Water heater repair and replacement
Rumbling tanks, no hot water and leaks. Rockford's hard water builds scale fast, so heaters here need regular flushing.
Plumbing help for every part of a Rockford home
From the water heater in the basement to the well pump in the yard, these are the plumbing jobs we connect Rockford homeowners with local plumbers for. Every service is booked through one number, (815) 420-9933, and calls are answered 24 hours a day.
Rockford's very hard water shapes a lot of this work. At 19 to 22 grains per gallon, it builds scale in heaters, fixtures and pipes, so water heater care and water softeners come up more often here than in many cities.
Water softener installation
Rockford water runs 19 to 22 grains per gallon. A softener protects heaters, fixtures and pipes from scale.
Drain cleaning and sewer lines
Slow sinks, gurgling drains and basement backups, cleared with a cable or water jetting and checked by camera.
Well pumps and pressure tanks
No water, sputtering taps or a pump that keeps clicking on and off. Repairs and replacements for pumps and pressure tanks.
Sump pump repair and installation
Water in the basement after heavy rain? Sump pump repairs, replacements and battery backup pumps.
Emergency plumbing, 24/7
Burst pipes, leaking water heaters and sewer backups. Calls are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Water heater repair and replacement
Most water heater calls in Rockford come down to scale. Minerals from the city's hard water settle on the bottom of the tank, the burner or element has to work harder, and the heater starts to pop, rumble or run out of hot water early.
Signs your water heater needs a plumber
- Popping or rumbling while the heater runs
- Hot water that runs out faster than it used to
- Rusty or cloudy hot water
- Water pooling around the base of the tank
Repair or replace
If the tank itself is leaking, it needs replacing. If the problem is a part, sediment or scale, a repair and a flush usually get it running again. The City of Rockford recommends that water heaters be drained and flushed at least once a year to slow scale buildup.
Water softener installation
Rockford's tap water runs 19 to 22 grains per gallon of calcium and magnesium, which is very hard. A softener removes those minerals before they reach your water heater, faucets and appliances.
What the plumber does
The plumber sizes the softener to your household's water use and the hardness of your water, then plumbs it in ahead of the water heater with a bypass so you can isolate it for service.
Keeping a softener working
Softeners need upkeep too. The city's guidance is to clean out the brine tank every year, and the salt level should be checked regularly.
Drain cleaning and sewer lines
One slow sink usually means a clog in that fixture's trap or branch line. Several slow fixtures, or a basement floor drain that backs up, point to the main line, and that needs a plumber quickly.
Signs of a main line problem
- More than one fixture draining slowly
- Gurgling from drains when a toilet is flushed
- Water coming up through the basement floor drain
- A sewer smell in the basement
How the line gets cleared
The plumber clears the line with a drain cable or water jetting and can run a camera through it to see whether roots, buildup or a broken pipe caused the blockage.
Well pumps and pressure tanks
Homes on private wells around Rockford have two parts that city homes do not: the well pump and the pressure tank. When either one fails, you can lose water to the whole house.
Pump or pressure tank?
- No water or sputtering taps usually point to the pump
- A pump that clicks on and off every few seconds usually points to a waterlogged pressure tank
- Low or uneven pressure can be either, so the plumber tests both
Why fix the tank early
A failing pressure tank makes the pump start and stop far more often than it should, which wears the pump out early. Fixing the tank first can save the pump.
Testing your well water
If you are on a well, have the water tested too. Winnebago County residents can get private well water tested through the City of Rockford Environmental Lab.
Sump pump repair and installation
A sump pump tends to fail at the worst time: during heavy rain, when the pit fills fastest. If the pump hums but does not empty the pit, or does not start at all, call before the water reaches the floor.
Common sump pump problems
- A stuck float switch
- A clogged intake or frozen discharge line
- A pump that cannot keep up with heavy rain
- Power cuts during storms
Battery backup
A battery backup pump keeps the pit draining if the power goes out or the main pump fails. The plumber can add one beside your existing pump.
Emergency plumbing, 24/7
Emergency plumbing is available 24/7, and calls are answered around the clock by a 24 hour service desk, including nights and weekends.
What counts as an emergency
- A burst or leaking pipe
- A water heater leaking from the tank
- Sewage backing up into the house
- No water at all on a private well
While you wait
For a burst pipe, shut off the main water valve. For a leaking water heater, close the cold water supply valve on top of the tank and turn off its power or gas. Then call for help.
Before the plumber arrives
Have the make and age of your water heater or pump handy if you know them, and say whether you are on city water or a private well. Agree the price with the plumber before any work starts, and ask for their Illinois plumbing license number so you can check it with the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Questions about how the referral works? See our FAQ or read about us.
Get a Rockford plumber now
Need one of these services in Rockford or a nearby town? Call and we will connect you with a local plumber.