How Do I Know if I Have the Right Size Water Heater?

It is vital to know not only how many gallons your water heater will hold, but the exterior dimensions as well. Both the capacity and height will affect how much your water heater will ultimately cost. Tom’s Plumbing of Elgin, IL wants you to choose the unit that is best for you.

To determine the size of the water heater, look for a sticker on the side. It should have the serial number and other information including the gallon capacity listed. This is the capacity of your water heater. You need to determine if you need a short or a tall sized water heater.

Tom’s Plumbing of Elgin has been helping people of The Far Northwest Suburbs around Elgin for decades with their plumbing questions, maintenance, and emergencies. You can trust Tom’s Plumbing to “shoot you straight” every time. Call Tom’s Plumbing of Elgin at (847) 697-6444. See their many services at tomsplumbingservice.com.

Hopefully History Does NOT Repeat Itself.

Have you lived in and around the Fox Valley for a while? Do you remember the Great suburban flood 25 years ago? It was July 17-18 1996. Some folks who lived in the far western suburbs of Chicagoland were just about ready to build an ark! Tom’s Plumbing of Elgin was around then and are here today in case it occurs again.

At the time it was the second most costly weather disaster in Illinois history. An astonishing 17 inches of rain fell in the Aurora area in 24 hours! As an aside, only about 1% of the people who owned homes that experienced flood damage had any type of flood insurance.

Tom’s Plumbing has served Elgin, IL and the surrounding area when any plumbing emergency has occurred over the decades. You can feel confident that when you have a plumbing maintenance or emergency situation in the Elgin area all you have to do is call Tom’s Plumbing at (847) 697-6444. See their many services at tomsplumbingservice.com.

When is it Time to Call a Plumber?

Everyone should have a basic knowledge of when a plumbing DIY job becomes one for a professional. Common sense dictates that even in these challenging times with limited discretionary income you need to understand when a plumbing problem is beyond your “pay grade.” Know when to call in a professional plumber.

Here are some tips you could follow –

 

1.  There is little or no hot water…especially this time of year.

2.  The water pressure is particularly low...it could be a simple fix for the trained person.

3.  The endless drip, drip, drip of a faucet or faucets.

4.  Unclogging a drain.

These and other tasks are the job of the trained pros at Tom’s Plumbing. The plumbers at Tom’s have been performing these and other plumbing jobs for decades. Tom’s Plumbing is the right place to call with any plumbing emergency in and around the Elgin area. You will see more by googling tomsplumbingservice.com and call day or night at (847) 697-6444.

The Pipes are Cold Too.

The winter months bring certain property maintenance concerns that all landlords and homeowners in the far Northwest Suburbs of Chicagoland need to be aware of with a few months of freezing weather still ahead. When the temperature drops, one major issue that could come up is a frozen water pipe.

Here are the impending signs to look for –

 

1.  The temperature has dropped to the required temperature

2.  You can see frost on a pipe

3.  Running water coming out of your faucet has slowed to a crawl

4.  There is an odd smell coming from the drain

At the first sign of any of the above, please call Tom’s Plumbing. This is a non-negotiable situation for you as a home or property owner! Tom’s Plumbing is the answer to frozen pipes beneath your residence. Tom’s has been in the Elgin area for a long time and to see all that they offer visit tomsplumbing.com. Call them 24/7 at (847) 697-6444.

Things to Know Before YOU Become the Victim.

It sounds ominous…right? In the plumbing world it very well could be. There are plumbing companies out there that will try to scam you for extra money! You may think they do not exist because a plumbing company should want your return business, but especially in these times they will trade the quick buck for integrity.

Here are some potential scams to watch out for –

 

1.  Some plumbing employees are trained to spot the vulnerable with leading questions.

2.  They try to convince you that you have worse problems than you actually do.

3.  On a video inspection are you watching video from YOUR home?

4.  Always check their background with, say the BBB.

We want to serve your plumbing needs both now and in the future - NOT make a quick buck and never see you again! For decades that is how we have treated our plumbing customers in the Elgin, IL area. Look us up for more details on how to avoid plumbing scams at tomsplumbingservice.com. We are proud to wear the name Tom’s Plumbing. Just call (847) 697-6444 day or night.

Clogged Pipes Come with the Territory.

Sorry landlords, but clogged pipes are just part of the rental business.  What about the tenants who pour bacon fat down the kitchen sink or think nothing of flushing diapers?  Don’t they share some of the responsibility?  Absolutely, but if you haven’t included a lease clause to cover plumbing stoppages, your responsibility to maintain the unit could leave you holding the bag!

Here are a few tips for landlords in the Northwest Suburbs –

1.  Have the tenant sign a plumbing lease clause.

2.  Provide basic clogging tools such as plungers.

3.  Avoid harsh drain cleaner.

4.  Treat your property’s pipes every month.

5.  Have a professional plumber on speed dial!

Not a bad idea.  If you are a landlord in the Elgin area you can rely on the company that property owners have counted on for plumbing problems for decades.  That’s Tom’s Plumbing serving the Northwest Suburbs of Chicagoland.  You don’t have to keep them on speed dial, but you sure should remember the name…Tom’s Plumbing.  Just call (847) 697-6444.

Wait a Minute…that Doesn’t Sound Right!

Plumbing scams, they just keep on coming.  By now, you would think with all the horror stories and instances being reported on the internet that the scammers would have gone away.  Because fraudsters target the people least likely to suspect them, like the elderly and the infirm, they keep running the same old shakedowns.

Here are some things you should know –

1.  Some plumbing contractors will offer you leftover materials from their last job

2.  They randomly discover major issues that you never noted

3.  They want full payment up front…IN CASH ONLY

4.  Excuses…no license to show, improper tools, etc.

Don’t fall for plumbing and other related scams!  When you hire Tom’s Plumbing Inc. to do a job in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicagoland you know that you are trusting the best every time.  Ask the questions and they will give you honest answers.  Contact Elgin based Tom’s Plumbing Inc. anytime at (847) 697-6444.

When to Call a Plumber.

It may seem obvious, but too many of us hold off on calling a professional plumber the way they hesitate going to the doctor.  In the world of plumbing it is important to know when to make that call to fix a plumbing issue such as leaks.  Some jobs may be DIY ones, but if you make a mistake you could be paying for it big time!

The aforementioned leaky faucet is probably the most common problem.  Now, if you suddenly do not have hot water…that will get your attention and it is likely a faulty water heater.  What about your water pressure?  Most of these issues can be fixed by a professional with limited hassle.  Of course, drains that won’t unclog can cause considerable headaches.

It is up to you to decide whether or not to call us.  If you wait too long and do your own repairs, it could end up being so much more costly.  Go ahead, make the call!  The peace of mind alone will be worth it.  We are Tom’s Plumbing Inc. serving Elgin and surrounding Northwest Suburbs.  That 24-hour number is (847) 697-6444.

I’m Dreaming…

Do you wonder if our area will have a White Christmas this year?   Officially, the definition of a White Christmas is any December 25 which has recorded 1″ or more of snow on the ground by 6 a.m. in the morning.  Please note that this definition does NOT include snowfall totals that fall after six in the morning, for whatever reason.

In the Elgin Illinois area our chance of having a White Christmas is about 35% historically.  Just to the east at O’Hare airport the percentage increases to nearly 40%.  South of us in Aurora the chance is about 43%.  These numbers are based on the National Weather Services observations of just a 30 year period between 1981 and 2010.

Whatever Christmas Day has in store for the residents of Elgin, Bartlett, Streamwood, Dundee, etc. we hope that this will be the best Christmas you and your family have ever experienced.  We here at Tom’s Plumbing Inc. will stand by to serve all of your plumbing emergencies during the holiday season.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Tom’s Plumbing Inc.

Heating your Home…Priority One.

Here we go…another Chicagoland winter is about to hit us.  How many times have we gone from fall chill to a frigid winter instantly?  Is your home or office heating system ready for the “old man”?  You need to feel confident that your business or home will be properly heated and you have the hot water you need, before an emergency arises!

You may need a service call if –

1.  The heat is not cranking to capacity

2.  Your boiler is leaking

3.  The pilot light is off

4.  A faulty thermostat

5.  The radiator is making noise

The problem will not go away on its own!  Please give us a call at Tom’s Plumbing Inc.  Repairing and replacing faulty boilers in Elgin area homes is one of our specialties.  So if you live in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicagoland such as Elgin, Dundee, Bartlett, Streamwood, etc. call Tom’s Plumbing Inc. at (847) 697-6444.

Stay Ahead of the Scams.

Scams are everywhere these days with the all-pervasive internet they infiltrate our everyday lives.  They even happen in the plumbing industry.  I guess it is no surprise, as the Northwest Suburbs grow there are more homeowners who simply do not have a grasp of what happens when the have a plumbing problem.

As usual, the elderly are at the greatest risk.  Listen to the questions that plumbers are asking you.  Employees of big companies will ask questions such as “do you live by yourself?”.  Technicians will travel in pairs and go to separate areas of your home to “invent” problems.  Check their background before you hire them.

There are ways to vet your plumber, such as the Better Business Bureau.  Tom’s Plumbing Inc. has been serving the Elgin area’s plumbing needs for decades.  We are proud to stand on our reputation for plumbing repair excellence and honesty.  Just Google plumber Elgin Il and you will see us prominently displayed.  Please give us a call at when you need us at (847) 697-6444.

Pay Attention to your Boiler.

As the seasons change in Suburban Chicagoland, remember that hard-working boiler in your home.  We don’t give much thought to our central heating system. We always expect it to work, pumping out a continuous supply of heating and hot water. If something develops, a broken boiler can cause untold headaches, throwing our homes into chaos.

Here are some common boiler problems –

1.  The hot water stops being hot.

2.  Leaking or consistent dripping.

3.  Unusual gurgling or banging noises.

4.  The pilot light goes out.

5.  Pressure is reduced.

There are others, but if one of these is evident in your boiler you probably already have problems.  Problem solved!  If you live in Elgin, Bartlett, Streamwood, and the surrounding area of the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago call the boiler repair and replacement experts at Tom’s Plumbing Inc.  That number is (847) 697-6444.

Don’t Let your Faucets Freeze.

It may seem weird to talk about it now, but the time will come soon enough when winter weather hits and outdoor faucets freeze.  As water freezes, it expands and as it expands it can produce thousands of pounds of pressure per square inch. This pressure is what causes a water pipe to rupture.  It is just a scientific fact!

The surest way to prevent your outside faucet from freezing is to disconnect all of your outside hoses.  Now that is the smart move when the temperature drops drastically. Those of us who have lived in Chicagoland’s Northwest Suburbs will remember how quickly late summer turns into early winter in the blink of an eye.

If you have any plumbing emergency in our area a professional plumber is the safest and surest way to guarantee that the job is done right the first time.  Those pros are the teammates of Tom’s Plumbing Inc.  Mike and his staff have taken pride for many years in solving plumbing problems throughout Elgin, Dundee, Bartlett, Streamwood, St. Charles, etc.  Give them a call anytime at (847) 697-6444.

Memories of Floods Past.

It was not that long ago…August 22, 2014.  Do you remember that day?  St. Charles got five and a half inches of rain in just over 24 hours.  If you think that the Northwest Suburbs can’t flood in August, you would be dangerously mistaken!  Was it a surprise?  Sure it was, but Chicagoland weather is anything but predictable.

During a storm, excess water must be pumped away from your home.  That task is efficiently handled by a hard-working sump pump.  It’s one that has been maintained and is ready for use at a moment’s notice.  If you are not sure about the health of your sump pump you should have it inspected BEFORE an emergency.

Tom’s Plumbing Inc. has been repairing and installing sump pumps in homes and businesses around Elgin, St. Charles, Bartlett, etc. for more than 30 years.  If your sump pump is more than 6 years old, then seriously consider replacing it.  At least let the plumbing pros from Tom’s inspect it.  Call for an appointment at (847) 697-6444.