Ever wonder how plumber’s decorate for Christmas? We got you covered, we found the BEST plumbing decorations for Christmas.

A Christmas tree made out of pipes and valves! What screams Christmas and Plumbing more than this?

A reindeer head out of pipes!

Pipe candle holders!

Another Christmas tree made out of an assortment of plumbing parts!

Stick your elf in any type of iron plumbing pieces and tell your children he’s pretending to be iron man!

Use a copper pipe and cut it into pieces to make a Christmas tree ornament!

Need a clock? Find some copper pipe, and electrical ground wire and you’ve got all the tools to make one. If you need a gift for a plumber in your life, this could also work.

Another form of a Christmas tree made out of pipes! Even the base is sturdy and looks great.

If you’re a plumber, or know a plumber, odds are these are materials that are common and should have on deck at all times. If you make any of these for a plumber in your life, they won’t be disappointed. Plumbers have to celebrate in their own ways 🎄

Guest Contributor: Tiffany Powell

Transforming old furniture as opposed to spending a hefty sum on brand new items comes with a great deal of perks. You may find that the pieces of furniture you purchased years ago are of extremely high quality and that the offers in stores that align with your budget aren’t on par. Thus, by refurbishing, you get to keep stuff of sentimental value while being able to unleash your creativity and produce unique pieces. In another scenario, you could set an eye on an affordable second-hand piece that could, after some refurbishing, easily compete with the fancy new offerings from furniture shops. Whatever the case may be, here are some practical solutions to help you successfully carry out your furniture transformation.

CHOOSE YOUR REFURBISHING METHODS ACCORDING TO THE MATERIAL

When embarking on your furniture transformation journey, there are some factors you need to take into account first. Namely, you should consider the material you’re working with before starting. This step is significant because this factor will determine your refurbishing methods and the necessary supplies. In other words, pieces of furniture will require different treatments, depending on whether they are made of particle boards or solid wood, for instance. While solid wood can sustain latex and other water-based primers and paint, using them on particle boards will cause this material to swell due to absorbed moisture. Particle boards require oil-based products. However, there is an exception. You can use water-based paint on particle boards if you apply an oil-based primer first.

SWITCH IT UP BY CHANGING THE COLORS

Painting the surfaces and changing the upholstery is an easy, yet impactful way to give your furniture a complete makeover. Before beginning the process of embellishing the items by painting them, some prep needs to take place, to ensure a proper and durable finish. This pertains to stripping the paint, sanding, and cleaning the surfaces. On the other hand, furniture that has fabric, such as sofas, couches, and chairs, can achieve a brand new look with some simple reupholstering. There is a wide range of lovely upholstery fabrics you can choose from.They come in various colors, patterns, and materials, giving you the power to match any style you desire.

CONDUCT THE NECESSARY REPAIRS

A key step to making your furniture pieces appear brand new is to fix all the broken parts and replace those that can’t be repaired. This involves things like adding missing legs to chairs or tables and attaching new handles to drawers. Sometimes, pieces of material, such as wood, may break off and form cracks or holes. While uneven surfaces can be polished by sanding, in this kind of situation, it’s necessary to fill in these spots first. A practical and easy way to patch up missing chunks of wood is by applying a wood putty. 

ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF YOUR NEWLY RENOVATED ITEMS

Spillages over furniture are extremely common and practically inevitable. While some pieces such as tables can be wiped clean effortlessly, the same is not true for the items made of fabric. For that reason, when buying upholstery, it’s wise to order extra fabric to be able to create covers for your couches and sofas. The advantage is that they are easily washable and replaceable. Not only will this ensure that your furniture pieces remain spotless but it also protects them from wearing out. On the other hand, you can protect wooden furniture by applying wood polish, as well as re-waxing and re-oiling from time to time.

Ultimately, renovating used furniture can be a delightfully creative process. Opportunities are endless, allowing you to create truly remarkable and stylish pieces. While there are no limitations as to how much you can rely on your artistic side, learning about different techniques of refurbishing is still essential. Only that way can you ensure durability in addition to an attractive design.

Guest Contributor: Diana Smith

Being an owner of an old home is all fun and games until it’s time for renovations. When the time comes to consider repairs and renovations, you have two options: restore its original heritage look, or do a contemporary renovation and modernize it. Whatever you decide to do, it’s imperative to do a bit of research and see which option is better for you. If you’re in love with your heritage home and want to keep as much of its former glory as possible, here are a few maintenance tips that will help you. 

SEE IF YOU NEED A SPECIAL PERMIT

The thing about heritage homes is that they are very often protected by tricky laws and complicated regulations. This is great for keeping heritage and history alive, but it can be a nightmare for homeowners who are looking to renovate. So, when you decide to do some extensive work on your old property, it’s always a good idea to check (and double-check) to see whether you need a special permit to do that. If you do need it, you will have to apply for one before you start doing any work, and wait for the heritage committee to come over and review your renovation plan. All this is to say that they will certainly want you to keep and restore those distinctive heritage features the right way. Keep in mind that rules and regulations differ between counties and states, so it’s best to call and ask instead of assuming.

ISSUES WITH FLOORING

When it comes to the inside of your house, flooring is often one of the biggest issues, but it doesn’t have to be. Fortunately, a great number of old homes have sturdy hardwood floors which are the epitome of class and durability. If you have hardwood floors in your home, you will most likely only need to freshen them up a bit by sanding them and applying another player of polish. While such procedures can be costly, in the end, you will get amazing results that will make you wish you never had rugs and carpets in the first place. However, not all homes are blessed with hardwood floors. If you have vinyl flooring, it might contain asbestos, and you’ll have to call professionals to have it removed safely. 

OLD BATHROOMS

Old bathrooms can be a nightmare to keep clean simply because we are used to more modern fixtures. To be honest, it doesn’t really matter how much you clean and dust and scrub your bathroom if you have leaky faucets or a running toilet. Any structural issues should be handled professionally and quickly because only then will you be able to focus on the details. You can clean out the grout to make your tiles appear even cleaner than before, but if the grout is just too old and grime-y, simply have it replaced (or replace it yourself if you’re a fan of DIY projects). Bathrooms in heritage homes used to have wallpapers, but you should probably remove them and paint the walls as bright as you can. Bright colors on walls will make your bathroom appear more spacious and clean. 

DON’T FORGET THE ROOF

Sadly, for a lot of heritage homeowners, simple roof repairs won’t be enough. This is because old roofs will most likely have to be replaced due to damage. Even if you have to replace the roof, you should aim to keep the air of old times, so try to find professionals specialized in heritage roofing. Old roofs can be made of copper, zinc, and lead which are not easy to restore on your own because you will have to use the same material to replace a slate roof or heritage tiles. Not only will professionals be able to tell you the best way to fix any issues, but they will also see whether or not there are traces of asbestos. Asbestos was very popular decades ago, but it’s dangerous to remove it on your own, which is why you will need professionals to do it for you. 

RENOVATE YOUR FAÇADE 

While in many cases, painting the exterior of an old house will be enough to ‘freshen up’ its appearance and make it look better, with heritage homes the situation is a bit more complex. Because the streetscape is severely impacted by the color of your façade, you will have to run your color scheme by the council and see whether or not it’s fitting. You will not be able to just pick and color and paint your house – color schemes for heritage homes can be very specific. For example, you might only be allowed to use a specific color for your windows, decorative details, and doors. Don’t be discouraged, though – when you run your ideas by the council and get approved, rest assured that a simple coat of paint will make your old house look decades younger. 

Taking up a heritage project will likely be more challenging than you might have thought at first. There are many things you have to consider before you actually start with the renovation. What is more, when you finally do start, you’ll discover that it’s more hard work than you believed in the beginning, especially since you can’t DIY a lot of things like you might do in a contemporary home. Nevertheless, all these things will be forgotten once you complete your project and look at your beautiful old house. 

Guest Contributor: Ron Wolf

Water leaks and water damage within a commercial building can jeopardize a company’s ability to continue operating and working effectively. All commercial buildings are different, but from a minor leak to damage as a result of a destructive hurricane, each is at risk for water damage. Therefore, any unwanted and unexpected water intrusion can have a huge impact on the value and worth of the commercial building. 

Water leaks are often associated with personal injury cases wherein a person slips or trips and then files for workers compensation to cover the medical care and lost wages. And in some extreme events these can result in wrongful death cases. It is vital therefore that business owners know their duties when it comes to building maintenance, else they may be held liable for any damages that ensue. 

Ultimately, water leakage within a business – if not timely and immediately addressed and inspected, may lead to extensive issues. So, with that in mind, read our tips for protecting your business against water leaks. If your commercial building has experienced a water leak, get in touch with an emergency water leakage solution provider as soon as possible. 

TIPS FOR PREVENTING WATER DAMAGE IN A COMMERCIAL BUILDING

Here we’ll explore some useful tricks and tips for preventing water leaks within your commercial building.

1. INSPECTION

A pro tip is to keep an eye on the building itself, the same way you would pay proper attention to the running of your business. Ultimately, you can’t continue operating your business effectively if your building is having severe serious issues like water leakage, so the two go hand in hand. 

It would be wise to inspect the building regularly – particularly the plumbing fixtures, water and gas pipelines, the building’s structure, and the roof. If anything is unusual or there is significant wear or tear, a service provider can then get the issue solved before it becomes a major problem.

2. PROFESSIONAL MAINTENANCE

Self-inspection of the building is essential, however, when you examine the issues or complications by yourself, there are chances that you may miss important factors that can result in further damage later. Unlike a professional plumbing or maintenance solution provider, you are not trained or experienced to know the systems – hence, you can’t really inspect, evaluate and fix those issues.

This is why it is always a good idea to call a plumbing solution provider to do a full MOT of your building regularly to catch issues before they become big problems.

3. OUTSIDE CLEANING

Have you ever thought that your building’s gutters could risk water leaking into the building eventually? If you don’t clean your building’s gutters on a regular basis, they may get clogged.  Blockages essentially mean that water is prevented from running freely and you may experience an unexpected water leakage issue. It’s essential and highly recommended to keep your building’s gutters clean and debris-free to prevent any issues.

4. REPAIRS AND UPGRADES

A wide range of people use water fixtures frequently in commercial buildings, so the fixtures do tend to wear out quicker than in residential buildings. In addition, there may be some older and weak water fixtures in your building that were installed before you moved in. 

Such situations often lead to water leaks in commercial buildings. Thus, you must consider replacing and upgrading old water fixtures and pipes to make sure they can easily and effectively handle high usage.

A plumbing or home maintenance expert can carefully assess and inspect the building’s plumbing system and such issues in your commercial building and advise on the right pipes and fixtures that can best meet your needs.

5. CONSIDER INSTALLING WATER LEAK DETECTION SYSTEMS FOR YOUR BUILDING

Have you ever thought of installing water leak detection systems for your building? It is certainly an up-front-cost but it is worth investing in. 

Commercial water leak detection systems can help you easily and effectively address and answer water leaks with the help of sensors. Such sensors will help send alerts or signals to the concerned authorities so that they can take valuable measures and resolve the issue efficiently and before too much damage is caused. 

OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS AND EVALUATE THE WATER LEAKAGE IN YOUR COMMERCIAL BUILDING!

Water leaks or water damage in a commercial building can quickly turn into a business owner’s nightmare. Here are other useful tips to address the water leakage in your building:

1. Look for even minor signs of water leaks
2. Check for signs of roof leaks
3. Try to find the origin point of the leak in the roof
4. Make sure to assess leaks especially if the water is still dripping
5. Make sure to do a close inspection to find out the cause
6. Test and inspect toilets, faucets, and pipes and fixtures for leaks

CALL A PLUMBING EXPERT TO GET YOUR WATER LEAKAGE ISSUE FIX QUICKLY

If you still have queries, call our experienced plumbing team on 708-845-7922 and we’ll be happy to help. 

Day or night, weekends, and holidays, we offer 24 hour emergency plumbing in Tinley Park, Orland Park, Oak Forest, Orland Hills, Homer Glen, Palos Heights, Midlothian, Crestwood, Oak Lawn, and the surrounding suburbs.

There are two reasons why you might want to buy an old house. Either you fell in love with its charm, character, and nostalgic value, or you’re in the business of flipping homes. And although buying such an old place does come with its own set of benefits, it could also bring you plenty of problems. Plumbing, certainly, is one of those. So to make sure you’re prepared, let’s take a look at the common plumbing issues in fixer-upper homes.

It goes without saying that these old homes do look the part. Back then, people went the extra mile to make their houses look and feel special. They used materials that we consider too expensive by today’s standards to make ornaments, and it’s not rare that you see that these stood the test of time. With all the patina, they look even better than when they were new.

Owning such a nice-looking home makes you feel special, so people decide to do it without giving it much thought. But that’s the last thing you want to do. If you don’t do all the plumbing checks before moving into a new home, you may be in for heaps of trouble.

Let’s see why.

OLD PIPE MATERIALS

If the home you’re looking at is more than 30 years old, the chances are that the pipes are made from an outdated material. There are three possible types of materials old-house owners will be dealing with:

●      Lead

●      Galvanised Steel

●      Polybutylene

LEAD PIPES

Lead pipes are the ones you want to be the most cautious about. Obviously, they’re bad for your health and that of your loved ones, but they weren’t banned until 1986. So, if your new house predates this year, you might want to check the type of your piping.

GALVANIZED STEEL

Although not as risky to use as lead, galvanized steel is a lot more common material to come by. It’s been extensively used since the 1960s when it replaced lead as the primary material, and that’s why so many older houses have such piping.

However, it was later found that this type of steel is corrosive. So, the water you drink may have some rust in it. Not a pleasant thing to think about, we know.

To solve the problem, you’ll have to re-pipe the whole house. It’s a big and expensive job that you want to do before you move in. So, be sure to add that check to the cost of the house.

PIPE BELLIES

It’s a well-known fact that houses can move and shift over time. It’s normal, and if there’s no structural damage, we discard this problem. However, we rarely think about how this might have affected the pipes under the house.

Most commonly, the pipes shift downwards, and they create a negative slope. This slope is often referred to as the belly, and it restricts the water flow. As a result — you get no water pressure.

Luckily, this is one of those problems that you can solve even after moving in. It will take an expert crew at least a full day to finish it, but you can use that time to fix everything else that needs to be fixed. When you buy an old house, there are always plenty of minor things you need to repair.

FAILING SEWER LINES

If you think about it, it’s funny how no one thinks about sewer lines until they fail. Unfortunately, these are one of the common plumbing issues in fixer-upper homes. They were built without dishwashers, garbage disposals, or even modern toilets in mind. Hence, they’re more prone to failing. 

On top of that, tree roots or your house shifting can make a mess of your sewage system. In this scenario, the dirty water seeps into the ground or gets pushed up back through the pipes right into your home. 

The best way to combat this problem is to install a brand new trenchless sewer line replacement. You won’t have to dig the old pipe out, so a pro shouldn’t need longer than a day to complete the project.

OUTDATED FIXTURES AND CONNECTIONS

An old saying teaches us that nothing lasts forever, and this is especially true for plumbing. When you buy an old home, it’s safe to assume that everything from your fixtures, over fittings, to your supply line connections is aging. Of course, all of these things can cause issues in your beautiful historic house. 

If the damage is not severe, you’ll see things like broken knobs, leaks, and restricted water flow. And truth be told, you can get away with failing plumbing for a certain period. But you must be careful not to overdo it. If you push it too far, that rusty valve will give up at the worst possible moment. That’s how things always are. 

Some of the problems, like a leaky faucet, you’ll be able to tackle yourself if you’re handy with tools. However, we advise you to call an expert if you need to install a new water heater, for instance. Those kinds of tasks are better left to the pros. 

BAD REPAIRS

Think of your old house as a vintage car. If it has years behind it, it had its share of plumbing repairs without question. But the question you should be asking is who carried them out. 

If any of the previous owners tried to do some serious DIY work, there are no guarantees that their repairs will hold. For all you know, there might be a big problem waiting to happen any minute. So, how can you prevent it?

GET YOURSELF AN INSPECTION

We get that you can’t get over the charm that old house has. There’s something about it that is speaking to you, and you feel that it’s your dream home. But don’t get ahead of yourself. Contact a professional plumber and schedule an inspection before you buy the place.

This way, you can be sure that you won’t be in over your head once you get it. And now that you know about the common plumbing issues in fixer-upper homes, we’re sure that you want to check it. 

Guest Contributor: Sophia Perry

We purchased 280 Turkeys for 280 families.

Let’s give the Walmart in Joliet and their wonderful crew a HUGE shoutout and THANK YOU for all their help. They went above and beyond to help us out.

We will be able to help 280 families this Thanksgiving!!

We also want to thank our plumber Cullen Camasta for once again putting us in contact with the right people.

Thank you: Malon Green, Manager Angela Berg, Brittney Zamudio, APM Stephanie Hernandez, Manager Mary Ott, and Head of Security Dan Perez

Chris and Dominic Bartolini from Bartolini’s Restaurant & Catering, single handed saved Thanksgiving for us and 280 families, by helping us store all these turkeys.

They generously provided their MASSIVE freezer for all the turkeys for St. Christopher Catholic Church and Seton Elizabeth Catholic Church!!

We can’t thank them enough!!!!!

May God bless their family and continue blessing their outstanding restaurant!!!

Thanksgiving is about “Giving”!!!

Every year, we donate turkeys for all the wonderful families that need assistance at St. Christopher Church.

It’s truly an honor to work with Sister Laurinda

Happy Thanksgiving!

We just delivered 200 turkeys to Saint Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church/Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School in Orland Hills, plus all the turkeys everyone donated today…. Almost 400 turkeys combined for families in need.

Thank you to everyone that helped out/volunteered their time and effort.

A giant THANK YOU to all our customers, because of you, we’re able to purchase all these turkeys to donate to families in need.

A special THANK YOU to Chris and Dominic Bartolini for letting us store all our turkeys in their freezer at Bartolinis Restaurant and Catering

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Saint Elizabeth Seton Church – Orland Hills

Here’s a few shots from today’s Thanksgiving Turkey Delivery for families in need. Thank you to everyone that helped out!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!