plumbing at 773-880-0072.

Hydro Jet Plumbing To the Rescue!

For residential and industrial needs, hydro jet plumbing cannot be beat. Years of grease and sediment become attached to our pipes, Eventually, they begin to narrow and eventually clog. In order to keep your pipes free of debris, grease, sediment, and waste-- hydro jet plumbing is the way to go.

Unlike snaking, or harsh chemicals, hydro jetting thoroughly flushes out all of the gunk that clings to our plumbing-- without compromising our pipes.

The hydro jet uses high pressure water up to 4000 psi at 15-18 gallons per minute... leaving your pipes looking and functioning like new.

The way it work is, a hose is guided through the sewer line by a high pressure water stream.As the hose recoils, it is cleaned by powerful forward and back jets of water. Different heads are used for various needs. In industrial situations a heavier duty attachment may be required.

Hydro jetting will destroy anything in it’s path, giving you the peace of mind you deserve when it comes to your home or business. Simple maintenance and annual jetting will assure long lasting and free flowing pipes.

Prevent clogs and build ups, call us now so you don’t have to later!

Welcome Our Newest Addition! Pumper Truck

Isn't she a beauty!?

You may wonder, what is a pumper truck?

A pumper truck is a vehicle with many capabilities. The most obvious of course; pumping. Pumper trucks are used in many different industries. For instance, a fire truck is a pumper truck. Whenever liquid, gas, oil, etc. need to be pumped in or out, a pumper truck is needed.

In our industry, pumper trucks are incredibly useful and convenient. With 24 hour a day, 7 day a week availability we are able to...

• Pump flooded basements 
• Trench drains 
• Clean storm lines 
• Septic tanks 
• Sump crocks 
• Clean grease traps 

Who Has A Pumper Truck?

We do!!! Our pumper truck is a mobile 24 hour service for both residential and industrial needs. In the war on flooding, this vehicle is a proven war machine. In the war on cleaning, it makes Mr. Clean look like a slob. And it is now a permanent member of our fleet.

Who Needs A Pumper Truck?

Everyone! Got a parking lot? Need it cleaned?-- Pumper truck! Got grease, sediment, shmootz and shmink? --Pumper truck!

It’s not just for emergency needs, but should you have an emergency, we’re are ready!

When is it Time to Replace Those Pipes?

It can be difficult to tell when the pipes in your home need to be replaced but there are some tell tale signs. In time your pipes will corrode, rust and decay. Unless you eventually replace the plumbing, you could be facing a flood of water or raw sewage in your home that can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your property and belongings.

Old pipes do not have to become a plumbing disaster. Here are a few ways to assess your plumbing needs and when it’s time for a replacement.

Be conscientious of the types of pipes you have. The type of plumbing in your home determines how long you can hope for them to last. Reviewing the home inspection report you received when you purchased the house will help reveal your type of plumbing --or you can have one of our trusted plumbers inspect your home for you.

Brass and galvanized steel pipes that are used as supply pipes can have a typical lifespan of 80 to 100 years. Copper slightly less time at just 70 to 80 years. A cast iron drain line could be expected to last anywhere between 80 and 100 years where has a PVC drain line has the estimated lifespan of 25-40 years.

Even if your pipes are older than these estimated lifespans, it doesn’t necessarily mean they need to be replaced. A well maintained pipe could last longer and a poorly maintained ones or homes in areas with hard water could have to replace their plumbing sooner. No matter what types of plumbing you have, you need to keep an eye on it.

If you have either of these types of pipes in your home, they need to be removed right away --no matter how old they are. Used in the early 1900’s, lead pipes have an life expectancy of 100 years but the lead can seep into your drinking water causing serious health risks. The other type of plumbing that should be removed promptly are polybutylene pipes. Used from the 1970’s to the 1990’s these pipes are extremely prone to breakage.

If your house is 60 years old or older make sure you do an annual inspection of your plumbing. Look at any exposed pipe for telltale signs of trouble. Any discoloration, stains, dimpling, or flaking are all signs of corrosion. If you find any of these abnormalities contact a plumber to do an inspection because it may be time to replace those pipes soon.

Have You Rodded Your Line Today?

Many of us enjoy cooking at home. And when we begin the frenzied whirlwind of cooking for our families and guests; we ask a lot of our kitchens. We regard the hole in the sink as sort of an abyss that carries our rotted, spoiled, wilted waste to another realm where we don’t have to see it anymore... Or smell it for that matter.

But, beneath that sink lies an intricately woven series of pipes that carrie that unwanted waste to our sewers. And; should that network become impeded by that “forgotten” waste? Then you will experience a back up, and that unwanted waste just made you remember.

In this instance you will want to call a professional. “Rodding” is when a plumber uses a heavy duty cable line that has teeth on the end of it to break through any clog within the deepest reaches of your home. This can save you a fortune. Especially when performed annually. Much like the veins in the human body, a constant unimpeded flow must be allowed in order for the body, or in this case the house, to live.

Low Flow/High Efficiency

It seems every day when we wake up, more and more technological advances have been made. Even in our bathrooms! The future is here and evidence of that is in the toilet... Literally!

Since the mid nineteenth century until relatively recently; technological advances regarding the throne have been virtually inert-- until 1994 when water conservation laws came to pass. After that manufacturers scrambled to make a Low Flow toilet to suit the needs of the consumer as well as meet the demands of regulation. Subsequently, it was the consumer that saw the short end of the stick as quality was lost in an effort to make a low flowing device.

The reason toilet bowl technology remained unchanged for so long is quite simple... It works. The use of gravity and air have created any easy to maintain system with toilets manufactured before 1994. A toilet bowl can house 7-8 gallons of water in it’s reservoir and use gravity to flush out waste in the bowl. After water conservation became a paramount issue it was recognized how wasteful 7-8 gallons of gallons per flush (GPF) really is. The new mandate only allowed for 1.6 GPF. This makes it much harder for gravity to do it’s job with such a light load. As a result, many sought out toilets from garage sales and second hand stores to avoid the seemingly Low Flow/ Low Quality of the new design.

In the last decade however, many manufacturers have released some very sleek, high-performance commodes. Many addressing the issue of gravity. Before WWII, most toilets kept the water tank high above the toilet to ensure a proper cleansing from the height and weight of the water. Now; that same idea has been employed with the newest models. Pressure assistance. Be it from a pump, motor, air, etc. There are many new break throughs that can not only conserve water, but conserve money! In the end, nobody likes to flush money down the toilet.

Visit your local Home Improvement Store for more information on how you can make your home and wallet greener. Find out what is best for you, in the long run you’ll be glad you did.