Sewer problems can cause severe damage to your home that is costly to repair. By understanding the most common causes of sewer problems in Elmhurst, IL , you can take necessary steps to avoid it. Protect your sewer line by avoiding these common causes of damage.

One of the most common culprits when there is a sewer problem is a clog. These clogs usually start with things you’re doing in your home that are inadvertently damaging your drains. For instance, flushing anything except waste and toilet paper is destined to create a clog, including wet wipes that may claim to be flushable. Pouring grease down any drain is a recipe for disaster, as is putting too much down the garbage disposal at once. Roots growing into sewer lines is another common cause of line damage. Although you can’t change the position of trees that are already on your property, avoid planting anything new near your sewer line that has roots that could do damage. Sometimes, sewer lines are simply old and collapse. If you notice the symptoms of sewer line damage, like backed up drains, call a plumber for repairs before the damage gets worse.

Broken pipes in Elmhurst are never fun to deal with. They can result in costly repairs not only from the emergency plumber , but also from contractors repairing water damaged areas of the house. Drywall, carpeting, and personal possessions can become damaged if a broken pipe leads to a flood or an unseen leak. If you suspect you have a broken pipe, call for plumbing services right away. Continue reading for a few key clues that you may have a broken pipe.

Clogged Drains and Toilets

A clogged drain or toilet every once in a while is not always a big deal, but if your drains are constantly backing up—or you have an immovable clog—then you may be looking at broken pipes. Often, your pipes may have finally cracked due to improper installation, insufficient materials, or tree roots. Call your emergency plumber, and get to the bottom of your pipe problem before it becomes a bigger issue.

Mold Growth

If you had frozen pipes, and they thawed out, you may start to see mold growth in your ceiling, walls, or basement. If you see this, then you know for sure you have a broken pipe or moisture entering your home. Your plumber can root out the cause of the leaky pipes; you should also consider calling for mold removal before your home or your health suffers further damages.

Extra Landscape Growth

A lesser-known symptom of broken pipes is when a portion of your outside landscape begins to flourish. Sewage can be a great fertilizer for plants and grass. If you see part of your yard looking green and lush, but you have not watered any more than usual, then you may be looking at a sewer repair.

Rodent and Insect Infestations

Rodents and insects are drawn to moisture, food, and rot. When you have a sudden infestation of rats or insects—especially cockroaches and drain flies—then you could be looking at a leaky or broken pipe that is attracting these annoying pests. After you call for plumbing services, be sure to call a professional exterminator.

Whether it’s finished or unfinished, a basement can be a very useful space. Unfortunately, it’s the one place that’s most vulnerable to flooding. If you notice excess water in your basement, it’s important that you call an Elmhurst plumber or another professional as soon as possible. Your flooding is most likely caused by one of the following.

Improper Drainage

Every property in the city should be configured in such a way that allows water to run away from the house and into the municipal sewer system. If your property has a slope or ditch that doesn’t allow for this type of drainage, then there’s a good chance that water will flood into your basement. If this happens, you’re best off having a professional reconfigure your home’s drainage.

Clogged Gutter

Gutters are designed to collect the water that falls on your roof and channel it away from the home. If debris gets stuck in the gutter, water can’t get where it needs to go, causing it to instead spill onto the base of your home. Over time, the water from the clogged gutter could find its way into your basement.

Poor Sealing

After a period of heavy rain, the ground water around your property is likely to swell. The lower floor of your home should be protected by a sturdy seal; if it isn’t, there’s a good chance water could get in during or soon after a rain storm. As you can imagine, poor sealing is also implicated in flooding caused by poor drainage and clogged gutters.

Backed Up Sewer

The municipal sewer system can get overburdened during periods of high water volume, causing sewer water to back up into certain homes. After the next prolonged rain storm, be sure to keep an eye on any drains in your basement—including drains found in a downstairs bathroom or a laundry room drain.

Burst Pipe

It’s relatively common for pipes to freeze and burst during the cold months. If left unattended, a burst pipe can result in thousands of dollars of water damage . The best way to avoid this is to keep the indoor temperature above 55 degrees at all times.

There are some plumbing leaks that are very obvious. For example, if you have water pouring out of a pipe in your basement, you should call an emergency plumber right away. However, there are other leaks that are tougher to spot. Watch this video to see how to tell if you need plumbing services serving Elmhurst.

You may not be able to see a leaky plumbing pipe behind a wall, but if the paint on that wall is chipping or you see a discolored spot on it, it could be a sign of a plumbing leak. Likewise, large wet spots will often form on ceilings when leaky pipes are located above them. In both of these situations, you should have an emergency plumber come out to assess the damage right away. You can prevent a more dangerous plumbing emergency by fixing leaks quickly before they cause bigger issues.

Frozen pipes are among the most serious emergency plumbing situations that are encountered by homeowners. When you are scheduling seasonal plumbing services for your property, you should be sure to ask your residential plumbing contractor about how you can prevent frozen or burst pipes. Since burst pipes are caused by freezing outdoor temperatures, you can keep your pipes from freezing by providing them with proper insulation. A company offering plumbing services serving Elmhurst will be able to fully insulate your pipes and prepare them for the next cold snap. If you are wondering about how you can prevent frozen pipes in your home, be sure to take a look at this informative video from Angie’s List.

Many of us assume that our general plumbing systems will remain in great working order, throughout the years and seasons. Since a plumbing emergency can strike with little warning, it is a good idea to keep the number of a residential plumbing company handy at all times. From burst pipes to a clogged sewer line and more, your emergency plumber can solve a variety of plumbing issues. With the help of an emergency plumber near Elmhurst, you can restore your plumbing back to proper working condition. To help you prepare for the unexpected, here are some essential tips for scheduling emergency plumbing services.

Do Your Research

When you are seeking an emergency plumber that serves your local community, it is important to do your research before you hire a contractor. For example, you may want to ask your emergency plumber to provide you with reviews or recommendations from past clients. An emergency plumber that comes with great ratings will be sure to offer you top quality plumbing repairs, no matter your plumbing situation.

Ask About Licensing

Along with doing your research, it is also a great idea to ask about the licensing that is held by your emergency plumber. In order to provide plumbing repairs, a plumber must have the right type of license from city or county authorities. The licensing process ensures that each plumber has the knowledge and experience needed to provide quality plumbing repairs. By hiring a licensed plumber, you can book your services with confidence.

Consider Response Time

The last situation that you will want to encounter is waiting for your plumber to arrive when a serious emergency strikes your home. As you are considering hiring an emergency plumber, you should be sure to ask the contractor about his response time. Ideally, your emergency plumber will provide a very fast response time to your neighborhood. A faster response time will allow you to address your situation as swiftly as possible.

If you’re in need of plumbing services near Elmhurst , you should take a few important factors into consideration. You want to find an experienced plumber who specializes in general plumbing, residential plumbing, and emergency plumbing. Here is a homeowner’s guide to choosing the best plumber for your needs.

Seek Recommendations from Family and Friends

The best place to start when you’re looking for a new plumber is to ask your family and friends for recommendations. You should ask your family and friends what plumbing services they received, whether they’ve had experience hiring an emergency plumber, how happy they were with the service, whether they had any complications or problems after the services were completed, and how much they were charged. Find out if they plumber was knowledgeable, professional, and easy to communicate with. You can also ask if they would hire the same plumber again in the future for plumbing maintenance or a plumbing emergency.

Check Online Reviews and Testimonials

After you have a few recommendations for reputable plumbing services, you should look the plumbing companies up online and read their online reviews and testimonials. If a plumber has mostly negative reviews, or if customers keep complaining about the same problems and the plumber doesn’t address them or offer to rectify them, then you shouldn’t hire him. You should look for plumbers who have a lot of positive reviews from customers who say that they would hire the plumber again for plumbing services. You can use these online reviews and testimonials to further narrow your choices for an emergency plumber.

Verify Qualifications, Insurance, and Licenses

Once you have one or two possible plumbers in mind, you should verify that the plumbers have the necessary qualifications, insurance, and licenses. You can check the website for your state’s department of public health to look up each plumber and confirm that he is meeting your state’s residential plumbing license requirements. You will also be able to find out if any complaints have been filed against the plumber for improper or shoddy plumbing services.

At McCoy Sewer and Plumbing, we have been providing affordable, reliable commercial and residential plumbing near Elmhurst and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. We are a family owned and operating business, and we are committed to creating and maintaining personal relationships with our plumbing customers. Our owner is involved in every aspect of our business, and oversees our on-site plumbing services, pricing, emergency plumbing quotes, and customer service.

We offer emergency plumbing services 24/7, and can offer a same-day response to any plumbing emergency. Our residential and commercial plumbing specialists deliver high quality, dependable plumbing services at very affordable, competitive prices. Our team is experienced and reliable, and will perform plumbing services and plumbing maintenance correctly the first time so that you’ll never have to spend additional money on repairing shoddy workmanship.

In addition to general plumbing and emergency plumbing services, we also offer sewer repair and flood control services. We’ll install a flood control system that prevents basement flooding, sewer backup, and costly water damage due to frozen pipes or burst pipes. Our sewer repair and replacement services include pipe repair, drain cleaning, and sump pump repair.

When you live in Illinois, you’re at risk of suffering from frozen pipes near Elmhurst during the colder months. Frozen pipes can be dangerous both to your health and safety, and also to the structure of your home. Here is a look at some of the biggest dangers of frozen pipes.

High Risk of Property Damage

One of the biggest dangers of frozen pipes is that you are at a high risk of property damage if the pipe bursts. Burst pipes can cause extensive flooding and water damage to your property, and can make your home structurally unsafe. The average cost for pipe repair, a flood control system to handle basement flooding, and other emergency plumbing services resulting from a burst pipe is $5,000. A residential plumber can easily install insulation around your plumbing to prevent frozen pipes and burst pipes. This will reduce your risk of property damage and mitigate your costs for emergency plumbing services.

Possibility of Injury

When you have frozen pipes in your home, there is always a chance that you’ll have burst pipes. Frozen pipes and burst pipes increase the possibility that you or a family member will suffer from an injury. If you attempt plumbing services yourself, you could injure yourself while attempting to perform pipe repair. Basement flooding also significantly increases the risk of injury to family members, particularly ones who are very young or very old. A flooded basement can cause problems with your home’s wiring, leading to house fires, electric shocks, or electrocution. Young children can also easily become injured in a flooded basement.

Increased Cost of Fixing or Replacing Plumbing

If you wait until your home develops frozen pipes or a burst pipe, you’ll end up suffering from a plumbing emergency. Emergency plumbing services are typically very expensive. You might also have to pay high costs for pipe repair, flood control, and cleaning up a flooded basement because you will require the services and supplies immediately. If you take the time to prevent frozen pipes before they happen, you’ll significantly reduce your residential plumbing costs.