City, Winnebago County
Appliance Repair in Loves Park, IL
Updated
Loves Park in short
- 310
- mg/L water hardness (18.1 gpg)
- 1986
- median year built (county 1972)
- 82.1%
- heat with gas or propane (county 85.8%)
- 10,302
- occupied homes, 60.9% owned
- 310
- mg/L water hardness (18.1 gpg)
- 1986
- median year built (county 1972)
- 82.1%
- heat with gas or propane (county 85.8%)
- 10,302
- occupied homes, 60.9% owned
Water
How hard the water is in Loves Park
Hard water is the norm in Loves Park. Illinois EPA's lab tested City of Loves Park water 1 time between 2018 and 2018, and the median result was 310 mg/L of total hardness, about 18.1 grains per gallon. That is a single state sample, so treat it as a snapshot rather than an average.
In practice the minerals end up in three places. GE says hard-water buildup can damage dishwasher components over time and that a freestanding ice maker may need cleaning as often as every six months in hard water, because minerals on the freezing plate stop ice from releasing. Angi notes that ice maker water inlet valves are prone to mineral buildup, and InterNACHI warns that the mineral content of water can shorten a water heater's life. If your dishwasher has a hardness setting, set it to your number; GE's SmartDispense models take it from a test strip.
Housing
The homes in Loves Park
Housing in Loves Park is mostly from the middle decades of the last century. 41.7% of homes were built before 1980 and 25.8% since 2000, with a median year built of 1986 (Winnebago County: 1972).
55.4% of homes have three or more bedrooms and 16.6% have four or more (Winnebago County: 60.4% and 18.7%) . That is a typical family-sized housing stock for the Rockford area. 39.1% of households rent, so a good share of repair calls here come from landlords and property managers. Only two of the 37 places we compared have a higher renter share.
Loves Park vs Winnebago County
| Measure | Loves Park | Winnebago County |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 23,502 | 283,292 |
| Occupied homes | 10,302 | 116,014 |
| Owner-occupied | 60.9% | 65.9% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1972 |
| Built before 1960 | 20.2% | 35.5% |
| Built 2000 or later | 25.8% | 13.6% |
| Single-family detached | 57.7% | 70.4% |
| Three or more bedrooms | 55.4% | 60.4% |
| Heat with utility gas | 81.3% | 83.5% |
| Heat with propane or tank gas | 0.7% | 2.3% |
| Heat with electricity | 17.3% | 13% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), tables B01003, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25041.
Gas, propane or electric
What powers the appliances in Loves Park
The Census asks how each home is heated. In Loves Park, 81.3% of households use utility (piped) gas, 0.7% use bottled or tank gas such as propane, and 17.3% use electricity (Winnebago County: 83.5%, 2.3% and 13%). Heating fuel is not the same as cooking fuel, but a house with a gas furnace already has gas piped in, which is what makes a gas range or gas dryer an easy choice.
17.3% electric heat is above the county's 13%. Electric-only homes usually mean an electric range and dryer on 240-volt circuits, so a dryer that tumbles without heat often comes down to one of the two breakers; Whirlpool lists checking the home circuit breakers first.
Old appliances
Getting rid of an old appliance in Loves Park
Neither the city nor Rock River Disposal's Loves Park page spells out a separate rule for refrigerators and other refrigerant appliances, so call Rock River Disposal (815-965-2489) before setting one out.
- Garbage hauler
- The city's agreement for single-family and duplex homes is with Rock River Disposal, which handles curbside trash, recycling, large-item removal, yard waste and hazardous waste collection. Bagged yard waste is picked up April 1 to November 30, weather permitting. source
- Bulk items
- Rock River Disposal's Loves Park page says standard weekly trash is unlimited, along with unlimited bulk items. Construction debris is not part of regular pickup and costs $25 per hopper. source
Wherever Loves Park's rule is silent, state law still applies: Illinois has banned white goods from landfills since July 1, 1994 unless their mercury switches, refrigerant and PCB components are removed (Illinois EPA, 415 ILCS 5/22.28), and federal rules put the refrigerant recovery duty on the final disposer, who must keep a signed statement for a fridge that arrives empty. Before replacing, see repair or replace.
About Loves Park. Most of Loves Park is in Winnebago County, with a small sliver on its east side in Boone County. Wikipedia
ZIP codes. 61111 (85% of its land), 61011 (13% of its land), 61114 (2% of its land). Census 2020
Common questions
Appliance repair questions, Loves Park
How hard is the water in Loves Park?
Illinois EPA lab samples of City of Loves Park water from 2018 to 2018 had a median of 310 mg/L of total hardness, about 18.1 grains per gallon. The USGS calls anything over 180 mg/L very hard.
Who picks up an old appliance in Loves Park?
The city's agreement for single-family and duplex homes is with Rock River Disposal, which handles curbside trash, recycling, large-item removal, yard waste and hazardous waste collection. Bagged yard waste is picked up April 1 to November 30, weather permitting. Ask the hauler about appliances before setting one out: Illinois bans white goods from landfills unless their refrigerant, mercury switches and PCB parts are removed.
How old are the homes in Loves Park?
The median home was built in 1986. 20.2% were built before 1960 and 25.8% in 2000 or later, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
Do homes in Loves Park use gas or electric appliances?
For heating, 81.3% of households use utility gas, 0.7% propane or other tank gas and 17.3% electricity (Census ACS 2020 to 2024). Where gas is piped in, gas dryers and ranges are common.
What does appliance repair cost in Loves Park?
National 2026 cost guides put a refrigerator repair at $150 to $400, a washer at $180 to $250, a dryer at $100 to $430 and an oven at $130 to $310, with a $70 to $130 service call for the visit and diagnosis. The technician quotes the exact price before any work starts.
Appliance down in Loves Park?
Tell us the appliance, the brand and what it is doing. A local technician who covers Loves Park calls back with a time and a price before any work starts.