Monday, December 16, 2013

What Are The Steps To Take If My Pipes Freeze?

The following are a few helpful tips from AquaTech Plumbing to keep your home in good working order this winter:
  • As temperatures reach freezing and dip far below it, be sure to close all air vents and other openings in the crawl space under your house. This will prevent heat from escaping as much as possible. 
  • In freezing weather, never set your home's thermostat below 55 degrees. Below that temperature your pipes are at risk of freezing. 
  • Insulate pipes that are prone to freezing, such as those near an outside wall, in unheated areas of your home, or if they are exposed, such as outside spigots. In an emergency, several layers of newspapers or rags can be used for temporary insulation.
  • Keep the cover to your water meter box securely in place to prevent the meter from freezing during cold periods.
  • In extremely cold weather, leave cabinet doors under sinks open to keep warm air circulating.
If Your Pipes Freeze:
  • We warn against using a hair dryer, heat lamp or light bulb to thaw the frozen pipe yourself. Too much heat in one spot can burst the pipe, and it is difficult to evenly distribute the heat over a large area of the pipe. Also, using any electrical appliance to thaw a pipe can be dangerous because the appliance could become wet, increasing your danger of electrocution.
  • DO NOT use a blow torch or any type of flame to thaw a frozen line. In addition to the danger of fire, extreme heat could thaw the pipe too rapidly, causing it to burst and resulting in potential injury and damage to your property. 
If you live in the Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance in keeping your home in tip-top shape this winter season.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Is My Water Heater Ready For The Winter Months?

There is nothing like a hot shower or bath on a cold winter morning. We get in and never want to get out. Unless of course we are forced out by the absence of hot water.

How ready is your water heater for the winter months? In order to avoid those unbearable moments where the hot water runs out, follow these simple steps to ensure that your home's water heater won't leave you out in the cold.

First, improve water heater pipe insulation to combat cold water problems in the winter months. This is especially important for tanks that are near an outside wall, in the garage, or other non-insulated spaces that are more susceptible to the elements. Invest in pipe insulation or heat tape and wrap the pipes well. Consult our experts for professional advise.

Investigate the area surrounding the water heater for drafts, cold spots, or cold walls. Any compromises in the insulation can lead to costly waste. Consider resealing any nearby windows, adding caulk to sills, and adding insulation to the walls surrounding the water heater.

Call us if you cannot get enough hot water for your family's comfort. The sooner you get water heater repair, the better, as units in bad repair are less efficient, more costly to operate, and can cause water damage if it begins to leak.

Do a thorough examination of your home's water heater today. If you live in the Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance in keeping your water heater in good working order.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Keep Your Garbage Disposal In Working Order

Your garbage disposal will be asked to perform at maximum capacity every holiday season. A few things to keep in mind when using your disposer will ensure maximum use.
  • Don't overload the disposal. If you're cutting up a bunch of veggies like celery and potatoes, be sure to put the waste into the trash. When using the disposal, insert items in small amounts. Overloading such fibrous materials into the disposer can clog and overwhelm it. 
  • Keep it clean. To rid your disposer of odors, take a bowl and fill it with ice, then, sprinkle an ample amount of baking soda onto the ice. Next, turn the disposal on and dump the ice with the baking soda into the sink. It will clean the teeth and remove smells. It's like brushing and rinsing your disposal's teeth.
  • Purchase a quality disposal. If it's time to replace your old one, don't get the cheapest solution. Go for efficiency. Spending more will save you the hassle of replacing it early on. 
  • Teach kids that the disposal is very dangerous. Mark the disposal switch with red to prevent accidents. Make sure they know what not to put in it.
If you live in the Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance in keeping your garbage disposal and kitchen lines in good working order.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

All About AquaTech Plumbing...

Family owned and operated AquaTech Plumbing offers “Better Plumbing for Better Pricing” 24/7,with priority response given to customers in Chicago’s western suburbs.

We employ only licensed plumbers to ensure you receive expert plumbing and the quality service you deserve.

With more than 30 years of experience, AquaTech Plumbing of Illinois provides precision plumbing repair services to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

Our licensed plumbers offer 24-hour emergency plumbing repair because we understand there is never a convenient time for water heater repairs or plumbing problems; therefore, we ensure your peace of mind with immediate responsiveness from our professional plumbers, accurate diagnosis and residential plumbing repairs, and up-front guaranteed pricing. We are available to assist day or night with all types of plumbing repairs, faucet leaks or toilet repairs, clogged drains, sewer backup problems and much more. It’s what you’d expect from experienced, professional, Chicagoland licensed plumbers… and it’s what you’ll get from AquaTech Plumbing.

“Better Plumbing For Better Pricing” is more than just our motto; it defines the business tradition of our professional plumbers in Chicago. Because we serve a broad range of commercial, industrial and residential customers, all of our licensed plumbers are skilled in a variety of plumbing applications, from basic home service for leaky faucet repair, shower drain repair, drain cleaning and garbage disposal installation to the latest industry advances including tankless water heaters for your home or business, and our revolutionary new back-up system for sump pumps. Not only do these items add value to your residential or commercial property , you’ll be protecting one of your largest personal investments – your home or business. Using AquaTech Plumbing puts your residential plumbing or commercial plumbing system in very capable hands.

We offer these innovative residential plumbing services and products to provide peace of mind while saving you money; products like tankless water heaters, which increase hot water availability while decreasing energy bills and maximizing space. In addition, our back-up systems for sump pumps work tirelessly to prevent basement flooding and clogged drains.

Whether you need faucets, bathroom fixtures, sinks, garbage disposals, toilets, bathtubs, shower heads, body sprays, bidets, whirlpools, laundry tubs, ejector pumps, hose bibs, general repairs, water pressure restored, garbage disposal installation, gas piping, fixing broken pipes, thawing frozen pipes, root removal services, sewer rodding, sewer repair, drain cleaning, tankless water heaters, back-up systems for sump pumps, trenchless sewer solutions, or you need us to diagnose your sewer problem with a camera or TV equipment, our licensed plumbers are equipped and ready at a moment’s notice to provide you with the peace of mind you deserve. AquaTech Plumbing – “Better Plumbing For Better Pricing” – for residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout Chicago and suburbs.

And if you should need maintenance, count on AquaTech to service everything from toilets and water heaters to sewer rodding and drain clog removal, sump discharge lines and much more.

AquaTech Plumbing also installs RPZ valves and provides RPZ certification, backflow certification to cities in our service area for businesses and homes that have this backflow prevention device to prevent water contamination.

Residential, industrial and commercial – our licensed plumbers cater to every client no matter what the need. Who better to serve you than the company which was trusted to serve subsidiaries of homeland security?With our level of experience and knowledge, there is no commercial or residential installation or repair that is beyond our capabilities. And our mission is to serve you in a way that makes you a customer for life.

We recognize you have choices. Our mission is service that makes you a customer for life, so you’ll never regret choosing AquaTech Plumbing. Call us today!

Monday, October 21, 2013

Does Your Home Or Business Piping Need To Be Repaired?

A gas leak can be the deadliest leak there is. Before an odor was added to it, people didn't know they had a leak until it was too late. Today, the odor is there to detect it. However, that doesn't make it any less deadly.

Every year paramedics and firefighters respond to calls of a gas leak after it's too late. The effects of a gas leak can be as small as a patch of grass dying to as large as a whole neighborhood engulfed in flames. Consider a gas leak to be like a leak on a boat. There are no good leaks. If left untreated, the results will be catastrophic.

Whether your home or business' piping needs to be repaired or new piping installed, call us. We take the time to ensure quality installation. Fall is here and Winter is fast approaching. Check your pipes today to see if they are up to the task of keeping your family warm and safe.

If you live in the Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance in keeping your gas lines in good working order.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

How Can I Tell If I Have A Slab Leak?

What is a repipe?

A repipe is the complete replacement of the incoming water system in a home or business from the water meter or well to all plumbing fixtures. As severe as it sounds it is actually a very common procedure. It is called for in situations where pipes have begun to leak due to deterioration, or when low pressure due to calcification is present.

How can I tell if I have a slab leak?

A slab leak is a term for a leak in one of the water lines running below the concrete floor of your home. To see if you have a slab leak, check your water meter. Without running any water in the house (laundry, toilet, dishwasher, etc.), check the dial face for any movement. Many meters have a "leak detector" which appears as a small black triangle or a small white wheel. If this is spinning or there is any movement on the dial, this indicates a leak in your water pipe system.

I am getting a foul odor from a bathroom in my home that we rarely even use. Why?

Your infrequent use of the bathroom is probably the cause of the problem. Certain plumbing fixtures have a built-in trap in their drains to keep sewer gas from seeping back into the home. Over time they can dry up. Dump a bucket of water into each of the plumbing fixtures in the bathroom. Flush regularly and this should solve the problem.

If you live in Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance in keeping your plumbing in good working order.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Wipes Clog Pipes!

We teach our children while they are potty training to NOT put anything in the toilet other than waste and toilet paper. We teach them this and then we turn around and practice opposite of what we've preached. We do so by flushing wet wipes and baby wipes down the toilet. These items cause damage to entire sewer systems, affecting thousands of homes and businesses.

Most of us know not to flush paper towels down the toilet. They are thick and made for absorbing water, not to dissolve in water. Think about wet wipes and baby wipes. They are often times thicker and more durable than paper towels. They've absorbed water and retained it without disintegrating. That is a pretty good glimpse into how they're sewer life will play out. Wet wipes are wet and strong, even capable of causing iceberg sized masses to form in sewer systems throughout the nation.

If you live in Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance in keeping your plumbing in good working order. Wipes have grown in popularity over the last few years and they are wrecking havoc on our plumbing systems. Remember, wipes clog pipes!

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Fall Maintenance Tips For Home Owners

Early fall is the time of year to prepare your house for the cooler weather just around the corner. Most people know to clean their gutters and seal openings around windows that can leak heat, but there are other less obvious measures you'll need to take to keep your home in tip-top shape inside and out.

1. Replace your air filter.

It's extremely important to make sure your heating system is working correctly and safely. It's recommended having a heating and cooling specialist look over your system once a year at this time. If you have a forced hot air system, your heating and cooling systems use the same filters. If they're dirty, filthy air will be circulating around your home. Filter changing is something homeowners can and should do themselves.

2. Prevent trouble down below.

There may be things that need tending to beneath your property. We recommend having underground sprinkler systems flushed before the cold sets in.The process involves blowing air into pipes to displace leftover water. This is important because water lines are typically only 6 to 8 inches below ground -- and prone to freezing. If they freeze and then burst, you could have a costly repair situation on your hands.

Homeowners with septic tanks should also think about pumping them now -- before the ground freezes and snow buries your yard. Septic tanks should be checked once every year and cleaned no less than every three years.

3. Go topside.

Roofs usually have a 20 to 30 year life, but that doesn't mean they don't need attention. Your roof's condition should be checked once a year. While you're up there, look for missing or rotting shingles. Also inspect the gutters to make sure they're free of leaves and debris. This time of year is a good time to repair any broken gutters and downspouts.

Don't forget to trim dead or overgrown tree limbs hanging over your house. All it takes is one storm to bring weak branches down and damage your roof.

If you live in the Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance in keeping your home's plumbing in good working order.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Signs Of A Gas Leak

On its own, natural gas does not have a scent. The rotten egg/sulfur smell is added to gas as a safety precaution so that homeowners are able to detect a leak before it turns deadly. However, some people won't be able to smell gas because they have a diminished sense of smell, or certain conditions could result in the odor of the gas fading. Don't just rely on your nose to tell you there is a leak.

If you suspect that you have a gas leak, leave the building and call your local gas company or 911. Never attempt to repair the gas line yourself. These types of emergencies always require a professional and only a licensed plumber is allowed to work on gas line installation and repair.

There are some signs of a gas leak to watch out for:
  • Hissing, whistling, or roaring sound near gas appliance or gas line
  • Smelling the rotten egg/sulfur smell 
  • Dead or dying vegetation over or near a gas pipeline
  • Exposed pipeline after fire, flood, or other disaster
  • Physical damage to a gas appliance
  • Water or dirt being blown into the air
  • A fire or explosion near a pipeline
We also offer gas line installation for any gas appliance. This includes barbecues, hot tubs, pool heaters, fireplaces, gas stoves, cook tops, boilers, clothes dryers, and remodeling projects.

If you live in the Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance with gas line installation or repairs. There are many DIY tasks a homeowner can take on, but installing or repairing a gas line is not one of them.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

The History Of Plumbing

Plumbing has a very rich and long history that not many are aware of. Ancient civilizations even used a crude form of plumbing that we see variances of today. Below is a list of facts you may or may not know regarding the plumbing industry...

1. "The John" is named for a real man. 
There's a reason why we call toilets "johns." It refers to Sir John Harington, the creator of the first modern flushing toilet. Harington created his model upon request from his godmother, Queen Elizabeth I of England. Allegedly, she refused to use it because it was too noisy.

2.Copper has been used in plumbing since ancient times. 
Today, copper is widely considered the best material for piping, but it wasn't our generation that discovered it. Archaeological digs have unearthed evidence showing that the ancient Egyptians used copper piping for their bathroom plumbing over 3,000 years ago!

3.Flushing uses more than a third of your water. 
Flushing the toilet uses enough water to constitute 38% of the average home's annual water usage. This works out to around 37,000 gallons for a family of four. If this seems too high for you to justify, you should invest in a low-flush toilet, which can save you over 18,000 gallons of water per year.

4.Heating up tap water wastes more than you may realize
! If you run your shower or tap to wait for the water to heat up, you likely waste 9,000 gallons of water per year. This waste accounts for up to 15% of your annual heating expenses.

5.Albert Einstein wanted to be a plumber
. In 1954, Einstein sent a letter to the New York-based magazine The Reporter and said that if he could live life over again, he would rather be a plumber than a scientist. As a result, he was named an honorary member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union!

If you live in Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance with any of your plumbing needs.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Why AquaTech Plumbing?


Why AquaTech Plumbing?
Fast 24-7 Emergency Service
Price upfront, before we start
Prompt, clean licensed plumbers
Your problem fixed right the first time
30 years experience
Family owned and operated
Licensed, bonded and insured
Warranty on parts & labor
See our About Us page for more information.
EXCELLENT SERVICE
Our mission is to serve you in a way that makes you a customer for life.
Everything we do is with the customer’s best interest in mind. When you choose AquaTech Plumbing, you can be sure you’ll receive first class service. We are a family-owned and operated business that prides itself on gaining and satisfying repeat customers.
BETTER PLUMBING FOR BETTER PRICING!
In knowledge and experience, AquaTech’s licensed plumbers are a cut above the rest.
This ensures you get solutions, no matter how involved your problem. We are skilled in installation of innovative plumbing products, such as tankless water heaters and our revolutionary new sump pump back-up system. We keep abreast of all the latest technology. And we also excel with typical household plumbing problems and emergencies. No job is too small. Only our customers matter.

It’s this knowledge and skill level, plus the personal service which has made us so successful. Whether it’s being on time, or wearing booties and using tarps so we won’t dirty your floor, AquaTech’s clean and experienced plumbers always give you thoughtful service.
GUARANTEED UP - FRONT PRICE
Our pricing is by the job not by the hour. Upon arrival, your plumber will give you the guaranteed up-front price to complete the work. You are assured a quick, accurate problem diagnosis and estimate, and with the large inventory of parts on our trucks, you are ensured a prompt solution in one visit. Your plumbing job will be completed right the first time at a competitive price.
WRITTEN WARRANTY
AquaTech Plumbing Corporation provides a written warranty at time of service on all parts and labor. Warranty for products such as water heaters is limited to the manufacturer’s warranty.
WHY CHOOSE US?
To get “Better Plumbing for Better Pricing!” You have a staff of dedicated management, service representatives, and plumbers at your disposal.
Our Mission Statement
Our mission is to serve you in a way that makes you a customer for life.
Our Vision
To be a company which customers can trust to show empathy, come through promptly in a crisis, provide the highest ethical professionalism, and exceed expectations to make them customers for life.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Tips From Our Plumbers and Frequently Asked Questions


Water Bills
Are your water bills higher than they should be? Here’s how to check:
Faucets
  • Check your faucets for dripping water and under your faucets for moisture. Fix leaky faucets promptly. Even a slow leak can waste as much as 15 or 20 gallons of water a day. And a leak can ruin your faucet or even your cabinets and floors.
  • Leaky faucets are usually caused by seals which are dirty or worn and can be cleaned, replaced, or you may want to replace the faucet.
Toilets
  • Fix leaky toilets right away. A leaky toilet can waste over 30 gallons of water a day. Check your toilet for leaks by dropping a few drops of food coloring or a little bit of Kool-Aid in the tank. After about half an hour, it the water in the bowl has some color in it, the tank is leaking, and the stopper (flapper) and/or flush valve seat may need to be replaced.
  • Clogged toilet and a plunger didn’t work? If the water level is low fill a bucket with warm water and pour it from waist high into the bowl. Repeat if necessary after water is low again.
Other Leaks
  • Check for undetected leaks in your home by making sure all water is turned off inside your home, then checking your water meter. If it is still running, you may have an undetected leak.
  • When you know you are going to be gone for a few hours, write down the numbers on your water meter when you leave. If you check the meter when you return and the numbers have changed, there may be a leak somewhere inside your house.
Gas Water Heaters
Since heating the water in your water heater consumes energy, you may be spending more on gas than you have to.
  • Many people have a water heater that is larger than they need, but more frequently homeowners have one that is too small and allows them to run out of hot water at peak times. If this happens to you, you might want to consider a tankless water heater that heats the water as you need it. (See Tankless Water Heater Section below.)
  • The chart below will help you determine the size regular water heater you need to accommodate your maximum demand for hot water at peak times. Remember that this type of consideration is unnecessary if you intend to install a tankless water heater which heats the water on demand. (See Tankless Water Heater Section.)
Shower
10-15 gallons
Preparing a meal
5 gallons
Bath
15-25 gallons
Washing Dishes
in Automatic Dishwasher
12-15 gallons
Shaving or Washing
Hands/Face
2 gallons
Washing Dishes
by Hand
4 gallons
Washing Hair
4 gallons
Washing Clothes with
Warm Wash/Cold Rinse
10-12 gallons
  • Twice a year, open the drain valve at the bottom of your water heater and drain the sediment that has accumulated in the bottom of the water heater into a bucket. Keep it open until the water runs clear, usually 4-5 gallons.
  • If your water heater displays an ASHRAE /EIS rating of 90, it is energy-efficient and you do not need additional insulation.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters are small, energy efficient, and deliver unlimited, cleaner hot water. Installing yours is a great way to “Go Green”.
  • In short, here are the reasons you would want to install a tankless water heater.
    • Unlimited hot water when you need it
    • Save money on utility bills
    • Smaller so takes up less room
    • No pilot lights, no leaking, no draining
    • More energy efficient, 8% - 34% depending on size
    • Lasts 2-3 times longer so no need to spend $$ on replacements
    • Selling point when selling your home. Adds value and may sway a buyer.
  • A tankless water heater can save you money on your gas or electric bill since there is no need to keep your water hot 24/7. The water is heated on demand by running through a heat exchanger and being delivered hot to your faucets . . . for as long as you need it!
  • When sized and installed properly, your tankless water heater will give you unlimited hot water so that you will have the ability to run the dishwasher, the washing machine, and take very long showers, all at the same time.
  • The cost is two to four times more than conventional heaters. But the money savings from energy efficiency and not replacing a tank-type water heater over and over again will offset the price. Plus, you never have to worry about having hot water again.
  • When making the decision to install a tankless water heater, make certain to choose the accurate size for your specific house. A good plumber can determine the size you should choose by asking a few simple questions about your lifestyle and the size of your home.
AquaTech Plumbing is a leader in tankless water heater installations and can help you with one to fit your needs. Visit our web-site at www.aquatechplumbing.com for more information or call us at the numbers listed at the top of this page to set up your appointment for a free estimate.
Sump Pump and Back-Up Systems
Thousands of dollars in valuables and stored memories can be lost if your basement floods. Many people lose their furnace too. And the clean up is a long and expensive process.
  • Be sure your sump pump works properly before a spring rainy season. Unplug your pump and pour several buckets of water in the sump pit until it is full. Plug the pump in and if the pump doesn’t turn on, it’s time to replace the pump.
  • Is your pump running continuously due to a lot of ground water? This will shorten the life of your pump, because it is continually working or “cycling”. If it wears out, your basement could flood. Adding an additional pump is an extra safeguard against loss.
  • A back-up pump is a must. If your first pump fails, the second pump will step in. The back-up pump must be run separately. Many back-up pumps fail because they are tied into the primary pump line.
  • Our AquaTech PLUS Dual Alternator System with battery back-up system and alarm will alternate your two sump pumps so that neither of the pumps works too hard. It will also keep your sump pumps running in case of a power outage (a distinct possibility in a storm) and alert you if one your pumps fail, so that you have ample opportunity to change it.
  • Pumps in a shallow pit can short cycle. This occurs when a pump turns on, but doesn’t run very long, shutting off and making terrible noises. Short cycle doesn’t allow the pump to fully start before shutting down. This is hard on your pump and will shorten its life. Make sure your pit is deep enough to handle the amount of water.
  • Make sure your pump discharges far away from your house. If it is too close, water will seep back into the pit, causing your pump to keep running.
  • Be sure your power cord is plugged in to a working electrical outlet. (Sometimes cords get accidentally unplugged.) If the outlet doesn’t work, check the fuse or circuit breaker.
  • Be sure your check valve prevents water from coming back into pit after the pump cycles. If water comes back, your check valve may need to be replaced. That’s a simple job for a plumber.
Basement Floods
  • DO NOT ENTER a flooded basement or handle anything if your electrical outlets, appliances or furnace are under water. Call the electric company to shut the power off. Then disconnect your house’s power supply. If you must step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, get advice from an electrician first.
  • If you suspect a gas leak, leave immediately. Call the gas company.
  • Pump about 1/3 of the water out per day. If done all at once, the basement walls could collapse.
  • If at all possible, cleaning, disinfecting and drying should be done within 24 hours to minimize mold and mildew.
  • Use chlorine bleach as a disinfectant due to sewage or contaminated material hazardous to your health. NEVER mix bleach with ammonia. It produces poisonous gas!
  • After disconnecting electrical, wash floors and walls with detergent and hot water. (Wear plastic gloves and throw-away clothing.) Then clean and disinfect them, your drains, and pipes.
  • If you have wood subflooring, the vinyl, tile floor and carpeting must be removed so that the subfloor can dry. It may take months for it to dry thoroughly. Soaked carpeting should be removed and discarded.
  • Have your furnace inspected by a service person. It may need to be cleaned, dried and reconditioned or even replaced.
  • Check pilot lights and burners on gas appliances. Have electrical appliances dried out and reconditioned. Electric circuit breakers and fuses can malfunction when exposed to water, so discard them.
  • Carefully separate fragile-when-wet documents, books, photographs to let them dry. Clothing and furniture may or may not be salvageable.
  • Check your foundation for settles, cracking or undermining. If you hire repair contractors, be sure they are qualified and insured!
  • Have a qualified, insured plumber install a reliable sump pump and back up system with alarm so this doesn’t happen again.
Disposals
  • Use cold water, not hot, when running your disposal and run the water as long as you run the disposal.
  • Fats or cooking oils poured into your sink can solidify in cold drainpipes, trap food, and clog your pipes. Don’t put them, coffee grounds, or high fiber foods like celery down the drain unless you want to clog your disposal. Throw them in the trash instead.
  • Notice an odor coming from your disposal? Put lemon peel and ice cubes in and run it for about 30 seconds. Then run the cold water through.
  • If you do clog your disposal, turn off the motor and the water. Go under the sink and insert the service wrench that came with your disposal, or a ¼ inch Allen wrench, into the hole on the bottom of the disposal. Turn it back and forth until it can turn freely in complete circles. Then use tongs to remove whatever caused the disposal to jam. Then press the red “reset” button on the bottom of the disposal.
Drains
  • Use a strainer over your kitchen and bathroom drains if you don’t want hair, pieces of soap and other items to clog your drain.
  • Pour a cup of baking soda then a cup of vinegar down your drain every month to prevent clogging. Pour 2-3 gallons of boiling water down each bathroom drain every month to clear out grease and hair.
  • Always unclog a drain mechanically. Don’t use chemicals to unclog a drain, especially if your pipes or traps are brass, steel, or cast-iron as chemicals may corrode metal pipes.
  • Remove sink and tub pop-up stoppers and rinse them off every couple of weeks or so.
  • Remove the overflow plate on your tub every 3-4 months, pull up the pop-up assembly to reach the spring or rocker arm to remove the hair and grease and rinse it off.
  • Try your plunger first to unplug a shower drain, and if it doesn’t work, either you or a plumber can insert a “snake” down the drain to unclog it.
  • Prevent drain clogs by putting a lint trap on your washing machine discharge hose.
Hoses
  • Twice a year, put new washers in all your hoses.
  • Put a lint trap on your washing machine discharge hose to prevent drain clogs.
  • Hoses will last longer if you run cold water through them after using hot water. Don’t leave hot water in kitchen or shower hoses.
Frozen Pipes
  • Avoid frozen indoor faucets by insulating water pipes which are exposed to wind or freezing temps. To get ready for winter, drain water pipes which are not being used.
  • If you have faucets that frequently freeze, try leaving cabinet doors open to allow more heat to reach the pipes. You may also leave water running just a trickle to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Insulate pipes in unheated garages or basements and keep the garage door closed in very cold weather.
  • If your pipes freeze, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve and leave the faucets on to relieve pressure as the ice melts to avoid problems when they thaw out. In some cases, using a blow dryer will thaw frozen pipes.
  • Avoid frozen outdoor faucets by detaching your garden hoses in the fall before freezing temperatures arrive, and by closing the shut-off valve on the pipe that leads to your outdoor faucets. Then open the outdoor faucets to let any residual water drain out.
If you need fast, reliable, licensed plumbers you can trust to help you with any problem you may have, call us at one of the numbers listed on this page, or e-mail us at info@aquatechplumbing.com.
We look forward to serving you.

Monday, June 24, 2013

How To Avoid Plumbing Disasters

Plumbing disasters can be unexpected and costly. The good thing is there are ways to prevent plumbing disasters from happening in the first place with a little bit of preventive maintenance. This could save you hundreds -- if not thousands of dollars.

The following are a few tips that will hopefully help you avoid plumbing mishaps in the future:

Familiarize yourself with your main house shut off valve, where it is located and how to turn it off in case of an emergency. It may be a ball-valve or a gate-valve. These can be tricky to locate sometimes. It could be in the basement, a crawl space, or buried somewhere in your front yard so it's great to know where it is before you're in a dire situation.

If you have older plumbing look for rust and corroded areas on the pipe. If you think you have a problem, our plumbers are only a call away. They can come out, inspect your plumbing, and give you an estimate on repairing or replacing lines.

Be sure to inspect your water heater periodically. This is one of the most common causes of interior water damage. Again, you'll want to look for rusty pipes going into the water heater and check for leaking or rust spots on the tank itself. Also, if your water heater is located inside your house you should have a drain pan installed under it. This way, if it does leak the water will drain all over your floor. Call us if you think you have a problem. Remember, preventive maintenance can save you in the long run.

If you're going away for just the weekend or on a long vacation, let a neighbor know where your main shut off is in case of an emergency. If you're not comfortable involving a neighbor, you can shut off your water at the main valve before you go out of town. This way you won't come home to a flooded house!

If you live in Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance with preventing or fixing plumbing disasters.

Monday, June 3, 2013

When Was The Last Time You Cleaned Your Sewer And Drains?

When was the last time you cleaned your sewer and drains? Recently? Most people may answer ‘no' to that question. Did you know that hundreds of variations of bacteria and mold can be easily carried throughout the entire house by way of your pipes? It doesn't take much. Often, we assume since water is always flowing through the pipes and not sitting idle that we are always keeping the pipes clean. Not the case, in fact, water is a great source for bacteria and mold to thrive and water-flow is its carrier.

Here are a few reasons why you should consider cleaning your drains and pipes annually...

The Hazards of Sewage Backup

A sewage backup will commonly present a serious health hazard mainly caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Sewage backup is dangerous due to the many ways it transmits diseases and because it is sometimes hard to predict.

What is Sewage?
Sewage backup hazards are better understood once you learn what sewage is. It's also known as raw sewage, sewage sludge, or septic tank waste. Raw sewage is mainly gray or black water. It usually contains the organic waste and waste water produced by household and industrial sources. Sewage typically contains everything from soap to solid waste, human excrement, industrial effluent, and debris. It is discharged by drains and sewer lines. Excrement is the major source of harmful microorganisms such as coliform, fecal coliform, Escherichia coliform (E. coli), and Enterococcus.

Exposure to sewage or its products may result in a number of diseases:
  • Gastroenteritis
 - An inflammation of the stomach and the intestine. Gastroenteritis may result in diarrhea with vomiting and cramps when irritation is excessive. When caused by an infectious agent, it is often associated with fever.
  • Hepatitis
 Hepatitis - Inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis caused by a virus is known as viral hepatitis. When Hepatitis is a result of sewage backup it is often characterized by inflammation of the liver and jaundice.
  • Occupational Asthma
 - A respiratory disorder characterized by attacks of breathlessness, chest tightness and wheezing.
  • Weil's Disease - An acute feverish disease marked by gastroenteritis, mild jaundice, persistent and severe headache.
Those are just a few reasons to have your sewer cleaned. If you live in Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for a thorough inspection and cleaning of your sewer.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

D-I-WHY Don't You Call A Professional???

So, you've just returned home from the home improvement store with a cart full of new fixtures and other accessories for your kitchen or bathroom. You're so excited to see the new look that you decide to install them yourself. The guy at the home improvement store said it's a cinch and that a third grader could do it. Hopefully for your sake that third grader is a licensed plumber.

A seemingly simple task taken on by a non-licensed contractor or plumber can result in catastrophic results. I'm not saying your house will implode if you install a new faucet, but it could leak steadily for a year, soften the floor, and come crashing down in your kitchen on top of the other faucet you installed (that also leaks). Try this, an improperly installed faucet can mean the difference between losing thousands of dollars or keeping money in the bank.

You see, no two homes are identical. Even if they have the same blue print. There is always an alteration to suit a particular home when it comes to plumbing and electricity. There are basic guidelines but there is no one particular way to install these fixtures.

Do you have plumber's putty? Vise grips? A snake? Probably not. If you do, then you're probably a plumber! If you don't have any of those basic plumbing tools then call someone who does. Those fixtures deserve to be calibrated to an exact point for maximum efficiency. That's where we come in. If you knocked a tooth out would you go buy a new one and put it in yourself? I don't think so! Same goes for your home's fixtures.

If you live in Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for any of your plumbing fixture replacement needs.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Keeping Your Plumbing Fixtures In Good Working Order

Today, many homes have extra toilets, tubs, sinks, and showers that may not get any use. Maintaining these items is especially important for many reasons:
  • If unnoticed, leaks and cracks in plumbing fixtures around your home could lead to costly repairs, in addition to higher than necessary water bills.
  • Flush unused toilets at least once a week to keep all parts in good working order. Leaving the commode dormant for extended periods of time can result in leakage from dried out seals, and sticking from other parts. Flushing periodically also minimizes toilet bowl discoloration.
  • Running water through tubs, showers, and sinks on occasion will keep the seals in working order, just like the toilet. Doing this at least once a month will ensure that you have longevity from your plumbing products.
  • By flushing water down all of the drains, you're preventing sewer gases from stinking up your home. Sewer gas typically smells like rotten eggs and can lead to nausea, eye irritation, and in some cases death. 
Is it too late for some of your plumbing fixtures? If you live in Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for any of your plumbing fixture replacement needs.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

What Is Video Snaking?

What Is Video Snaking ?

Video snaking or "See-Snake" is a process where a plumbing company runs a video line or camera down your branch lines (the pipes that lead from bathtubs and faucets to the house's sewer line) or down the house's sewer line (the larger pipe that leads from the house to the municipal sewer line on the street). At the end of the line is a camera that lets you see the line close-up. If you are doing an entire sewer line video inspection you will see a walk-through, leading from the trap, down through the sewer line, and up to any obstructions. If the camera can push through the blockage, it may continue through to the municipal line.

How Often Will You Need This Done?

This would not be a frequent occurrence. If you are purchasing a home, adding a bathroom, or remodeling your kitchen or bathroom then video snaking is in order. Typically, most homeowners call in a sewer line video inspection only if there is a problem, such as a blockage that cannot be fixed by plunging, or sewer rodding or drain cleaning. Locating the problem via video is a lot more cost effective than aimlessly digging holes, looking for the culprit.

If you live in the Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for any of your video snaking needs.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Prevent A Gas Emergency In Your Home With These 10 Safety Tips:

1. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when operating and caring for natural gas appliances, and use each appliance for its intended purpose.

2. Keep the area around your gas water clear and free of debris.

3. Ensure fuel-burning appliances are installed, used and maintained properly and safely. Hire a qualified technician to inspect heating and venting equipment annually, and use a carbon monoxide alarm that meets current standards.

4. Never use a gas oven to warm a home.

5. Don't use fuel lines for storage. Heavy coats or other items hanging from a fuel line (often located near the ceiling in basements) can stress the joints in the pipe and cause gas leaks. Don't allow children to swing on the pipes or hang clothes from them either.

6. Use a broom to keep gas meters, pipes and other service equipment clear in winter. Gas-appliance chimneys and vents must be cleared after snow and ice storms to ensure proper venting and prevent carbon monoxide accumulation.

7. Set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees or lower. Check the water temperature before placing a child in the bathtub, and never leave a child alone or with other young children in the bathtub.

8. Replace flexible connectors. Cracks can form and cause serious gas leaks in these flexible pipes that attach appliances to fuel lines. Limit the number of times you move natural gas appliances, and replace flexible connectors at least every 10 years with an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved model.

9. Never use a gas generator inside your home, garage, or near a window. Generators emit toxic and deadly carbon monoxide gas.

10. Rely on your eyes, ears, and nose to spot a gas leak. A damaged connection to a gas appliance, a hissing sound, or its distinct smell are all telltale signs of a gas leak.

Monday, March 4, 2013

There Are Two Types Of Sump Pumps: Pedestal And Submersible

You may be asking yourself, "What is a sump pump and do I need one?" A sump pump's job is to keep the area under a building dry and to prevent the building from flooding. Sump pumps are located inside sump pits. Water flows into the sump pit through either drains or the soil. The sump pump's job is to direct water out of the pit and away from the building so the basement and building stays dry.

Even if your basement has never flooded, you should still invest in a sump pump.

There are two types of sump pumps: pedestal and submersible. Pedestal pumps use an electric motor attached to a column. It sits above the sump pit. It's easy to get to and if well maintained, can last a long time. Submersible pumps are designed to work beneath the water and are located in the sump pit. These types of pumps are harder to get to, but are quite inconspicuous which is great if you don't want it to be seen. They are typically quieter than pedestal pumps.

Sump pumps don't just prevent your basement from flooding, they also control underground wetness which results in mold and mildew. Mold and mildew can lead to health problems down the road.

If you already have a sump pump and you're not sure if it works properly, now is the perfect time to find out. Areas that experienced excessive snow fall will need to prevent flooding as the snow melts. Also, spring showers can leave your basement filled with water if you don't have a sump pump or if your sump pump is not in working order.

Even though a sump pump can be your best ally against a flood, they do fail under certain circumstances, including neglect and power outages.

In addition to having a sump pump, a battery back-up system is advisable, in case your power does go out. Certain battery back-up systems will automatically “cycle” your back-up pump so that it won’t sit neglected and therefore fail when it is called upon in a power outage. These systems can be expensive but are well worth it, especially if you have a finished basement.

Contact Naperville area AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555 for sump pump installation or repair before you have the task of dealing with a flooded basement.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

How To Keep Your Home Free Of Leaks When You Are On Vacation

Here are a few suggestions to keep your home free of floods and leaks while you are away.

10 Plumbing Tips Before You Leave on Vacation:
  1. If you don't need a sprinkler system or a pool pump to run, be sure to turn off your main plumbing shut off valve before you leave for an extended period of time. There will still be water in your plumbing system, but additional water won't enter into the system while you're gone. This is a great opportunity to check that the plumbing main shut off valve is working properly.
  2. Can't shut off the main valve? You can shut off individual valves under your sinks, behind your toilets, behind the refrigerator, and behind the washing machine. Only turn off the valves that are in good working order.
  3. If you turned off your plumbing main shut off valve, this is still a good time to look at all your shut off valves and supply lines under your sinks and toilets to be sure none are wet or leaking before leaving.
  4. If you have plumbing behind your refrigerator, pull the refrigerator out and check to be sure nothing is wet or corroded.
  5. Look all around your water heater and water softener, make sure there is no water present. These items also have their own shut off valves that can be turned off to lessen the chance of water damage. 
  6. If the water heater is in good condition, turn the thermostat down so that it isn't constantly running to heat the water while you are away. On an electric water heater, turn the breaker off at your main electrical breaker box. This will avoid wasting energy while you're away.
  7. Add water to all drains before leaving to keep them wet. This will minimize odors in your pipes when you return.
  8. Do an inspection of the outside of your home, make sure nothing is leaking before you leave the house. Be sure to check the hoses, sprinklers, etc.
  9. If you have a drinking water system, make sure your drinking water system is newer, as older lines on these units can crack and break and are often the culprit causing water damage in many homes. Some of these systems can be turned off individually at the valve under the sink to lessen the possibility of water damage.
  10. While you're away, have someone check inside and around your home to ensure that nothing has broken or was forgotten while your family is enjoying their vacation. An unattended plumbing problem can be very costly and frustrating to return home to.
If you live in the Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for any of your pre-vacation plumbing questions and needs.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

How Do You Prevent Your Household Sinks From Clogging?

How do you prevent your household sinks from clogging? The short answer-- Stop dumping stuff down the drain! The main culprits behind a clogged or slow moving drain are usually hair and food. The bathroom sink drain gets full of hair and the kitchen sink drain gets full of food and debris. If you could keep hair and food out of the drain you would prevent 99% of the clogs before they happen.

How to keep your Kitchen drain clear:

Keeping food out of the kitchen sink drain can be easy, if you have a sink strainer. It's cheap and readily available and saves you from potential plumbing catastrophes. Most strainers are the basket type with holes or there is the screen style which just sets over the drain opening catching all the big food particles. You simply lift out the screen and dump it in the trash when it's full or when the water won't drain. Anything that will slip past this screen is small enough so it won't cause a back-up. They can be bought at Home Depot for around $3.00.

How to keep your bathroom drain clear:

When it comes to the bathroom sink (or tub), your drain's biggest enemy is hair. Unfortunately there isn't a screen that fits a bathroom sink. Bathroom sinks, unlike kitchen sinks, usually have a pop-up drain assembly with a lever right behind the faucet to lift and lower the stopper. The best prevention here is to wipe up any loose hair before it enters the sink drain. You will occasionally need to remove the pop-up in order to clean out the hair. It's a messy job but one that needs to be done. Some tubs have a fixed metal screen and some have a loose rubber plug. If you have a fixed drain cover you'll need to remove this cover so a hair stopper will fit.

Over the years the inside diameter of your drain pipes get smaller and smaller. You'd be shocked if you could see inside your pipes but this is an indicator of the health of your plumbing. There are a number of drain cleaners on the market both organic and caustic but those are not recommended. Always contact a professional plumber before putting ANYTHING, organic or not, down your drain. If you are experiencing slow draining or clogged pipes, contact Naperville area AquaTech Plumbing for all of your drain cleaning needs!

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Prolong The Life Of Enameled Cast Iron Sinks

Today, kitchen sink bowls come in a variety of different materials. Although enameled cast iron remains an attractive and durable product, many people today are choosing bowls made of stainless steel and other solid surface materials for their added durability, stain resistance, and as aesthetic appeal.

Bowls are available in: Swanstone, Surrell, Corian, Moenstone, and much more. The most important thing to remember is to follow the manufacturer's instructions pertaining to the material of which your bowl is constructed. With some of the solid surface materials, scratches can be removed when lightly sanded because the color goes throughout the thickness of the material.

Do not allow fruit or vegetable juices or cleaning acids to sit on any surface. An acid-resisting sink will safely resist lemon, orange, and other citrus fruit juices, tomato juice, mayonnaise, and other vinegar preparations if these are not permitted to remain more than a few hours. A regular enamel finish is not impervious to acids.

Teas and coffee grounds will also stain enameled surfaces, if allowed to remain very long. Photographic solutions are even more harmful to enamel, and the amateur photographer should not be allowed to use the sink, because a fixture once damaged in this way can never be corrected.

In order to prolong the life of enameled cast iron sinks, clean the bowl immediately after each use. Use a nonabrasive cleaner. Constant use of abrasive cleaners can eventually wear the finish down, making it much more porous and susceptible to stains. This can also happen with enameled, cast iron tubs over a long period, leaving behind unsightly discoloration and haze. When cleaning the sink, use hot water and soap. Water and soap are not as hard on the enameled finish as strong cleaning solutions like washing soda or a gritty abrasive. If a cleaner is used, it should be one that specifically states that it is nonabrasive.

Contact Naperville area AquaTech Plumbing at www.aquatechplumbing.com/contact for all of your plumbing needs.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

10 Reasons To Go Tankless Today!

  1. You will receive an endless flow of hot water!
  2. Lower energy costs! - From 20% to 50% savings annually.
  3. You will receive a $300 federal tax credit plus SCG operating incentives.
  4. Tankless water heaters last for 20-30 years whereas a traditional water heater’s usual life span is 8-12.
  5. Tankless heaters don't lose efficiency over the unit's lifespan.
  6. Tankless water heaters save space.
  7. Tankless heaters have a built in scalding protection feature. 
  8. Tankless water heaters have a new automatic fill feature.
  9. Tankless heaters fill spas, whirlpools, tubs and Jacuzzis much quicker.
  10. Tankless water heaters protect your health and the environment.
Additional benefits
In order to make the hot water supply last, a traditional standard tank water heater heats the water up to 140 degrees, then you must use cold water to cool it down. With a tankless water heater, you set a temperature, let's say 120 degrees, and you have the perfect temperature without wasting energy. Furthermore, since a tankless water heater has no refresh rate (it's instantaneous), there is no need to overheat the water as with a conventional tank.

Carbon Footprint
Every year more than 7 million used tank water heaters are taken to landfills in the United States. A tankless water heater is, for the most part, recyclable, so they don't end up in your local landfill. It is estimated that if people replaced their tank units with tankless there would be a savings of millions of gallons of oil a year, millions of gallons of propane, and billions of kilowatt hours. This is yet another reason to go tankless!

Concat Naperville area AquaTech Plumbing today for a new tankless water heater.