Potato Peels, Turkey bones damage your garbage disposal

Thanksgiving is here and the kitchen is a very busy place. It is the time of year when the saying “too many cooks in the kitchen” applies most perfectly. Turkey, potatoes, pies, casseroles and many other homestyle favorites will be created in the next two days. As you share this special day with your family and friends, be sure not to overlook some simple tips that will keep your kitchen functioning for many holidays to come even after this years cooking frenzy.

Potato peels and turkey bones can cause serious damage to your garbage disposal. Thick potato skins can wedge into the grinder of your sink’s garbage disposal and disable the unit. Use caution when sending foods into the garbage disposal this holiday season. Throw large chunks, skins and bones into the trash instead of grinding them in your disposal.

If you find yourself with a disabled garbage disposal this holiday season, don’t let it ruin your celebration. Let the experts at RooterMD Plumbing in Livonia repair or replace your disposal with quickness.

Holiday Plumbing Emergency Services

• Garbage Disposal Repair
• Kitchen Sink Clogs
• Leaky Faucets

Call RooterMD Plumbing for your emergency holiday plumbing needs. 248.888.7777

RooterMD Plumbing in Livonia, MI has identified an organization called Children’s Lifeline that brings relief to the victims of poverty in Haiti. Pete Wood, owner of RooterMD Plumbing, has donated his time this week to travel to Children’s Lifeline in Haiti for mission work.

We would like to thank all our customers and supporters in the Metro Detroit area who donated to our Haiti Campaign. RooterMD is proud to reveal that with your generous donations, Pete was able to bring over 100 pairs of shoes to distribute to families suffering from poverty! To keep you updated on the trip, the organization has established an online blog to chronicle their time and efforts that you can access here.

RooterMD would also like to give a special thanks to the establishment and customers of Perko’s Shoes, Red Wings Shoes, and Cobbler’s Corner. These businesses, all located in Livonia, MI, graciously allowed our company to place donation drop boxes in their stores throughout the months of May and June.

If you missed the opportunity to help out by donating shoes in time for the June trip then you have another chance to make a difference! A second Haiti Earthquake Mission Trip is already planned for October 2011. RooterMD Plumbing and Children’s Lifeline encourage individuals and business owners of the Metro Detroit community to donate shoes to this effort and help make a significant contribution to the relief effort in Haiti. Pete and the RooterMD Plumbing team will continue collecting donations of warm-climate weather shoes to be distributed on this trip. Feel free to call us at (248) 888-7777 for more information on how to help!

Just a small portion of the shoes our customers have donated!

Even after a year of restoration and relief efforts working to manage the catastrophic effects of the Haitian earthquake disaster, the residents and families of Haiti continue to struggle to reestablish their lives and national infrastructure. It is important to continue relief efforts to help an already economically depressed area of the world climb back from an unfortunate disaster.

RooterMD Plumbing in Livonia, MI has identified an organization called Children’s Lifeline that makes it possible for the people of Metro Detroit to make a practical, effective contribution to relief efforts in Haiti. Communities of Metro Detroit can make contributions to this locally organized relief effort by donating new or gently used sandals, Crocs or other warm climate footwear to your local RooterMD Plumbing technician or at our Livonia, MI location. The donated shoes will be packed in suitcases and flown to Children’s Lifeline in Haiti and personally administered to those in need by mission workers. Shoe donations will be accepted by RooterMD Plumbing until October of 2011.

Pete Wood, owner and president of RooterMD Plumbing, has planned two trips to Haiti to assist this process providing missionary work and relief support. Pete will be leaving in June 2011 and again in October of 2011 to donate time and support to the people and relief effort in Haiti. Pete will represent Metro Detroit during his visit personally working to help the families and individuals in need in any way possible.

RooterMD Plumbing and Children’s Lifeline encourage individuals and business owners of the Metro Detroit community to donate shoes to this effort and help make a significant contribution to the relief effort in Haiti.

Donation Drop Off Locations:

RooterMD Plumbing
248.888.7777
31675 W Eight Mile Rd
Livonia, MI 48152

Perkos Shoes
734.427.3477
33426 5 Mile Road
Livonia, MI 48154

Red Wings Shoes
248.476.9600
18762 Middlebelt Rd
Livonia, MI

Cobbler’s Corner Of Livonia
248.474.9134
33493 7 Mile Rd
Livonia, MI 48152

The purpose of this white paper is to help answer some frequently asked questions regarding Orangeburg piping, reasons and examples of the deterioration of these pipes, as well as to provide information regarding “trenchless” or “no-dig” processes that incorporate pipe bursting technologies and pipe relining methods as a means of pipe replacement in order to fully restore sewer piping systems functionality. These methods are the best possible solutions for faulty sewer piping systems that are assembled using the Orangeburg piping material.

The sanitary sewer system of a building handles drainage from fixtures such as sinks, showers, toilets and floor drains. When there are drainage problems within the sanitary system they are usually the result from a blockage in the piping, broken pipes, deteriorating pipes or off-set piping. The end result is a very slow running sewer system and eventual sewage back up through fixtures or floor drains, causing dangerous conditions and destruction of property. Where Orangeburg piping is used, faulty sewer pipe systems are common and residents and building owners are faced with severe plumbing problems. When considering possible solutions for sewer drainage problems in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the type of piping material used in the sewer drainage system is an incredibly important factor. Many piping systems in Ann Arbor, Michigan were built using bituminous fiber pipe, commonly referred to as “Orangeburg” sewer piping. Orangeburg refers to the brand name of the sewer pipe made by Orangeburg Manufacturing Co., Inc. of Orangeburg, New York. When Orangeburg pipe is used, many factors contribute to the pipe deterioration and breakage leading to faulty sewer piping systems. Locations where Orangeburg piping was used often lead to the need for complete removal and replacement of all or part of the piping system or a specialized epoxy relining of the entire sewer line plumbing.

Major failures of sewer pipes in Ann Arbor, Michigan over the past twenty years have been associated with bituminized or Orangeburg piping. Orangeburg piping was used to build many piping systems in Ann Arbor during the years of WWII and shortly after because of the scarcity of cast iron and other metals. The State of Michigan Plumbing Board accepted bituminized fiber piping on November 1, 1949. The Ann Arbor City’s jurisdiction approved Orangeburg piping until 1970 when it was removed from the list of materials approved for sewer materials.

Ann Arbor residents need to be careful when purchasing property in the city of Ann Arbor as there is no consistent pattern for buildings that are with or without Orangeburg piping. In some instances there are consistencies on specific streets or neighborhoods but there are also isolated instances throughout the city. The city does not have records of all “Orangeburg” houses but has been keeping record of addresses of homes where sewer pipe has been replaced in total or in part since the 1980′s. Residents should check this listing before purchasing a home in Ann Arbor to prevent major inconvenience and costly repairs. Also, many professional plumbing companies have technologies that can inspect the sewer pipe system to see what type of material was used during construction. These

may include in-pipe camera inspections that can produce video images, pipe cleaning or “snaking” that can produce clues after bringing back piping materials or digging down to the pipe exterior that would provide positive identification of the specific pipe used.

The piping systems built with these materials may fail for a number of reasons. First, the bedding around the Orangeburg piping may shift over time causing the pipes to shift and break apart at the joints. Also, tree roots may become entangled in pipes at the joints, loosening or breaking pipes apart and restricting flow. Deteriorating pipes may also occur because of the improper disposal of cleaners and solvents that eat away at the bitumen fibers, eliminating the ability of the pipe system to maintain proper flow.

There are essentially two ways to fix sewer problems caused by deteriorating, clogged or broken Orangeburg pipes. If the pipe is still in good shape, obstructions can be removed by drain snaking or hydro jetting. This may be the less expensive approach but these invasive and powerful procedures tend to damage the piping further and provide only a short term solution to sewer piping problems. Unfortunately, pipe repairs are often needed on a regular basis and the eventual replacement of the piping is usually necessary.

If the Orangeburg piping needs to be replaced, the standard method used to replace the pipes involves digging large trenches and removing the old pipes so new pipes can be installed. Fortunately, new “trenchless” or “no-dig” technologies allow plumbing companies to perform pipe bursting and pipe relining to restore the piping material with minimum digging and disruption to landscaping and property. These new processes are more cost-effective and involve less disruption during the pipe replacement, making it the best possible solution for home owners who are faced with sewer problems caused by clogged, broken or deteriorating Orangeburg pipes.

Cured-in-place pipe relining techniques are the most cost effective permanent solutions to restore impaired or deteriorating Orangeburg pipes. This specialized process is only offered by highly-skilled plumbing contractors who have the equipment and the knowledge to handle and apply the pipe epoxy to individual damaged plumbing systems. Epoxy pipe relining works perfectly for Orangeburg pipe repairs because it forms a completely new pipe wall within the form of the existing pipe without removing the old piping material. After the epoxy cures, a new permanent epoxy pipe remains within the old pipe line and provides a seamless, free-flowing extension of the property’s plumbing system. The new relined piping system can be cleaned and maintained just like a traditional functioning plumbing system and is considered just as reliable as new pipe.

If you have Orangeburg pipe at your property or it exists at a property you wish to purchase or sell, you should examine the options for repair and replacement. Only trust Michigan plumbing contractors with a proven successful job history of pipe relining so the job is done right the first time. Restoring the sewer line or impaired plumbing system at your property is important for long-term property health and preserving property value. If Orangeburg pipe is featured on your property is will eventually fail and preventative action is recommended in order to avoid property damage and a potentially expensive plumbing overhaul.

Question:
How do I know if I have tree roots in my Underground pipe system and what is the best way to handle roots in my underground pipes?

Many Michigan homeowners face the unfortunate occurrence of having tree roots penetrating their underground sewer pipe system, creating blockages and faulty functioning of the utility system.  If not taken care of promptly, the roots will completely fill the pipe with hair-like root masses at each point of entry.  These root masses quickly become clogged with toilet tissue, grease, and other debris flowing from homes to the main sewer.  This will result reduced flow and slow drains and if the blockage is left unattended a complete blockage of the sewer pipe may occur.

Also, after roots have entered the piping, they continue to grow and expand, placing a considerable amount of pressure on the pipes, especially at the joints where they are most vulnerable. This increased pressure creates broken pipes, collapsed pipes or damaged pipes that are unable to retain their proper function. These broken sewer pipe systems require immediate repair or replacement.

Have tree roots in your sewer pipe system?

RooterMD Plumbing is ready to perform professional sewer drain cleaning using powerful hydro jetting technology that will completely eliminate any blockages created by the penetration of roots in your underground piping.  If piping is already too damaged to be cleaned, by using the advanced technologies of “No-Dig” or “Trenchless” sewer pipe repair, RooterMD Plumbing is able to completely replace your existing piping with new pipe that will be impenetrable by tree roots in the future.  Say goodbye to sewer pipe problems forever with RooterMD Plumbing’s pipe bursting technologies and Cured-In-Place-Piping technologies, whereby broken and damaged pipes are eliminated and new piping is put in its place without digging large trenches in your yard and sacrificing your valuable landscaping.  To learn more about sewer pipe lining in Michigan, please visit our extensive services pages or call RooterMD today where a friendly customer service representative will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Question:
How do I prevent my pipes from freezing in Michigan? – Frozen Pipe Prevention in Michigan

Every winter, thousands of residents experience frozen pipes in Michigan. Common locations for pipes freezing in Michigan are those pipes that are in an outside or exterior wall, under a sink or outside wall, or in an unheated crawl space.  Also, homes that are left unoccupied during the cold winter months and are unheated during the very cold temperatures are subject to frozen pipes if proper precautions are not taken.

If water is left in pipes that are subject to temperatures at or below the freezing level (32 degrees Fahrenheit), the water will freeze.  When water freezes, it expands in its solid form as ice.  When there is not enough space for the ice to expand inside the pipe, an extraordinary amount of pressure is placed on the piping, creating burst, broken and damaged pipes. When temperatures climb back up to above freezing level, as is very common during unpredictable Michigan weather, the ice in the pipes melts and this water escapes through cracks in damaged and broken pipes causing flooding and costly water damage to property.

Ways to Help Prevent Pipes from Freezing in Michigan:

• If you have a property of Michigan that is left unoccupied during the cold winter months, elect to have it winterized before it is subject to the cold temperatures during the winter.
• If you have any leaks in your home’s foundation that allow heat to escape your home and cold air to penetrate into your home, make sure they are completely sealed with insulation or calk, especially those areas that are near piping.
• Be sure to disconnect garden hoses from the property and use indoor water valves to drain the pipes completely.
• Insulate pipes that are located in areas such as outdoor walls and crawl spaces where they are more susceptible to the cold.
• Use electrical heating cables or heat tape around the pipes especially when the temperature is below freezing.
• Make sure to follow the directions for the heating cables and the heat tape and only use them for their intended use.
• When trying to thaw a frozen pipe don’t use a flame or torch; instead try using a hair dryer, a space heater, or an electric pipe wrap, or call your preferred plumber.
• While in the process of trying to thaw a pipe and there is water leaking that is a good sign that the pipe has burst due to the water freezing and causing pressure inside of the pipe.  If this has occurred then the water valve needs to be shut off in order to prevent water damage.

If you are looking for the safest and easiest way to prevent frozen pipes in Michigan, your best bet is to call a professional plumber.  The plumbers at RooterMD Plumbing have the experience and tools necessary to prevent frozen pipes as well as handle already frozen pipes in no time at all.  Call RooterMD Plumbing and never worry about having frozen pipes in Michigan again.

RooterMD Plumbing Preventing Frozen and Burst Pipes in Michigan with the Following Services:

• Michigan Home Winterizations
• Thawing of frozen pipes
• Pipe Repairs or Pipe Replacements Caused by Frozen Pipes
• Any Pipe Repair or Pipe Replacement for other Plumbing Problems Related to Frozen Pipes in Michigan.

Question:
I have an odor coming from my kitchen sink and garbage disposal.  What causes this and how can I eliminate the odor from my kitchen sink?

Foul odors coming from kitchen sinks and garbage disposals are common plumbing problems for many Michigan homeowners.  Odors from a kitchen drain or garbage disposal usually occur when there is gradual and substantial build up of food debris within the garbage disposal over time.  This inevitably leads to a partially blocked kitchen drain that emits an unpleasant odor.  Clogged kitchen drains can be avoided by simply using the garbage disposal correctly each and every time it is operated.  Many people put food materials of any kind down the garbage disposal, turn it on while the water is running and quickly turn off the garbage disposal and water when the food disappears down the drain.  However, while the disposal was running, the spinning motion of the disposal blades threw a slurry of organic food waste on the sides of the disposal, and generally, a small stream of water from the kitchen sink will not be enough to remove all of the waste, leaving it behind.  Any organic waste that is not completely rinsed away soon begins to rot, emitting an unpleasant smell and eventually will become solidified and contribute to a blocked kitchen drain.

If you want your garbage disposal to stay clean and smell fresh all of the time, you need to rinse it extremely well after each use.  In order to completely clean your garbage disposal chamber after each use, there is a special technique recommended.  The key to cleaning a garbage disposal is to grind up any organic material while the faucet is running.  Then, place a stopper in the sink and fill it about two-thirds of the way full while adding a generous squirt of liquid dish soap.  When there is enough soapy water in the sink, remove the stopper while turning on the garbage disposal once again.  These steps will create a powerful cleaning technique that will leave your garbage disposal clean and healthy.

If a garbage disposal is not rinsed thoroughly after each use, hardened organic materials become extremely difficult to clean and you may want to elect to have a professional plumbing company like RooterMD Plumbing visit the residence to check out the kitchen drain.  Often times, pipes need to be cleaned by a professional plumber by means of powerful hydro jetting to eliminate stubborn materials such as organic waste and grease buildup.

Faced with a clogged kitchen sink in Michigan?

Allow the plumbers at RooterMD Plumbing to use advanced hydro jetting drain cleaning methods in order to remove any stubborn kitchen sink clog in a quick and efficient manner while providing you with fast, friendly and outstanding customer service.

There are many reasons why underground pipe systems and utilities are disrupted, broken or impaired.  Your piping system is at the mercy of elements underground causing them to become damaged, impaired or broken.  Listed below are some examples of why piping systems lose their proper function and pipe bursting and cured-in-place piping become necessary.

Impaired Underground Pipes

Broken pipes, collapsed pipes, offset pipes and damaged pipes may result from soil movement or frozen underground conditions.  Extreme changes in weather often cause damages to piping systems as the underground conditions go from frozen conditions during very cold months and when the temperature increases the soil shifts and movement and damage of the piping system occurs.

Blocked Pipes and Restricted Pipe Flow

Pipe systems have improper flow and lose their functionality when there are clogged pipes, clogged drains, grease buildup or sludge buildup.  These elements restrict the pipe’s proper flow and drainage, leading to a faulty sewer pipe system.   If you have any trees growing nearby your underground pipes they can easily break through and cause clogging as well.

Pipe Corrosion

Pipes used to distribute drinking water are made of plastic, concrete, or metal (e.g., steel, galvanized steel, ductile iron, copper, or aluminum). Plastic and concrete pipes tend to be resistant to corrosion. Over time, galvanized steel pipes or other metal pipes deteriorate and require replacement. Under certain environmental conditions, metal pipes can become corroded based on the properties of the pipe, the soil surrounding the pipe and the water properties.

Leaky Pipe Joints

Sewer pipes are the most vulnerable at the joints, and when there are small breaks at the joints of the pipe system, water escapes the pipe through breaches in the joints, impairing the connective assembly. Freezing is the biggest cause of leakage in plastic pipe joints. The freezing weather can cause the plastic to break and from there a leakage may occur. In this case there’s little chance of repairing the pipe joint and you will have to replace it entirely.

Improper Pipe Materials

Some older homes had their piping systems build using Orangeburg or bituminized fiber piping. These materials are no longer used to create piping systems as the eventual deterioration of these materials is inevitable.  These homes commonly require complete pipe replacement using pipe bursting technologies and cured-in-place-piping processes.

In order to prevent dangerous sewage backup in your Michigan home, optimal sewer pipe system operation is imperative.  Anything from tree roots, minerals, dirt, grease and sludge buildup can clog your sewer drain and affect the function of your homes plumbing system.  That is why regular inspection and maintenance of your sewer system is recommended by all plumbing professionals. The professionals at RooterMd perform sewer pipe inspections and sewer jetting pipe cleaning methods in order to maintain proper sewer system function and prevent sewage backup.

Allow the professionals at RooterMD to take the necessary steps to properly maintain your sewer pipe system in order to prevent you from having serious and expensive sewer problems in the future.

Most plumbers offer drain snaking services in order to clear blockages in a sewer system.  When drain snaking isn’t enough, RooterMD performs sewer jetting.  Sewer jetting is the use of high-pressure water to cut through and eliminate blockages in sewers completely. The plumbing professionals at RooterMD use the appropriate water pressure for your individual piping system, considering the diameter and material of the pipes in order to prevent damage to your piping system.

By using sewer jetting methods during sewer drain cleaning, RooterMD plumbers can remove any obstruction within your sewer piping system and ensure its proper functionality.  Sewer jetting services will ensure clear and free flowing drainage of pipes, preventing sewage backup in the future.

Many customers come to RooterMD Plumbing with plumbing questions after they find out their garbage disposal is no longer working or they have a clogged kitchen sink.  If you are faced with a broken garbage disposal, a clogged kitchen sink or have an odor coming from your kitchen sink, give RooterMD Plumbing a call and we can take care of your plumbing problem in no time at all.

In order to prevent a clogged kitchen sink or a broken garbage disposal, take a look at the answers to some frequently asked questions below.

Greases and Oils and your Kitchen Sink

Refrain from pouring fats or any cooking oils down kitchen drains.  Juices from meats such as bacon, beef, turkey, etc., are loaded with grease that cools and solidifies inside your kitchen pipes, coating the walls causing build up and eventually a clog in your kitchen sink.  It’s a good idea to have jars available to disposes of this waste, making it easier to use the garbage can to dispose of greases and oils, not your kitchen drain.

Vegetable Peelings and Drains

Any stringy, fibrous or starchy foods that enter your kitchen sink have the potential to cause a clog. Foods such as celery, potato peels, fruit peels, sweet potatoes, meat skins, rice and pasta are all materials that may cause a clogged kitchen sink.  Be careful not to allow these items down your kitchen drain during meal preparation as well during as clean up.

Garbage Disposal Use

RooterMD plumbers often find garbage disposals clogged with large amounts of food peelings and other waste when a garbage disposal is not run frequently enough.  Be sure to run your garbage disposal each time waste is placed in the kitchen drain and be sure to run the garbage disposal and water running long enough so the waste is completely ground up and pushed down the drain.

Other Tips to Prevent Clogged Kitchen Drains

Clogged kitchen sinks occur frequently after large meal preparations during holidays and celebrations, so be sure to follow the above rules carefully at all times.  Also try to keep an eye on friends and family who are guest cooks in your kitchen, as they may not know how to take proper precautions in order to prevent a clogged kitchen sink or a broken garbage disposal.

The good news is that if you are ever faced with a clogged kitchen sink, RooterMD is ready to respond quickly in order to get your kitchen running smoothly in no time. Call RooterMD Plumbing with any plumbing questions you may have, we have friendly staff members ready to answer your call.