plumbing problems

Scariest Plumbing Problems to Watch for in Cahokia, IL

October 19, 2018

These plumbing problems will give you a real scare

When it comes to plumbing companies, everyone’s always offering you “emergency service.” However, what is a plumbing emergency, and how do you know if your problem necessitates a call for emergency service. It can be difficult, without all the knowledge of a plumber, to truly understand the problem at hand. Take a look at the following problems which can truly warrant emergency service from a trained and professional plumbing contractor!

Busted Water Main

Your main water lines are responsible for bringing clean, potable water into your home for drinking, cooking, cleaning, etc. When water mains break, the water coming into your home could be contaminated by any number of things that could get into the water, which could make you or your family very sick. If you suspect a problem with your water, it’s imperative that you get it checked out, right away.

Busted Sewer Line

Another problem that could warrant emergency service is a busted sewer line. While not as serious as a busted water main, a busted sewer line could also have adverse effects on your home. Sewer lines carry wastewater away from your home. However, a busted sewer line could bring flooding in your yard or your home.

Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes aren’t an emergency because of the harm they can do to you; it’s about what they can do to your system. When water freezes, it expands, which can put unnecessary stress on your system, which can lead to burst pipes and other plumbing problems. Unfreezing pipes right away will help limit the damage

Backflow

Backflow is the result of swage that reverse flows in your system and gets into the water supply. This could make the people and animals in your home incredibly sick. If you notice any of the signs of backflow, contact Morrison for backflow testing and prevention services that will keep you and your family safe.

Why is my water pressure out of control in Cahokia, IL?

August 24, 2018

You count on ample water pressure for all sorts of things, from taking a comfortable shower to washing vegetables and making sure you can fill a pitcher of water without taking an eternity. Unfortunately, water pressure problems are fairly common. If the water pressure in your Cahokia, IL, home isn’t where it should be, one of these causes may be the culprit.

Water Meter Valve

One possible cause for low water pressure is a water meter valve that isn’t fully open. Your water meter valve can be found near the street and isn’t normally used unless city utility workers have to shut your water off to do work. While this generally won’t cause problems, your water pressure could be low if a city worker doesn’t turn your water meter valve back on all the way.

Main Shutoff Valve

In addition to the water meter valve, you also have a main shutoff valve that you can use to turn your water off. Check to make sure your main shutoff valve is open all the way; if it isn’t, you may have problems with water pressure. Thankfully, you can easily remedy this by opening the valve.

Pressure Regulator

If you can’t figure out the cause of your low water pressure, you might want to have a plumber check out your pressure regulator. A failing pressure regulator is a common cause of water pressure problems and only requires a minor fix. You may have a pressure regulator problem if the water pressure throughout your entire house suddenly changed.

Plumbing System

While water pressure problems such as low and high pressure can often be traced back to a simple cause, there are times when your plumbing system as a whole is the cause. If your pressure regulator is fine and both your main shutoff valve and water meter valve are open, you should have your plumbing system inspected and potentially re-piped.

Quick Fix

Nobody wants plumbing problems, especially water pressure problems. Unfortunately, we deal with these problems all the time. If you need help getting the water pressure in your Cahokia, IL, home under control, call the plumbing pros at Morrison Plumbing, Heating and Air at (618) 703-5700. Schedule an appointment to have us take a look at your plumbing system and get your water pressure problems under control so you can return to normal life.

O’Fallon, IL Plumbing: What are the three types of wastewater?

July 27, 2018

The city of O’Fallon, IL, provides around 13,000 residents with fresh water from a variety of sources each day. The local sewer system collects waste from close to 16,000 locations nearby, treats it, and then safely discharges what remains into the environment. This system is an open loop, in which fresh water enters at one end and wastewater exits at the other. Not all wastewater is equal, however. These are the three types of wastewater the city of O’Fallon has to deal with, and how it does that.

“Black” Wastewater

Black wastewater is not good stuff. This is the flow from toilets and food-preparation sinks, as well as dishwashers and other organic-material sources. Black water means highly contaminated, hot with disease-causing germs and possibly chemically active. This waste almost always has to pass through an industrial treatment process before it’s safe to release as gray water.

“Gray” Wastewater

Gray water is the product of clothes washers, bathroom sinks, some industrial processes and miscellaneous applications, such as irrigation and lawn care. While not fit for human consumption, gray water proves much safer than black water. Gray water may have dissolved fertilizer and fluoride in it, as well as laundry detergent, liquid fabric softener, some biological material (think shaving and brushing teeth over the sink) and the occasional small solids.

Gray wastewater is most often treated by being sprayed onto constructed wetlands (CW). These serve as artificial wetlands with plants and microbes to soak up and process gray water. Runoff from these sites is typically safe for everything except drinking. With reverse-osmosis treatment, the CW water can safely go back into O’Fallon’s water supply through recharge pumps that send fresh water down into the aquifer.

“Yellow” Wastewater

Yellow wastewater is in a class by itself, and it represents a unique. . . stream of wastewater collection. Furthermore, yellow water is almost exclusively urine, and it comes from stand-up urinals and some portable toilets. This waste has to be specially collected and kept separate from other types of wastewater, especially black water.

Urine contains a lot of nitrogen, and other chemicals that are good for plants. Left alone, these chemicals usually precipitate out of urine as crystals within about 6 months, though the process accelerates when adding magnesium oxide. The resulting white powder makes a powerful fertilizer additive, and it often turns up in soil rechargers sold commercially.

How can faulty plumbing affect my Maryville, IL business?

July 25, 2018

Stop plumbing problems in their tracks before they affect your business. Contact Morrison Plumbing at (618) 223-5563, and get a free assessment of potential plumbing problems that could affect your Maryville, IL business.

Many, Maryville, IL businesses already trust Morrison Plumbing to handle any issues that could potentially affect the bottom line. If your business is not using a trusted professional service, like Morrison plumbing, your business could be underwater before you know it.

Many of the plumbing problems faced by homeowners are also concerns for businesses. The difference, however, is that plumbing problems in your business can result in:

tens of thousands of dollars of repairs and lost inventory
increased insurance and utility rates
health code violations
loss of customer traffic
and, the loss of your business’ reputation.

Before long, if these plumbing problems are not addressed by a competent, professional plumbing contractor, like Morrison Plumbing, you may not remain in business at all.

Small Issues That Could Become Big Problems

Small plumbing issues may be ignored for a while. But, small plumbing problems can become BIG plumbing problems overnight. If you notice any of these problems, it’s time to call Morrison Plumbing at (618) 223-5563 TODAY! Don’t put your business in jeopardy for one more minute.

Leaky Pipes – these can quickly turn into burst pipes, and that’s not good
Dripping Faucets
Water From the Faucet is Slightly Red – this could indicate that pipes are rusting from the inside
Slow or Clogged Drains
Leaky or Running Toilets and/or Leaky Hose Bibbs
Failing Garbage Disposals
Low Water Pressure
Sump Pump Failures
Rust in and Around the Water Heaters
Presence of Mold
Noxious Odors

As mentioned, problems with your business’ plumbing can potentially take away from the bottom line. Plumbing problems need to be taken seriously. You need to have any plumbing problems addressed immediately by well-trained professionals.

Let the team of experts at Morrison Plumbing handle all of your business’ plumbing needs. Just as you wouldn’t allow customers or employees to steal from your business, don’t allow plumbing problems to steal from your business either. Be proactive; take action today. Call Morrison Plumbing at [hls_phone_number], to schedule a free site evaluation. Then sleep easy knowing that you’ve done the right thing to protect your Maryville, IL business.

Why is the Dishwasher at My Fairview Heights, IL Home Full of Water?

July 9, 2018

Your home’s dishwasher is one of its biggest unsung heroes, and you probably don’t consider how much time it saves you every day; that is, until it stops working properly. One of the most common problems that occur with dishwashers is standing water in its base after it completes a wash cycle. Clearly; this isn’t a problem to ignore. Not only can it result in flooding, but that water quickly becomes smelly and highly unsanitary. Here are a few possible problems that may result in your dishwasher being full of water.

The Drainage System Within the Dishwasher is Clogged

More often than not, if your dishwasher has standing water in it, then the drainage system within the appliance itself is clogged with food debris. To address the problem, first get out as much water as you possibly can. Then, remove the bottom sprayer arm and the screen. If the screen is dirty, take a few minutes to clean it. In some cases, this may be all it takes to get the water draining properly once more. While your dishwasher is disassembled, however, you may wish to take a thin metal snake and use it to clear out any debris from the drainage area.

What If There Is Still Water after an Empty Cycle?

If clearing the internal draining system doesn’t take care of the problem, then there is likely a clog somewhere deeper in the plumbing that connects your dishwasher to the primary drain in your kitchen. The most common culprit is the garbage disposal. Even if you don’t use your garbage disposal, eating and cooking utensils, food, and other foreign objects can fall in and cause a blockage. If you have a garbage disposal, turn it on. If it is noisy or doesn’t turn on at all, then this is probably where the problem lies. Ensure that the power to the unit is cut off, then use a flashlight to locate any foreign objects. If possible, remove the blockage, turn the power back on to the unit, and see if it functions properly.

When to Call the Professionals

If you’ve tried unsuccessfully to locate the blockage yourself, then it’s time to call in the professionals. At Morrison Plumbing, our plumbers have specialized tools and training that allows them to get the water in your dishwasher moving once again. If you’re in the Fairview Heights, IL area, then call us today to schedule your service visit.

What are the most common summer plumbing problems in Glen Carbon, IL

July 6, 2018

Not all plumbing problems occur during the winter. In fact, many of the most common plumbing problems that Glen Carbon, IL face are more likely to arise during the summer. Here are five problems that might cause you to call a plumber in Glen Carbon, IL.

Sprinkler System Leaks

Every summer, Glen Carbon plumbers receive calls from people who have discovered leaks in the sprinkler systems they use to look after their lawns. When these systems are left unused over winter, ice crystals can form inside the hoses, causing them to split open. You might notice these leaks when you spot water flooding onto the lawn on the first day of summer, but sometimes leaks are not obvious until you are faced with the shock of receiving an excessively large water bill. As a result, it is a good idea for all Glen Carbon residents to inspect their sprinkler systems in spring to check for leaks.

Sewer Line Root Disruption

During the warmer months, plants are busy growing as much as possible. Sometimes, tree roots extend into the sewer, causing leaks or clogs.

Toilet Problems

When the kids are off school for the summer and parents stay home to look after them, there are more people using the toilet every day. This extra use can cause clogs or flush problems to develop. Protect your toilet during the summer months by reminding your children not to flush anything other than pee, poop, and toilet paper. If you see the water rising high in the bowl when you flush the toilet, call a plumber for help.

Shower Drain Clogs

People naturally want to shower more often in summer. As a result, large amounts of mud, sunscreen, hair, and other substances wash down the shower drain. You can use a drain cover to catch stray hairs and other solid objects. Empty this cover daily to protect your drains. If you notice that your shower drain is taking longer to empty than during the winter, contact a plumbing contractor for help.

Morrison Plumbing can help residents of Glen Carbon, IL with all their plumbing problems. Whether you are experiencing a leak, a clog, or some other issue, do not hesitate to get in touch.