Author: infogenix

Video Pipe Inspections: What They Are and Why We Do Them

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The technology of plumbing has both advanced and stayed the same. When it comes to many basic jobs, the tools haven’t altered much in decades. But developments in other areas have made it much easier for plumbers to put those standard tools to the best use. And there’s no better example than video pipe inspection equipment.

Doing Video Pipe Inspections

Imagine a world that doesn’t have small digital cameras—a world that existed not that long ago. Back then, how did a plumber examine the inside of pipes? Well, there really wasn’t any effective way to do it. Trying to figure out where leaks were occurring or finding out what was wrong with a pipe that was hidden under construction material or a concrete slab involved mostly educated guesswork—and a few mistakes.

But we do live in a world with miniaturized cameras, and that gives plumbers the power to closely examine the interior of pipes. Video pipe inspection equipment consists of a digital camera and LED light mounted on the end of a long fiber-optic cable. A plumber sends the cable down into a drain or other access point and then can watch the images sent back from the camera on a hi-def monitor. The plumber can get up close with the interior of the plumbing system.

Video pipe inspections are helpful in numerous plumbing situations. They’re invaluable when it comes to locating pipe leaks. There’s no need to guess where the leaking pipe is located: the camera can find the exact spot the plumbers need to go. This eliminates needless damage to construction material when reaching the pipe. Video inspections are also useful for dealing with tough clogs. The plumber will find out what type of material is clogging up the pipe and discover the fastest way to deal with it. Video inspections save time and make sure the plumbers get the job done right.

For a plumbing contractor who uses the most advanced equipment on every job, contact Mallick Plumbing & Heating. We serve Chevy Chase, MD and throughout Montgomery County.

Hydro-Jetting: What It Is and Why We Do It

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Drain cleaning is one of the essential jobs of professional plumbers. There are many methods to provide effective drain cleaning (using chemical drain cleaner is not one of them), but the tool that we’ve found is the best for the job is the hydro-jetter. When you need clogs cleared or want your drains given a full cleaning, arrange for hydro-jetting service with us.

The Basics of Hydro-Jetting

Hydro-jetting is the use of high-pressure water to remove build-up and deposits from the inside of drains. A hydro-jetter puts water at extremely high pressure (7,800 psi or more) and then sends it out a long hose and through a directional nozzle at the end. The hose is long enough for a plumber to send it down the drains of a house and through the complete length of the sewer line. As the water blasts out of the nozzle, it scours away tough deposits on the drainpipe walls and lets it flow down into the sewer system.

Why Hydro-Jetting Is Useful

Plumbers favor hydro-jetting over many other drain cleaning methods for a number of reasons:

  • Thorough: Hydro-jetting provides a complete drain cleaning. It leaves behind drainpipes that are in like-new condition, which makes it difficult for build up to start again.
  • Powerful: The toughest clogs have a hard time standing up against the force of the water pressure coming from a hydro-jetter. Even calcite deposits are blasted clean.
  • Safe for plumbing: Some ways of cleaning drains can end up damaging them, such as using chemicals. As long as professionals handle hydro-jetting, the drains won’t suffer damage.

We need to emphasize that last point: only call professional plumbers for this service. You can’t purchase a hydro-jetter on your own and do the job. It can even be dangerous! You only have to contact us to see that the work is done safe and right.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating is your service contractor of choice in Bethesda, MD. We offer plumbing throughout Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

4 Warning Signs You Need Repairs for Your Water Heater

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A water heater is an appliance for all seasons. Even in the midst of a summer heat wave, you still need to have the water heater working away steadily to provide your house with heated water.

However, winter is probably when you’ll be giving your water heater the most consideration, and during the fall it’s wise to keep a sharp lookout for any indications that the water heater is suffering from malfunctions. Even a small issue with a water heater can rapidly balloon into a complete system shutdown—and that’s most likely to happen on one of the coldest days of the winter! Below we’ve listed a few of the early indications that your water heater is running into trouble that’ll require professional repairs before the situation worsens.

ONE: Rumbling from the Tank

Don’t panic about the tank bursting: this is highly uncommon. But you should be concerned about the tank overheating, which can lead to leaks and other damage. This rumbling may also mean that cold water is mixing near the top of the tank with the hot water, possibly from a broken dip tube, which is a common malfunction.

TWO: Discoloration in the Hot Water

A reddish tint to the hot water can point to a number of issues, such as breaks in the hot water lines to excessive sediment in the tank that will require professionals flush it.

THREE: Water around the Base of the System

You shouldn’t see any water pooling around the tank of your water heater. This means leaks are occurring somewhere, and you must have professionals on the job right away to find and seal them.

FOUR: Decline in Hot Water Volume

Are you not getting as much hot water as you used to? This could be an issue with the burners, the heat exchanger, or the sediment build-up on the bottom of the tank.

As soon as you detect any of these warning signs, call on our water heater repair experts. We are here 24 hours a day to provide help when you need it.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating is the Service Contractor of Choice for Gaithersburg, MD.

Do You Need a New Well Pump?

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Not all homes can receive fresh water from a municipal system. For those households without a connection to a water main, a ground well is the best solution. In order for a ground well to send water into the house’s plumbing system, the well must have a working well pump.

Like any powered mechanical device, a well pump can malfunction and either struggle to work or stop working completely. Sometimes professionals can repair the pump to get it working once again. But there will come a time in the service life of any well pump where the better option is to have the well pump replaced.

Indications of a Failing Well Pump

You should always pay careful attention to the workings of your well pump so you can tell ahead of time that it’s close to a permanent breakdown. You don’t want to have to make an emergency call to restore your well pump and your water supply if you don’t have to! The main warning sign to watch for is a steep drop in water pressure, especially when more than one tap in the house is turned on. Sputtering faucets are also major cautionary signs. Sediment appearing in your water supply is something that requires professional investigation right away.

Changing to a Constant Pressure Well Pump

If you have an older well pump that’s still doing its job adequately, you may wish to have it replaced anyway. The reason is to switch to the newer type of well pump technology, a constant pressure well pump. The older type of well pump turns on when tank pressure drops too low, then shuts off afterward reaching a set level. These newer pumps keep the pressure at a constant level, thus avoid rises and falls in water pressure in the house. Making the switch is especially noticeable when you have more than one tap turned on at once.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating is the Service Contractor of Choice for Silver Springs, MD. Contact us if you need well pump services of any kind.

Replacing That Leaky Faucet Can Make a Tremendous Difference!

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Is there one faucet in your house that is that faucet? The one that always seems to drip drip drip no matter what you do with it? This kind of slow water leak might seem like an annoyance, but it’s something much more serious: small water leaks add up to a much bigger waste of water than you might imagine. But it’s easy to have this fixed! You only have to arrange with our plumbers to have a new faucet put in. This new faucet not only won’t leak, but it will add a pleasant new look to whatever room it’s in.

The Water Waste from That Leaky Faucet

All it takes is a few drops per minute to turn into a large waste of water. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the annual amount of water lost through household leaks across the country is more than 1 trillion gallons. That equals the annual water use of more than 11 million homes.

But let’s zero in on the leaky faucet. A faucet that drips at the rate of one drip a second can add up to more than 3,000 gallons per year. To give you a sense of how much that is, the average shower uses around 16 to 17 gallons; you could take 180 showers using the water a leaky faucet wastes. Even a slower leak that only amounts to 500 gallons a year is wasting enough water for 60 loads of dishes in the dishwasher.

If you can’t correct a leaking faucet using a wrench to tighten it up, then it’s best to have professional plumbers replace it. They can use a special low-flow faucet that will help you save additional water without a noticeable change in the quality of the water flow.

Also check for leaky showerheads, which can often leak more than standard faucets. We can take care of putting in new showerheads as well.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating offers kitchen plumbing and bathroom plumbing in Gaithersburg, MD and throughout Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Tips to Go Green with Your Home’s Plumbing

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You might have a green thumb when it comes to gardening, but there are places in your house where you can “go green” to both help the environment and save you money on your utility bills. If you want to have “green plumbing,” we’ve offered tips on where to start. Our professional plumbers can help you with these jobs, and they’re always willing to share more ideas with you. Don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Replace that old water heater

If you’ve had your current water heater for 15 years or more—or it was already installed in your home when you moved in—then it’s probably a source of energy waste in the plumbing system. New water heaters have much higher energy efficiency: just look for the ENERGY STAR label. Our water heater professionals can help locate the ideal new energy-saving model for your needs.

Install a whole-house water filtration system

This is the best way to make your home a healthier one. There’s a wide variety of harmful chemicals and bacteria that can get into the municipal water supply. Rely on our water treatment experts to find out what contaminants in your water—and what whole-house filtration system will get rid of them, such as a reverse osmosis filter.

Install low-flow plumbing fixtures

Older homes often have faucets and toilets that waste too much water. Even something as simple as putting flow reducers on faucets can help. But the best way is to arrange for the installation of new water-saving fixtures to replace the old ones. The low-flow toilet is especially helpful: almost a third of indoor water use goes to the toilet, and a low-flow model lowers the amount of water used per flush from 4–6 gallons to 1.5 gallons. That’s a substantial difference!

For more ideas, as well as to arrange for plumbing services, call on Mallick Plumbing & Heating. We serve Potomac, MD and throughout Montgomery County.

Some of the Big Benefits of a Gas Boiler for Your Home

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There are many different ways that homes can enjoy warmth through the winters here in Montgomery County. The furnace is the most common, but that doesn’t mean that it will necessarily always be the right choice for a house. If you are looking to have a heating system installed, we recommend that you consider a gas-powered boiler. Boilers remain a popular alternative to forced-air heating systems like furnaces, and for some excellent reasons. We’ve listed a few below:

  • Inexpensive operation: Water is a much better heat transference medium than air, so a boiler is more efficient at heating up a home than a furnace. You can expect to use less energy over the winter thanks to using a gas boiler.
  • Even heating: When a furnace sends heat into a room, the heated air blows out into the space and gathers at the ceiling—and that means it can take a while before heating spreads throughout the room. But boilers send heat out in waves from radiators and baseboard heaters, resulting in a fast and even spread of heat.
  • Longevity: Boilers don’t have many mechanical moving parts, so they suffer less wear over time than other heating systems. Not only does this mean fewer repairs, but it also means a longer system lifespan. You’ll have more time to enjoy the energy efficiency of your gas boiler.
  • Improved indoor air quality: Furnaces often blow dust and debris out of their ductwork and into the air of a house. Since boilers have no ducts at all and radiate heat into a home, they can help to keep the air cleaner. This is a big benefit for households that have allergy and asthma sufferers.

If you want to find out more about the benefits of a gas boiler, as well as if a boiler is a good installation idea for your house, contact our professionals. We’ll be glad to help you find the right gas boiler to meet your needs.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating is the Service Contractor of Choice in Silver Spring, MD and throughout Montgomery County!

An Important Fall Reminder: Winterize Your Hose Bibs!

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September doesn’t mean the immediate end of summer and the first blast of cold weather. In fact, September can often be quite warm. But it is the time when we recommend you start to prepare your home for the cold weather ahead: getting the work done now will save you immense headaches later on.

An important job to protect your plumbing from the cold is to winterize the outdoor hose bibs. It doesn’t take long, but it can save you on expensive trouble later on.

Steps for winterizing hose bibs

  • First, remove anything that’s connected to the outside faucet. If you leave the hose connected to the faucet during the winter, trapped water will cause the faucet to freeze and the pipes to break.
  • Check for any leaks. If there’s water dripping from the faucet, no matter how small the problem may seem, it can cause fixture freeze over the winter. Call a professional plumber to handle fixing this leak during the early fall.
  • Drain the pipes to get as much water as you can out of them. If it’s possible, shut off the water to the line and open the faucet to release the water.
  • Insulate the outdoor faucet. There are a number of methods to see that the faucet has proper protection from the cold, but the easiest way is to put a special cover over the fixture. This insulation is made of thick foam and will do the necessary job of trapping heat and keeping the cold out. You can find hose bibs at most stores that offer home improvements. Replace older covers every few years.

If you require repairs for your outdoor faucet, contact our plumbers any time. They are also available for general maintenance tasks that will see that all of your home’s plumbing is ready for the coming winter.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating is the plumbing service contractor of choice in Silver Spring, MD and Montgomery County.

Is It Time to Replace Your Bathroom Toilet?

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The toilet is about as functional an item as a home has: a necessary fixture, but probably one which you don’t give much thought unless it needs repairs. This means that you might ignore the age of a toilet and not realize that it’s due to have a replacement. Below, we’ll take a look at indications that you should contact our bathroom plumbing professionals and arrange to have them install a new toilet (or toilets) for your house.

The toilet is a water waster

The bathroom is the room in your house that uses the most water, and the toilet can account for up to 40% of that amount. This means the toilet contributes a significant part of your monthly water bills. If your toilet is an old model, it probably uses around 6 gallons a flush—and that’s far too much! A newer toilet, even one that isn’t a special low-flush model, uses less than 4 gallons per flush. If you have high water bills, it might be time to replace the toilet.

Leak repairs (and other repairs) are becoming common

Have you called for repairs for the toilet more than once per year to fix the development of leaks or other issues, such as when the toilet won’t stop running? These malfunctions are a sign of a fixture that is wearing down to the point where it will only be able to continue to run with repair after repair—and that’s a large waste of money that a new toilet will help you fix.

Constant clogging

Toilets clog up now and then, that’s simply the way it goes. A plunger will usually solve these problems. But if you find that you’re using the plunger all the time, then you should consider if the age of the toilet is at fault and it no longer has the flushing power or drainage ability to do its job.

If you’re unsure about whether it’s time for a new toilet, get in touch with our plumbers and let them examine your bathroom plumbing. They’ll provide expert advice.

Call Mallick Plumbing & Heating in Silver Spring, MD to arrange for bathroom plumbing services.

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