Jobs we install most often
Toilets and bidets
Removal of the old bowl, a new wax or gasket seal, a fresh supply line and a rocking test.
Sinks and faucets
Kitchen, bath and utility sinks, with new shutoff valves where the old ones are tired.
Garbage disposals
Mounting, drain connection and a check for leaks at the trap.
Appliance lines
Washing machine boxes, dishwasher supplies and refrigerator ice maker lines.
Outdoor spigots
Hose faucets with a shutoff you can reach before winter.
New bathrooms and wet bars
Rough-in of supply, drain and vent for a room that did not have one.
Adding plumbing to a house from 1973 or earlier
The median home in North Chicago went up in 1973, and roughly a third predates 1960. That tells us what we are likely to find behind a wall. Mixed pipe materials, a drain stack that has seen decades of use, and a main supply line sized for fewer fixtures than the house now has.
Before we connect anything new, we look at the existing supply size, the nearest drain with enough slope, and the vent. If the old lines are tired, tying new work into them can mean the new fixture inherits the old problem. In that case we show you the options, including a limited repiping of the affected run.
How a new fixture gets planned
Walk the space
We find the nearest supply, drain and vent and note what is behind the wall or under the floor.
Check the load
We confirm the lines can handle another fixture without dropping pressure at the shower.
Price and schedule
You get a clear price before work starts, plus the work order and what we need from you.
Rough-in, then set
Pipes go in first. Fixtures are set after finishes are done, so tile and cabinets are not a problem.
Test
We pressure-test the supply, fill and drain every fixture and check every joint for weeping.
Permits, registration and 811
What North Chicago and Illinois put on paper
The city lists the Illinois Department of Public Health plumbing code among the codes it has adopted, and its building page links a plumber registration application and a contractor registration packet. Ask Inspection and Permit at City Hall, 1850 Lewis Avenue, if your job needs a permit and what registration applies.
State plumbing licenses come from the Illinois Department of Public Health, and a public lookup lets you verify one. If any work involves digging in the yard, JULIE (811) must be called so buried lines are marked before a shovel goes in.
Rentals and multi-unit buildings
About two out of three North Chicago households rent, and only 37.5% of homes are detached single-family houses. For landlords, plumbing installation means coordinating around tenants, shared risers and shutoffs that serve more than one unit.
Tell us when you call whether the water can be shut off building-wide or by unit, and who holds the keys to each space. Tenants should get a day's notice for water shutoffs. We label shutoff valves we add, so the next person knows what they control.
| Situation | What to settle first | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Single unit in a multi-unit building | Which valve isolates it | Avoids shutting off neighbors |
| Tenant-occupied during work | Notice and a time window | Shutoffs are short but real |
| Owner-supplied fixture | Model and rough-in size | Wrong rough-in means a second trip |
| Common basement or laundry room | Who owns the drain line | Shared lines have shared fixes |
Price drivers for new plumbing
What changes the price
A fixture swap is quick. A new room is a project. Here is what moves the number.
Describe the project and get a clear price before work starts.
Call (847) 281-8626What we do not take on
Honest limits
We handle plumbing. We do not do tile, drywall, painting or cabinet work, so plan for those trades after the rough-in. For gas appliances, the fuel connection and vent get extra checks, and we may ask you to schedule a separate visit.
If your project starts with a failing fixture, toilet repair or faucet repair may be all you need, and we will say so.
Before you book an install
Yes, we are open 24/7 for urgent leaks. Planned installs are scheduled for the same day when available, otherwise the next open slot.
Yes. Send us the model number first. The rough-in size decides if it fits. We may also supply fittings and valves.
A like-for-like swap often does not, but new lines and bathroom additions can. Ask the city's Inspection and Permit office before work begins.
Often, if the drain slope and vent allow it. We check before we promise.
We do small commercial installs. For larger projects, see our commercial plumbing page.
Yes, including Gurnee and the rest of the area.
Plan your new plumbing
Call and describe the room and the fixture. We will tell you what the install involves.
Call (847) 281-8626