Tureks Plumbing Services Blog: Archive for the ‘Fox Valley Plumber’ Category

How to Deal with Basement Flooding

Friday, March 3rd, 2017

basement flooding

Basement and Bathroom Flooding

Any type of flooding in your home is a problem, but two of the worst types that your household could experience are bathroom flooding and basement flooding.

Bathroom flooding can be a disgusting process for all because of the human waste factor and how it can impact your entire household’s daily hygiene routine. Despite this, basement flooding remains a much bigger concern. Aside from the fact that it can be caused by everything from overland flooding, to infiltration flooding, to sewer backup, to a combination of two or all three of these types of flooding (different levels of nastiness for flood water), it can also lead to serious structural damages that can make your home unsafe to live in.

Since the basement is part of the house’s foundation, compromised elements in this room can alter the integrity of the entire structure. It’s important to mention as well that because of the room’s location, it’s quite prone to mold growth, which can pose health risks for you and your family. Molds are not easy to treat, and getting rid of them will not only set your finances back, but it will also be a great inconvenience to your family since you will be asked to evacuate your home until the situation is properly resolved.

Suffice it to say, basement flooding is a situation that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. You can’t let dirty water just sit in the room and breed all sorts of potentially harmful elements; the quicker you get rid of the water, the better. For this job, you will need plumbing specialists to help drain the flood and also correctly identify the cause of flooding.

Urgently addressing the situation is required if the flooding is caused by sewer backup. Applegate and Fox Valley plumbers say that while contaminated water is the main issue, other factors worsen the problem. Flooding can place extra pressure on the pipes underneath the home and this can result in the heaving of basement floors, especially when improper backwater valves are used.

Also, weeping tiles are connected to the municipal system through sanitary sewer laterals or storm sewer laterals, and sewage can be pressured back into the weeping tiles; this may result in great damage to the home, which will not only require repairs but replacement of materials as well.

If you need to have your basement serviced due to flooding, your insurance company may be able to help shoulder the cost due to sewer back-up, so do get in touch with them to see if your insurance policy can actually cover the cost of sewer backup damage. If it does, you won’t have to worry much about getting your home properly restored.

Contact us today for more information.

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How to Prevent Roots from Damaging Your Sewer Line

Tuesday, February 21st, 2017

Prevent Roots from Damaging Your Sewer LineHow Can You Prevent Roots from Damaging Your Sewer Line?

Tree roots and other types of vegetation can be bad news for sewer lines. These do not only create blockages that affect plumbing, but they can also damage the sewer’s structure.

Any damage to sewer lines is expensive to repair and can set back property owners by thousands of dollars. Damaged sewer lines can also be the source of other inconveniences such as foul odor, pest infestation, and health issues.

It is important to prevent tree roots and vegetation from wrecking your sewer line and costing you thousands of dollars in repair and replacements. Here are some tips that can help.

Sewer Line Inspections

Regularly have professional plumbers inspect your sewer line to see if there are natural elements growing into it. Early inspection can outwork the potential big problem that can develop. This may cost you some but it’s always better (cheaper) to spend on preventive measures than repairs and replacements.

Sewer Line Locations

Do you know where the sewer lines are located? If not, call your local public works department or the national “811” hotline. They have information on all underground utilities. It’s best to get this information when you’re thinking of upgrading the landscape of your property.

Properly Prepare for Landscaping Projects

For landscaping projects, professional plumbers hired by Fox Valley and Applegate residents advise creating a barrier between trees and sewer lines. Slow release chemicals like copper sulfate and potassium hydroxide can be used to discourage root development into sewer lines. Apply these chemicals near the sewers to prevent roots from growing into sewers. Another solution to try is burying wood or metal barriers a foot deeper than the pipe. You can also run them vertically next to the sewer; this will prevent roots from getting to the pipes.

Think Long Term

Plan your landscaping by opting for trees and shrubs that only have a small root ball. These won’t grow too much and make their way into sewers but they’ll do just as fine in elevating the look of your outdoor space.

Call the Professionals

If drain clogs happen quite frequently, and the usual solutions are useless or only work temporarily, don’t delay in calling Turek’s Plumbing, your local Fox Cities plumbers, for an inspection of the sewer line. Other tell-tale signs to keep an eye out for are:

  • Slow-flowing drains; these basically indicate that the system is having a difficult time pushing everything down.
  • Gurgling noises from the toilet whenever it’s flushed.
  • Overflow even after potent drain cleaners have been used.

 

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What Is the Potential Cost of a Plumbing Leak?

Thursday, December 15th, 2016

Cost of a Plumbing LeakCost of a Plumbing Leak | How Much Could A Potential Plumbing Leak Cost You?

Homeowners, admittedly, have a tendency to take the condition of their plumbing system for granted. As long as water flows every time they turn on the faucet or shower, there’s no need to think about the dynamics of the system of pipes behind or underneath the sinks, bathtubs and showers that make the delivery of that water possible.

As such, it’s quite common for people to miss subtle and even more obvious signs that there are problems such as a plumbing leak developing. And when these leaks remain unnoticed or ignored for some time, they can cause significant damage to the house — and this damage can potentially translate to hundreds or even thousands of dollars’ worth in repairs. That’s money that could have been used toward more important necessities, such as groceries for the family, utility bills, and school tuition.

Here, plumbing professionals in Wisconsin share a brief overview of the potential cost of a plumbing leak.

The Effect: Mold

Leaking or burst pipes that run behind your house’s walls can create moisture on the drywall. After some time, this moisture will find its way through the walls in the form of wet spots.

You may notice a particularly wet or musty smell coming from your walls; this is a sign that there’s a leak exposing your walls to moisture, and that black mold has begun to set in.

To resolve this problem, you may need to do two things:

  • Call in mold remediation experts. Their services can typically run from $500 to $3,000.
  • Have the damaged sections of your wall removed. To give you an idea of the cost (especially if large wall sections were damaged), just 100 square feet of drywall can already set you back by $400.

The Effect: Water Damage on Floors

Aside from walls, water can also cause damage to floors since it naturally flows downward—any leak will eventually collect on and underneath the floors of a kitchen or bathroom.

The signs you should look for are puddles of water on the kitchen or bathroom floor that weren’t caused by spills or splashes from taking a shower or washing dishes. Also, loose tiles around the bathtub or sink point to water damage.

To fix floors that have been damaged by water, you need to:

  • Remove and replace floorboards, plus install new tile. Professionals can charge anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500.
  • Replace hardwood floors. These cost about $12 to $30 per square foot.

The Effect: Broken Fixtures

Persistent leaks can cause components of the fixtures, such as rubber gaskets, to rot. In some cases, these damaged elements can get stuck inside the pipes and result in weakened water pressure. In general, constant leaks can lead to faulty showerheads and faucets.

You need to:

  • Replace the damaged fixtures. Depending on the brand and material you choose, kitchen and bathroom hardware can cost between $100 and $500.

The potential cost of a plumbing leak is not something that homeowners should ignore. To maintain the proper flow of water into your property and to avoid costly repairs and replacements in the future, be mindful of any signs of leaks and get in touch with your trusted Fox Valley Plumbers
 right away.

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Best of the Valley

Thursday, September 15th, 2016

Best of the valley best plumber

Each year The Post Crescent gives our community a chance to nominate and vote for businesses they deem to be the BEST OF THE VALLEY.

We have had the honor of being nominated and selected as the winner for several consecutive years. We couldn’t possible achieve this honor without the help of our loyal customers. We humbly ask you once again for your votes in this local election.
We believe that our customers satisfaction is the backbone of our business. In fact, this year we have implemented a new employee recognition program where our staff are rewarded for delivering exceptional service to our clients. This is just one of the ways we are amplifying our motto, Terrific People; Terrific Service.

How to vote for Best of the Valley:

1. Select the category: Best health and professional services

2. Select Tureks Plumbing Service under the category Best Plumber 

3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and SUBMIT. 
 
Voting goes through September 16th! For full details on contest rules, CLICK HERE.
 
****To be entered to win the TV Send your Name and Phone Number with a picture of your ballot (or a screenshot for online ballots) to info@tureksplumbing.com or Call Us at 920-731-0462 to be entered. ******
 
Thanks for your vote!!
The Staff of Turek’s Plumbing Services

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Should You DIY a Kitchen Remodel? A Fox Valley Plumber Weighs In

Thursday, June 16th, 2016

kitchen remodel

Should You DIY a Kitchen Remodel?

Should I DIY my kitchen remodel project? That is a fairly common question homeowners ask. There is no simple answer to this question. You must account for your personal circumstances in order to arrive at the best decision.

 

Why DIY-ing has become popular

Why have DIY projects become more popular in recent years? There are plenty of possible answers to this phenomenon.

One major factor influencing this trend is the steep cost of labor. In many projects, the cost of labor is considerably higher than the cost of the materials, driving homeowners to look for other options, including DIY.

Additionally, there are plenty of resources currently available that DIY-ers can utilize. Unlike before when knowledge and expertise were handed down by a master to his apprentice, today you can watch a video, download an e-book, or read a blog post, and you’ll get detailed step-by-step instructions on how to do something.

Finally, there’s the unique sense of achievement and ownership you get from knowing that you created something with your own hands.

 

When DIY is not a better option

However, not all projects are suitable for the average individual. How do you know if you should DIY a project or call in an expert? Here are three scenarios.

  • The tasks involved serious risks

 

Simply put, if you do not want to risk the safety of your loved ones and your property, you need to hire someone who can perform the job safely.

  • Messing up will cost you more

 

When you commit mistakes with small projects, you can chalk those up to experience. But when correcting your mistakes leads to hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in costs, then you better call in the professionals.

  • Your home’s value is at stake

 

For larger projects like a kitchen remodel, you have to be aware of the impact of the final outcome on the value of your home.

  • The project requires a permit

 

When a project requires a permit, that often means that it is too complicated and difficult to tackle for someone with minimal experience.

 

Should you DIY your kitchen remodel?

If you have above average skills and if you are confident that you can produce the best outcomes, and you are not worried about the potential added costs, perhaps you can consider going the DIY route with the remodel. However, you still have one hurdle to face: getting a building permit.

For most homeowners, it makes better sense to enlist the help of a seasoned Fox Valley plumber. Remember, you are not simply paying for someone to do a set of tasks for you. You are paying for expertise, time savings and quality work.

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Water Efficiency Tips

Wednesday, June 15th, 2016

water efficiency tips

Water Efficiency Tips for Smart Households

With La Niña on the way, experts are not expecting the 4-year drought in California to back down anytime soon. Authorities are now busy with emergency drought regulations to mitigate the consequences of such a long-standing water crisis. Residents still have to make do with widespread water use restrictions. Thus, even if you live in a state that is unaffected by drought, it still pays to look into how you can further conserve water in your area and contribute to the benefit of the greater population.

Drought Statistics

Latest statistics from the United States Drought Monitor show that 20.46 percent of Wisconsin is considered abnormally dry – the lowest level of drought intensity – and that no one in the state is affected by it. Still, the California drought has become an eye-opener for many, and they are now researching for more water efficiency tips in the aim to change how they use water in their household.  

Implementing water conservation measures in the home can benefit the homeowner, since utility bills become lower as the consumption of water decreases. Most importantly, your water-saving habits will benefit the community – every drop matters when it comes to the smart and responsible use of water resources.

Working with the Right Plumber

To strengthen your water-saving efforts, it pays to work with an eco-friendly plumber in Fox Valley. Get help from a professional so the initiatives and projects you undertake will be sure to deliver the highest impact. With the help of a trusted plumber, you can:

  • Detect leaks and other faulty components in your plumbing system to make sure clean, useful water isn’t simply going down the drain. Keep in mind that this is how much water you are wasting: at least 20 gallon wasted daily due to a dripping faucet and thousands of gallons annually due to a leaking toilet.  
  • Once you have detected the problem areas, make the necessary repairs and upgrades.
  • Look into switching to high-efficiency fixtures such as water-saving toilets, performance pressure showers and water-efficient faucets. Additional enhancements such as installing pressure-reducing valves can also bring noticeable results.

Complement your professional water-saving plumbing projects with some behavior and lifestyle changes. These steps might be small, but working together, they can deliver outstanding results and give you the best personalized water efficiency tips.

  • Always make sure to turn faucets off when not in use. Don’t leave the water flowing while brushing your teeth, soaping the dishes or applying shampoo during a shower.
  • Look into reducing or temporarily stopping high water consumption activities, such as watering your lawn or using a hose to clean outdoor areas.
  • Strategically operate appliances that use water. For instance, choose full load when using your washing machine or dishwasher to tackle more clothes or dishes while maintaining optimal water and energy use.  

 

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How Often Should You Have a Plumbing Inspection?

Thursday, June 9th, 2016

Plumbing Inspection

How Often Should You Have a Plumbing Inspection? 2021

As you know, your plumbing system is a crucial part of your home. It can be extremely frustrating when plumbing problems arise. To avoid any plumbing emergencies, we recommend hiring a professional plumbing company for a plumbing inspection. It’s important to have the system inspected regularly, even when there’s nothing wrong with it yet. In the article below, we answer “how often should you have a plumbing inspection?”

Why Plumbing Inspections Are Important

The Fox Valley plumbers that residents turn to say that a plumbing inspection is a must. Your plumbing system is constantly exposed to all kinds of elements that can corrode or create clogs in the system. Over time, this constant exposure can reduce the plumbing system’s efficiency and create problems for your household. Common plumbing problems include a toilet that won’t flush and leaky pipes that waste excessive water. Clogged drains could be breeding bacteria harmful to your family’s health. From an inspection, not only will you learn the current state or condition of your plumbing system, but you’ll also get to implement the right preventive measures to keep it in tip-top shape to serve your household well.

Q: How Often Should You Have a Plumbing Inspection?

Once a year is good enough, according to the plumbers in Fox Valley. But more often (say, seasonally) would be better, especially in Wisconsin where weather changes can really affect the efficacy of a household’s plumbing system. Over the winter, in particular, a plumbing system takes a serious beating because extreme temperatures force the system to work harder than usual, and it becomes prone to damages.

Yearly Inspection by a Plumber

With a yearly inspection, you’ll already be able to avoid big issues with your plumbing that could potentially set you back by thousands of dollars on repair and replacement. The inspector will provide you useful information on what needs to be done in order to keep the system running smoothly.

Most people decide that spring would be the perfect time for a plumbing inspection, but any other time of the year would be good as well. Basically, people often set it for spring due to concerns that winter may damage the plumbing system. If you’ve never had a plumbing inspection, our friends at McQuillan Bros, a St Paul Plumber, recommend getting on a plumbing inspection schedule immediately. 

However, if you sense something wrong with your plumbing system, don’t waste time in setting a schedule for an inspection. Are you hearing banging, rattling, tapping, and squealing noises from your pipes or drains? Call your Fox Cities plumber at Turek’s Plumbing right away for a plumbing diagnosis. This will help prevent the issue from becoming a bigger problem that would be more challenging to resolve. We also offer residential plumbing services, commercial plumbing services, and drain and sewer services.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in November 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness. 

 

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I Have a Clogged Drain; Do I Need a Plumber?

Monday, May 2nd, 2016

I have a clogged drain, do I need a plumber?

I Have a Clogged Drain, IS DIY a good idea?

As your trusted Fox Valley Plumber, we are here to give you the honest answers on whether you truly need to call a plumber for a clogged drain or if it something you can fix easily on your own. You’ll find plenty of material on the internet telling you that you don’t need to call a plumber when your drain gets clogged. Sometimes that may be true, however there are times when DIY plumbing is just not going to get the job done. There are lots of step-by-step tutorials for each of the possible DIY techniques you can apply to take care of your clogged drain. As plumbing experts online will tell you, your first unclogging attempt should involve a plunger. If the problem is superficial, a plunger would suffice. Although, if you are reading this, you have likely already tried un-clogging your drain with a plunger and that has not worked. 

If the plunger doesn’t quite cut it, you can then move on to the next attempt. If you don’t want to deal with drain clearing chemicals just yet, you may be able to loosen the debris with some hot water. This should loosen anything that can be melted.

If the cause of the blockage can’t be dealt with using heat, it’s time to bring in the chemicals. You need to take every precaution dealing with these acids or you may just find your fingerprints getting wiped out for a period of time. For safety purposes, make sure you wear gloves anytime you are handling harsh drain clearing chemicals. You need to watch out for your lungs as well, so wearing a surgical mask is a good idea, too if you have respiratory issues. To play it safe, just don as much protective gear as possible. 

Call a fox valley plumber

Your drain could remain clogged even after it had chemicals steeping in it; do you call the plumber now?

According to the Internet, you can still hold it off for this one last try. You can get yourself a plumber snake and work it into the drain, feeding it down until it encounters the cause of the obstruction. If you’re successful with this, pour down some hot water down the drain again to loosen any remaining debris. Here is where we ask you to proceed with extreme caution or stop and call in your local Fox Valley Plumber. If you have more than just a clogged drain or there is some corrosion in your drain lines using a snake without experience can cause more damage to your drain lines. An experienced plumber can first camera the line to see what the true cause of the issue is and what the best plan of action is going to be to solve the problem. Of course, if you get disgusted easily or if you tend to be clumsy, or just don’t have the time or tools for DIY,  get hold of a plumber right away for an estimate on repairing your drain problem. 

Obviously, if none of the above methods work, you’re probably dealing with something beyond most DIY capabilities. Drain clogging can stem from something much deeper like underground tree roots getting into your sewer line. We’re talking about something that’s deep in the ground. Unfortunately, this is the case in a lit of older homes with big beautiful trees that have been growing on the property for decades. At this point, it’s clearly time to call in the pros.

 

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Essential Plumbing Spring Cleaning Tips

Tuesday, April 19th, 2016

Plumbing spring cleaning tips

Essential Plumbing Spring Cleaning Tips

Spring is the season of rebirth and renewal, so it makes sense that Appleton, Wisconsin locals make use of its arrival to give their homes a thorough inspection and cleaning to get rid of all the damage and debris left behind by the harsh winter. Making a fresh new start in a house that is orderly and free from functional issues is the best way to welcome spring.

On that note, here are some important spring cleaning plumbing tips that will help protect your property against all kinds of plumbing problems:

For general plumbing maintenance:

  • If you suspect slow leaks, take a water meter reading before you go to bed and refrain from using water overnight. In the morning, take another reading. If you have no idea what a water meter reading is or your reading is fluctuating, call a plumber!
  • Inspect all exposed pipes under your sinks and in the basement for signs of leaks.
  • If sewers frequently back up into homes in your Fox Valley neighborhood, talk to your local Plumber who can install a backflow valve in the floor drain helps prevent this from happening in the future.
  • If there are infrequently used drains around the house, pour a gallon of water into them to fill the trap. This also prevents odors from finding their way into the house.
  • Got any slow drains? Use a snake to make sure that they will effectively carry water away from the house in case of a flood. Also, installing flood alarms is a good idea for folks who have larger homes. Slow drains can also be a sign of a larger problem, learn more HERE. 

For bathrooms and kitchens:

  • Make sure that there are strainers in all drains so that soap scum, hair and other debris won’t clog drain lines. You can find them for about $2 in any hardware store. 
  • Check all faucets, toilets, tanks and bowls for drips, cracks or leaks. For toilets, add six drops of food coloring to the water in the tank — if color appears in the bowl within 30 minutes, you may have a leak.
  • Turn the water supply valves under toilets and sinks to make sure they aren’t sticking. But be sure to turn them back. 

For home appliances:

  • Clean out the lint trap in your washing machine and attach some pantyhose or a wire trap to the end of the hose that drains out the washer.
  • Your washing machine, dishwasher and ice maker all have supply hoses, so check them all for leaks or bulges (or if they are already 10 years old or older). If they must be replaced, stainless steel hoses are recommended.
  • Drain several gallons of water from your water heater tank to flush out sediment buildup. Make sure that the temperature setting does not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider getting a water heater that is more than 15 years old replaced to prevent major issues down the line. 

For outdoor spaces:

  • See if your outdoor faucets and hoses allow water to flow freely. If water leaks inside your house the first time you use a faucet or hose outside, there may have been a frozen pipe that is now cracked, and it must be replaced.
  • Clean out all gutters, downspouts and yard drains.
  • Inspect plumbing vent pipes for any birds that may have built nests there.

We hope you find these tips useful and you learned something new! Give us a call if you have any concerns when it comes to the plumbing in your home.

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Ask Your Fox Valley Plumber

Monday, March 28th, 2016

Fox Valley Plumber FAQ

Ask Your Fox Valley Plumber, Answers to our most commonly asked plumbing questions!

Leaky pipes, flooded basements and the constant sound of running water are just some of the common plumbing issues that many homeowners face. While many believe they can correct these problems on their own by watching DIY plumbing videos or just simply ignore the issue which could be causing more damaging and cost you a significant amount more on your monthly water bills. Below are just a few of the most common plumbing issue you should ask your Fox Valley plumber about to save you money and time.

Common Plumbing Problems

Sink or Faucet Dripping

A dripping faucets is not just an annoyance it can be cost you more than you think on your water bill each month. This common plumbing problem is often ignored for as long as possible but each tiny drip is wasting water and adding to your water bill. Your fox valley plumber can easily have this common issue corrected in very little time and will say you money on the next months water bill.

Running Toilet

There are lots of cute plumbing jokes about running toilets, but when it’s happening in your home it’s not so funny. A running toilet can be due to a number of defects from a decayed toilet flapper to a poorly working tank float ball and arm. This is one plumbing problem you will want corrected as soon as possible because the excessive leaking could be wasting up to 200 gallons of water a day, which shows up on your water bill. This plumbing problem is often due to an internal issue within the system and is best if left to your Fox Valley plumber professional to look at.

Low Water Pressure in My Home

We get a lot of calls about lack of water pressure after our clients have tried to unsuccessfully fix the problem themselves. This is a common problem among older home and in older neighborhoods and can be due to a number of reason. Sometimes it’s an easy fix like needing to have the faucets heads, like the shower head replaced, or this could be an indication that you have a leak somewhere in the pipe lines. Obviously one is a more immediate problem than the other. Your Fox Valley Plumber at Turek’s Plumbing can do an inspection and if the problem is not with your faucets, we can camera your main line to see if there is a deeper issue. 

Water Slowly Drains Or Cronic Clogged Drains

While many homeowners will typically use an over the counter drain cleaner to help improve their water drainage these can cause a significant amount of damage to your pipes and end up cost you more than its worth. You will want to call you Fox Valley plumber to clean away clogged drains to ensure you do not cause any avoidable damage to your pipelines.

Hose Bibb Leaking

This common plumbing issues is a regular assurance once the weather starts to warm up again. Most often the hose bibb is not properly protected from the cold and freezing temperature of the winter weather, which cause the bibb to crack and leak. Although it can be easily fixed by your Fox Valley plumber it can also be avoided by investing in a frost proof hose bibb.

Water Heater Leaking 

With proper yearly maintenance water heaters tend to last between eight to twelve years. But when leaks occur or you suffer through an unfortunate cold shower in the mornings you will want to give your Fox Valley plumber a call. This can be anything from a simple repair or having your water heater replaced it is better to have any issues with your water heater look at sooner rather than later.

 

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