The only proven method to properly clear clogged drains and sewers is to have them power rodded. However, there is a product out there once your drain lines have been rodded that can help prevent them from building up again.

  Bio-Clean is a special combination of natural bacteria and enzymes that digests dead organic waste found in your plumbing system such as grease, hair, soap scum, food particles, paper and cotton. Bio-Clean is also safe to use on plastic pipes and will not produce heat, fumes or boiling like chemicals do.

Bio-Clean dissolves the accumulated build-up of pipe "gunk" instead of just punching a hole in the stoppage to temporarily let the water flow out. A small application of Bio-Clean unleashes millions of bacteria that double in quantity every half hour or so and completely clean the inside of your pipes throughout your entire house. Bio-Clean is completely safe to humans and animals - in fact, this is probably the only plumbing product you will find that does not have a single warning label on the can. It is completely safe for your pipes - it only acts on organic material that builds up on the pipes.

Bio-Clean is a truly natural product - its bacteria and enzymes are from natural sources, not genetically engineered in any way. If there is a full blockage, we recommend that you call Quality Plumbing Services Inc. to have your drain rodded to restore flow and then let us show you how Bio-Clean can remove remaining waste build-up. Regular applications will prevent new build-up and blockages will be a thing of the past.

Give us a call today at 847-259-0200 or visit our website at www.qualityplumbingchicago.com!

We have all seen the television commercials with liquid and chemical drain cleaners showing this “miracle” product that will unclog your drains. What the manufacturers do not tell you is that some of these products can contain sodium hypochlorite (bleach), sodium hydroxide (lye) or potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) in concentrations up to 50%, while the products classified as “industrial strength” contain high concentrations of sulphuric acid.

There are many disadvantages to chemical drain cleaners including their lack of effectiveness for removing clogs far from the drain opening (only in commercials is the clog located in the trap) or blockages in the main sewer line. These clogs require professional plumbers with proper power rodding equipment to clear these drains.

Also, there are many safety considerations for chemical drain cleaners. Danger arises from their potential to injure eyes, lungs and skin as well as many household materials such as wood, paint and aluminum. Certain drain cleaners when mixed with common cleaning products, or used together can emit toxic gases which can be very dangerous.

One other major disadvantage is that some of these products may be harmful to your piping system. Older galvanized (steel) pipes may become damaged due to the corrosive nature of the product causing them to leak. These products can also damage porcelain, enamel, chrome and other decorative metal finishes of plumbing fixtures.

The only proven method to properly clear clogged drains and sewers is to have your drains power rodded. Let a Quality Plumbing Services Inc. technician provide you with options for clearing your drains in a safe, economical and effective manner. Call us today at 847-259-0200 or visit our website at www.qualityplumbingchicago.com.

Quality Plumbing Services Inc. is excited to offer customers monthly specials along with regular discount coupons which can be found on our website at www.qualityplumbingchicago.com.

During the month of February, Quality Plumbing Services is offering a free video inspection when a customer has a main sewer line power rodding.

Visit our website to see all the exciting discounts and savings from sump pump replacements, boiler and water heater installations to sewer rodding and drain cleaning.

No one wants to face expensive but avoidable plumbing repairs. For those of us who aren’t plumbers, here are a few things to watch out for.

• Putting grease down the sink -Please don’t put grease down the drain. Even with hot water and soap, grease can build up over time causing problems with your pipes.

• Using your sink as a trash can – Even if you have a garbage disposal, that does not give you a free pass to dump everything and anything down the drain. Food chunks in the kitchen or hair and fingernails in the bathroom serve as the start of a terrible clog.

• Using the toilet as a trash can – The toilet has its given role, the trash can has another. Do not confuse the two.

• Using Drain-O – Using a drain cleaner on the wrong type of clog or at all could lead to erosion of your pipes and just a really nasty clog for the plumber to clean out.

• Mixing metals – If you decide to replace the pipes yourself for a portion of your home’s plumbing system, please do not mix piping metals. This can lead to corrosion, leaks, and a number of other headaches.

• Lack of insulation – If you live in a cold climate, your pipes can freeze in the winter unless they are properly insulated.

• Leaving hoses attached – Leaving the hose attached to your outdoor faucet through the winter can lead to frozen pipes or a damaged faucet.

• Messing with plumbing vents – Your plumbing vents are there for the plumbing, not for a quick and easy way to rewire anything in your house. Don’t mess with the vents.

• Accidentally cutting hidden plumbing - Use caution as you remodel or cut into the walls in your home. Cutting into a hidden pipe can cause extensive leaking and time consuming damage.

  Give Quality Plumbing Services a call today with any

  questions or to schedule an appointment for your plumbing needs at 847-259-0200 or visit our website at www.qualityplumbingchicago.com!

With old man winter really letting us know he's around, we need to keep in mind that frozen water pipes for plumbing and heating can happen. Cold temps and high winds is the major cause of frozen pipes in your building. Sometimes a portion of your plumbing system will freeze and create frozen pipes which can then lead to burst pipes.

Frozen plumbing can be more than a temporary inconvenience.  Frozen water pipes can cause major damage when the pipe thaws and the water starts to flow.  Frozen hot water heat lines will prevent heat from reaching parts of your building further compounding the problem causing more pipes to freeze. Water damage can result when a split water pipe occurs due to expansion caused by freezing.  Thawing a pipe as soon as possible can help prevent a break in a pipe.

Quality Plumbing Services can help … once your plumbing is frozen, follow these steps:

• Turn off the water supply. You can find the valve associated with the pipe and turn it off or if that does not work, shut off the main valve.

• Remove all the items in the vicinity of the frozen or burst pipe.

• Call Quality Plumbing Services Inc. We have thaw machines to thaw frozen pipes so that the water can flow freely again. And if there is a crack or leak in the pipe, we can fix it.

What “not to do” once you have a frozen pipe:

• Ignore it. Your pipe will not thaw by ignoring it. It will either freeze more and then burst or stay frozen until the temperature outside warms well above freezing.

• Use a blowtorch. This can cause the water to heat up too fast in the pipe and cause it to expand thus breaking the pipe. There is also the danger of starting a fire causing more damage than the frozen pipe would cause.

  Call Quality Plumbing Services today at 847-259-0200 or visit our website at www.qualityplumbingchicago.com!

We would like to wish you and your families a very safe and happiest of New Year's from all of us at Quality Plumbing Services Inc.

  Want to know what what one of the biggest increases is on the day after Christmas? No, not sales at your favorite stores. It's calls to your local plumber. The numbers show that calls to plumbers increase almost 50% during the holidays. There are various reasons for this, including an increased amount of water usage, dumping of dangerous waste down the disposal, and already clogged drains that decide to fully clog at the most inopportune times.

Increased Water Usage - If you have a house full of guests, chances are there is increased water usage. The toilet flushes more, the washing machine gets used more, and the shower and even kitchen sink are used more frequently. If your plumbing is not used to this kind of activity, it could put a strain on the household plumbing, causing something to break down. If you have a house full of guests, try to time showers or other excessive water usage into 10-minute increments, in case there are problems with your drains. This gives your drain ample time to recoup before the next shower.

Dumping Dangerous Waste - It is common for homeowners to dump anything and everything down the kitchen drain. Unfortunately, the garbage disposal is not meant for everything. In fact, there are very few items that are acceptable to throw down the drain without causing a problem. In order to avoid clogging your drain over the Holidays, you should:

1) Never throw fat or oil down the drain

2) Never throw anything with strings, strong exteriors or that are full of fiber down the drain, such as potato peels or turkey skin

3) Never fill the disposal and then run it – run the disposal as you fill it to avoid it having to overwork.

Pre-Existing Problems - Many times drains or other plumbing fixtures have a pre-existing problem that is exasperated by the increased amount of water usage. If you suspect a problem with your plumbing, it is best to get it looked at before the Christmas and New Year's holidays. This will prevent the risk of losing water or the use of your drains on Christmas, as well as save you money on expensive plumbing bills.

Give Quality Plumbing Services Inc. a call today at 847-259-0200 and let us address any concerns you may have with your plumbing before the upcoming Holidays! Visit our website at www.qualityplumbingchicago.com for more information about our services!

All of us at Quality Plumbing Services Inc. would like to wish you and your family a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

With the cold weather approaching, we offer some very basic tips in order to keep your home warmer and your gas bill lower.

1. Disconnect garden hoses from frost-proof sillcocks. The garden hose will cause water to be trapped in the sillcock preventing it from draining and allowing it to freeze and break.

2. If you do not have a frost-proof sillcock, after disconnecting garden hose, make sure to turn off the supply valve inside the house supplying water to the sillcock. Then leave outside sillcock in open position to allow it to drain.

3. Winterize or seal off drafty windows and patio doors with clear plastic.

4. Insulate the hot water lines around your water heater and turn down the temperature of the water heater to the “warm” setting (120 degrees F).

5. Wrap any hot water pipes that run through unheated areas of the house. Also, you can insulate cold water pipes to help prevent them from freezing during the winter.

6. Try replacing the weather stripping around the doors in your home.

7. Uncover all south-facing windows to let all possible sunlight in your home.

8. Keep all baseboard heaters clean.

9. Reverse the direction of ceiling fans to push hot air downward and delay it from escaping the house.

10. Check windows for leaks. Windows with wooden frames often warp and become inefficient.

11. Caulk both sides of the trim around your windows. This is an area where a lot of air can get in.

12. Try not to use space heaters to heat large areas of your house.

13. Winterize or remove any window unit air conditioners.

14. Keep all closet doors closed when possible. There's no need to heat space that is not in use as long as it doesn't contain water pipes.

15. Try to use the clothes dryer for consecutive loads of laundry. This conserves the energy that would be needed to heat up the dryer several times.

16. Replace the caulking around any bathtubs or showers.

17. If your home has folding attic stairs, consider winterizing or insulating the door with a cover of some sort.

18. If your home has a sliding glass door, check the seal on the bottom to make sure it is not letting in cold air.

19. If your water heater needs to be upgraded, consider installing an Energy Star rated heater.

20. Use the oven for baking during colder hours of the day to help heat your home.

21. Make sure that there are not any drafts coming in under doors. If there are, winterize by using a rubber strip to seal them off.

If your heat is a boiler system:

1. Winterize by cleaning your boiler – a dirty heat exchanger will not transfer heat efficiently sending most of the energy and your money up the chimney.

2. Have your boiler tuned up – by adjusting the boiler with a combustion gas analyzer and servicing pumps, zone valves mixers and other system equipment, your boiler heating system will run more efficiently which could present serious cost savings.

3. Upgrade your boiler to a new high efficiency mod/con boiler. These boilers are up to 96% efficient. They will save money on your gas bill.

4. Have an outdoor reset installed on your boiler heating system. This allows your system to adapt to the weather and save energy when maximum output is not needed (most of the time).

5. Winterize your boiler system by having it checked to see if additional zones/thermostats can be installed. This way you can keep rooms less used cooler while having your major rooms that are used more during the day warmer.

6. If your boiler is more than 20 years old, there is a good chance that it wastes a lot of fuel. Consider upgrading to a newer one.

7. Install a programmable Energy Star thermostat that will lower the temperature at night and when no one is at home.

8. If you are replacing your driveway or sidewalks, winterize them by installing Hydronic Radiant snow melt for convenience, safety and protect your new paver or concrete drive/sidewalks.

If you have any questions for your plumbing, hydronic heating or snowmelt systems, please call Quality Plumbing Services Inc. at 847-259-0200 or visit our website at www.qualityplumbingchicago.com.