Author: infogenix

Planning a Party? Protect Your Plumbing!

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Having people over to your home can be fun, but parties can wreak havoc on your plumbing. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your plumbing:

Keep a Trash Can in Your Bathroom

Guests will need a place to dispose of feminine products and baby wipes. Place a trash can right next to the toilet, so guests know to throw these items away instead of flushing them down the toilet and creating a clog.

Handle Small Clogs with a Plunger

Speaking of clogs, they happen! (Especially with alcohol and tasty appetizers). Keep a plunger nearby, so guests can resolve small clogs by themselves. You can also let your guests know to notify you if the bathroom needs attention.

Share ALL Your Bathrooms

Don’t let your guest bathroom work overtime if you have others to spare. Believe us, your personal bathroom is much less unsightly than a toilet that suffers a large clog due to constant use.

Plus, multiple guests will be able to relieve themselves at the same time if necessary.

Don’t Rely on the Garbage Disposal

Always scrape leftover food into the trash before putting dishes in the sink or loading them into the dishwasher. Putting fats, oils, grease, and other food items down the garbage disposal can cause a clog.

Avoid a Hairy Situation

Equip all the drains in your house with hair catchers. This can help prevent hair from building up in your drains and keep unwanted items out of your pipes. Hair catchers only cost a couple of dollars each and they can save you tons of money in repairs.

Call an Emergency Plumber If Needed

Mallick Plumbing & Heating, Inc. can solve your emergency plumbing situations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If your party needs a hero, our expert plumbers are always available at (301) 804-6759 and online.

The Top 3 Signs Your Water Heater Needs a Repair

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If you look closely, you can see when your water heater needs a repair, and our team at Mallick Plumbing & Heating, Inc. is ready to help you out with that.

Notice one of the 3 signs below? Call us at (301) 804-6759 for a high-quality repair!

Sign #1: Pools of Water Around the Heater

If you notice excess moisture or pools of water around your heater, it may be time for a repair. Loose fittings, connections, and fractures in the tank can all cause leakage – you might even notice the leak gets worse as your water gets hotter because metal expands when it heats up.

Ruined your cozy socks by stepping in a puddle near your water heater? It’s time to call us about a repair.

Sign #2: Strange Noises

Water heater noises are usually a sign that your heater needs fixing. If you hear rumbling noises, sizzling, hissing, crackling, or banging, you could have sediment buildup in your hot water tank. This can make your heater less efficient and lead to cracks, holes, and leaks.

Fortunately, it’s an easy fix when you call Mallick Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Sign #3: Rust-Colored Water

Brown water in your shower? It’s not a horror movie; it’s time for a repair! Over time, rust can build up, and you may need to drain and flush – or replace – your tank.

Our skilled plumbers can help. Call us at (301) 804-6759 or contact us online to get started today.

How Do Airplane Bathrooms Work?

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If you’ve ever wondered how an airplane bathroom works, you’re not alone. Does it get collected into a tank? Jettisoned out of the plane at 12,000 ft in the air?

Toilets can be a taboo topic for many, but let’s break through the stigma and discover what exactly goes on in the bathroom — for all our sakes.

What’s in a Toilet?

The average toilet found in a residential home is typically a porcelain bowl connected to a tank that fills with water after every flush. The waste is flushed from the bowl, out through the connected plumbing, and into either a sewer system or a connected septic tank, depending on where you live.

The method of waste removal is great for a non-moving bathroom, but on trains or airplanes (methods of travel that usually have restrooms onboard), turbulence and motion don’t mix well with an open bowl of toilet water. Enter: the vacuum toilet.

Airplane Toilet vs Traditional Toilet

Vacuum toilets are the stereotypical toilets you’ll see on transport services. These toilets don’t use a siphon and gravity to flush waste in the same way a traditional residential toilet does. Instead, vacuum toilets feature a valve inside the sewer line to suck all the content of the bowl out. The waste is collected in a separate tank that needs to be emptied out on arrival.

The suction of the valve creates the loud noise you may be familiar with if you’ve ever been on a plane. The benefits of this system as convenience and hygiene — the vacuum method means that toilets have to use less water and/or sanitizing liquid in the flushing process to keep the bowl and line clear. This system also uses significantly less water than the traditional home toilet does. Vacuum systems can flush with half a gallon of water, whereas a low-flow siphon toilet uses about 1.6 gallons. In contrast, older, non-efficient models can use up to 5 gallons per flush!

So there you have it! Traditional toilets use water and gravity to flush waste, but airplane and train bathrooms utilize vacuums and thus, don’t have to rely on water sloshing around to clean the bowl.

Got toilet troubles? Get in touch with your team at Mallick Plumbing & Heating at (301) 804-6759 for bathroom plumbing installation, replacement, repair, or maintenance.

Sump Pump 101

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Ah, the sump pump. This device is one of the most important lines of defense your home has against flooding. When snow melts and spring rains flood, you want to be sure your sump pump is up to the task.

Sump Pump FAQ

Our team is breaking down our most asked questions regarding sump pump care and maintenance.

What is a sump pump?

The purpose of a sump pump is to divert groundwater away from your home during periods of high water and heavy rains. The device is usually installed in a basement or crawlspace, so it’s as close to sea level as possible. From there, the sump pump can protect the foundation of your home from flooding.

Is my sump pump broken?

Sump pumps are extremely durable, but they do need some help to stay clean and efficient over time.

  • Clean it regularly. Cleaning your pump’s inlet screen is essential — over time, the screen will get clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris.
  • Check for corrosion. While you have the inlet screen out of the system. Check the pump for any visible signs of corrosion.
  • Check the drainpipes and clear the grate. Remove the pump from its pit once a year to check these areas and the power cord for any issues.

If you aren’t sure whether your device is working, dump a bucket of water into the basin and turn the system on. Listen for a hum when you turn the system on. If you don’t hear anything, contact your local plumbing company.

The pump should shut down when the water has been pumped out of the basin — if it continues to pump without water, you likely need a repair. The system should automatically turn off after clearing the water, so it doesn’t burn itself out.

Your Beauty Routine May Be Harming Your Drains

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Life is stressful enough without having to deal with plumbing problems. No one wants to deal with a clogged drain or a backed-up shower when they try to simply use the sink or tub in their home. But why do your drains keep clogging?

There are many reasons why your drains could be clogging, but in the bathroom, hair is the biggest culprit. Shampoo and conditioners, shaving creams, and other beauty products only add to clogs. If you’re tired of dealing with clogs, keep reading to learn what bath and beauty products can harm your plumbing:

7 Bath and Beauty Products That Clog Drains

You probably don’t think twice about running your hands under a sink if you apply too much lotion or when you wash your face in the morning, but the reality is that even these small actions can add up to a clogged drain. Some common beauty and bath products that can clog your drains include:

  • Heavy body lotions with ingredients like shea and coconut butter
  • Clay face masks and facial serums
  • Contact lenses
  • Facial moisturizers, especially those with sunscreen and exfoliators
  • Shaving creams and hair removal products such as Nair
  • Bath products such as bath bombs and coffee scrubs
  • Hair products like shampoo, conditioner, and hair masks

Some homeowners may be surprised that products such as bath bombs and exfoliating scrubs are on this list, but common ingredients such as heavy oils and coffee grounds only add to drain problems. Oils can congeal and stick to hair or an existing blockage in a drain and make the problem worse. Beauty products like exfoliating coffee scrubs can also create a sticky mess that’s hard for your drain to clear on its own.

How to Prevent Clogs

The best way to reduce clogs is to prevent them from happening in the first place.

  • Use makeup wipes – Items like makeup wipes help you take off makeup without rinsing it down your drains. Opt for reusable cotton pads for a more sustainable option.
  • DIY solutions – If you really can’t (or don’t want to) give up bath bombs create a DIY bath bomb holder! Simply cut the foot off a pair of stockings, place your bath bomb inside and tie off the end. The bath bomb will still fizz and release colors, but any solid particles such as confetti or flower petals will stay in the stocking to be tossed.
  • Invest in a drain catcher – Drain catchers are a great way to prevent clogs. Simply place the drain catcher on top of or into the drain and clean it off every week to see how much really goes down your drains.
  • Dispose of all beauty products correctly – It may seem like all liquids can and should go down your drains, but by simply tossing old products in the trash, you can save time, money, and headaches.

Preventing clogs is the best way to take care of your bathroom plumbing, but if you’re struggling with recurring or persistent clogged drains, professional help may be required. Contact the drain experts at Mallick Plumbing & Heating at (301) 804-6759 to schedule an appointment today!

Are Hot Showers Bad for You?

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There’s nothing more calming than stepping into a hot spray of water at the end of a long day. However, as it turns out, hot showers may not be as relaxing in the long term as we want them to be.

Downsides of Hot Showers

Hot water can be relaxing, but it’s also fairly rough on your skin and hair.

Hot Water Dries Skin Out

The major downside to hot showers is the effects hot water has on your skin. Hot water dries out the sebum layer of skin, which provides much of our body’s natural moisture and protects our skin.

Hot water damages keratin cells on this outer layer of our skin and prevents these cells from creating moisture. The result of dry skin may be a minor inconvenience for some, but it can also worsen pre-existing conditions for individuals with eczema or psoriasis.

Hot Water Increases Blood Pressure

According to Curtis Rimmerman, MD at the Cleveland Clinic, hot water can also increase your blood pressure as any “sudden or extended immersion in hot water can overheat your body and stress your heart.”

Benefits of Hot Showers

Eternally cold people rejoice because hot showers are not without benefits.

  • Good for muscle fatigue – Hot water has been known to help penetrate your skin and ease muscle tension more effectively than using a heating pad or other therapy.
  • Opens up airways – Hot water creates steam, which is proven to help open your airways and improve respiratory health when you’re sick. It can also loosen up any buildup of mucus in your nasal passages, making it easier to breathe through congestion.
  • Purifies pores – Hot steam also opens your pores up and makes it easier for you to get a deep clean as you wash your face.

The cons of hot showers don’t mean you have to give them up entirely. Still, it does mean you should seek to balance your shower temperature and invest in water treatment systems to soften the quality of your water or skincare products such as moisturizers for daily use after bathing.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating can help you improve your water quality so that temperature is the only thing you need to think about in the shower. Contact our team online or by phone at (301) 804-6759 to schedule an appointment today!

10 Ways to Increase Your Home’s Value for Resale

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Despite being in the midst of a pandemic and high rates of unemployment, the United States housing market is booming. Low interest rates have created a spike in home sales as more people switch to remote work and don’t need to worry about being close to the office. If you’re one of the many homeowners looking for more space, increasing the value of your home can be the first step to a quick sales turnaround.

Which home improvements add the most value?

According to Remodel Magazine’s 2019 report, the top ten home improvements for ROI (return on investment) are:

  1. Garage door replacement – 97% ROI
  2. Manufactured stone veneer – 94% ROI
  3. Minor kitchen remodel – 80% ROI
  4. Wood deck addition – 75% ROI
  5. Siding replacement – 75% ROI
  6. Entry door replacement – 74% ROI
  7. Vinyl window replacement – 73% ROI
  8. Grand entrance – 71% ROI
  9. Wood window replacement – 73% ROI
  10. Composite deck addition – 69% ROI

While these comprise the top ten recoups you’ll get for your investment, there are cheaper options to improve the look, feel, and value of your home to potential buyers.

Cheapest Home Improvements

Improving your home before putting it on the market doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg! These simple improvements will help increase the value of your home.

In the Kitchen

Many prospective buyers love natural light, but if your kitchen doesn’t offer much in terms of windows, draw attention to your lighting fixtures instead! Installing new lighting (such as pendants) is a simple and inexpensive way to brighten a space and make a small room feel larger.

Fixture upgrades are a small way to increase your home’s overall value. Installing new fixtures can make your entire kitchen look newer, and adding features like an on-tap water filter or new garbage disposal will increase the value for prospective buyers who are looking for those features and want to avoid a post-sale renovation.

In the Bathroom

According to Zillow, 26% of sellers make some improvements to their bathrooms before putting their home on the market. Small, cost-effective updates can make your home more appealing to buyers.

  • Water pressure. Good water pressure is a great asset to your bathroom. Make sure the water pressure is at a good level before putting your home on the market.
  • Refresh the decor. Outdated tile floors and stained wallpaper don’t create an inviting atmosphere in your home. New tiles or a splash of color on the walls can give your bathroom a more modern look and feel. According to the 2018 Zillow Paint Color Analysis report, “Homes with light blue or blue-gray bathrooms sell for a $2,786 premium.”
  • Recaulk instead of replacing. Renovations on a budget require creativity. If you’re not in a place where you feel you can replace the bathtub, simply deep clean and recaulk for a fresh look!

Don’t Forget the Small Repairs

Seemingly small plumbing issues can affect your home’s value, so it’s important to make sure everything in your home is in good working order before you put it on the market. Fix any hidden leaks that could lead to pest problems or water damage and schedule a sewer pipe inspection to check out the condition of your home’s plumbing before a buyer asks to do so.

Keep an eye out for these seasonal plumbing issues as you’re readying your home for the market:

Fall and Winter

Colder weather affects more than nature! Freezing temperatures cause the metal of your water heater tank and piping to expand and contract—which can lead to major problems down the line. If you’re planning to put your home on the market in fall or winter, schedule a plumbing inspection and have your plumber your home for leaking water heaters, broken water lines, or roots in your drain lines.

Spring and Summer

April showers bring…flooding in the basement? Melting snow and rain can cause flooding in your basement—have your plumber check the status of your sump pump after winter to prevent this issue.

Summer means backyard BBQs and trips to the beach. While great for making memories, you should be cautious of which food scraps you’re throwing down the drain to avoid clogging or ruining your disposal. Make sure to shake off as much sand as possible when returning from the beach to prevent slow clearing drains blocked by sand and other debris.

Get the most value for your home and sell in record time when you prepare every area of your home for resale. Contact Mallick Plumbing & Heating for any plumbing repairs, inspections, and replacements you may need to get your home on the market! Call our team at (301) 804-6759 to schedule an appointment today.

The Scary Effects of Hard Water

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You may have seen it before…maybe you have a hard time getting your soap to actually work into a lather as you wash your hands or clean the dishes. Or maybe you’ve noticed a strange crusty white substance on your faucet. Maybe you’ve noticed a flare-up of an existing skin condition or your child has complained of itchy or dry skin. All of these point to one thing—your home has hard water.

What is hard water?

Hard water is what we call water with a high mineral content. The minerals most commonly found in hard water include magnesium, calcium, and iron.

Is hard water dangerous?

Hard water isn’t inherently dangerous for you or your family to use or drink—the worst side-effect you may notice from drinking hard water is a metallic taste. Bathing in hard water can strip your hair and skin of natural oils that help to keep moisture in your skin, but unless you have existing skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema, this is more of a nuisance than a danger.

The biggest threat that hard water poses is actually to the health and lifespan of your plumbing, fixtures, and water heater.

What are some of the effects of hard water?

One of the most serious threats hard water poses is to your water heater. Your water heater heats the water inside the tank to the desired temperature before releasing it into the areas of your home you want to use it in. When the water is heated inside the tank, the minerals in your water are also being heated to a higher temperature—over time, this process creates scale that can build up along the walls of the tank. Scale deposits and build-up can lead to overheating and other damage to your water heater.

Contact the Mallick Plumbing & Heating team for water softening services in Gaithersburg.

Your Guide to Sink Styles

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If you want to remodel your bathroom or add to your home, you have a lot of style decisions to make. How is everything going to fit together? What is going to stick out to guests? How can I make the room function well? One of the most important things you’ll consider is the presence of your bathroom sink! You will have to use that faucet every single day after all! It needs to make sense from a functional and stylistic perspective. We want to walk you through the thought process we recommend and give you some pros and cons so you can decide what sink is best for you!

What are the Choices for a Bathroom Sink?

It may be easiest to focus on the bathroom primarily. Here you have a little bit more wiggle room to go with aesthetics over pure functionality. With your kitchen, you’ll need to weigh what you need out of it for cooking and cleaning purposes and might not want to go with an overly stylized sink. For example, you’ll need a garbage disposal system on your kitchen sink.

Drop-in Sink

These types of sinks are cheap to install and quite common. They are named after the way they are installed. Essentially, you will have an empty space on your countertop where the sink can be placed in. The weight of the sink is help by a lip around the sink that sits on the vanity.

The pros of this are that it’s simple and can be uninstalled fairly easily. On the negative side of things, things can get caught underneath the lip, which may be potentially unsightly.

Undermount

While the drop-in sink rests on top of your vanity, the undermount sink is mounted underneath the countertop. This is not as simple as an installation as a drop-in. You’ll likely need the help of professionals for a well-done installation. It’s important to consider the type of countertop you have. You’ll need a sturdy enough vanity so that it can be screwed-in effectively. This can be considered a con because it can limit your design choices.

Vessel Sink

If you want a minimalistic, sleek, modern design, you will appreciate the vessel sink. The whole basin will sit atop your countertop, so it will really stand out. Feel free to experiment with different materials such as stone or even ceramics. This style can go a long way to making your sink stand out in your bathroom.

Kitchen Options

Here we’ll discuss the more functional side of sinks. Your kitchen needs to be functional or you will never use it. If you’re installing a sink, don’t set yourself back. Go for functionality!

Double Basin

You probably don’t want or need a huge restaurant-style kitchen. You’re going to have to make do with one, maybe two sinks. This means you need to maximize what your sink can do. This is where the double basin sink comes into play. Since there are two bowls in this sink, you can effectively separate dishes to make your dishwashing simple and straightforward.

Workstation

A workstation sink is the best of the best. You’ll find this type of sink in professional kitchens. If cooking is your passion, you may want to consider this choice. It’s going to be big and have everything you need to effectively separate items in your sink while having a great faucet as well. Of course, these cost a bit more because they can be quite intricate. However, maybe it’s the right choice for you!

The plumbing experts at Mallick Plumbing & Heating have you covered for all of your home plumbing needs. If you’re interested in a water softener system, give us a call at (301) 804-6759 or fill out an online contact form!

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