Local Business

 Support Local America!

      As a small business owner I know how important it is to support your local business. It means a great deal to me when I hear customers choose our company because we are locally owned and operated. Originally from Posen, IL, I grew up in the beautiful neighborhoods of Posen and Midlothian. My father, also a local plumber, showed me how important it is to support my local small businesses. Whether it be a shop, a bakery, a restaurant or plumbing store.

      Family owned businesses are the heart of America. Fathers, mothers, siblings, grandchildren, all working together to successfully operate what they are proud of. Walking into a local business, you can't help but notice how much pride they have for the place, and what they work extremely hard for every day. You can even witness a few good arguments between family members, but nothing like the love they have for each other.

      When you spend your money locally, not only are you helping that business, you are supporting your local economy. Most of the money spent locally, stays locally. You support your family/loved ones with any crazy idea they come up with, might as well support your local businesses since figuratively they are your family. If you already do so, thank you. If you haven't taken the time to get to know your local businesses, try it out this weekend. You will be very satisfied with the overwhelming of incredible local businesses.


    

I love Food!

Joys of Thanksgiving

After working long, hard, days, everyone enjoys coming home to home cooked meals. The delicious smell fills up your house, it rushes through your body and it makes everything better. I know, I usually can't wait to wash up and sit down for dinner. Every good partner knows the way to your significant others heart is a good meal.

I'm very blessed to have that all the time.

Thanksgiving isn't just about food. It's about bringing people you love together and spending quality time as you enjoy a wonderful meal with your friends and family.

What do you usually make on Thanksgiving?

Yes plumbers love food as well. Even though we are available 24 hours a day and always ready for an emergency during the holidays, we can't wait to sit down with our families and chow down on mouthwatering food.

My favorite things to have on Thanksgiving are.....


Cornbread Stuffing

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Baked Lasagna

Cauliflower Gratin

Croissants

Of Course Roasted Turkey

Dutch Apple Pie

Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Roll

I am starving now. I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with love, joy and lots of laughter. Remember to give thanks for your health and family.

Lots of Love,

Your Local Plumber
Kevin Szabo Jr

Plumbing Maintenance: Winter Plumbing Tips

Tis the season for colder weather, fantastic food, and family gatherings.  The last thing you want when you've got family and friends over is a plumbing problem.  Nothing says "welcome" like a closed for service sign on one of the busiest rooms in the house - or a freezing morning shower.

Thankfully there are things that you can do to prevent or minimize the likelihood of various winter problems.  Here are a few plumbing tips to keep your pipes free of ice and water flowing freely.



Pipe Insulation: Insulate your pipes! Use pipe sleeves or special insulating tape to guard your pipes against freezing.  Any exposed pipes need to be wrapped or kept warm with space heaters (lamps) from a safe distance.  When the weather gets colder, check on your basement pipes every few days to make sure there's no sign of ice or frost accumulating.

Keep Your water Running: During the winter be sure to run water from your sinks at regular intervals to help prevent freezing.  Running water doesn't freeze.

Preventing Clogged Drains: Want to avoid clogged drains? Once a week, make up a mixture of 1 cup of salt, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar. Pour equal amounts into your various drains and follow it with 2 cups of boiling water for each drain.

Outdoor Hoses: If you haven't done this already in the Fall, unattach your garden hose before.  Make sure to close the shut off valve on the pipes that lead to your outdoor spigots. Don't leave your hose attached to the outdoor faucet, drain it and roll it up and store it until the spring.  Otherwise the water inside could freeze and damage your hose.

No Grease!: This should go without saying, but there's a reason we're saying it!  Don't dump grease and oils down the drain.  We get it - when you're cooking for a group of people sometimes it seems easier to just dump the grease but it will collect and clog your plumbing faster than normal because the temperatures are colder. 

---

If Your Indoor Faucets Freeze:

• Leave the cabinet doors under the faucets open so that they can get more heat.

• If it gets really cold, run a trickle of water from the sink every day.

• Heat every room of your home, not just a few rooms for better circulation to your pipes.

If Your Pipes Freeze, Burst or Crack This Winter:

• Turn off the water at the main shut-off valve so that you don’t have problems as the ice melts.
• Leave the faucets on to relieve pressure as the ice melts.
• Use a blow dryer or heat gun to thaw frozen pipes - DO NOT use any form of open flame or a torch.
• Call your local Mr. Rooter plumber! 315-472-1203
   

 

 

Image by nikman.

Getting Your Home Ready For Thanksgiving

 

Be Ready For Thanksgiving

 

People
-Estimate how many guests are coming to
celebrate with you.

-How many guests are sleeping over? Make
sure you have covers, pillows, or sleeping bags.
(Not everyone has extra covers, so let your guest know that
you will arrange an area in your home but they should
bring covers, pillows, or a sleeping bag with them.)
It will be appreciated.
-We can always welcome more, open your doors to those
who don't have a family for the holidays.
-Enough food for everyone

Check
-That the furnace is working properly
-The water heater is functioning correctly
-The plumbing is running smoothly
-Everything in the kitchen, you are going to be making a
feast. The oven, fridge, microwave, whatever else you
are planning on using on Thanksgiving check it.
Turn it on, make sure its running the way it should
without any weird smells or electrical shorts.

 

Food
-Make a list of what you are planning on making
-Watch the Food Network or Google new Thanksgiving cooking ideas.
-Bake goodies
-Included your friends and family in the cooking process

 
Don't Forget
-To have enough towels in the bathroom closet
-Toilet paper under your bathroom sink
-Foil to wrap up left overs
-Take lots of pictures of the joyous event

 

Remember

 to be thankful for your

 health, friends, family,
home, all the small and big things in your life.
Appreciate the people that are in your life.
Be thankful for all, and remember to give
to families in need.

If you have extra funds, buy a turkey or two and
donate it to your local church. They will find a
family in need.

If you have the extra room in your home, welcome a
family or members from your church for Thanksgiving
dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving To All

-Kevin Szabo Jr

Five Things Every Home Owner Needs To Know And Have In Their Home

Keeping Up With Your Home

It is a second job keeping up with your home and making sure everything always functions correctly. Five things that every household needs to have and know how to do in your house. Hopefully most of you already have these things in your home. If not, get on it already. Trust me, better safe than sorry.

1. Flashlights, not just one. You need a few throughout your home, especially if you have several people in your home. Remember to have extra batteries.

2. You need to know where the circuit breaker is and how it works. Also if and when you lose power in certain parts of the house while you are using more than one appliance for example the coffee maker, and the blow drier you need to know why. Call an electrician.

3. Plungers, you need to own a toilet plunger and a sink plunger.

4. Check for drafts in your house, fix them. It will save you money.

5. Disposing your burnt fire ashes. Place them in a old tin can.

http://www.wikihow.com/Dispose-of-Burnt-Firewood-and-Ash-Safely

How To Handle a Plumbing Emergency

Plumbing Emergency

Plumbing emergencies always happen when you least expect it. For some odd reason they happen at weird hours, when it's usually harder to get a hold of someone to come save you.
You need to be prepared. Planning and knowing how to handle a plumbing emergency situation ahead of time will save you time and money. We all love to save time and money, so this includes everyone.

1. You need to know where the main water shut off is located
     -water meter is located in your basement or bottom floor of any building

2. A big water leak
     - turn off water at the shut off, which is located at the meter

3. Water heater is leaking
     - turn valve off on top of the heater
     - turn off gas valve, it should be located down by the control(usually red nob)

4. Sewage Problem
     - call the village, make sure that the city main is not backing up
     - make sure that it's not the city's sewage problem before you call a plumber(you are a tax payer you have rights)
5. Sump Pump
    - if the sump pump goes out, it might be the switch, try to by pass the piggy back plug to turn motor on for temporary relief

6. Frozen Pipes
   - water expands when it freezes, to give it a relief let your faucet drip
http://www.weather.com/activities/homeandgarden/home/hometips/severeweather/pipefreeze_prevent.html

If you have any plumbing emergency questions don't hesitate to call or email.
Kevinszabojrplumbing@yahoo.com or (708)845-7922