Where Kimball Hill Is and Where the Name Comes From
Kimball Hill was a person before it was a place name. Developer Kimball Hill bought land in the early 1950s, advertised a model home in the Chicago Tribune and named the new community Rolling Meadows. The first residents moved in during 1953, and the city incorporated in 1955.
The city's 2018 comprehensive plan describes the original Kimball Hill neighborhoods as well planned and well maintained, with mature trees and nearby parks and schools. A 2015 Daily Herald feature says the first houses went up along Campbell Street and Wilke Road.
No official map draws a line around Kimball Hill, and we will not pretend to know one. We use the name for the early residential streets, and Kimball Hill Park at 3266 Kirchoff Road is a handy landmark. If you are unsure whether your street fits, call and give us the cross streets.
What the Age of These Homes Means for Plumbing
The plan says most of the city's housing was built between 1950 and 1980, and that the majority of homes are single-family. That tells you when the houses went up. It does not tell you what is inside a particular wall, since many owners have remodeled kitchens and baths over seventy years.
A plumber has to look to know. A slow main drain, a tank heater that has been running for many years or a fixture that no longer shuts off all point to a visit, not to a guess. We do not assume your home has any specific pipe material, and we will tell you what we actually find.
Common Calls From the Original Neighborhoods
| What you notice | Page to read | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Slow or gurgling drains | Drain cleaning | Clearing sinks, tubs and the main line |
| Sewage smell or backup in the basement | Sewer line cleaning | Clearing the line between the house and the main |
| Not sure what is in the line | Sewer camera inspection | A camera look at the pipe before any digging |
| Tank heater leaking or past its years | Water heater replacement | Swapping an old tank for a new one |
| Dripping faucet or running toilet | Faucet repair | Fixture repairs that stop wasted water |
Plumbing Question in Kimball Hill?
Call and describe what you see. Give your cross streets so we can place the address.
Who Maintains the Sewer Line From Your House
The City of Rolling Meadows owns the sewer main. According to its City of Rolling Meadows Sanitary Sewer Problem Guide, the homeowner is responsible for the private lateral that runs from the building to the main, including the part under the easement or right-of-way.
The city suggests rodding from an outside 6 inch cleanout with a root cutter every two to three years, or more often if you have had problems. Most sewer work needs a city permit, and the city will not start a right-of-way repair until a 6 inch cleanout is installed or rodding has been tried.
The guide also says to call Public Works before you call a plumber when a sewer backs up, because a city representative will check the main line at no cost. Public Works is at 847-963-0500.
Before You Call About a Backup
A few quick steps help whoever comes to your door.
Stop the water
Hold off on sinks, showers, laundry and flushing while a drain is backing up.
Find the cleanout
The city guide says to locate your 6 inch cleanout and keep the cap on and in good condition.
Note the pattern
Does it back up after rain, after laundry or all the time? Say so on the call.
Call Public Works first
The city checks the main line before a contractor works on yours.
Then call (847) 281-8626 if the city finds the main clear and the problem is on your side.
Wet Basements and Standing Water
The comprehensive plan lists stormwater infrastructure among local needs and describes Salt Creek as part of the city's stormwater system. It does not name Kimball Hill as a flood area, and neither will we. Wet basements usually have a cause you can test, such as a failing pump, a clogged drain or water pooling against the foundation.
The city runs a Residential Drainage Assistance Program for owner-occupied single-family homes where standing water stays 48 hours or more after rain. It can cover up to 40 percent of project costs, capped at $2,000, and applications must come from at least three adjoining properties. It is citywide and not limited to Kimball Hill, so ask Public Works about eligibility.
If the pump is the suspect, the sump pump repair page lists the checks a plumber runs.
How a Call About a Kimball Hill Home Goes
- 1
You call
Tell us what is happening and the nearest cross streets.
- 2
We ask questions
When did it start, and does it happen with every fixture or only one?
- 3
We talk about next steps
You hear what we recommend and what it is likely to involve.
- 4
You decide
Ask about the price on the call so there are no surprises.
Nearby Pages for Rolling Meadows Homeowners
The central stretch of Kirchoff Road has its own page at plumber on the Kirchoff Road corridor, and the west side townhome and subdivision streets are covered at plumber in the Plum Grove area. For the whole city, start at the Rolling Meadows plumbing page.
Sources for This Page
History and housing facts come from the City of Rolling Meadows 2018 comprehensive plan, the Wikipedia article on Rolling Meadows and a July 2015 Daily Herald feature. Sewer and drainage details come from the two city pages linked above. Boundaries are not documented, so none are claimed. Rules and phone numbers change, so confirm with the city before you rely on a detail.
Kimball Hill Plumbing Questions
Both, in a way. Kimball Hill was the developer who built the original homes in the early 1950s. The city's plan still refers to the Kimball Hill neighborhoods, and Kimball Hill Park carries the name. There is no official boundary line.
Call and give us your street and nearest cross street. We will tell you plainly whether we can help with your address.
According to the city's sewer guide, you maintain the private lateral from the building to the main. The city owns the main itself. Call Public Works before a plumber when a sewer backs up.
Yes, a Residential Drainage Assistance Program for owner-occupied single-family homes. It requires at least three adjoining properties to apply and covers up to 40 percent of costs, capped at $2,000. Ask Public Works at 847-963-0500.
Not necessarily. Many have been remodeled, and the year a house was built does not tell you what is in the walls. A plumber has to inspect it. Ask about a camera look at the drain line if you are unsure.
Give the street address if you have it, then the nearest cross street. That is enough for us to place you without relying on a neighborhood boundary.
Still not sure what you are dealing with? Call (847) 281-8626 and describe it to our dispatcher.