Sump Pump 101
Anybody who lives in Chicago and has a basement knows how important it is to have a sump pump. Sump pumps divert ground water away from the home so that it can drain safely without flooding the basement. So here are some important things to know about sump pumps. It starts with the drain tile […]
Improving Indoor Air Quality
With the miserable weather we are having this winter (cold…snow…snow…cold…), we’ve been spending plenty of time indoors, and breathing the air inside our homes. If the air quality is poor, it can have an impact on your comfort and health. The problem is, if there is an air quality problem, you can’t see it and […]
Is It Time for a New Furnace?
Us hearty Chicagoans have just battled through one of the coldest spells we’ve had in decades. But we’re not done yet. Frigid weather will be back. The question is: will your furnace survive? Of course, if it doesn’t, you’ll need to replace it. But here are some warning signs that might prompt you to consider […]
Ravinia Plumbing & Heating Earns Esteemed Angie’s List Super Service Award For Third Straight Year!
Ravinia Plumbing & Heating Earns Esteemed Angie’s List Super Service Award For Third Straight Year! Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service Ravinia Plumbing & Heating has earned the service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of service provided to members of the consumer review service in 2013. […]
Preventing Frozen Pipes
With winter just a few weeks away, you know that the frigid weather is coming as well. And just as we get cold, so too do the pipes in our house. If you have not experienced a broken pipe, you don’t want to. It is messy and expensive. Before we provide some tips on preventing […]
Properly Using and Maintaining Your Garbage Disposer
Thanksgiving and Chanukkah (and, of course this year, Thanksgivukkah) are just around the corner, with Christmas and New Year’s right behind. That means entertaining. That means lots of food to prepare and eat. And that also means lots of food that will end up going down your garbage disposer. The garbage disposer (aka garbage disposal) […]
Remove Your Hoses Now to Prevent Floods Later
So you’ve either put away or covered the patio furniture. You’ve removed the leaves from the gutters. The furnace has been serviced. The snowblower has gas. You’re all set for winter. Right? Actually wrong. There may be one more important thing you have not done – removing your hoses from the faucets. You may ask: […]
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning kills about 500 people a year, and results in approximately 20,000 trips to the emergency room. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that is produced from the incomplete burning of fuels that contain carbon, such as wood, charcoal, gas, coal, natural gas and kerosene. Carbon monoxide poisoning is especially prevalent […]
Spray Foam Insulation – Another Way to Reduce Energy Costs
Homes have traditionally used fiberglass insulation. You know, the pink or yellow stuff that is layered underneath your siding or inside your attic or in your basement. Recently, builders and homeowners have been using spray foam insulation rather than fiberglass insulation. There are two main benefits to spray foam insulation. 1. It does a better […]
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Heating (the other half)
A few weeks ago, we gave you a primer on how your furnace works, and some tips on maintaining it. Hopefully by now you have called us to arrange for your fall heating tune up. In the meantime, here are some tips on how to make your furnace work more efficiently, as well as some […]