Blog | Plumbing Tips by Fox Valley Backflow and Plumbing

Gas Leak And Safety in Illinois

What is a Gas Leak?

Leaking natural gas or any gaseous product from a pipeline is called gas leaking. A gas leak can be hazardous to health and the environment. People of Wheaton, Chicago, Elgin, and Lake Zurich, Illinois use natural gas carried through pipelines. If these pipelines get holes in them then the gas can leak.

Natural gas can create damage or kill plants, also hazardous to the health of people and animals as it is a form of methane, carbon monoxide. It can create shortness of breath and continuous coughing. Leaking gas can go a long way from its source, as far as 25 to 30 meters (90 to 100 feet).

How to Know that Gas Is Leaking?

Natural gas is odourless. However, a substance called Mercaptan is added to gas for safety reasons, so it can be traceable if any leakage happens. This substance makes natural gas smell as a “rotten egg” and people can easily trace and know where the gas is leaking.

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What to Do When Found A Leak?

A gas leak is possibly dangerous for a household. If you get any smell like rotten egg, then you should find a leak in your gas pipeline, stove gas burner or any other gas appliances. If exact leakage cannot be found, you should turn off all the appliances that work with gas, also the electronic appliances. The main switch of the electricity should be turned off. You should open all the windows so that the gas can ventilate through the windows. You should not use anything that can create any spark like switches of light, phones, computers, flashlights or any other electrical appliances. Sometimes doors, windows or cabinets can create sparks, so you should be careful to open a door, window or any cabinet in the house. A spark from any source can ignite the gas. Everyone from the house should be evacuated and should keep a safe distance from the house as gas can migrate as far as 30 meters. You should call a technician immediately to deal with the problem.

What Can You Do to Keep Safe?

To be safe from igniting gas, you should always keep a fire extinguisher in your home, all the pipelines or gas appliances should be checked in six months or one year, and a carbon monoxide detector should be installed and monitored properly.

How to Check Pipelines And Deal with Gas Leaks?

To deal with the gas leak, you should call a technician to find the source and the exact place where the gas is leaking.

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November 9, 2022/by Fox Valley Plumbing

Sump Pumps

Why Sewage Ejector Pump Is Needed, How It Works and How to Install One in Illinois

What Is A Sewage Ejector Pump?

A sewage ejector pump is an underwater or submersible pump that helps to move liquid or semi-liquid waste from washing machines, laundry, or bathrooms situated in the basements of the house. Houses of Chicago, Wheaton, Elgin, etc. in Illinois have their laundry in the basements, and an ejector pump is a must in these houses.

How Does A Sewage Ejector Pump Work?

A sewage ejector pump works the same as a sump pump. The difference between a sump pump and a sewage ejector pump is that a sump pump suctions water in the basement that accumulated because of rain, and a sewage ejector ejects wastewater from washing machines or bathrooms in basements. In an ordinary house, wastewater from the kitchen or bathroom goes through the normal sewage or plumbing line and drains in the central septic or municipal line outside the home. However, when a house has a laundry system like a washing machine or bathroom in the basement lower than the actual ground, the wastewater does not go directly to the main septic line as it is placed on the ground level, as it is lower than that. In moments like these, a sewage ejector pump helps to eject by lifting the wastewater at the ground level and throwing the water into the septic or municipal sewage line.

Sewage ejector pumps sit on a basin-like sump placed on the ground by digging it. It has multiple valves that get aware of the level of wastewater. The sump basin can hold approximately 28 to 30 gallons of water, depending on the type of pump. The outlet line or pipe is 2 to 4 inches long, connecting the pump with a 3 to 6 inches long central septic or municipal line. As the sewage ejector pumps are installed in basements, a vent is necessary to vent out the sewage gasses to equalize the pressure of pumping. This vent comes outside with a pit and connects with a pipe that helps to ventilate the gases.

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How Much Does A Sewage Ejector Pump Cost?

For an average residential, a sewage ejector pump can cost from $300 to $1000, depending on its type, horsepower motor etc., and the installation charge depends on the technician or the plumber. Usually, these pumps do not need any maintenance but once a year. A professional technician or plumber can inspect the pump to see if it needs any changes.

Does Your House Need A Sewage Ejector Pump?

In Illinois, cities like Elgin, Chicago, Wheaton, etc., have houses with basement laundries, dryers and bathrooms. A sewage ejector pump is necessary to eject the wastewater from these. Moreover, it also reduces the pressure of the regular sewage line. So, if your house’s laundry system is situated in the basement, a sewage ejector pump is a must for you.

How to Install a Sewage Ejector Pump?

For the installation of a sump pump, it is better to have a professional technician or plumber who will install the pump as per the house or commercial place needed.

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October 26, 2022/by Fox Valley Plumbing

Sump Pumps

Wheaton, IL Sump Pump, How It Works, Types, Costs, Benefits and Installation

A sump pump is a device that helps suction water to keep the lower point or the basement of a house dry and avoid floods. This sump is a naturally built pit that is usually a curved hole underneath the main exterior of the basement floor. This pit is called a basin, holding the sump pump and valves to sense the water level. Whenever it rises, it automatically pumps or suctions the water and throws it away in a drainage system or dry well. Generally, the cold states install the sump pump more as the snowfall causes floods when it melts. More specifically, in Wheaton, IL, each home has a sump pump to suction water so the basement can be dry and no mould or mildew can grow.

How does the Sump Pump Work?

The technician or the plumbers install a sump pump at a house’s lower point or basement because there is a high chance of a flood there. Most of the time, the pump is on standby. Whenever heavy rain or snowfall happens in places like Wheaton, IL, the pit, a curved hole-like basin that holds the pump, starts to get full of the excess water from the oversaturated soil. The valves that can sense the water level of the pumps detect the rising water, and the switch that is connected with the pump activates the mechanism so that it can pump out the excess water and through it with the help of a line called effluent, which connects with the drainage system, or dry well. The designated area for draining the water should be 10 to 20 feet away from the house’s foundation.

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Types of Sump Pump and Cost

There are four types of sump pumps, depending on the necessity, usage, place, and cost, with distinctive differences; submersible sump pumps, pedestal sump pumps, battery-operated sump pumps, and water-powered sump pumps. They have different mechanisms than one another. They can cost 100$ to 400$ for a house and 500$ to 1000$ for commercial usage. Also, installation can cost 600$ to 3000$ depending on professional installation.

What Are The Benefits of Sump Pump?

A sump pump keeps the basement of a house dry in areas like Wheaton, IL, as the place has a high snowfall record. Without a sump pump, the basement can get damp and hazardous mould, mildew, or fungus can grow, which questions the healthy house environment. It keeps the basement supplies like washing machines or dryers safe. It improves the air quality indoors and helps to reduce the musty smell. Also, it helps to keep the foundation intact and discourages the invasion of insects.

How to install a sump pump?

For the installation of a sump pump, it is better to have a professional technician or plumber who will install the pump as per the house or commercial place needed.

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October 12, 2022/by Fox Valley Plumbing

Services, water main repiping

Water Leakage inside The Wall, Causes, Identify and Repair in Elgin, Illinois

Mold on wall near wooden floor and cabinet.

Water is a necessity for every living thing. However, when this water leaks through the wall, it becomes problematic in daily life. After coming home from a long work day, smelling something damp, mouldy, or musty caused by a water leak inside the wall is not pleasurable at all. Water leaks inside the wall can destroy the interior, and the wall can look mouldy. Sometimes it shows black or yellow stains, and the paints on the wall peel off. Living with a problem like that is a bit troublesome. Leakage creates puddles on the floor near the wall, which can be threatening if there is any child in the house. So getting rid of it is the best idea.

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Why does water leak?

There are many reasons behind a water leaking wall. There can be defective water or drainage pipes, small failures through plumbing with caulk, and defective sanitary fitments or pinholes which can cause a leaky, mouldy, musty smell wall. Rainwater can also play a role behind a water leaking wall if it previously had any crack or leaky foundation. High water pressure can cause cracks in the pipes and can also cause leakage. Pipes made of polybutylene react with the water’s chlorine and can create holes or cracks. Using these pipes can also cause a water leak. A place like Lake Zurich is freezing, and the water gets cold also. This cold water can also harm the pipelines and cause cracks in them,

How to identify?

Leaking water inside or through a wall is not neglectable, as the wall looks wet and causes discolouration or stains. It can cause a musty smell, and mould or mildew can grow inside or outside the wall. Paints on the wall fall off; the texture changes sometimes and looks warped or curved. Sometimes puddles can be seen on the floor near the wall, and furniture or carpets can also be wet. Dripping sounds can be heard; most importantly, the water bill’s cost can rise. By these, a person can know if there is water leakage inside the wall or not but may not understand or identify the exact place. To know that, they can use a moisture meter to scan moisture inside the wall, an infrared camera to see the leakage part or cut through drywall to know where the leakage is happening.

How to get rid of it?

Water leakage is not a pleasurable thing. Getting rid of it is a must. Otherwise, it can harm other stuff in the house, like furniture, curtains or carpets. It also gives an uneasy smell or odour. Doing the house’s plumbing is the best way to get rid of it.

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October 5, 2022/by Fox Valley Plumbing

Water Heaters

Tankless Water Heater

What is a tankless water heater?

A tankless water heater can be defined as demand-type, expeditious or instantaneous, providing water whenever needed. Hot water is necessary during a bath or shower, and a water heater is compulsory to provide hot water. The old-school tank water heater can take up to 17 square feet of space in a house, is not very efficient for saving energy or cost, and only stores water from 7.5 to 15.5 liters. Whether a tankless water heater is more energy-efficient, cost-effective, long-lasting, dependable, does not take up a lot of space and is expeditious, as it does not store water.

How does it work?

A tankless water heater heats water without storing water in a water tank. When someone opens a tap, the water which flows through the tap comes in touch with a heat exchanger in the unit. A natural gas burner or an electric element heats the heat exchanger, and as a result, a tankless water heater provides a constant hot water supply.

Usually, a tankless water heater provides 7.5 to 15.5 liters of water in a minute, which is supposedly 2 to 5 gallons. An electric tankless water heater cannot fulfill a large family’s need for hot water, whether a gas-burner tankless water heater can. However, sometimes it can not provide enough hot water if a family is using too much water simultaneously; for instance, taking a shower and doing household chores at the same time that need water. In that case, installing more than one water heater in separate places like the kitchen and bathroom where water usage is higher can be beneficial. However, it can cost more and may not be worth it.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Tankless water heaters are cost-effective and energy effective. They provide instant hot water whenever needed. They can save from 24% to 34% energy for a family that uses 40 or fewer gallons of water and 8% to 12% for a family that uses hot water like 80 gallons. Most tankless water heaters can last for 20 years in contrast to storage water heaters, which last for 10 to 15 years. These heaters save space and can weigh between 70 to 80 pounds, installable on the wall, which means more floor space remains. These heaters are sustainable and environmentally friendly as they prevent greenhouse gas releases.

However, these can cause some problems like mineral build-up, system overload, sudden provision of cold water, blocked air supply, ignition failure, flame failure, etc., depending on the water usage in a family. These problems are readily soluble.

To conclude, a tankless water heater is an excellent investment for a place where hot water is needed immediately. It is highly efficient, low-maintenance, saves money and energy, is environmentally friendly, and the problems are readily soluble.

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September 28, 2022/by Fox Valley Plumbing

Sump Pumps

Schaumburg, Il – Sump Pump Repair & Installation

Before & After Sump Pump Installation

Before

After

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August 26, 2022/by Fox Valley Plumbing

Commercial Plumbing Services, Residential Plumbing, Tips

Elgin, Illinois – Learn How to Spot Potential Repair Scams

Spot Potential Repair Scams That Might Lead to Poor Plumbing Work

Plumbing plays an important role in the proper functioning of a home. Therefore, it is important that you take the utmost care and caution when repairing any work related to plumbing.

Always do your research and be aware of potential plumbing scams. Know what to expect from the professional plumbing experts who come to service your plumbing problem.

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How to Avoid Potential Plumbing Repair Scams

Seek Multiple Estimates
Before finalizing your decision about hiring a plumber, you should seek out at least three estimates with their detailed breakdown costs. If you find any plumbing contractor is proactively giving the quote over the phone, it would be better to avoid him.

After all, a plumber should be able to assess the damage and cost of repairing them only after visiting the job site.

Once you receive the estimates, you need to compare them and if you find one of the quotes is much lower than the others, you should be leery about it. An excessively lower estimate does not include all the labor and equipment costs for which you will be responsible for paying before finishing the plumbing work.

Before starting the job, you need to pay a specific amount of money as a down payment. Usually, 10% of the total plumbing cost is considered as the standard down payment amount. But when a plumber asks for a larger amount, you should be suspicious as it will raise the chance that he could take the money and run.

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Beware of Theft
If you are living in a rental or apartment building, you need to be aware of common scams as a plumber may claim that he has been sent by the house owner or the water department and instructed to check the water connection and do some necessary repairs.

In many cases, these are fake people whose intent is to steal valuable items from your household. Therefore, you must verify the identity of a plumber from the homeowner or the building supervisor before letting him enter into the house.

Compare, Compare and Compare
Another common scam is to seek money in the name of expensive parts. But in reality, the plumbers use the cheaper parts and a major portion of the profit goes to their own pockets.

Hence, whenever you are asking for a quote, instruct the plumber to mention the make and model of every major part or equipment. Then, compare the cost of each item with the local building supply store to know whether any major price difference is there.