Category: Repairs

  • HT Strenger Plumbing Resolutions for 2024

    2024 New Years Plumbing Resolutions to Keep your Home’s Plumbing Flowing.

    If you are still looking for a few New Year’s resolutions? HT Strenger has a few to suggest for your residential plumbing system. Below are some that will keep your plumbing flowing through 2024.

    1- Drain Care  – Avoid pouring grease or oil down the drain. These slippery foes can solidify and cause major clogs. Let them cool and solidify, then toss them in the trash, keeping your pipes happy and healthy.

    Slow drains can mean something is wrong with your pipes. If it gets clogged, it can lead to dangerous sewage leaks that can damage your home. These leaks are sometimes in places you can’t see and can cause a lot of harm.

    2- Be Kinder and Promote Cleanliness to the Garbage Disposal. 
    An easy way to start the new year is to monitor what you are throwing down the disposal – the fewer food items that go through the better. Properly dispose of as many food scraps into the trash as possible. Coffee grounds, pasta, and potato peels are better off composted or tossed in the trash. Let your disposal focus on its forte – handling the smaller, softer stuff. Run cold water while using it and for a few seconds afterward to keep things cool and flowing smoothly.
    Now and then, your disposal deserves a refreshing spa treatment. Toss in some lemon or orange peels and grind them up with cold water. The citrusy goodness will neutralize odors and keep things smelling sprightly. Protect your Disposal with a Drain Stopper to keep unwanted items out of the disposal. 

    3 – Every Year is a Great Year for Water Conservation. 
    One way to reduce water use in your home is to install low-flush toilets. Conserving water with reduced Shower Use is the fastest way to reduce water consumption. 

    4- Check for Leaks  – Broken Natural Gas Lines & Water leaks are a big problem and can cost a lot of money to fix. Checking the areas where pipes, gas lines, and plumbing are located, & inspected like cabinets and under the floor, is important to find potential leaks early. These areas are not often looked at, so it’s good to check them regularly.

    5 – TOILETS – If you’ve noticed that your toilet seems to be continually running, it’s essential to address the issue as quickly as possible. Not only can a constantly running toilet waste a considerable amount of water, it can also lead to a significant increase in your water bills.

    6 – SUMP PUMP TUNE UP – Sump Pump Systems protect your home by removing excess water that surrounds it before it accumulates and causes severe damage to basements and crawlspaces. Ignoring a regular Tune-Up and upgrades is the #1 cause of flooding and structural damage due to Pump Failure.

    7- WATER HEATERS – Basic maintenance can go a long way to an efficient running water heater. If you have not reduced sediment buildup in the tank recently now is probably the best time.

    Plus checking your water heater periodically can help identify leaks that might occur unexpectedly and cause costly water damage.

    Maintaining a regular schedule to drain and remove any sediment buildup can also help improve the heater’s energy efficiency.

    8- WATER PRESSURE – Water flow with too much pressure can damage and break your plumbing equipment earlier. The excessive force of water can cause leaks or ruptures in pipes, fittings, and hoses.

    9 -WATER FILTER SYSTEMS – Regular water filter maintenance is key to maintaining clean and safe water, avoiding a loss of service, or damaging filter equipment or other plumbing fixtures and appliances beyond economical repair.

    10- Keep your Pipes from Freezing in the Winter. 

    11- Fix any small Plumbing Problems now before they become bigger problems. 

    10- JOIN the ANNUAL CLUTCH CLUB for comprehensive cost-effective plumbing services and Annual Inspection.

    The HT Strenger  Plumbing Clutch Club Plan provides you with an opportunity, after paying an annual fee starting at $249.00 plus a $25.00 one time set-up fee,  you will receive an annual home inspection of your home’s plumbing system at no extra cost. Following our inspection, we will provide you with a free estimate of any repairs which may be necessary, which will be performed by us at your preferred program rates and times.


    Save Money on Plumbing with Managed Services - Chicagoland North Shore Residential & Commercial Plumbing - Managed Plumbing Care


    Save Money on Plumbing with Managed Services - Chicagoland North Shore Residential & Commercial Plumbing - Managed Plumbing Care


    Save Money on Plumbing with Managed Services - Chicagoland North Shore Residential & Commercial Plumbing - Managed Plumbing Care

  • Garbage Disposal Trouble Shooting.


    American-built InSinkErator garbage disposals

    The garbage disposal under your kitchen sink gets a lot of work over its lifetime.

    The kitchen appliance shreds food waste and other items into small pieces that easily pass through your home’s plumbing system. It can become frustrating when your garbage disposal is not working as expected, maybe worse yet leaking water.

    CAUTION NEEDED: Never place fingers into the disposal drain and never reach into a garbage disposal – when operating or idle. Never attempt to dispose of non-organic material’s or metal objects.

    Following are some of the most common reasons your disposal is no longer working:

    Jammed disposal: This is the most common culprit. Food scraps, utensils, or other hard objects can get stuck in the disposal’s grinding mechanism, preventing it from turning.

    Electrical problems: The disposal might not be getting power. Check if the circuit breaker is tripped, the GFCI outlet is reset (if you have one), or the power cord is loose.

    Overheating: Garbage disposals have overload protection that shuts them off if they overheat. This can happen from running the disposal for too long or trying to grind up tough materials.

    Clogged drain: Even if your disposal is working, a clog further down the drainpipe can prevent water from flowing freely and make it seem like the disposal is clogged.

    Faulty motor: In some cases, the motor itself may be worn out and need to be replaced. This is less common than the other reasons, but if you’ve tried everything else and your disposal still isn’t working, it might be time to call HT Strenger Plumbing.

  • Why Regular Plumbing Maintenance is Important.

    Eight things you can do to prevent unexpected plumbing costs?

    Having a plan in place is essential when checking your plumbing system. Whether you do it yourself or have a professional do it, your plan should cover these critical areas.

    1- DRAINS – Drains that are slow can mean something is wrong with your pipes. If it gets clogged, it can lead to dangerous sewage leaks that can damage your home. These leaks are sometimes in places you can’t see and can cause a lot of harm.

    2- LEAKS – Broken Natural Gas Lines & Water leaks are a big problem and can cost a lot of money to fix. Checking the areas where pipes, gas lines and plumbing are located, & inspected like cabinets and under the floor, is important to find potential leaks early. These areas are not often looked at, so it’s good to check them regularly.

    3 – TOILETS – If you’ve noticed that your toilet seems to be continually running, it’s essential to address the issue as quickly as possible. Not only can a constantly running toilet waste a considerable amount of water, it can also lead to a significant increase in your water bills.

    4 – SUMP PUMP TUNE UP – Sump Pump Systems protect your home by removing excess water that surrounds your home before it accumulates and causes severe damage to basements and crawlspaces. Ignoring a regular Tune-Up and upgrades is the #1 cause for flooding and structural damage due to Pump Failure.

    5- WATER HEATERS – Checking your water heater periodically can help identify leaks that might occur unexpectedly and cause costly water damage. Maintaining a regular schedule to drain and remove any sediment buildup can also help improve the heater’s energy efficiency.

    6- WATER PRESSURE – Water flow with too much pressure can damage and break your plumbing equipment earlier. The excessive force of water can cause leaks or ruptures in pipes, fittings, and hoses.

    7 -WATER FILTER SYSTEMS – Regular maintenance of your water filters are key to maintaining clean and safe water, avoiding a loss of service, or damaging filter equipment or other plumbing fixtures and appliances beyond economical repair.

    8- JOIN the ANNUAL CLUTCH CLUB for comprehensive cost-effective plumbing services.

    Choose a Plan and Start Saving Today !

    The HT Strenger  Plumbing Clutch Club Plan provides you with an opportunity, after paying an annual fee starting at $249.00 plus a $25.00 one time set-up fee,  you will receive an annual home inspection of your home’s plumbing system at no extra cost. Following our inspection, we will provide you with a free estimate of any repairs which may be necessary, which will be performed by us at your preferred program rates and times.


    Save Money on Plumbing with Managed Services - Chicagoland North Shore Residential & Commercial Plumbing - Managed Plumbing Care


    Save Money on Plumbing with Managed Services - Chicagoland North Shore Residential & Commercial Plumbing - Managed Plumbing Care


    Save Money on Plumbing with Managed Services - Chicagoland North Shore Residential & Commercial Plumbing - Managed Plumbing Care

  • Easy tips to maintain your Sump Pump

    Prevent Water Damage from a Faulty Sump Pump System.

    Routinely Test your Sump Pump.

    Test your pump every 90 days. In Chicagoland weather changes and temperature fluctuations dramatically influence the water surrounding your home’s foundation.

    This one tip can make sure your pump at a minimum will be ready to drain water away from your home.

    Simply fill your pump pit with water and monitor the pump discharging the water. Watch and listen for broken or clogged pipes. Watch for secure water flowing through the system. The pump should activate smoothly and with little effort. Listen for a smooth transition to the resting non-discharge state. If your pump does not properly discharge the water, contact HT Strenger Plumbing for immediate service.

    Clean the Pump and Remove Debris from the Pit.

    Carefully unplug your Sump Pump power cord. Remove the sump pump pit cover to gain access to pump and pit basin. Look for and remove debris and dirt, sand, or any item that can impede the flow of water into and out of your sump pump or preventing your float switch to move freely vertically.

    Check for Worn, Loose, or Broken Parts.

    Look for abnormally corroded parts, test fittings for tight fits and possible weak spots in materials leaking water. 

    Inspect water discharge lines.

    Visually inspect for simple discharge pipe angles and listen for water possibly returning back into the sump pit from a faulty worn out valve. 

    Check Back-Up Battery Voltage and Battery Age.

    Battery backup systems depend on the stored strength in the Battery that powers up your Pump when your home loses electrical services during strong rain storms. 

    We suggest replacing your Sump Pump between 3 to 5 years of service if your pump works regularly during the year. 

    If you observe water on your basement floor or wet carpeting, strong odors, or noise from the Sump Pump Pit.

    Contact HT Strenger at 847-234-9440.

    Prevent Water Damage in your Home !

    Despite the frequency and impact of preventable water damage, many homeowners are un-prepared, according to insurance companies data. 


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  • New Life from your Old Water Heater.

    Get More- Life out of your Old Water Heater.

    The U.S. Department of Energy says, your water heater accounts for 17 percent of your homes energy use, it is probably the largest user of in-house energy.

    Install Water Heater Insulation.

    • Insulating your hot water tank will result in less energy lost and a lower figure on your electric or gas bill.

    Install a Heat Trap

    • A heat trap works to allow cold water to enter the tank, while preventing hot water from getting cold. The device uses convection in order to keep hot water at the top of the tank since heat rises.

    More Simple Tips.

    • Lower and adjust the heating temperature on your hot water heater to 120 degrees or under.
    • Look for Leaks or water around Tank
    • Installing low-flow efficiency fixtures – Look for Energy Star Appliances
    • Use Less Hot Water – ie: Take Shorter Showers.
    • Don’t let water run on and Fix Leaks
    • Run Dishwasher less Often – and Wash only full loads, opt for shorter wash cycles
    • Try using room temperature water for basic grooming and everyday use is a fairly easy change.
    • Its estimated that lowering the heating temperature every 10 Degrees can save 3% – 5% on your water heating costs.


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