Category: Drain Cleaning

Chicago Plumber Tip #8: What Causes Sewer Clogs?

The Scottish Plumber wants to be at the top of your list if you live in the Chicago or Villa Park area and are looking for a Chicago plumber or Villa Park plumber. Our team of licensed plumbers are backed by several years of experience in sewer cleaning, drain cleaning, unclogging drains, and unclogging sewers.

As summer rains wash debris into your sewer lines, the need for sewer and drain cleaning and sewer and drain maintenance becomes more pressing. The Villa Park plumbers and Chicago plumbers at the Scottish Plumber would like to shine a light on sewer cleaning by pointing out some of the causes of sewer blogs that require sewer cleaning, one of our most valued Villa Park and Chicago plumbing services.

First, there are several reasons why you might need a proper $99 Chicago drain cleaning. You may experience a clogged sewer when a foreign object such as a bath toy becomes lodged in the bathroom drain. You can avoid sewer clogs due to foreign objects by making sure your little ones do not flush any objects down the toilet or into the bathtub drain.

Another cause of Chicago sewer clogs and Villa Park sewer clogs is sewer line collapse. We consider this a worst-case scenario that can be avoided with video pipe inspection, another one of our Chicago plumbing services. Old pipes can corrode and weaken and then collapse in times of extreme weather such as flooding.

These are just a couple of causes for sewer clogs, but we hope you do not wait until your sewer clogs to call The Scottish Plumber. As the leading provider of Chicago plumber services, we would love to help you prevent sewer clogs altogether.

Villa Park Plumber Tip #6: End Sewage Backup

The Scottish Plumber is the first phone call you should make when you need to unclog Chicagoland sewers. Unclogging sewers is a Scottish Plumber speciality, as our team of licensed Villa Park plumbers are leading providers of Villa Park sewage backup solutions, Villa Park drain cleaning, Villa Park sewer line repair, Villa Park sewer line inspection, Villa Park plumbing repair, and many other Villa Park plumbing, as well as Villa Park sewer and drain cleaning services. The Scottish Plumber will unclog your Chicagoland sewers in a timely and professional manner.

Chicagoland sewer repair requires  complex understand of local codes, sewage regulations, sewer line requirements, and our Chicagoland plumbers are the experts when it comes to understand all of the issues surrounding clogged sewers, sewer line inspection, and sewer line repair. Sewer relining is one of many sewer repair services that the Villa Park plumbers at the Scottish Plumber are proud to offer. Sewer relining refers to the process of relining an old sewer pipe rather than total sewer line replacement, which can be required if the old sewer lines are so severely damaged that they cannot perform effectively.

Sewer line replacement is a more advanced sewer repair procedure that the Scottish Plumber’s team of Villa Park plumbers is licensed to provide. If sewer line inspection reveals that there are several breaks in the sewer line, a Scottish Plumber Villa Park plumber may have to excavate the sewer line. Contact a Villa Park plumber at the Scottish Plumber so that we can help you select the Villa Park sewage backup fix for you.

Sewer Lining or Relining

This is the newest and most cost effective form of sewer repair available.  It is fairly new to the US but has been used in Europe for about 40 years.   Sewer Re-lining or Sewer lining saves time, energy and money for clients needing sewer repairs.

This technology is also called Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP) because a soft PVC pipe is impregnated with epoxy and inserted into the broken sewer and cured in place for several hours leaving behind a “new” seamless pipe that is as strong as the original pipe.  This CIPP comes with a 50 year guarantee leaving home owners with the peace of mind they are looking for.

The technique seems simple but dealing with old sewers many feet underground which may have bends, turns and other pipes leading into them can complicate matters.  Some sewers may have tree roots, missing sections, bellies and a myriad of other issues that need to be addressed. These are not unsolvable problems with the right professional, equipment and lining materials.  Choosing a contractor who specializes in this type of work pays off as in any other home repair situation.

The Scottish Plumber has the technology, experienced staff and the depth of knowledge to solve drainage and sewer problems, it is our specialty.  In order to get a diagnoses and an estimate on sewer repairs a video camera needs to be inserted in the sewer pipe to see the condition of the pipe and the repairs needed.

Occasionally a sewer may be so root infested a camera inspection cannot be done until the line is completely clear of tree roots and this can be performed with a stronger pipe scouring method known as hydro jetting, which is more expensive due to the nature of the equipment needed.  The hydro jetting is able to cut through roots and force them out of the sewer and is often used in commercial and residential applications where sludge and grease are involved.

Call today for a $99 Drain Opening & Sewer Camera Inspection to see for your own eyes the condition of your sewer.  If you are buying a new home this should be done along with the home inspection.

Chicago & Villa Park Plumbers: Sump Pumps To the Rescue

You may already know from unfortunate experience how destructive water in your basement can be. Aside from wrecking any possessions you store in your basement, water that gets in from outside can also encourage the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria that can make your family sick.

You may already have a sump pump to protect your Chicago area home from a devastating flood. If you don’t, The Scottish Plumber can help you select the right sump pump for your home, and install it properly so that it works every time – but there’s a catch. sump pump are electric. What if the power goes out?

The Scottish Plumber has the solution. Consider purchasing a battery back-up sump pump. This second pump, because it’s battery operated, runs automatically if the power goes out. You needn’t be home to activate it. Some battery back-up sump pumps turn on immediately when the power goes out; others turn on only when the main pump fails. We recommend the first type – it’s possible that there could be a short delay between the failure of the main pump and the activation of the battery back-up pump, which could allow a significant amount of water to collect in your basement. Choose a battery back-up sump pump that will activate automatically when the power goes out.

Invite The Scottish Plumber to your Chicago area home today to plan for the moment when the waters rise.

Chicago & Villa Park Plumbers: Sump Pumps & Clean Drains

Are you in need of sewer and drain cleaning in Chicago and Villa Park? Stop your search and give Scottish Plumber a call today. Scottish Plumber is a trusted Chicago plumbing company that has the solution to your sewer and drain cleaning problem. Clogged shower drain? Call Scottish plumbers for quick, reasonably priced drain cleaning.

A sump pump, by pumping excess water away from your home, can aid in drain maintenance by encouraging a steady exchange of water if it functions properly. The sump pump will function best if installed correctly, and Scottish Plumber assures our Chicago and Villa Park customers that we will install your sump pump correctly the first time, so you can easily use and maintain it for years to come.

Scottish Plumber plumbing experts will first diagnose your sewer or drain system to determine a problem, if any. From there, we employ a team of trained plumbers and drain cleaning specialists to answer the plumbing needs of Chicago and Villa Park customers. Say you have a pesky shower drain that clogs easily. A Scottish Plumber professional will come to your residence or business and inspect all plumbing. The problem might be a poorly functioning sump pump. If the pump is clogged with dirt and hair, for example, then it can easily back up your drain.

We at Scottish Plumber install and repair Chicago and Villa Park sump pumps so you don’t have to! Please contact us to learn how we can implement a sump pump solution for you.

Chicago & Villa Park Battery Back Up Sump Pump Installation Can Protect Your Basement From Flooding

What happens if your sump pump fails? Since the sump pump functions to draw water away from the foundation of your home, a failed sump pump could lead to basement flooding and severe water damage. To avoid the high cost of repairing water damage to your home, you may want to consider a battery back up pump for your sump pump. Scottish Plumber is ready to install battery back up sump pumps in Chicago and Villa Park.

The battery backup sump pump switches on when the main sump pump fails due to power failure or disrepair. Imagine a severe thunderstorm impacting your home and compromising the power supply. This could shut off your sump pump, leaving your home with no mechanism to protect against flooding and water damage. When you purchase a battery backup sump pump and have Scottish Plumbers install it, you are ensuring that your home will have proper plumbing even if the power goes out.

Chicago and Villa Park battery back up sump pump customers may want to consult one of our sump pump specialists at Scottish Plumber to select a model that fits your home, your existing sump pump configuration, and your drain and sewer system.

At Scottish Plumbers, we recognize the risk of basement flooding to our Chicago and Villa Park drain and sewer cleaning customers, so we make sure to provide the best quality battery backup sump pump installation and repair.

Clogged Drain Tips: Shower Drain

A clogged shower drain can be very frustrating. It can interrupt a morning routine and lead to unexpected repair costs. Here are a few quick tricks that can save you money on professional drain rodding.

1. Clear the drain manually.

If you periodically clean your shower drain, it is less likely to function poorly due to blockage from body dirt and cleaning products. It is also important to avoid placing objects such as solid soap into the drain because over time it can build up and clog the drain. Drain cleaning can be as simple as using baking soda + vinegar (pour in vinegar, add baking soda and wait 15 minutes) , then use  a long brush to break up residue. Make sure to flush the drain with large amounts of hot water.

2. Unclog the drain with an instrument.

A clogged shower drain may be the result of tangled hair accumulating in the drain. Liquid drain cleaner is not suggested to clean the shower drain – it does not work  well on hair. You may need to use a snakelike instrument to reach down the drain and remove the obstruction.

3. Clean the drain before it becomes clogged.

Make sure  a strainer (drain cover) is in place so there is minimal hair going down the drain.  You can keep your drains cleaned by preventing clogging in the first place. This may be the most effective way to maintain the functionality of any drain or sewer. Periodic residential plumbing and drain cleaning services are a great option for drain or sewer repair.

Scottish Plumber will unclog your drain or sewer in Chicago, IL, or in any surrounding suburb of Chicago. We provide the best in drain cleaning, so please call us today for more information.

Villa Park & Chicago Plumbers Give Your Sump Pump The All-Clear

Proper maintenance can extend the life of your sump pump and protect your home against flooding. However, if the sump pump becomes clogged, it will not function properly and can result in water damage to your home. To maintain your sump pump, simply perform an annual check-up. Here are 3 things you can do once a year to make sure the sump pump is in working order:

1. Check the motor on the sump pump.
 Activate the switch to make sure that the motor is functioning. If not, the sump pump cannot effectively move water away form your home. You may need to replace the pump or the motor to avoid flooding.

2. Disconnect the sump pump from the power source.
 Always disconnect the sump pump before reaching inside. You can avoid injury by disconnecting the pump before cleaning it.

3. Clear debris from the sump pump.
 Blockage can cause a sump pump not to function, and can lead to costly basement flooding. By keeping the sump pump free of dirt and debris, you will not need to replace it as frequently. You can unclog the sump pump manually and restore its functioning in many cases.

Maintain your sump pump in 3 easy steps to protect your home from water damage. Scottish Plumber will gladly install your automatic sump pump or manual sump pump, you can easily inspect it to keep it running smoothly. Scottish Plumber will gladly install sump pumps anywhere in Chicago and Villa Park, IL. Call us today for more information.

Plumbing Tips: Toilets

Toilets are greedy for water at their best, but if there’s a leak, it will really cost you. When you do your spring cleaning, check your toilet’s overall health. If there’s a problem you’re not comfortable fixing yourself, call a Scottish Plumber expert to your Chicago area home.

First, try to wiggle the toilet to make sure it doesn’t move. Check for cracked or crumbling caulking around the base of the toilet, and if necessary, scrape it off and re-caulk. Lift the lid and look inside the tank for any parts that appear rusty or broken. Add a few drops of food coloring to the tank and let it sit for half an hour. If the color shows up in the bowl, your tank has a leak. Flush the toilet. If you have to hold the handle down to get a full flush or jiggle the handle to get the flap to seat, it’s time to replace the tank parts.

Finally, check the hoses and valves for moisture on your fingers, and if you see wetness on the floor behind the toilet, you probably have a leak. A Scottish Plumber expert can help you with any necessary repairs to keep your toilet working properly and save on your water bills.

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