Here’s an example: This past Friday night at 10:30 PM (this is the New Year’s holiday weekend) I went to brush my teeth and discovered there was no hot water. My building has 3 apartments, ours and 2 we rent out. No hot water this 3 day weekend would be a disaster.

I called Neal on his cell phone, being one of the three listed below who I had last worked with (note, this is 10:30 ON FRIDAY NIGHT) and told him the problem. He said they would be over 1st thing Saturday morning.

It turns out Neal was later called for an emergency and was out until 4 am working on that emergency, but he contacted Bob Kerr, the owner of the company and his son, Jason (both of whom I’d met before – actually I had met Bob in ’91 but misplaced his contact info), who came over at 8 am Sat (this is New Year’s eve day!), discovered I needed a new hot water heater, and Jason immediately started calling suppliers whose owners he knew to get a new hot water heater (again, this is New Year’s eve day).

Anyway, by the end of the day, a new hot water heater was installed.

THAT IS NOT THE END.

Today, MONDAY, the day after New Year’s, when everything is closed, a tenant called me to inform me there was a leak in the basement (water on the floor). Again, I call Kerr/ Intelligent Plumbing (Jason, this time), I’m not even at home (the Kerr’s have keys to the building), and Bob and Jason came over and once again saved my butt, twice on a holiday weekend, each time without a grumble and totally willingly.

These guys are incredible, honest, professional, caring, and very reasonable. They are completely customer/service oriented and do fabulous work. Clearly, I unqualifiedly recommend them.

Use them!

It’s when a clog persists, or when water starts backing up into your tub, that you need to call a reputable plumber.

Armed with today’s sophisticated technology and years of experience, the professionals at Intelligent Plumbing can you tell what’s clogging that drain without digging up your lawn. Whether it’s a Barbie that tried to swim down the toilet or tree roots invading your sewer line, our plumbers can tell you the best and most effective way to fix the situation.

We’ll answer your call no matter what time of day or day of the week. We know emergencies don’t wait for a convenient time to happen.

Contact Intelligent Plumbing today for red carpet Chicago area plumbing services.

Intelligent Plumbing is delighted to provide top quality plumbing services to customers in the following areas:

Palatine, Arlington Heights, Inverness, North Shore, Hawthorn Woods, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Wilmette, Winetka, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Barrington, Lake Forest, Highland Park.

Chicago Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, Gold Cost, Old Irving Park, Old Town.

Simple and smart. Problem solved.

The first step is to decide what’s most important to you.

Is it dual shower heads to keep you warm during Chicago’s snowy, winter months? Perhaps you need to replace the sinks and faucets to make room for a larger tub that gives you a private view of your backyard in North Shore.

Whether it’s sleek, modern faucets that inspire as much as they function or a water-saving toilet, you can trust the professionals at Intelligent Plumbing to make the right decisions in your renovation plans.

Knowledgeable, licensed plumbers can guide you through the important process of deciding how to build the bathroom of your dreams. All of our technicians have a thorough understanding of today’s growing plumbing codes and receive ongoing education to stay abreast of current state laws.

We believe in doing things right the first time.

Contact Intelligent Plumbing today for red carpet Chicago area plumbing services.

Intelligent Plumbing is delighted to provide top quality plumbing services to customers in the following areas:

Palatine, Arlington Heights, Inverness, North Shore, Hawthorn Woods, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Wilmette, Winetka, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Barrington, Lake Forest, Highland Park.

Chicago Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, Gold Cost, Old Irving Park, Old Town.

Simple and smart. Problem solved.

And all that water has to go somewhere. Some of it will find its way through the nooks and crannies of your foundation to the basement.

If you’re prepared, you already know what happens next: your sump pump kicks in and sucks out all the water from your basement floor. Whatever you store in the basement – your bicycle, the washer and dryer, old photographs – stays dry during the rainy season.

If you don’t have a sump pump, it’s a good idea to call Intelligent Plumbing at (847) 358-5377 or contact them online to put one in.

Everything you keep in the basement can be damaged by water that has nowhere to go.

A sump pump sits about a foot below the floor of your basement in a hole. In cities that often experience flooding, the pump is often located below the water or sewer line. When it rains, the hole in your basement will collect this run-off and the pump pushes it outside of your house and away from your belongings.

You can trust the professionals at Intelligent Plumbing to properly install a sump pump in your Chicago home. Make sure to have it cleaned once a year with a residential maintenance plan because dirt and sediment can get inside the pump and create problems. You can also test your sump pump regularly to make sure it’s working. Just add enough water to the hole where the pump is and it should turn on.

If it doesn’t, give Intelligent Plumbing a call at (847) 358-5377.

Contact Intelligent Plumbing today for red carpet Chicago area plumbing services. Intelligent plumbing is delighted to provide top quality plumbing services to customers in the following areas:

Palatine, Arlington Heights, Inverness, Hawthorn Woods, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Wilmette, Winetka, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Barrington, Lake Forest, Highland Park.

Chicago Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, Gold Cost, Old Irving Park, Old Town.

Simple and smart. Problem solved.

Read our most recent testimonials!

Once you become a home owner, you are faced with endless decisions that could effect the condition of home living for years to come. As things begin to break down, you are faced with the inevitable dilemma: repair or replace? Money, of course, is usually a deciding factor, but depending on your final assessment what you do now could cost you more or less of it.

When it comes to your water heater, this is a biggie. It’s not like when a radio goes south and you simply go to Target for another one. Your home’s water heater ensures that you have a pleasant, warm shower in the morning, and clean water for your dishes and laundry. Once the heater shows signs of failing, you have to decide if a patch job will hold you through the winter or is it time to head to the home improvement depot for a newer model. Consider a few things before you break out the credit card, or duct tape.

1) How old is your heater? If you are looking on the far side of a decade, simple repairs may not be enough to last a few more years. Once a water heater reaches ten years on the job it’s a sure bet it isn’t long for the world. With a newer model, you are more likely to get away with repair.

2) How big is that leak? A small leak in a water heater tank can survive a patch that helps the system run properly for a while. Gaping cracks, however, present a larger problem if the structure of the heater is compromised. If duct tape won’t do it, it’s time to go shopping.

3) Is it the part of the whole? If it is a matter of replacing a part, a repair job from a reputable plumber does the trick. Depending on the age of your water heater, and the availability of parts, a replacement may make more sense.

Consider, too, the possibility of rebate money for making home improvement purchases. Consult the Energy Star website to see if you would quality for money back or a tax write off. Once you have the information, you can make a sound decision on your water heater.

When winter rears its ugly, snow-frosted head, it’s nice to have warm water in the house for bathing and laundry. The last thing you want to think about, particularly if the demise of your old heater is ill-timed, is having to go out and purchase a new one, but bear in mind in 2011 you may still qualify for home improvement rebates if you make the purchase. Of course, if you want to continue enjoying hot water in your home it’s necessary, so make sure to keep a few things in mind when you shop for a new water heater.

1) No two systems are alike. You’ll find as you head out to your local home improvement depot that there are tankless heaters as well as storage types. Some will collect your water and keep it at the desirable temperature until you turn on the hot faucet, while other systems connect directly to your home’s heating system. Heaters without storage functionality are generally believed to be more energy efficient, as they help reduce the amount of energy used to heat water, and these are the types that often qualify for rebates. It is best, before you run out and buy the first thing you see, to determine which model can save you the most in energy bills in the long run. Consulting the Energy Star website can guide you.

2) Determine who is going to install the new heater once it’s bought and delivered. If you have little to no experience in this arena, it’s best to leave the hard work up to a professional plumbing mechanic. Trying it yourself could lead to home damage or other serious risks you don’t need to pay to have repaired, in addition to a proper install.

3) Vigilance is a big key in home improvement. You always want to keep an eye on your heater – from the slightest anomaly you should pay attention so you know it’s time to start shopping. Don’t let your home go more than a day without hot water. The ensuing rush could result in a hasty purchase and other problems.

Thorough investigation of your water heater options will make for a warm home. Take care to find the model you need that also saves you money.

Quite obviously, the day you turn on the faucet to find cold water flowing through the hot spigot after several minutes, you know something is wrong. Unfortunately, it is at this point many homeowners realize it is time to replace the water heater, and this leaves your home without needed warmth for cooking, bathing, and laundry until you get the thing replaced. If you are vigilant, however, there are signs to look for so you can anticipate a breakdown and get a new, more energy efficient water heater without interrupting hot water flow.

Let’s consider some of the more noticeable cues:

1) The heater’s age. Can you remember how long you have had your current system? A gas model could last as long as 10-12 years, while electric heaters can go for up to 15. If you believe you are nearing the end of the average lifespan it’s a good time to think about shopping.

2) The time it takes to heat. If you have noticed you are standing outside the shower longer and longer as you wait for the hot water, this is a sign to have a look at your system. You don’t want to wait too long or think the problem will correct itself, especially if you’ve had the heater for a while.

3) Leaks. Inspect the outer tank, do you see any dripping or puddles? This is an obvious sign your heater has aged to the point of damage and should be replaced.

4) The time of year. During the winter, things like your water heater and HVAC unit are going to work harder to keep your house warm. This will be the litmus test for you to determine if things are working properly. If you think it’s Murphy’s Law that your heating system would break down in December, know it’s because this is when it works the hardest.

As you remain vigilant, you can determine the best time to replace your water heating system, before you’re left in the cold.

By the time evening rolled around and my son came home from team practice in Arlington Heights, the gurgling had moved to the shower…and it had gotten louder. Slow drainage was again dismissed by my husband (mostly, because you cannot plunge a shower drain). By 3AM the next morning the subtle warnings had turned into Titanic level alarm bells. The water was about to breach the ground floor.

Ignoring my plumbing problem wasn’t the answer so I called my friend Jason Kerr at Intelligent Plumbing. As luck would have it, they had an issue in Arlington Heights to fix but they could definitely drive their Intelligent Plumbing truck over to my Palatine home that morning. As promised, my Intelligent plumber called me 30 minutes before to say he was on his way and then went right to work upon arrival.

The culprit? A clot of paper. I hadn’t noticed the decreased water pressure or the slow drains but the gurgling should have been a dead plumbing giveaway. Lucky for me my plumber was licensed, trained, certified and very smart. He recognized the problem right away and within minutes my Palatine home plumbing was back in working order.

If you have a plumbing emergency in your Palatine home, don’t ignore the problem and don’t wait. Intelligent Plumbing offers 24 hour emergency service, seven days a week.

Need a plumber right now? We’re on our way.