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.

Even though the weather is heating up, you can never be too prepared for winter to arrive. As the cooler months start coming back, you need to keep your home from suffering frozen pipes near Elmhurst . There are a few ways you can keep your pipes from freezing this winter with preparation in the summertime.

Drain Nonessential Water Supplies

Before winter starts, you should be winterizing your home to protect from cold temperatures. Summer is the ideal time, because you will not have to worry about the occasional evening with freezing temperatures as you would in the fall. You should also be winterizing your summer appliances—such as the swimming pool, sprinklers, and garden hoses—as summer winds down to keep your pipes from potentially bursting. Open up these water lines and let them drain. Hoses may still have water present in them, so open the outside valve so any remaining water will not risk the pipes.

Insulate Exposed Water Pipes

One of the most important ways to prevent frozen pipes is to insulate them against the cold. If you have any exposed pipes outside the house, or in a cold basement, then look into different insulation materials. There are pipe sleeves and tape specifically meant to fully cover pipes against cold weather. These sleeves can be found at your local hardware store or with your plumbing services. Some homeowners, typically in milder climates, can protect their pipes with newspapers and plastic bags. These methods should only be used if you are in a pinch. Buy proper piping insulation as soon as you are able.

Keep the Heat Running

You want your heater running at certain temperatures and times of the day to keep your pipes from bursting. If you leave for vacation, keep your heater going while you are away. Though there will be no one there to enjoy the heat, you cut down on the risk of a frozen and broken pipe. Also, try to keep your heater consistent in temperature throughout the day and night. Your pipes can retain the benefit of the heater when the temperature drops at night.

If left untreated, a clog in your sewer line could lead to a very costly cleanup and, in some cases, a need for a whole new sewer line. So if you suspect that you might have a clog in your sewer line, you should contact a company that specializes in residential plumbing right away and have it inspected. It’s much less expensive to have a sewer line clog removed than it would be to have to do major repairs to your plumbing system due to a sewer line backup. Here is how you can identify a clog so that you can seek sewer repair in Elmhurst .

Pay Attention to How Often Your Drains and Toilets Clog

Your drains and toilets are going to get clogged up from time to time. No matter how careful you are about what you put down your drains, ongoing use and buildup from soap scum and debris can lead to clogs. If, however, your drains and toilets clog up on a regular basis and do not respond to conventional drain cleaning solutions, it could be a sign that you have a clog in your sewer.

Listen for Strange Noises Coming From Your Toilet

When you turn on your washing machine or run the sink in your kitchen, does your toilet make a gurgling sound? If your toilet makes any kind of noise when you’re using another water source in your home, it could be because wastewater is having trouble moving through your sewer line .

Watch Out for Water Pooling Near Your Home’s Drains

When water can’t pass through your sewer line, it will start to back up into your home. At first, it may just be a small amount of water pooling around your drains, but that could change quickly. Before long, you could have raw sewage spilling back up into your home, so have a plumber inspect your sewer system immediately.

If you’re in need of pipe replacement or pipe repair in Elmhurst , you may need to pick out new plumbing pipes. The pipes that you choose will depend upon your budget, your personal preferences, and the function of the pipe that you are replacing. For instance, you will need a different type of pipe for gas line repair that you would if you’re placing a water pipe or performing sewer line repair.

Watch this video for some great tips for selecting plumbing pipes. A residential plumbing expert guides you through the process of choosing the right plumbing pipes for your needs.

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.