Category: Drain and Sewer

Quick Garbage Disposal Reminder for the Holidays

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The big holidays are coming up, and for many households, that means hosting guests and enjoying big feasts. And that also means a lot of work for the kitchen plumbing. In fact, Thanksgiving time is one of the highest periods of the year for emergency plumbing calls! The #1 part of the plumbing that can go wrong during Thanksgiving is the kitchen garbage disposal.

We’re always glad to help out with plumbing needs—it’s why we offer 24-hour emergency plumbing service—but we also want you to enjoy as trouble-free a holiday season as possible. So here are some tips for your garbage disposal in Chevy Chase, MD to see that it doesn’t run into any major snags:

  • Keep meat bones out of the disposal. Turkey bones should always be disposed of in the regular trash (and we recommend sealing them in plastic bags). The disposal isn’t capable of grinding down anything as tough as bones, and you’re likely to break the mechanism if you do let bones down into the disposal.
  • Pour fats, oils, and grease from cooking into a separate receptacle, not into the disposal. These cooking liquids, collectively called FOG, are deceptive when they’re heated up. But when they cool down, they change into waxy solids that can be a nightmare for the disposal and the rest of the drainpipes.
  • Be careful with rice and pasta, which look harmless but can turn into a serious problem if they become lodged in the disposal. Both rice and pasta absorb water and start to swell, leading to problems.
  • Fibrous vegetables, like asparagus and onion skins, can tangle up in the mechanisms of the disposal and cause it to break.
  • Finally, don’t use ice to “sharpen” the blades in the disposal. The disposal doesn’t actually have blades in it, and the hard ice can cause damage.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating is the Service Contractor of Choice! Serving Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Why Schedule Drain Cleaning This Fall

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You probably have a long list of fall “to-dos” planned to prepare your house for the coming change of seasons. For example, you will have to schedule maintenance for your heating system, and if you have a generator for emergencies, it will need an inspection before it’s ready to go.

But have you put down “professional drain cleaning” on your list of fall to-do items? We’d wager you haven’t since homeowners, in general, tend to think of drain cleaning as something that they only need to have done when there’s a major clog in a sink, shower, or bathtub. There’s also a tendency to connect “drain cleaning” with bottles of chemicals at the grocery store, not the work of professional plumbers. But we strongly recommend you call our plumbers this fall and arrange for drain cleaning in Potomac, MD for your home’s plumbing system.

Regular drain cleaning offers many benefits

Why arrange this each year? Is it really a priority to have professionals clean your drains? The best way to answer these questions is to explain some of the benefits you’ll receive:

  • Few (to no) clogs: No plumbing service can guarantee a house won’t run into a clogged drain (objects can always accidentally fall over into a drain). But professional drain cleaning can reduce the chance of clogs occurring to as close to zero as you can get. The cleaning removes the build-up from the pipe wall so thoroughly that it gives food particles, hair, soap scum, etc. little opportunity to stick to the pipe walls and begin the build-up process again.
  • Stop bad-smelling drains: Food and other organic particles along the inside of drainpipes are a major cause for problems with bad drain odors and sewer flies. Cleaner drains mean a more pleasant household.
  • Longer life for the plumbing system: The build up inside pipes isn’t only a trouble for the efficiency of your plumbing. It can cause damage to the drainpipes and the sewer line over the long-term. For example, soap scum developing inside bathroom sink and shower drains can create a chemical reaction that will eat right through the pipes. Large buildup also raises pressure in the plumbing and creates the risk of leaks starting up.

Don’t touch those chemical drain cleaners!

We mentioned store-bought drain cleaners at the top of this post. This is something we want to emphasize: do not use these on your drains! They are a tempting, low-cost option supposedly to clean drains, but these caustic chemical concoctions can harm your drains. They’re also highly toxic, and even the fumes can burn your eyes. No professional plumber recommends using them.

Our plumbers rely on Bio-Clean® as part of unclogging drains and drain cleaning. Bio-Clean is an environmentally friendly drain cleaning solution that uses the natural power of bacteria and enzymes to remove organic waste from drains. We’ll use Bio-Clean and other professional methods (such as hydro-jetting) to ensure you have fully cleansed drains that won’t give you trouble for a long time to come.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating is the Contractor of Choice.

What Is Trenchless Technology?

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You may have noticed among our long list of plumbing services that we offer trenchless technology. This isn’t a service you’ll necessarily call specifically us to do. It isn’t like contacting our plumbers to fix a leak, unclog a drain, or repipe your house. Rather, trenchless technology is a method we use to handle a number of important jobs such as repairing and replacing damaged sewer and water lines. When you call us for assistance because you’ve lost water to your house or the sewer line has backed up, we’ll decide if using trenchless technology is the fastest and most effective method to solve the problem.

We’ll provide a short rundown in this post to give you an idea of why this technology is beneficial for home and commercial plumbing. If you want full details about trenchless technology in Bethesda, MD and throughout Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, get in touch with one of our plumbers.

The Basics of Trenchless Technology

Trenchless technology is actually an umbrella term for a number of installation and replacement techniques for pipes and other utilities (such as fiber optic cables and gas lines) that cause minimum disruption to the surface because of excavation. For example, the standard way of replacing a sewer line for a house is to use power digging equipment to tear open a trench to access the pipeline. This is disruptive to the property around the house and requires a large amount of labor and time. Trenchless technology removes almost all the digging work, which is why it’s often called “no dig” technology. (Although it may require a small amount of digging—just not enough to create noticeable disruptions.)

Trenchless technology originally started in coal mining, where lateral boring was used to access difficult-to-reach areas. It was soon adopted into civic engineering: lateral digging to lay down pipes and electrical lines means there’s no need to tear up large parts of streets and create massive disruption. Eventually, the technology found its way into the residential sector as an alternative to using digging equipment.

Here’s how the trenchless technology we use for pipe replacement works (this is only one example of ways we can use trenchless technology, but it’s a good overall survey):

  • Our technicians dig a small hole at the edge of your property where the sewer or water line crosses to the municipal system. We can access the end of the pipe and detach it.
  • From indoors, we located where the sewer line exits the house (or the water line enters it) and slide a pipeliner into the pipe interior.
  • A hydraulic device attached to the other end of the pipeline—the one we accessed by digging—then draws the pipeliner through the pipe and sets it into place.
  • A device called a “pipe-burster” the drawn threw the pipeliner, expanding the liner to shatter the exterior pipe, replacing it with the liner.
  • The new pipe is connected to the municipal system and the single small hole is filled in and landscaped.

This process takes only a few hours, rather than days like standard excavation methods. And afterward, the property looks virtually untouched!

Mallick Plumbing & Heating Is the Service Contractor of Choice for when Trenchless Technology is the best solution to your plumbing issues.

When Clogged Drains Mean Something Worse

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The drain clog. The slow drain. We all know them, and we all find them an annoyance. Although we can take steps to prevent them by being careful of what goes down the drains and remembering to arrange for routine drain cleaning from plumbers, clogs are still going to happen from time to time. And in most situations, the reason for a clogged or slow drain is an obstruction or build-up in the drainpipes. This is a basic fix for a professional plumber.

But slow and clogged drain can also point to deeper plumbing problems: a busted sewage pump, a broken sewer pipe, or root infiltration into the sewer line. These are serious situations that call for professional repair work before sewage starts to back up into the house.

Below are signs that something worse than a standard clog is blocking up your drains or making them drain slowly. Don’t hesitate to contact us for sewer cleaning in Chevy Chase, MD when you have a bigger issue than basic clogged drains.

The drainage problems are frequent

You shouldn’t have to deal with a clogged drain problem more than once a month if that. When the troubles become so common that a plunger or hand-cranked drain snake is an essential tool kept on hand in the kitchen or the bathrooms, you have a more serious problem that needs an investigation from a pro.

More than one drain is clogged or slow at a time

A local drainpipe clog will affect one drain. So when you notice that more than one drain is clogging up at the same time, it indicates blockage or breaks farther down in the drainage system. Watch out in particular for when the clogging starts to happen in the drains lowest in the house first, such as in basement drains and sinks.

The drains are making gurgling noises

When you pour water down a slow drain or one that’s clogged, you might hear a gurgling sound from it. This could be sewer gas that’s being forced up the pipe because of damage or blockage in the sewer line.

Foul smells from the drains

When a single drain emits unpleasant sewer odors, it’s usually because the drain hasn’t been used for a while and the p-trap has dried up. This removes a barrier against the flow of sewer gas. It’s easy to fix: just pour some water down the drain. But if this doesn’t solve the problem, or there are sewer odors coming from more than one drain, it’s probably trouble in the sewer line or a broken sewage pump.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your home’s drains. Perhaps you only need standard drain cleaning. But you may require more extensive sewer line services, and you can rely on our skilled and licensed plumbers to discover what’s wrong with your plumbing and then get the job done right. We use the best in trenchless technology when it comes to repairing or replacing damaged sewer lines, as well as fixing trouble with tree root infiltration into the pipeline.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating is the Contractor of Choice in Silver Spring, MD.

Causes of Slow Drains

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A drain that’s fully stopped is something you know has to be fixed as soon as possible. But how often have you ignored a drain that’s draining slowly? This warning sign often goes without the attention it needs—and that will eventually lead to a major blockage. As soon as you notice a slow drain, take steps to fix it. (And this doesn’t mean pouring caustic chemicals down the drain! Store-bought “drain cleaners” do not do an effective job and they may cause damage to the pipes.) If a standard plunger won’t clear the drain, contact professional plumbers for drain cleaning in Silver Spring, MD.

Why You May Have Slow Drains

Many different problems can lead to slow drains, and that’s why it’s better to have professionals take care of cleaning them: they’ll know how to tackle the specific issue. Here are some of the more common sources for slow drains:

  • Organic build-up: This is a frequent cause of slow drains in a kitchen. When fats, oils, and grease go down a drain, they’ll leave residue along the drainpipe walls that will continue to build up until it restricts water flow.
  • Hard water deposits: One of the big issues with hard water in a home is that the minerals in hard water leave scale deposits on the pipe walls. This will reduce the available volume in the pipe. You’ll need to have plumbers look into installing a water softener along with handling drain cleaning.
  • Root infiltration: If more than one drain is slowing down in your home, the cause may be in the sewer line itself rather than in the individual drains. Roots often grow down into sewer lines and block them up. This job needs specialized plumbing services to fix it before it causes a serious problem with sewage backup.

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

Problems You May Encounter with Your Home’s Grinder Pump

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The grinder pump is a part of the sewer system for many homes. Essentially, it functions similar to a garbage disposal, except it is more powerful and located farther along in the plumbing in a tank buried under your property. When the wastewater exiting your home reaches a set level, the pump turns on to move the water toward the civic sewer system—while also grinding down larger solid waste to prevent problems in the municipal sewer lines.

As with any mechanical device that handles a great deal of work around the year, a grinder pump can experience malfunctions. Below are three of the more common grinder pump issues you might run into. Call for professional plumbers when any of these occur!

  • Frozen pump: Your grinder pump is buried down in the ground at a level below the frost line to prevent it from freezing during our chilly winters. However, a frozen pump can still occur for a pump that wasn’t placed deep enough. This will freeze the waste inside and stop the pump from working. It can also inflict serious damage to the pipes. Professionals can solve the problem and bury the pump deeper.
  • Blockage: Grease and dirt can build up in the grinder pump, and create blockage. If you notice slow drains or a large number of clogs—or sewage backs up into your home—then call immediately for professional plumbers.
  • Clots: A large enough item becoming stuck inside the pump will then allow smaller items to build up. The pump will start to work slower or make loud noises. Plumbers will need to clear out the clotting before the pump breaks down.

Not all plumbing companies offer repair and other services for grinder pumps. But we do! You can rely on us to handle any repairs that your home’s grinder pump may require to get it back to work. We can also replace the grinder pump if that’s what is needed.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating is the service contractor of choice in Chevy Chase, MD, and the surrounding areas.

When Should I Schedule Drain Cleaning?

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“Drain cleaning” doesn’t mean pouring a bottle of acidic chemicals down a clogged drain opening and hoping that will take care of everything. This is just a type of “drain unclogging”—and unfortunately it often won’t even achieve that. Worse, those caustic chemicals can end up doing damage to the drainpipe!

Actual drain cleaning is a professional service that licensed plumbers can perform for you using tools such as motorized drain snakes and powerful hydro-jetting equipment. But when should you arrange for drain cleaning? There are two specific times, which we’ll look at below.

Every Year

Drain cleaning should be a service that you have done once a year as part of general maintenance for the plumbing in your household. This is a great preventive measure against all sorts of drain and sewer troubles. Using hydro-jetters, plumbers can so thoroughly scour away the organic gunk and other build-up on the drainpipe walls that it will make clogs almost impossible—and the renewed build-up will take much longer to start again. Regular drain cleaning also helps to stop problems with high-water pressure, limescale from hard water, and bad-smelling drains.

Emergency Clogs

When you run into a clog in your sink or in another drain in your house that you can get rid of using a plunger or a simple hand-crank drain snake, don’t make any other attempts to clear it. This is when you need to call on professionals to completely clean the drain. Simply punching a hole through a clog to allow water through usually means the blockage will start up again a short time later. The complete scouring of the drain that you’ll receive from professional drain cleaning will not only get rid of the clogging, but it will also stop it from coming back.

To arrange for drain cleaning, either as regular service or in an emergency, call on Mallick Plumbing & Heating. We serve Rockville, MD and throughout Silver Spring and Montgomery County.

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.

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