Repair or replace your sump pump before it’s too late
In an unusual turn of events, one of the hottest Julys in recent memory in North Aurora and the Chicagoland area has become one of the wettest. The second half of July has seen numerous thunder storms, rain showers and even a flash flood advisory for some of the Windy City suburbs.
With rain and water surrounding your North Aurora home, now is a good time to check your sump pump and ensure it can save your basement (and home) in case flooding hits your property.
What a sump pump does
When flooding occurs, a sump pump ensures that the rising water level does not affect your home. Rising water will attempt to enter your home through your sewage and drainage pipes – often bringing everything you normally want to eject out of your house with it.
Sump pumps should also be accompanied by back-up generators in case the electricity goes out during heavy rain or flooding. If it’s a severe thunder storm, this is a likely possibility. If you don’t have a back-up generator to go along with your sump pump, you should address this right away.
Inspecting your sump pump
A properly working sump pump should be capable of turning itself on once the water level rises. If you notice your sump pump not turning itself on immediately, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
The most common cause of sump pump failure is a motor that has been overused. If your North Aurora home encounters a lot of flooding, this could occur sooner than you think. Otherwise, plan to replace your sump pump every 10 years or sooner (and seven years or sooner for atypically flood-prone areas).
Another sign that you need to replace your sump pump is it has visible rust or makes bizarre sounds or excessive vibrations when it turns on.
Replacing a sump pump
If you inspect your sump pump and discover it may not be up to snuff to deal with a real flooding event, you may need to replace it or get it repaired.
You may consider repairing it yourself, but this comes with some risks. As a sump pump is powered by electricity and has moving mechanical parts, you may injure yourself if you attempt to repair a broken sump pump without the right training or safety equipment.
That’s why you should have us repair your sump pump for you. Repairing your sump pump will be less costly than purchasing an entirely new one, which could set you back more than $500 for typical models.
Get sump pump help today
If you’re planning on repairing your sump pump, or want peace of mind that your sump is working, call us today at (630) 761-3400 to set up an appointment. You can also schedule an appointing using our contact us page. Last, check out our services page for more info on how we can make your home safer and more pleasant to live in.
Protect your assets with a water heater safety inspection
It’s summertime in Naperville, and something like ensuring your water heater is functioning properly is probably the least of your worries.
However, with the average cost of tank water heater replacements nearing the $1,000 mark, it’s never not a good time to get a water heater safety inspection for your Naperville home.
Natural decline of tank water heaters
As our tank water heaters age, they naturally begin to accumulate particles from the water throughout the tank. This build-up can severely decrease your water heater’s efficiency; or worse, result in the water heater breaking and needing to be replaced.
It’s similar to cholesterol in the human body: If it builds up enough in your arteries, if could cause high blood pressure and even deadly diseases.
How we check your water heater
At Hobson Plumbing, we have more than 20 years of experience with pluming and safety inspections. For a low fee of $49, we can check your water heater for build-up and other age-related issues.
Here are some of the things we do when inspecting your water heater:
- Clean off the intake screen to remove dust and sentiment build-up
- Drain the tank itself with a hose to remove sediment build-up
- Test the water and gas emergency shut-off valves to ensure they’ll activate at crucial moments
- Check for leaks of gas and water around the tank
- Take the tank’s temperature to ensure it’s in the normal range
- Inspect the safety relief valve, expansion tank and inside burner chamber
As a bonus, for only $20 more, we can inspect your sump pump at the same visit for any safety or performance issues.
Schedule your Naperville water heater inspection today
Now that you know the importance of getting your water heater inspected, call us today at (630) 761-3400 to set up an appointment. We are conveniently located near Naperville in North Aurora. You can also schedule an appointing using our contact us page.
If you’re interested in learning more about the types of services we provide, check out our services page for more info.
Choosing the right shower head for your bathroom
Summer is full swing in North Aurora this mid-June. With temperatures reaching the 90s – and higher – there’s nothing like a quick, cool shower to cool down after walking around North Aurora’s neighborhoods or catching a baseball game.
When it comes to a great shower, there are a few key considerations you need to make.
- At the beginning of the water’s journey is the water heater, which can be purchased in tank or tankless varieties (each with plusses and minuses).
- Next comes the shower valve, which controls the heat and pressure of your shower.
- And the last location before you experience the water is the shower head, which we’ll discuss today.
Main types of shower heads
The first major differentiator in shower heads is whether it’s in a fixed position or can be removed.
- Fixed-position showerheads are mounted to the wall and typically can be tilted up or down (and sometimes side to side). Some can be removed to allow you get those hard-to-reach areas.
- A flexible head is typically connected to the wall by a tube or hose, offering a fuller range of motion compared with a fixed shower head.
- Sliding shower heads are affixed to vertical bar and can be slid up and down based on the person’s height.
Some of the even fancier varieties of shower heads aren’t even shower heads at all – they’re panels. These can essentially spray throughout a person’s height, offering a comprehensive – and quick – shower.
Further variety
We take showers every day (or even more frequently), so why not go all-out with your shower head? Here are some compelling variations to make your shower more enjoyable or even more cost-efficient.
- Reduced energy shower heads – These low-flow shower heads use much less water than a typical shower head, but aim to provide just as much pressure through their complex designs.
- Lit shower heads – These are a fun addition to the shower head – as well as a safety feature. With a more well-lit shower, you’ll be more likely able to spot any soap bars or other tripping hazards at the bottom of the shower.
- Spray pattern customizations – Many modern shower heads come with some type of spray pattern customization. Before buying a new one, see what patterns are available, such as wide or centered.
Getting plumbing assistance
Are you a North Aurora home owner in need of plumbing assistance? You can contact us to set up an appointment. Also, learn more about improving your shower on our Services page.
Bathroom Remodeling- Naperville
Tips for your summer bathroom remodeling project
Summer is a great time of year in Naperville, IL. This quiet suburb and the surrounding cities burst to life with festivals, farmer’s markets, sports events, carnivals and other fun summer activities.
If you’re more of a homebody, however, another great Naperville summer tradition is house remodeling. The weather outside is great, making it the optimal time of year to go out shopping for supplies and transporting them back to your home. It’s also a fun time of year to recruit friends and kids home from Naperville schools to help out with your projects.
A common remodeling project is the bathroom. Here are some tips to make your Naperville bathroom remodeling project a breeze.
Water output upgrades
One of the most common modern inconveniences is having to wait for water to get hot so you can take a shower or use the sink. Luckily, we at Hobson Plumbing are specialists in two plumbing techniques to make this modern inconvenience nearly disappear.
- Pressure balancing device – Are you trying to take a hot shower or wash your hands, but the dishwasher or laundry machine also happens to be running? Typically, you’ll have to wait a bit longer for the water to get hot; or, if you started taking a shower and then someone else uses a water source in the house, you could end up with very cold or very hot water streaming right at you. With a pressure balancing device, you won’t have to worry about this any longer. Check out our services page to learn more.
- Tankless water heaters – Instead of having to wait for water to make it from your house’s hot water tank to your shower head or sink valves, if you install tankless water heaters in your home, the hot water will be nearly instantaneous. Tankless water heaters are also more cost efficient than traditional tanks.
Be creative with the shower
There are a lot of ways to improve upon your shower experience, no matter how great it is already.
- If you want a more cost-effective shower, for instance, you can install a low-flow shower head that is designed to maintain adequate shower pressure but use much less water in the process.
- You can also install flexible and removable shower heads that allow you detach the shower head, making it easier to clean yourself and the shower itself.
- Get even more creative with LED-lite shower heads and shower heads that can spray in an assortment of patterns.
Let us take care of the hard parts
The most difficult aspects of bathroom remodeling are attaching water supplies to the sink, shower and toilet and the risk of leaks. Luckily, we’re here to help. Located near in the Chicagoland area and near Naperville, we can come to your home to take care of the trickiest and most advanced aspects of your bathroom remodeling.
To get started, contact us to set up an appointment. You can learn more about our plumbing and faucet services at our Services page.
What Are Tankless Water Heaters?
Boy do we have a tip for you. Water heating is an essential need (and an expensive one) for every home no matter where you live and what type of home you have. You need hot water for showers, to clean the dishes, to wash your hands effectively and to wash your clothes – among many other uses.
What if we told you there was a way to save money on water heating year-after-year? With tankless water heaters – the next generation of water heating – you most certainly can.
Tankless water heaters
As this type of water heating is so quick and efficient at heating water, it doesn’t require the use of a large, bulky tank to store hot water. Instead, as hot water is needed, the tankless water heater will run cold water through a highly heated pipe inside the unit, heating the water “on-demand” as you go.
Tankless water heaters may use gas or electric power, but either way will still end up using less energy in the long run than a tank water heater. Tank water heaters need a constant gas light to function and require more energy to heat water than a tankless system.
Keep in mind, however, that because tankless water heaters are newer technology and contain more advanced materials than tank heaters, tankless heaters will be more expensive to purchase than purchasing a new tank water heater.
Helping cover the cost
Beyond the natural cost savings over time, there are other ways to offset the cost of tankless water heaters.
First, you may be eligible for certain federal tax credits or rebates for going tankless. These would apply to the year in which you purchased an installed the unit. To find out more about potential federal savings, visit the ENERGY STAR website.
Using tankless water heaters also increases your score’s energy rating – making your home more attractive to potential buyers. This means you can increase your asking price when it comes time to sell your home.
Last, most well-made tankless water heaters are designed to last about 20 years. This is double the average life-span of a tank water heater. That means in the long run, you’ll be spending less replacing your tankless water heater than you would replacing a tank water heater every 10 years.
Find out more about tankless water heaters
Are you ready to make a smart investment in your home to save you money in the long run – but don’t know where to start? Reach out to us on our website today to make an appointment to find out more. You can also schedule an appointment by calling (630) 761-3400. Be prepared to save a lot of money in your future!
Don’t get backed up – the importance of ejector pumps
The basement of a home is usually very underrated. It’s where many families store some of their most important documents, photos and heirlooms. Many families may turn the basement into an entertainment area, stocked with TVs, entertainment systems and speakers. Some may even turn the basement into a man cave, chock with video gaming equipment, sofa bed and fridge full of cold ones.
Despite all this, many people fail to protect the basement from the ultimate worst-case scenario: A sewage back-up. Imagine all those priceless photos, legal documents and other belongings that would be ruined in such an event. And, if you use the basement for entertainment, you won’t be doing a whole lot of entertaining for quite some time in a room that’s had a standing foot of sewage in it.
What can cause such an event, and how can you protect yourself from it?
Ejector pumps
When you flush the toilet, use the sink or do anything else in the home that involves waste water, you can thank both gravity and ejector pumps for making sure the waste leaves the home. When dumping water, gravity will move the water downward through the pipes scattered throughout the home. Then, at the waste’s lowest point, an ejector pump moves the waste through the final stretch before it arrives in the city sewage system (or for some, a septic system).
Since gravity alone can’t remove the waste from the home, what happens if that crucial step – the ejector pump – one day fails? If that occurs, flushed water and waste can build up in the pipes and eventually burst – usually at their lowest point, which for most homes is the basement. Unfortunately, for most ejector pumps, there’s no way to know when it has failed other than a sewage leaking event occurring in the home.
If you experience an ejector pump failure, make sure you bring in a professional plumber to fix it; due to the nature of what ejector pumps expel, you can’t take any chances with them.
Back-up pumps
Since most ejector pumps have no way of informing home owners when they have failed, it’s important that home have a back-up system in place that can take over automatically during ejector pump failures. These secondary pumps should rely on a different power source than the main ejector pump, such as a whole house power generator or batteries.
If you don’t have a back-up pump, you should consult with a professional plumber to select the right one for your home’s unique needs.
Don’t let a sewage nightmare become reality
Being a good steward for your home and for your family involves being prepared for disaster before it strikes. That’s why you should make sure to get regular check-ups on your ejector pump by a professional and ensure you have a properly installed back-up pump. Contact us to set up an appointment today, and call us at (630) 761-3400 to find out more about the services we provide.
A different kind of April shower
When it comes to showers in April, you may be thinking about the many spring rain showers we can expect to receive this year in Chicagoland. Spring is easily the wettest season for those of us living in this area; living near one of the Great Lakes lends itself to thunderstorms, hail and the good ‘ol April rain shower.
However, there’s a different type of April shower we’re recommending today: An improved shower thanks to a visit at your home by one of our employees at Hobson Plumbing.
Optimizing the shower
The quality of your showering experience rests on a few factors. First is how quickly the water heats up; second is the water pressure; and third is how consistently the water pressure and temperature stay the way you want. Today, we’re focusing on the third factor.
To help keep things consistently the way you want them, we can install what is called a “pressure balancing device” to your shower’s water source. What this does is detect changes in pressure in the hot and cold water sources leading to the shower, and automatically balance the water coming out of your shower faucet to make sure the temperature remains as consistent as possible.
Examples of when hot or cold water pressure are impacted in the home include when someone flushes the toilet (cold pressure drops); starts the dishwasher (either hot or cold may drop at some point depending on the dishwasher’s settings); cranks up the hot water for hand washing (hot pressure drops); and running the laundry machine on hot for whites (hot pressure will drop at some point).
There’s also the option of completely replacing the shower faucet with a “pressure balanced faucet.” This type of faucet is always detecting the relative balance between the hot and cold water being supplied to the shower. If one source of water pressure drops unexpectedly, a pressure balanced faucet will drop the pressure on the other source to the same degree to ensure one source of water does not overpower the other. This faucet effectively eliminates the risk of having a suddenly very hot or suddenly very cold stream of water coming down on you when you shower.
The importance of balancing water pressure
The biggest risk of not installing a water pressure balancing device (either attached to the water line or within the faucet itself) is experiencing scalding hot water during a shower. If you have a family member who is very young, very old or ill, you should take into account how they would be affected by scalding hot water when deciding whether to install a device to manage the hot/cold pressure balance.
You should note that pressure balanced faucets will reduce the overall pressure of the water coming out of it in those instances in which one source of water pressure drops. This is because when the faucet compensates for the reduced pressure from one of the sources, it reduces the pressure for the other – meaning that the entire overall pressure is significantly lower for the period of time in which one source of water is lower than usual. In most instances, the overall pressure will return to normal in just a few moments.
Ready for a new and improved showering experience?
Now that you’ve learned about how we can improve your morning shower, contact us to set up an appointment today! You can also call us at (630) 761-3400 to find out more about the services we provide.
Try Our Simple – and Effective – Drinking Water Systems
Water is one of the few things that you absolutely must consume regularly to survive. Luckily, we are called the “blue planet” for a reason – nearly three-fourths of the Earth’s surface is filled with the stuff.
To maintain a healthy body, you should consume between 6 and 8 cups of water a day depending on your age, biological sex and body type. That’s quite a bit of water every day – roughly about a half-gallon, which over a year equals about 180 gallons per person in the house.
Since you’ll be drinking a lot of the stuff, it makes sense that your home’s drinking water should be as healthy and tasty as possible. Among the foods and drinks you consume, water is the one you shouldn’t be skimping on when it comes to quality. That leads many to purchase jugs and bottles of purified water every week for their families. Purchasing purified water is one of the easiest ways to ensure that it’s as high-quality as possible.
However, purchasing purified water and bringing it into the home can be much, much more expensive than making purified water yourself. Purchasing purified water at the store also leads to piles of water bottles and empty jugs lying around the house, which can accumulate fast and become an unnecessary hassle.
How we approach purified water
We want to make it as easy and cost-efficient as possible to get quality drinking water in your home. That’s why we offer our own custom water purification systems that we can install for you in your home. Say goodbye to piles upon piles of water bottles!
Our drinking water purification systems can produce between 50 to 100 gallons a day of 99 percent purified water. You can access your purified drinking water in one of these locations:
- Water taps for sinks – Our water taps can be attached to your existing faucet in your kitchen sink, allowing you access to pure water right at the location where you prepare foods and drinks for you and your family.
- Refrigerator hook-up – Get purified drinking water, as well as purified ice cubes, right at your refrigerator.
Ready to save money on water?
Head to our Services page to learn even more about our drinking water purifiers. Then, once you’re ready to save money and improve the taste of your home’s water, contact us to set up an appointment today!
Ready to save money on water?
Head to our Services page to learn even more about our drinking water purifiers. Then, once you’re ready to save money and improve the taste of your home’s water, contact us to set up an appointment today!
Diagnosing Common Issues with Water Pressure
With how much money and effort you put into making sure your water heater works properly, you’d hope that when it comes time to take a warm, comforting shower than you’d be able to take one. Unfortunately, having poor water pressure could prevent you from doing so – or, having one that you’ll actually enjoy.
Unfortunately, water pressure issues are not a rare occurrence when it comes to the home plumbing business. Water pressure issues can also prevent you from using your kitchen sink to clean the dishes; thoroughly wash your hands in the bathroom sink; use the toilet; and many more potential mishaps.
When it happens, what could be causing your water pressure issues, and what should you do about it?
Check for the cause
There are a lot of potential causes for water pressure issues. When troubleshooting, the principle you should follow is to start at the area or areas affected, then work backwards.
First, determine if it’s a house-wide issue or if it’s isolated to a specific area. If the problem is only in one sink, one room or one area of the house, it’s easier to find the problem. For example, if you’re dealing with a one-sink issue, start by removing the aerator – also known as the tip or nose of the faucet – and check to see if it’s clogged with minerals or debris. If it is, then it’s a simple fix at that point.
If you can’t find the issue at the specific source of the low-pressure stream, your next step is the faucet itself. Do whatever you can to look inside the faucet using a flashlight to see if you can find a blockage. If you do, then a simple store-bough faucet cleaner should do the trick.
Advanced issues
If you can’t find the water pressure issue in a specific room or faucet, you’ll need to continue looking through your house’s plumbing system from the source of the problem to the source of your water. Luckily, going through the process of finding the water pressure issue at the source of the problem can help you eventually isolate the issue through process of elimination.
If you’ve exhausted all possible locations in which the water could be clogged, you could eventually land on your suspect pipe or valve. This will make purchasing the right tools and cleaning agents easier. Or, it could even help you explain the problem to a plumbing professional so that they can better estimate what they’ll need to do to fix it before even coming to your location.
Under the pressure
Ready to ensure your plumbing system is producing the water pressure you and your family need? You can contact us to take care of the entire process for you. Set up an appointment today, and learn more about water pressure issues on our Services page.
Be Proactive With Your Water Heater
In general, being a proactive person when it comes to safety takes a lot of time and planning. There’s checking the tire pressure when it gets cold outside; getting preventive checks on your car; regular doctor and dentist appointments; and purchasing anti-virus software for your computer.
But when it comes to your water heater, do you really have the time and energy left to worry about it?
Here’s why water heaters should be top-of-mind for safety – and how we can save you the time and effort by checking your water heater for you.
The importance of water heaters
Most people don’t actively think about their water heaters, unless a) the shower water stays cold and won’t get warm or b) the water heater is making suspicious sounds.
However, it’s an integral part of your home (and especially your morning routine). It helps make sure your white clothes get clean; it makes washing your dishes much easier; and if you live somewhere really cold, the prospect of a hot shower in waiting can get you through long snowy commutes.
Checking for safety
There are a lot of factors that can cause your water heater to be less efficient – or not work at all. Here are some of the common issues that can occur:
- Dust build-up on the intake screen
- Sediment build-up on the inside of the water heater tank
- Gas and water leaks in the unit
- Inaccurate temperature settings and thermometer readings
- Deterioration in the burn chamber
Getting help
That sounds like a lot to check on, right? Well, we can check all that for you for the low cost of only $49. Think about how much time you save – and how many bitter cold showers you can prevent – by having us come to your home for you to check your water heater unit.
In addition to checking the above list, we’ll also drain any sediment buildup we find in the tank itself, which is a common efficiency issue. We’ll also ensure that your safety relief valve is working normally, which is crucial for preventing serious trouble with your water heater.
Ready to optimize your water heater?
Head to our Services page to learn even more about our water heater safety inspections. Once ready, contact us to set up an appointment today!