Tag Archives: chicago plumber

Dec '22

How to Choose the Right Plumber Near Me in Chicago?

As far as your home’s plumbing is concerned, finding the right plumber may be the most critical factor in the performance of the plumbing. The competence of your Chicago plumber plays a role in the number of plumbing emergencies you will have and the severity of those emergencies.

Your plumber influences the quality of the plumbing fixtures in your house and the overall cost of maintaining the plumbing, explains Limehouse Management. An honest and competent plumber will give you advice that lets you make the most of your plumbing. They will guide you away from making costly mistakes.

The question is, how do you find that plumber? Everywhere you look in your city, you will find plumbers advertising. They all have excellent websites with shiny claims about the quality of their services. How do you know when you have found a good plumber?

How to choose the right plumber in Chicago

When hiring a plumber, you must arm yourself with a few attitudes or strategies to find the best one. You must understand the three things listed below before you even start the process of looking for a plumber:

It’s on you

Finding the correct plumber is your job here; your money and peace of mind are at stake. This is why you must take full responsibility for this process. Do the necessary checks thoroughly; test a plumber before you trust them.

Start early

Your chances of finding a good plumber are lower when you have a plumbing emergency in the home. This is partly because good plumbers are often very busy and may only be available on short notice. It is also because you will be too desperate to vet a plumber when dealing with an emergency.

Build long-term

You want the relationship with your plumber to be a long one. Having different plumbers work on your home’s plumbing is terrible for the system. You want to find that one good plumbing company in chicago and stick with them.

Steps for finding the right plumber near you in Chicago

Here are the criteria to use when trying to hire a plumber.

Look for local plumbing companies

Working with a local company offers advantages over working with a national chain. A local company can structure its entire operations to meet the specific needs of the city where they are. As a result, the local company becomes an expert at dealing with local issues. A national company cannot do that.

Check licensing, certifications, and memberships

Make sure the company is licensed to work in your city. Also, check the credentials of the people who own or lead the company. Membership in the local chapter of their professional body is important because it gives you a glimpse of how others in the profession view the plumber.

Prioritize experience

Training is important, but a plumber who is well-trained and has lots of experience is better. Experience plays a huge role in things like understanding the peculiar soil or water issues in a city and the dominant design of the plumbing in that area, as well as when pulling job permits. Experience also means that this is not a company that is about to disappear by tomorrow morning.

Who are their employees?

How many employees does the company have, what are their qualifications, and how long have they been with the company? Are these part-time employees, or are they permanently on the company’s payroll? Good companies attract great workers who are willing to stay for a long time.

Think about their specialization

What kind of plumbing are they specialized in? Do not hire a commercial plumbing company to solve residential plumbing issues or vice versa. Have they had prior experience with the plumbing systems in buildings like yours?

Check references and reviews

Are they willing to provide a list of past or current customers who live in your locality, and are they happy to let you talk to those customers? What do people say about them in online reviews? How does the company deal with negative thoughts, and what is their Yelp, Google, or BBB rating?

Ask about insurance and warranties

Is the company adequately insured? What kind of insurance do they have? The plumber should have insurance coverage for workers who get injured on the job and coverage in case of damage to your property. Do they offer any warranties for their work and the parts they use on that job?

Request a copy of the contract

How does the company price its work? It is always better to get upfront pricing for any work a plumber wants to do for you. Moreover, the prices of items should be clearly stated and verifiable. You also need to know how they will get paid for their work; how do they calculate their fees?

Using this data, you should be able to locate a plumber near me who can resolve your plumbing issues efficiently and effectively. Selecting the right company is essential, so take your time and select a reliable provider.

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In need of a reliable local plumber in Chicago? We can help! Call us today at 708-255-5210 or fill out the form below:

Sep '22

Why You Should Always Opt for a Local Plumber in Chicago

Your home’s relationship with your plumber is like your relationship with your family physician. Although the relationship is professional, it has a personal dimension. Because the doctor has watched your body transition through various stages of life, they are intimately familiar with your body’s health needs.

In the same way, Abacus Avenue Management explains, you also want your plumber to have a familiar knowledge of your home’s plumbing system. When there is an issue with the water pipes or drains, you don’t want someone who will deal with those problems in isolation from other issues in the system. You want them to adopt a holistic approach that considers your home’s history.

How do you build that relationship between yourself, your home, and your plumber? A simple way to do this is to find a professional and experienced plumber who is local and stick with them. When looking for a plumber, you can choose between a national/regional company and a plumber who operates within your community.

Why you should always choose a local plumber

Here are six reasons you are better off working with a local plumber.

Reputation

A good reputation is probably the most important quality you want in your plumber. You will understand just how important this is if you have ever had a plumber make a problem worse than it was in the beginning.

It is easier to verify the claims of a plumber if that person is local versus when they are not. Your neighbors may be able to share first-hand experiences of working with the plumber.

It is also more accessible to follow up on the references a local plumber shares with you. When dealing with a non-local plumber, you often only have the company’s word regarding their reputation.

Personal touch

When working with a local plumbing company, you can put a face to the company’s operations. You know exactly whom you are dealing with because you meet the company’s owner and the staff. You can build a relationship with the organization. This is important when solving plumbing issues in your home since people are nicer to people they know.

You cannot get this kind of treatment when you hire a non-local company. First, the chances that you will meet the owner or principal officers of the organization are very slim. Second, the company’s employees are constantly being rotated, and you never know whom you will get.

Flexibility

The employees of the non-local company who fix the plumbing issues in your home often don’t have the power to make crucial decisions. But a local company can make decisions on the fly; it is easy to agree with them on what needs to be done and how it should be done.

A local plumber does not have to wade through layers of red tape before acting. In a couple of minutes, you can decide with your plumber; this is very important when dealing with plumbing emergencies. A local plumber’s flexibility can save you tons of time and money.

Availability

When dealing with plumbing issues in the home, it is vital to have a plumber who can be available at short notice. Because the plumber lives in your community and you have a personal relationship with them, it is easier to get your local plumber to come to your home at odd hours.

Access to 24-hour service every day of the week can make all the difference when dealing with emergencies like burst pipes, clogged drains, sewage backups, or plumbing issues with the potential to cause massive damage. Not having to wait hours for a plumber will save you money.

Affordability

Local plumbers are more affordable and more effective than non-local plumbers and chain companies such as Roto-Rooter and the like. Why is this? Local plumbers treat customers like friends and family. This is quite unlike non-local plumbers, where the customer is a number or faceless name.

Additionally, non-local plumbing companies have considerable overheads to worry about, and their primary concern is the bottom line rather than maintaining the relationship with their customers. As a result of these differences, the local plumber charges less money for their services, even though they are better.

Informed

Finally, a local plumber will have an intimate knowledge of the area. They know the common plumbing problems and the solutions that have worked for them in the past. The local plumber is used to the water issues peculiar to your area and the piping systems used in homes.

They do not have to look long and hard to understand the problems in your home, even if they are visiting for the first time. Overall, this can amplify the plumber’s efficiency and also help you cut costs.

When looking for a plumber to service your home, look no further than your friendly, local plumber.

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Are you looking for a local plumber in Chicago? We can help! Contact us below:

Apr '22

What To Do if Your Chicago Basement Gets Flooded This Summer

Home flooding is not something you would wish for yourself. However, statistics from flood factors show that about 84,559 properties in Chicago have over a 26% chance of experiencing severe flooding for the next 30 years.

From this data, we can say that Chicago has a moderate risk of flooding because about 14% of all the properties are at risk. That means there is a greater possibility of experiencing flooding.

Avoiding the thought of flooding or preparing for flooding will not prevent it from occurring. Instead, preparing for a flood will keep you composed and guided on the proper things to do if the situation arises. Your actions during and after a flooding incident will determine the damage your home sustains and the restoration.

Flooding in your basement is not an incident you should handle lightly. That is because it can cause havoc to the property, warns Mike Dunfee Property Management. A flooded basement can lead to:

Mold and mildew
Pest infestation
Poor indoor air quality
Foundation and structural damage such as sinking floors or cracks

What will you do if your basement experiences a flood this summer? Your response to basement flooding will depend on whether the basement is finished or unfinished. It will also depend on the source of the flood – sewage or seepage.

However, there are specific things you should do irrespective of the origin or nature of the flood. This article will explain everything you should do if your Chicago basement gets flooded this summer.

Six things to do in case of flood in your Chicago basement

Avoid entering the flooded basement

It is natural to think of rushing into the flooded basement to stop the leakage. Doing that will be very dangerous. That is because the water may get in contact with electrical sockets, appliances, or cables. When that happens, entering the flooded basement will result in electrocution.

Call an electrician and the gas company

An electrician has adequate training, experience, and tools to work on flooded basements. They will help you shut off the power supply to your home to prevent electrocution. Sometimes, the water gets high to the point that it will extinguish the pilot lights, and gas will pump into the property. In that case, you need to inform the gas company about the flood. They will turn off the gas supply to the property until flood restoration is complete.

Locate the source of the flood

After shutting off the gas and power supply, you can then locate the source of flooding. It would be best to turn off the water supply to your entire home if the flood is from a burst pipe. If the flood is from heavy rainfall, wait for the storm to pass before you clean up.

Sometimes the flooding may be from a faulty sump pump or clogged drain. If you cannot locate the source, it is advisable to call a reliable Chicago plumber. The plumber will help you find the origin and stop further flooding.

Rescue your valuables

Your ability to rescue your valuables will depend on the source of the flood. You may fail to salvage upholstered furniture and rug carpets if it is due to sewer backup. However, other appliances may be salvageable. When flooding is from water leaks or seepage, you can evacuate your items and dry them.

Clean up

How you clean up the flood will depend on the extent and nature of the flooding. If it is a minor flood, you may decide to clean it yourself. However, it is advisable to hire a professional restoration company for severe flooding or sewage flooding cleaning (irrespective of the extent).

The earlier you start the clean-up, the better for your property. Mold and mildew may grow 24 hours after the flood. It would be best to act fast and remove all wet rugs, books, boxes, or other moisture-retaining items.

If you hire a flood restoration company, they have the necessary tools and skills to remove all the flood from your basement and dry it. Laminate or hardwood floors in finished basements may not be salvageable. However, ceramic tiles or concrete will remain functional.

Use dehumidifiers and fans

Dehumidifiers and fans will help the basement dry faster after cleaning up the water. It is advisable to open all the basement windows to aid the drying. Alternatively, you may also decide to put on the heater or air conditioner.

The bottom line: What to do if your Chicago basement gets flooded this summer

Restoring your property after experiencing basement flooding is a tedious process. That is why it is better to prevent floods by waterproofing your basement. You should hire professionals to help keep your basement dry and maintain your property’s structural integrity.

Feb '22

What to Look for in a Local Chicago Plumber?

Plumbing issues in the home are unavoidable – they happen every so often. When they do happen, these problems can disrupt the entire routine of your household and destroy your personal belongings. Plumbing issues will also cost you a lot of money if you do not detect them on time.

The difference between having constant plumbing emergencies in your home and staying ahead of problems is the plumber you hire and your plumbing maintenance plan. Your plumber is vital to the frequency of plumbing problems in your home and how much they cost.

A good plumber should reduce the number of emergencies to the barest minimum. They should take you to where you will get preventative maintenance and upgrades. That means a relative absence of plumbing crises because issues are dealt with before they get to that point.

How do you find a plumber who is competent and trustworthy? What are the qualities you should look for in plumbers before hiring them? The list below highlights the critical traits a professional plumber must have. Following them will help you better manage plumbing issues in your home or office.

Tips for choosing the right plumber in Chicago

Are they a local or national chain plumbing company?

The first criterion is that you want a company near enough to respond to your needs. You want a long-term relationship with this company, and you expect that they will come to know your home’s plumbing intimately. It is hard to get these benefits when dealing with a national plumbing company such as Roto-Rooter and the like. That is why you should only talk to local plumbers in Chicago.

Licensing, accreditations, certifications, and memberships

They must be adequately trained and willing to share proof of that training. On your part, you should be able to verify any claims they make. In most municipalities, plumbers need licenses before working in the area. You want to ascertain this, their level of training and membership of the local chapter or their professional body.

Years of experience

The plumber must have experience; you only learn some things by doing. This experience is best if particularized to the kind of plumbing you have in your home or office. You don’t want a plumber who works mainly with single-family homes handling the plumbing in a multi-unit apartment complex.

Reviews and references

If a plumber in Chicago has been in the industry for a long time, they should have a list of satisfied customers who are willing to vouch for them. Ask for a list of references in the area and contact them to hear what they can say about the company. Also, check reviews of the company online; pay attention to negative reviews or comments to see how the company responds to them.

a local chicago plumber performing a drain cleaning service.

The quality of their employees

What kind of training does the staff of the company have? Do they use trained and certified plumbers? How many of such workers are on the company’s payroll? Are the workers full-time or part-time, and how long have they been with the organization? Finally, do they conduct thorough background checks on the people they employ?

Are they insured?

The company must have insurance up to a certain amount. They should be able to provide proof of that insurance. Moreover, you must verify their insurance from the insurance company. The company’s insurance should not only cover their employees in case of injury. It should shield you from liability and protect your property from loss or damage.

Tools and equipment

They should have up-to-date tools and equipment. Plumbing issues in the house require a diverse set of tools and equipment. If the plumber is not well equipped, it will affect the quality of work. That is crucial because you want a plumber to arrive when you have a plumbing emergency. A competent plumber should have a fully kitted van with everything they need to resolve plumbing emergencies in Chicago quickly and thoroughly.

Round-the-clock service

Plumbing emergencies don’t announce themselves before they happen, and they can happen at any time of the day. You want to know if your plumber can send someone to handle issues if they need fixing at the oddest hour of the night or during the holidays. Additionally, the company should have stellar customer service available throughout the day.

How much do they charge?

You should know the charges for any service the plumber in Chicago provides upfront. You want the plumber’s rates to compare favorably with what others charge. But more importantly, you want those rates to be transparent and predictable. You also want to know the kind of guarantees they offer on any work they do. You must, however, avoid the mistake of selecting the cheapest plumber.

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Are you in need of local plumbing services in the Chicago area? Let us know and contact us below!