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Past Issues of eNews

Below is some of the information we've pasted along in previous eNewsletters. We've selected a few of our tips from our previous issues, but of course we offer the best tips to our subscribers.

Please note, any mention of specials or pricing is no longer valid. Past issues are provided for information and reference only. Information provided is NOT intended to replace the knowledge of a professional.

Maintenance Reminder: Winter Tips to Keep Your Pipes from Freezing

1.14.10 eNewsletter

Ice is one of pipe's worst enemies. You can ward off the possibilities of frozen (or worse, burst) pipes with these winter tips.

1. Open Your Cabinets Closed cabinets can be up to 20 degrees colder than the air outside them

2. Keep the Temperature Above 65 degrees

3. Run Water On those really cold days, if you have pipes susceptible to freezing (i.e. pipes on outside walls or ones that have frozen in the past), keep a little water running. Running water cannot freeze (physics doesn’t allow it). You'd like to have a steady drip. If you can count the drips coming out of the faucet, you aren't running enough water. Beware, both hot and cold lines can freeze. Also, be aware, if you have your drain line going through an unheated garage, it is possible to have a drain line freeze. This can cause flooding in your home as well.

Quick Fix Tip 'O the Month: Sump Pump Discharge & Window Well Fixes

12.15.09 eNewsletter

With the temperature dropping, don’t forget to check your window wells discharge lines to make sure they are clear of

leaves and debris. Cleaning these areas of your home now can save you from dealing with frozen leaves obstructing

your lines and causing your home trouble in the future.

For those who haven't done this year, please remember to disconnect those outside hoses to prevent them from

freezing!

Quick Fix Tip 'O the Month: Thanksgiving Plumbing Preparation

10.29.09 eNewsletter

Things you can do to make your holiday run smoother

While Thanksgiving might not make you think of your

plumbing it should. Can you think of another time of the

year when you put more down your garbage disposal?

If your home is anything like ours, you spend days (if not

weeks) in preparation. Cleaning. Shopping. Cooking. Pulling

out the fine china. All so when people arrive at our home, it

feels like theirs. The absolute last thing you want to deal

with is your sink clogging, the heat not keeping up or the

basement taking on water. While it’s certainly not the most

glamorous thing about the holiday’s, taking some time to

prepare your plumbing can save you head- and heart-ache.

Sharpen Your Garbage Disposal Blades…

One great way to keep your kitchen disposal working at top

performance is to keep it's blades sharp. The quickest and

easiest way to do this is to fill your disposal with 15-20 ice

cubes, turn on the cold water and run the disposal. The ice

actually sharpens your disposal blades as it's worked

through the system.

…And Watch What You Put Down There to Begin With

The golden rule of disposals is to use plenty water before,

during and after grinding items in your disposal. Here are a

few other tips.

Have you ever heard the old saying "It's like shoving 10lbs of potato in a 5lb sack"? Well, the adage can extend to your sink! Be careful what you try to shove down the disposal. Try disposing of small amounts of food (especially foods like potatoes, celery and lettuce).

Items like grease and gravy are best disposed of in separate containers. If you choose to put them down your drain, be sure to use LOTS of water.

Be careful with plastic ties and utensils. Frequently these items find their way into your disposal damaging the teeth and jamming the disposal.

Product Information: Buying a Toilet – Things You Need to Know

10.29.09 eNewsletter

Not too many people besides plumbers notice the

idiosyncrasies of toilets. They come in various shapes,

heights and rough plumbing sizes, and not all toilets flush

equally well. There are a number of factors you need to

consider when buying a toilet as they – despite our lack of

awareness – are not one size fits all!

Distance from the Wall – This critical dimension is the most important factor when selecting a toilet. Toilets come in 10, 12 or 14 inch rough dimensions. Most are 12inches, but if your home has a different configuration you cannot install the toilet without repiping! Determining your rough is a simple process (we will walk you through the required measurement over the phone) but is an essential first step in the buying process. Think of it like shopping for shoes, if you are a size 8 and you get a size 10 shoe you’d never survive a day.

Shape – Toilets come in round front or elongated front shapes. As their names suggest, the elongated front stretches out a bit farther. If you’re looking for a toilet for a small bathroom, be sure to take into consideration the distance between the toilet and the door.

Height – Today’s toilets come in standard height and what is referred to as comfort height (formerly known as handicapped height). We’ve found that many of our customers prefer the comfort height as it’s easier on the knees. Of course, if you are on the shorter side the comfort height can leaving you feeling like your feet are dangling.

Let us help you select the right toilet for your home, style

and budget! If you are looking at getting a new toilet, give

us a call and Peg Mahoney can help you narrow your choices to toilets you’ll be happy with. Having helped hundreds of customers with their selections, Peg knows exactly what you need to look for when selecting a toilet. Call Peg at 847.432.0320 to get her help with your new toilet.

Quick Fix Tip 'O the Month: Preventing Toilet Clogs

9.21.09 eNewsletter

Often the most cost effective way to save money and avoid trouble on your plumbing, heating and cooling has more to do with consumer behaviors than anything else. Please remember the word disposable does not mean the same thing as flushable. Diapers are certainly disposable, but are almost guaranteed to clog your plumbing! While you may have gotten away with flushing some of these items in the

past, we strongly recommend against it. Some common things that clog toilet and sewers.

Tampons and pads

Condoms

Whitening Strips

Dental floss

Band-Aids

Q-Tips

Hair

Facial Wipes

Baby wipes

Paper towels

and of course, the dreaded cell phone!

Maintenance Reminder: It’s Time for Your Heating System’s Maintenance

9.21.09 eNewsletter

Don’t get left out in the cold! Schedule your home heating system’s maintenance for the winter today. Maintaining your heating equipment can add years to its service life, not to mention the effects well maintained equipment can have on your utility bills. Plus, if you complete your maintenance before November 20, 2009 you can take advantage of

our pre-season discounted rates! To schedule your appointment, call 847.432.0320.

Quick Fix Tip 'O the Month: Frozen AC Units

7.27.09 eNewsletter

Sometimes air-conditioning units freeze up and literally form

ice on them. This is a common trouble. You can save money

by defrosting the unit yourself before the HVAC technician

arrives. This cuts down on the service call time and expense

because the technician doesn’t have to wait for the unit to

defrost. To help the unit defrost simply turn the air

conditioner off and turn the fan on. This will let the ice melt

and give our technician immediate access to the unit when

they arrive at your home.

Quick Fix Tip 'O the Month: Washing Machine Hose Connection

1.19.08 eNewsletter

Like most people, you probably don't think too often about the water connection to your washing machine. Heck, even some plumbers don't spend much time thinking of things like hose connections! Well, we are here to remind you that you should. We have seen tremendous damage to homes (particularly homes with second floor laundry areas) where the rubber hoses that bring water to washing machines have burst - most times without any warning. Check your hoses to see that the rubber has not worn down to paper-thin thickness (from friction and erosion) or that pressure has created a bubbling that looks similar to a water balloon ready to burst. Mahoney Plumbing urges you to take the time to check your hoses for these signs of stress and wear.

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Our North Shore and Chicago area services include: Highwood, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Glencoe, Winnetka, Bannockburn, Deerfield, Lincolnshire, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Northfield, Riverwoods, Buffalo Grove and Glenview, Illinois. We do travel outside these areas for new construction, remodeling and other services.

501 Bank Lane, Highwood, IL 60040 - PH 847.432.0320 - FX 847.432.0581 - Info@MahoneyPlumbing.com

Trained, licensed & insured service technicians - IL license# 058-099144

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