There are SOME Emergencies Remaining.

Yes, even though 2020 has been mostly mind-numbing there are some emergencies that still exist. Apart from any health-related issues which we hope and pray have not effected your household there are still the same old same old regular daily mishaps such as a car that breaks down or plumbing that goes bad.

As a matter of fact, your plumbing has probably gotten a greater workout in the past year than most any other in your Fox Valley home’s lifetime. Toilets are flushed more, garbage disposals are used more frequently, the water in the house is turned off and on more often. We know about plumbing emergencies as well as anyone!

Just as in 2020 we pledge to be here in 2021, and in the years to come, to deal with plumbing emergencies as they always have in Fox Valley homes…one broken toilet or clogged drain at a time. We are merely a phone call away to take care of the problem. Just google bee-plumbinginc.com and call the phone number nearby.

Help…I’ve got a Plumbing Emergency!

People may have varying opinions of what constitutes a plumbing emergency.  For the handiest amongst us in Far Western Suburban Chicagoland, one person’s emergency may be another’s quick fix.  If you are like most of us, you realize that trying to repair any of the following yourself could result in a much larger problem.

Some plumbing emergencies include –

1.  An overflowing toilet…messy at best.

2.  A stopped-up sink…maybe more common in the summer.

3.  Pipes that suddenly burst…Yikes!

4.  Pipes that leak…for now it is ONLY a leak.

5.  Sump pump failure.

6.  A water heater going bad.

Plumbing emergencies come in all types and different levels of immediacy.  For any and all of them in the Southern Fox Valley west of Chicago there is one correct solution.  Call Bee Plumbing Inc.  Scott and his crew thrive on plumbing emergencies.  Visit bee-plumbinginc.com then call the number that properly corresponds to your specific location for emergency service.

Backflow Problems in Winter.

Backflow devices are found north, south, east, and west protecting our drinking water from contamination.  Everywhere from the deserts of the Southwest to the frozen tundra of Duluth and right here in Chicagoland there are backflow problems.  There are differences in backflow prevention in climates that enjoy all four seasons.

One constant is that there needs to be an annual inspection of assemblies and the administration of programs. It doesn’t matter what the annual rainfall or average temperature is.  In cold weather though, assemblies and their meters must be protected against freezing.  More damage can be done in winter weather like we have now.

This time of year, wind, snow, and nighttime frost can (and will) take their toll on access doors and equipment.  There’s always a perfect solution around here in far western suburban Chicago.  It’s Bee Plumbing Inc.  That is whom you call for any and all backflow problems.  Visit beeplumbing-inc.com and give Scott a call today at the phone number closest to you.

The History of Plumbing.

Have you ever wondered how far back this skill goes?  The art of plumbing goes back to ancient civilizations in Greece, Rome, and China.  In China public baths emerged demanding that fresh water be piped in and waste water be removed on a grand scale for an increasing population.  The word plumber dates back to the Roman Empire.

Plumbing reached an early apex in ancient Rome with the introduction of the famous aqueducts.  From there, progress was rather slow until metropolitan areas began teaming in the 19th century.  Most large cities today pipe solid wastes to sewage treatment plants in order to separate and partially purify the water, before it empties into streams and other bodies of water.

It is a profession that I and my plumbers take very seriously.  I am Scott Swanson of Bee Plumbing Inc. serving the plumbing needs of the Southwest Fox Valley.  We take great pride in every job be it large or small and will continue to do so in 2019.  From our family to yours we hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

When Does a Toilet (or its parts) Need to be Replaced.

It is a question so many of us ask if we live in our Western Suburban Chicagoland home long enough.  The fast answer is that you don’t give it a second thought until something goes bonkers with your bathroom buddy!  Just like any other appliance in your home, it will certainly eventually need to be replaced.

What are some of the signs?

1.  Cracks in the tank.  Can this be repaired?

2.  Age.  Is it older than 25 years?

3.  The foundation is unsteady.

4.  It seems to need frequent tinkering.

Toilets are just another home appliance that demands attention every now and then.  When the time comes to repair or replace toilets in your home or office call on our area’s trusted plumber.  He is Scott Swanson of Bee Plumbing Inc.  Go to bee-plumbinginc.com for a full list of areas he and his team service and the right phone number to call.

Backflow Testing around Chicagoland.

You know that not just anyone can test your Chicago area home for backflow problems.  It begins with 40 hours of classroom time…book learnin’!  Next, it becomes about paying for the privilege.  To become a certified backflow tester you must pay several hundred dollars.  Oh, and don’t forget the additional licensing when you are done.

On top of all that, a plumber needs to invest in what is known as a testing gage.  That too, will set the plumber back several hundred dollars.  He is not done yet.  Every two years a licensed backflow technician must be re-certified.  At that point, another eight hours or so must be spent in the classroom or online.

Then comes experience.  You need to be sure that the plumber who enters your home is an experienced backflow technician.  If you live in The Fox Valley and far western suburbs of Chicagoland the right man for the job is Scott Swanson of Bee Plumbing.  Go to bee-plumbinginc.com and call the phone number that corresponds to your area.

Are you Prepared to Pick Up 88 Pounds?

That’s not something most of us do on a daily basis.  Did you know that the average one-piece toilet weighs nearly 100 pounds?  Now, if you are planning on replacing one or more of them in your home you had better be prepared to do some heavy lifting.  You may think that you have the knowledge as to how it is done, but what about the brute strength?

To start with, if you’re buying a new toilet, you need to know the “rough-in” measurement of the old one.  Setting a toilet onto new bolts can be the most frustrating part of the whole installing a toilet job.  You should also be aware that a rock-solid toilet flange is the key to a leak-free toilet.  That is rather important!

Rather than have this knowledge and upper-body strength, why not call Scott?  That’s Scott Swanson of Bee Plumbing.  He is never too busy to install your new toilet(s) in your home or office.  If you have any plumbing problem in the far-west Suburbs of Chicagoland just visit www.bee-plumbinginc.com to call the appropriate phone number near you.

Ejector Pumps and Sump Pumps.

So, what’s the difference?  The ejector pump handles the wastewater from your basement, including sewage from a basement bathroom. A sump pump has a simple drain pipe to expel the water to the outside, while an ejector pump is connected directly to your sewer or septic line and also has a vent pipe to manage the removal of sewer gases.

How long should an ejector pump last?  The usual life of this device is between 8 and 10 years.  You may get 10 years or more out of your sump pump, but you would be pushing it after a decade.  For instance, if you notice that the sump pump in your basement or crawlspace isn't kicking on when the water level rises it is time to take action.

The proper action to take in the far western suburbs of Chicagoland is to call Scott Swanson of Bee Plumbing.  Scott and his team have decades of experience repairing and replacing ejector pumps and sump pumps throughout our area.  Please don’t wait until you are knee-deep in water!  Visit bee-plumbinginc.com and call the phone number nearest you. 

Drip, Drip, Drip.

This could be your stomach with excess acid as the old commercial suggested when a faucet in your home will not stop dripping.  Depending on where that problem occurs in your castle, it will be an occasional or constant annoyance.  You know it has to be fixed.  After all, it won’t heal itself, will it?

So, you’ve cranked the handle on your sink faucet as far as you can without breaking it off, but the leaking still persists. You don’t know whether it’s time to reconstruct it or time to replace the whole thing. What you DO know is the leaking has to stop!  If you are positive you can fix it with normal effort and expense AND keep the problem from recurring, then it’s a DIY job.

Realistically it is probably a job for a licensed plumber.  The cap needs to be twisted off without ruining it, then a crescent wrench is used to unscrew the packing nut.  The chance of doing it right once and for all is 100% by calling Scott at Bee Plumbing.  Go to bee-plumbinginc.com and look for the phone number to call in the Far Western Suburbs of Chicagoland.

Back Backflow, Back.

Someday a backflow problem may grip your household.  Clearly it will get your attention.  This is not just a leaky toilet, or a clogged disposal, this can be a whole-house disaster!  Backflow is a term in plumbing for an unwanted flow of water in the reverse direction.  It can be a serious health risk and it needs to be dealt with quickly and completely.

This nasty event is caused by cross-connections that have the potential of allowing contaminants into the drinking water system. Something called back siphonage can occur when the pressure in a tank or water trough is lower than the water system's pressure. Yet another cause of backflow is back pressure.  It happens in Chicagoland all too frequently.

When backflow rears its ugly head in the far West Suburbs it is time to call in a real professional.  That is backflow plumbing expert Scott Swanson and his team at Bee Plumbing.  They will take your call and schedule an appointment for a visit from Scott and his crew.  Just call with any plumbing problem at one of the numbers listed on bee-plumbinginc.com.

Pipes is Pipes.

That is what it says on my website www.bee-plumbing.com just to demonstrate what many people believe.  If it is a pipe carrying water or gas they are dramatically different.  For example, pipes that help water to flow freely are mostly made of copper these days.  Now, if we are speaking of pipes that carry gas then we are probably talking steel.

Here are some mistakes that people make when installing a gas grill -

1.  It starts with buying the wrong grill in the first place.

2.  Knowing the local permits and codes.

3.  Making sure that everything lines up.

4.  Having the sincere belief that you can install this as well as a professional.

To that last point, I want you to know that we are here for you.  I am Scott Swanson, the owner of Bee Plumbing, serving the far Western Suburbs of Chicagoland with knowledge and experience in dealing with piping of all types.  If it is fixing a water leak or installing gas piping please give me a call first.  Visit my website for the right number in your area.

Hometown Plumbing.

A lot of the plumbers in the far Western Suburbs of Chicagoland try to be all things to all people.  Since they are not “Chicago plumbers” per se they try to cover too large of a geographic area of the “burbs”.  It is a common mistake that causes a plumbing company to be less efficient because the travel time takes away from some emergency situations.

When you have a plumbing problem in Sandwich, Plano, Sugar Grove, Aurora, Lake in the Hills, Barrington, or Crystal Lake, for example you need to call a plumbing company who can fix the problem as quickly as possible.  So many of the choices are chain operations that don’t know or travel to your home on a regular basis.

That is why you call Bee Plumbing whenever you have an emergency in your home or office (and aren’t they ALL emergencies?)  The great thing about Bee Plumbing owned and managed by Scott Swanson is that they have a separate phone number for each of their major service areas.  To call the correct number at the right time visit www.bee-plumbinginc.com.

Guaranteed Should mean Guaranteed.

We often hear ”we do the job right…guaranteed”.  Well, what does that really mean?  It is easy to say, then when something goes wrong and you can’t get in touch with the person or company who did the guaranteeing that promise becomes worthless.  When someone says “we guarantee our work 100%” you should be able to count on it every time!

There are many part-time plumbers in Chicagoland and they may come into your home and fix a problem with a purported guarantee.  So many residents of our area have been penny wise and pound foolish making the cheaper decision.  When it comes to the plumbing in your castle that is simply unacceptable!

When Scott Swanson says 100% guaranteed he puts his decades of hard work and credibility behind that statement.  You might have a leaking pipe, or your toilet conked out, or perhaps you need sewer service repair work, or maybe it’s clogged drains.  Visit www.bee-plumbinginc.com and see which phone number to call for guaranteed plumbing repair.