simon@scottishplumber.com, Author at Scottish Plumber

April Showers Bring…Backed Up Sewers?!

Spring is almost here again and the one thing we can count on is that water will fall from the sky! Chicago has averaged close to 37 inches of rain per year over the last 30 years with approximately 2/3 of it coming in the spring and summer months, and these figures are trending upwards.

More rain means more problems for the already inundated system of Chicago sewers. With every major storm, it seems, some municipal storm and sanitary sewers become filled to capacity and pressurized, and too often the path of least resistance leads the sewer water directly into someone’s basement.

What can homeowners do? For starters, you should have your main sewer line cleaned and video-inspected to ensure that it is structurally sound and unobstructed. April showers may bring May flowers, but they also cause tree roots to grow faster which can wreak havoc inside of a sewer pipe. Having the sewer rodded can prevent backups caused by tree roots before they even happen.

A clean sewer, however, will not stop a backup from a pressurized city sewer. The only measure against flooding from city sewers is the installation of a flood control system, or the conversion of the sewer to an overhead system.

The Scottish Plumber offers several different options for flood control. Call us today for a sewer rodding and video inspection service (starting at $99 with an outside access), and ask for a free estimate for a flood control system. We can find an option that fits both your needs and your budget, and lets you keep your mind on the flowers when the spring showers come.

The Scottish Plumber’s Tramco Flood Control Systems Will Give You the Peace of Mind You’ve Been Looking For

When it comes to Chicago flood control, the Tramco Pump Company is a local icon. Tramco has been building pumps for the Chicago market since the 1950’s and their systems are designed to handle the kind of conditions that only Chicago weather can bring.

Besides sump pumps, ejector pumps, and batter backup systems, the Tramco Pump Company also manufactures the 900 series of flood control systems. These systems can be installed inside or outside of the home, depending on homeowner preference and the configuration of the existing pipes. The Tramco 950 is typically installed in the front yard, while the 960 is installed in the basement floor. Each unit comes with a heavy-duty pump enclosed in an aluminum encasement, and the flow is controlled with a system of check valves. The Tramco flood control system keeps city sewers from backing up into your basement, while allowing waste to continue exiting your home.

Tramco systems are extremely reliable and Tramco, along with the Scottish Plumber, guarantee each system for 10 years with both parts and installation covered. And while most flood control systems require regular maintenance, such as cleaning the lines, and lubricating the check valves, the Tramco system is virtually maintenance-free.

For a free estimate on installing a Tramco flood control system or any other type of flood control such as our double-check valve system, sump pumps, ejector pumps, or battery backups, give us a call at 888-451-6137 or contact us here.

10 Ways to Stop Basement Flooding

1. Make sure you have a working sump pump.

2. Make sure your sump pump pit is properly sized.

3. Clean out the bottom of the sump pump pit to prevent debris from entering the pump.

4. Install a battery back-up system to ensure that your sump pump continues working
during power loss.

5. Have your foundation inspected for cracks.

6. Have your drain tile inspected.

7. Convert to overhead sewer to prevent city sewers from backing up into your basement.

8. Install a double-check valve flood control system.

9. Install a Tramco flood control system.

10. Move somewhere where it doesn’t rain. Note: try the previous nine options first!

Chicago Flood Control Help – The Spring Is Here!!!

Here in Chicago we dread our winters. That’s why when the old man came and went with barely a whimper, we all let out a collective sigh of relief. No snowmaggedon this year!!!

But, that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods, weather-wise. The strange winter could be a harbinger of more weird weather to come. That means the potential for many torrential downpours, thunderstorms, and flash floods. And that’s not very good news for the aging municipal storm sewer systems all over Chicagoland.

In just the last two years, we’ve seen some of the worst flooding to ever hit Chicago. Last year’s July storms hit homeowners harder and flooded more basements than most of us had ever experienced. City sewers became filled to capacity and overflowed into people’s homes. To prevent the same from happening this year, be proactive.

If you’ve experienced basement flooding in the past, and you’ve done nothing to address the underlying cause, then you can expect more of the same. There are different reasons for basement flooding, but each one of them has a solution. You can find more information here on our flood control page or on our sump pump page.

This year, make the right decision, and have your home inspected by a flood control specialist. If you call The Scottish Plumber, the assessment is free, and we will present you with several options to help fit your needs and your budget. You won’t regret it, and you’ll finally be able to stop building that ark.

Lemon Scones with Lemon Glaze

Serves/Makes: 16

Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons grated lemon peel
1/2 cup butter (cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
2 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup milk
1 cup dried cranberries are a nice addition to this recipe

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450degrees F. Grease and flour baking sheet.
Sift flour, sugar and salt in bowl. Stir in peel. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Blend in eggs and just enough milk to form soft but not sticky dough. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Gently roll or pat dough to about 1/2-inch thickness, lightly flouring as necessary to prevent sticking.
Cut out rounds using 2-inch floured biscuit cutter. Set 1/2-inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Brush with cream or milk for a rich sheen. Bake until scones are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.

Lemon Glaze -After baking add glaze as desired
In small bowl: add 1 cup powdered sugar and lemon juice to desired consistency. Drizzle over lightly cooled scones.

Winter Sump Pump Coupon

Print this coupon and present it at the time of service for a FREE sump pump inspection, plus $25 off any sump pump repair or $35 off any sump pump replacement! Serving Chicago Metro area.

MacRosemary Mini Scones

Rosemary Scones

This small batch of savory scones are very biscuit-like and taste best warm with a generous dab of butter or margarine.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
2/3 cup milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour a baking sheet. Sift together dry ingredients (flours, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda) in a large bowl. Using a pastry blender or a fork, cut in the butter or margarine until it is evenly distributed in the flour mixture and resembles cornmeal.

Add the rosemary, honey, and milk; and mix to form a soft dough. Add more milk one tablespoon at a time if the mixture is too dry and does not come together into a ball of dough. Roll the dough out onto a lightly flour surface and pat it into 1/2 inch thickness. Using a small cup or cookie cutter about 2 inches across, cut the dough into shapes and place them on the baking sheet. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Does vinegar and baking soda unclog a drain?

The Scottish Plumber recommends Bio-Clean to most homeowners who are looking for an environmentally friendly and safe way to clean their drains.

We’ve heard of a lot of people attempting to use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to unclog a slow drain, but unfortunately, we haven’t heard of much success using this method. And as the expert drain cleaners we are, many people have asked us for our opinion on this mixture.

From a scientific standpoint, it really doesn’t make any sense that a mixture of vinegar and baking soda would unclog a drain. When you mix the two, the acetic acid in the vinegar reacts with the sodium bicarbonate in baking soda, and this acid-meets-base combination creates the sudden surge of bubbles to form that we’re all familiar with (remember your 6th grade science experiment of making the volcano?).

The reaction is known as a “double replacement” reaction. The acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate form carbonic acid, which is a very weak acid and sometimes used in soft drinks. But the carbonic acid is unstable, and immediately falls apart into carbon dioxide and water in a decomposition reaction. The bubbles that form in the reaction come from the carbon dioxide being created- and if you’ve ever mixed vinegar and baking soda together, you’ve noticed how quickly the bubbles form… so the carbonic acid doesn’t last very long and is too weak to break down any materials in a clog such as hair or soap.

Some of the leftover baking soda is usually left in the pipe, which can actually make an existing clog worse if the reaction turns it into a sludge that doesn’t rinse away easily. The Scottish Plumber usually recommends Bio-Clean to most homeowners who are looking for an environmentally friendly and safe way to clean their drains. Bio-Clean uses natural bacteria and enzymes that break down organic material like hair and soap. Contact The Scottish Plumber for more information on how to get Bio-Clean, or visit the Bio-Clean page on our site.

The Frozen Pipes Are Calling…

The Chicago area has had some cold weather lately- with temperatures averaging around 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit and wind chill factors bringing it below zero in the last couple weeks. And with cold weather and especially chilling winds, comes frozen pipes.

It’s important to keep the water pipes in your home from freezing: frozen pipes can burst and cause thousands of dollars of damage in flooding and destroy drywall, furniture, flooring, and can even harm the foundation of a home. If you turn on your tap and water does not come out or it’s in a very slow trickle, your pipes may be frozen. If they have already burst and you have flooding, shut off your water main immediately and all gas or electric water appliances, such as a water heater, washer, or dishwasher, and call The Scottish Plumber immediately.

Do not attempt to thaw the pipes on your own- many fires are started in homes every year by attempts to thaw pipes with open flames or unattended electrical appliances. Licensed plumbers have specialty pipe thawing equipment that is safe and more effective.

Follow these tips to prevent your pipes from freezing when temperatures get as low as they have been this winter:

1. Close outside vents that can let in cold air: check your crawlspace, laundry room, and under the kitchen sink for open vents.
2. Make sure pipes along an exterior wall have access to the heat in the house. For example, if the water pipe for your kitchen sink is along an exterior wall of the house, keep the cabinet door open so heat from the house can enter the cabinet and warm the pipe.
3. When insulating pipes, make sure you insulate them between the cold outside of the house and the warmth from the inside of the house. Don’t put the insulation between the pipe and the indoors, which will block the heat from reaching it.
4. Check to see if you have water pipes on walls or ceilings/floors that are attached to the garage. The garage can get just as cold as the outside, so make sure these pipes are well-insulated.
5. At night, when temperatures drop and everyone is asleep and not running the faucets, pour a little table salt down the drain to keep the drain from freezing, and let a slow drip or trickle of water flow out of the faucet to keep the water moving.
6. Keep doors to crawlspaces open so heat from the rest of the home can enter the crawlspace and keep a pipe from freezing.
7. If you’re going on vacation or leaving the home for an extended period of time, don’t turn the heat completely off. Keep it from 55-60 degrees, and open all of the kitchen and bathroom cabinets, crawlspace doors, and make sure the basement also has access to the home’s heat.

MacBanana Chocolate Chip Scones

This is a sweet and chocolatey scone, but not too sweet or filling; with a cake-like consistency and a hint of banana flavor.

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 ripe mashed banana
1 large egg
2 tablespoons buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease the center of a baking sheet. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With a pastry blender, cut the butter or margarine into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a separate small bowl, stir together the egg, mashed banana, buttermilk and vanilla extract until the consistency is relatively even.

Pour the banana mixture into the flour mixture and combine until a dough forms. The dough will be sticky. Spread the dough into the center of the cookie sheet and form it into a 9-inch circle. With a floured knife, cut the circle into 8 wedges, but do not separate them. Bake for 19-21 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the circle comes out clean.

Remove and place on a cooking rack- you may have to re-cut the wedges before transferring. Enjoy!