Are you looking for expert plumber services in Potomac, Maryland area? You’ve come to the right place!
PLUMBER POTOMAC
Plumber Potomac offers top-notch plumber services in Potomac, Maryland. Plumber Potomac has been providing full residential and commercial plumbing services for a number of years to the people of the Potomac. We also offer fast 24 Hour Emergency plumbing service! Give us a call today to get started. You can count on our expert and professional service. Our customers get the highest quality plumbing at fair and reasonable prices.
DRAIN CLEANING SERVICES IN POTOMAC, MD
Drains serve the important function of channeling water into the pipes so that the pipes can carry waste water away from the home.
These are most commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms, but you may also have them in a laundry room, a garage or other areas. They can easily become clogged due to larger, foreign materials accidentally being washed down the drain. They can also become clogged due to a build-up of items like soap residue, grease, strands of hair, food particles and other similar items.
You may need to contact us for professional drain cleaning service if you notice water that is slow to drain out of sinks, tubs and shower basins or if you notice standing water that does not drain out of these features. We utilize several different techniques to quickly remove the clog that is limiting your ability to use your drains as intended.
In some cases, a clog may be located on or close to the drain cover, and you may be able to easily remedy the situation on your own. However, because clogs can be deeper in pipes and harder to remove and because you may not be able to use your water features until the clog is removed, you want to use professional services from our team to fix the problem without delay.
Sewer Line Repair and Replacement
Intact sewer and water lines are essential to a clean and comfortable home. Read on to learn what causes sewer lines to break and how they are repaired or replaced. A sewer line backup or leak can be frustrating to deal with as a homeowner. Along with the unpleasant smell and messy cleanup of a compromised sewer pipe, it can be difficult to pinpoint the root cause of your sewage problem.
To help prevent sewer line damage or mitigate an issue when it arises, it’s important to know how to spot the main causes of sewer line damage. Here are the common causes of a damaged sewer line, signs to look for, and how you can repair or replace your sewer system.
Causes of Sewer Line Damage
From clogged pipes to normal wear and tear, here are a few causes of sewer line damage.
Tree Roots
One of the most common causes of sewer line damage is tree roots. A tree’s roots follow sources of water as they grow. Since sewer lines carry liquid waste, roots are naturally attracted to the source.
Once in contact with a sewer pipe, tree roots begin to wrap around and break into pipes, clogging, weakening, and even breaking the structure. Clay sewer pipes, typically found in older homes, are the most susceptible to damage from tree roots.
Corroded Pipes
Although pipes made of steel and cast iron are galvanized to prevent rusting, these pipes are at a high risk of corroding due to calcium and magnesium build-up from regular wear and tear. If corrosion is left untreated, it can leave the pipe susceptible to leaks and cracks.
Clogged Pipes Due to Debris and Foreign Objects
Your home’s sewage lines are only equipped to handle human waste and toilet paper. Avoid flushing trash like wrappers and paper towels, as they’re unable to properly disintegrate and can cause blockages that drain cleaning agents can’t fix. In the kitchen, cooking oil and grease can also clog pipes if they’re poured into the sink. Pour these liquids into a container, let them cool, and then dispose of them in a trash can.
Extreme Temperatures
During extreme temperature and cold weather, frozen pipes can bust as a result of the expanding ice. However, it’s not just cold weather that can cause pipes to rupture—though unlikely, extreme heat can burst pipes, too.
Signs of Sewer Line Damage
To prevent further damage, it’s important to know the signs of a damaged sewer system so that you can take immediate action and contact an experienced service technician.
Flooded or Foul-Smelling Yard
A yard that’s flooded can be a sign of a broken sewer pipe. Sewer lines can be buried anywhere between a couple of feet to six feet below the ground, with colder climates calling for deeper pipes. For sewer lines close to the surface, a broken pipe can quickly begin to pool water which seeps through the grass and becomes visible on the surface. You may be able to smell the sewage before it surfaces, as sewage gas can seep through your yard’s soil.
Draining Difficulties
While some blockages are caused by a pipe leading directly from a faucet or shower, you can detect a blockage in the main sewage line if multiple draining areas in the home are clogging. Toilets can warn of severe blockages if strange gurgling sounds occur when air gets pushed back up the line.
Sewer Line Repair and Replacement
If your sewer line springs a leak or breaks and needs to be repaired, you have two options: Dig a trench around the sewer pipe or use trenchless sewer line repairs. A trenchless sewer repair is time and cost-effective while requiring little to no digging. To start the process, technicians use a video camera to enter into the sewer line and recommend repairs. Then, one of two plumbing repairs is usually recommended:
1. Pipe lining—If the damage to your sewage pipe is minimal, pipe lining can be used to insert an inflatable tube covered in epoxy into your sewer line. From there, the tube is inflated, pressing against the existing line. While it’s up against the existing sewage line, the epoxy cures and hardens, repairing the leak. The inflatable tube can then be removed and the sewer line repaired.
2. Pipe bursting—When a sewer line is too damaged to use the pipe lining technique, a more invasive trenchless repair can be performed. Technicians feed a cone-shaped bit through your existing line and destroy the pipe while immediately replacing it with a new one. This process is more expensive and less time-effective, but it doesn’t require extensive excavation.
If your pipes are damaged beyond repair, you may have to resort to traditional sewer line replacement methods. This is an extremely invasive and costly method that requires technicians to dig up your yard to reveal the damaged or broken lines. However, excavation is necessary if your home’s sewage system has extensive damage.
How to Protect Your Sewer Lines
Although not all sewer line damage is preventable, here are three steps you can take to care for your sewage system:
1. Receive sewer line inspections once a year—To confirm that your sewage system is in good working condition, hire a professional to conduct an inspection at least once a year. Some plumbing companies offer a camera inspection so that the inside of your sewer pipe can be checked for corrosion or blockages.
2. Remove trees that are damaging the sewer line—If a tree is damaging your sewer line, you should remove the tree before the sewer problem worsens.
3. Use your sewage system properly—Remember to only dispose of human waste and toilet paper in the sewer lines; any other materials that enter the system can cause blockages.
Sewer Line Repair FAQ
How long will a sewer line last?
The life of your sewer line depends on your pipe’s material. Cast iron pipes last between 75–100 years, clay and cement pipes can last up to 100 years, orangeburg pipes last around 50 years, and PVC pipes can last over 100 years.
Does homeowners insurance cover sewer line damage?
Unless your sewer line was damaged by another party, it’s unlikely that homeowner’s insurance will cover the damages. Fortunately, many home warranty companies give you the ability to protect your sewer lines through septic system coverage.
How long does trenchless sewer line repair last?
Trenchless sewer repairs like pipe bursting and pipe lining are minimally invasive sewer pipe repairs that are known for their longevity. The amount of time the repair lasts depends on your pipe’s material and method used; however, most trenchless sewer line repairs last up to 50 years.
Water Heater Repair
Water Heater Maintenance in Potomac
Many Potomac homeowners do not realize tank water heaters require maintenance. Flushing the water heater tank is something that should be done on a yearly basis. As water passes through natural gas or electric water heaters, sediment and minerals fall out, and settle on the bottom of the tank. Over time, they build up, restricting space and blocking heating elements from delivering full energy to the task of water heating and the hot water produced is no longer done efficiently.
Flushing water heaters is a do it yourself project for many, but there’s good reason to hire a plumber for the job. Inexperience with the task could lead to hot water burns and damage to the unit if done incorrectly. For example, you don’t want to flush an older tank water heater if it’s never been done before!
Potomac Water Heater Replacement and Installation
As mentioned above, water heaters should last around 8 to 12 years. They consume a decent portion of your home’s total energy spend, so an older, inefficient model isn’t necessarily a great unit even if it lasts as long or longer than expected. Upgrading to a new gas water heater, electric water heater, heat pump water heater, or even a tankless water heater could offer improved energy efficiency and performance for your family.
Turn to us to learn your options for water heater replacement. We carry a fine line of tank water heaters that come in all sizes. If you need help, let our plumbing experts match you to the right equipment options based on the needs of your household.
If you wonder how much it costs to replace a hot water heater, call us today to request a free estimate for water heater replacement.
Slab Leak Repair Options
It’s important to repair any leak underneath a concrete floor slab as soon as possible — it does a lot more than waste water. Slab leaks can lead to moldy carpet along with warped hardwood floors and their water damage restoration costs. Ignore this particular type of water leak repair long enough and the resulting erosion can undermine the foundation and lead to major structural damage. But what are your slab leak repair options?
A Little Background
Lets learn a bit more before going over your slab leak repair options.
What Causes a Slab Leak?
In Potomac most homes and low-rise commercial properties have a slab-on-grade foundation. That’s a concrete slab level with the surrounding soil. Water, sewer, and gas pipes are frequently run underneath, or even within that concrete, so any leak there is called a slab leak.
Nearly all metals slowly corrode, and even copper pipes develop pinholes. Even without an earthquake or hillside location foundations settle and soil moves, putting stress on pipes and also causing leaks. Homes more than 25 years old are particularly prone to slab leaks as well as the need for sewer line repairs.
Signs and Symptoms
Unlike other water leaks, a slab leak can be especially difficult to spot, being covered by flooring and several inches of concrete. If it’s a hot water line you may notice warm areas on the floor, and infrared thermal image can quickly locate the problem.
Low water pressure, especially a sudden drop, can indicate a major slab leak. If you hear hissing or running water or have wet spots on the floor, then act immediately and call an emergency plumber!
Otherwise clues can be subtle dampness, mold, and an increase in your water bill. Over time there can even be cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings. It’s relatively quick to determine if there is indeed a leak, but even with the latest in electronic instruments it may take a couple of hours to precisely locate the problem
Insurance
Unless you’ve been ignoring some fairly clear symptoms, homeowner insurance policies should cover slab leak detection as well as any water damage restoration. But not the slab leak repair itself.
Slap Leak Repair Options
Your viable slab leak repair options depend on the location of the problem and the general condition of your pipes. So it’s pretty much impossible to give even a rough estimate until after tests and a thorough inspection. Depending on the repair method and several other factors total costs could be under a thousand dollars, a few thousand dollars, or over ten-thousand dollars.
Spot Repair
If there’s a single leak with relatively easy access, hacking through the concrete and repairing a short section of a leaking water pipe or main sewer line is a common solution for commercial plumbing. Especially in warehouses. But for homes the disruption along with the cost of restoring flooring often leads people to other options. If the lines are in generally poor condition a direct repair may only be a temporary respite until the next leak occurs. For this reason once there’s been a slab leak an insurance company may require re-piping for continued coverage.
Re-Piping / Re-Routing
Re-piping is often the preferred solution. The old plumbing is abandoned and left in place while new pipes are re-routed around the outside edge of the slab or through the attic. That’s more plumbing work, but it’s often less expensive than jack hammering through concrete then restoring that concrete and matching the existing floor covering. Plus the new lines will be easily accessible for inspection and repair if there’s a future problem. Flexible PEX pipes are a high-quality reduced-cost alternative to copper or galvanized iron plumbing.
Pipe Lining
Lining the inside of pipes with a thin non-toxic epoxy coating can be an effective lower-cost option in dealing with pin holes in copper pipes as well as minor leaks in main sewer lines. CIPP (cured in place pipe) pushes through a liner that is then “cured” to become a solid reinforced coating.
Potomac Bathroom Remodelers
Potomac is a booming city, full of great opportunity and fun for all ages. If your home doesn’t match up to the lively reputation of Potomac, then it might be time for a home improvement project, starting with a fast and affordable bathroom remodel!
Plumber Potomac is your one-stop Potomac, MD bathroom remodeling company! Our mission is to help homeowners get the bathroom of their dreams, without paying outrageous remodeling prices. We are BBB Accredited, using only the highest-quality products which have earned us various recognitions such as the Good Housekeeping Seal. Our expert bathroom remodelers are dedicated to bringing your unique vision to life while offering timely, superior-quality service.
Expert Bathroom Remodeling Solutions
Since our foundation we have grown to be one of the most trusted bathroom remodeling companies in the country. Our variety of products and services are made to last, so you can enjoy your new bathroom for many years. Whether you want a few simple updates or a complete bathroom transformation, we will provide you with a bathroom remodeling experience like no other! Our variety of services include:
• Bath Conversions. Transform your outdated bath or shower today using state-of-the-art bath conversion solutions!
• Walk-In-Tubs. Enjoy easy-access bathing that’s secure and luxurious thanks to quality walk-in-baths you can afford.
• Showers.Replace your old shower with a new ultra-hygienic walk-in, fully customized to your needs and budget.
• Bathtub Replacements. Say goodbye to your old, dingy tub and hello to a stylish bath replacement that will stay clean and beautiful for a lifetime!
To learn more about what makes us the leading bath remodeling company, give us a call today! We also welcome you to complete our online form to request your free in-home estimate!
Emergency Services for Significant Plumbing Issues
While we can set up a scheduled appointment to provide you with new installation services, we also are available to respond to emergency repair requests. We understand that pipe leaks, backed up toilets, sewer line issues and other issues can have a dramatic impact on your home life or your ability to conduct business at work, and many of these issues can also result in property damage if they are not dealt with quickly.
They may also result in expensive water waste. If the issue is in a professional environment, your business may lose income until the issue is properly remedied. We offer emergency services to ensure that all of our valued clients have a fast, reliable solution to any type of issues that arise.
You can rest assured that you will never have to wait long for help to arrive when you reach out to our established and trusted company at the first sign of an issue.
