Tureks Plumbing Services Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Fox Valley Plumber’

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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Do You Have More Than One Clogged Toilet?

Friday, June 10th, 2016

clogged toilet

What Do You Do When You Have More Than One Clogged Toilet?

All toilets, at some point, will clog. Older plumbing systems might lead to more clogs than newer systems. And misuse, like flushing down things you shouldn’t flush in toilets, inevitably leads to clogging. So don’t get too stressed out when one toilet starts to overflow. Take a plunger to it and take care of it.

But when both bathrooms seem to be acting “in concert,” and you’re at your wits end because not one, but two toilets are clogged you need more than just the humble plunger to fix the problem.

 

Two Is Not Better Than One

When you have one clogged toilet in the upstairs bathroom and another one in the downstairs bathroom, it might mean your septic tank is already full. This is if your property’s on a septic system. Another reason for both toilets getting backed up is a clog in the main sewer line. This is if your house is connected to the main sewer.

Whether it’s a full septic tank or a clogged main sewer line, both indicate serious plumbing problems. And only licensed plumbers have the knowledge, experience, and the tools to take care of the problem.

Incidentally, water backing up out of your toilets is one of the red flags to watch out for where the main sewer line is concerned. This is because toilets have the most direct path to the sewer, and the biggest drain in your house. A number of issues could be causing the main sewer line clog, like massive tree roots in your waste line.

 

Resolving the Clog

Immediately call your licensed Fox Valley plumber when you have two clogged toilets. Googling the problem and seeking advice in online forums are not going to be of much help. Only trained plumbers know how to figure out exactly what is causing the clog in your toilets.

The plumber will need to assess the clog. What happens when the toilets are flushed? Will the water come up and overflow? Or will it simply settle a little bit and then go down? Does water back up in your sink or tub when all taps are running?

With appropriate assessment, your plumber will be able to tell the extent of the clogged toilet, and from there, resolve the clog permanently.

It’s a nightmare to deal with toilets that are clogged. It is especially stressful when the clog happens when everyone else is asleep. With the right plumber, who can also do emergency service, you’ll get the right solution to the problem. So contact your local Fox Valley plumber now before your toilets start backing up.

 

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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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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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