MDM Journal
Chicagoland plumbing,
written by the crew who does it.
Honest, no-BS guides on the plumbing questions we get asked most — from water heater selection to sewer camera inspections. Written by our master plumber and lead techs.
Water Heaters
The Best Water Heater for Chicagoland Homes: Why We Install Bradford White & Navien
A Chicagoland-specific guide to picking the right water heater — and why we've built our reputation on installing Bradford White tanks and Navien tankless units. Plus what our Level 3 Navien certification actually means for your install.
Sewer Lines
When Your Sewer Line Needs Replacement: A Chicagoland Homeowner's Guide
Most Chicagoland homes built before 1980 are running on original clay tile or cast-iron sewer lines that are now at end-of-life. Here's how to tell if yours is next, what replacement really costs, and how trenchless can save your yard.
Sump Pumps
Sump Pump Failure Season: What Chicagoland Basement Owners Miss
Sump pumps have a mean predictable habit: they fail during the exact storms you need them. Here's what actually breaks, why battery backups aren't optional in Chicagoland, and the sump systems we install so your basement stays dry.
Drain Cleaning
Hydro Jetting vs. Sewer Rodding: What's Actually Different (And Which You Need)
"Rodding" and "hydro jetting" get used interchangeably. They shouldn't. They solve different problems, cost different amounts, and can cause different damage if you pick wrong. Here's the Chicagoland plumber's honest breakdown.
Ejector Pumps
Sewage Ejector Pumps in Chicagoland Basements: What Actually Matters at Install
If you have a bathroom, laundry, or utility sink in a Chicagoland basement, you probably have a sewage ejector pump — a piece of equipment that lives out of sight until it stops working. Here's what we've learned installing them right, and why sealed basins and quiet check valves aren't optional.
Drain Lines
Copper DWV Drains in Chicagoland Homes: Thinning, Pinholes, and Why Rodding Can Punch Through
Copper drain-waste-vent piping was the premium install in Chicagoland homes built from the 1950s through the 1980s. It's also now thinning from the inside — developing pinholes, punching through under a rodder, and quietly getting eaten by every bottle of store-bought drain cleaner. Here's what we see when we cut these pipes out.
Sewer Lines
Sewer Video Inspections in Chicagoland: Why Every Homeowner and Home Buyer Needs One
The sewer line running under your yard is the single most expensive plumbing asset you own — and the one you can't see. A sewer video inspection is the only way to actually know its condition, and for home buyers in Chicagoland, skipping this one contingency is where the worst surprises happen.
Sump Pumps
Water Commander MG22 & MG33: The Backup Sump Pump That Doesn't Need Batteries or Electricity
Every battery backup sump pump has one thing in common: a battery you have to remember about, replace on a schedule, and hope is fully charged during the storm that knocks out your power. The Water Commander is a different approach — no battery, no electricity, and a 25+ year expected life running on your city water pressure.
Kitchen Plumbing
Garbage Disposals in Chicagoland Kitchens: Horsepower, What to Avoid, and When to Replace
The garbage disposal is the hardest-working fixture in your kitchen — and the one most likely to be undersized, misused, or three years past its real service life. Here's an honest Chicagoland plumber's guide to picking the right one, feeding it the right things, and knowing when it's done.
Drains & Sewers
Surprising Things You Should Never Flush Down Your Toilet (Even If the Package Says You Can)
Your toilet is designed to handle exactly three things. Everything else — including a lot of products sold as "flushable" — ends up wrapped around a root in your sewer line. Here's what we pull out of Chicagoland sewers every week, and how to keep it out of yours.
Drains & Sewers
The Truth About Chemical Drain Cleaners: Are They Harmful to Your Pipes?
That bottle under your sink promises to dissolve any clog in minutes. What it doesn't advertise is what it does to old copper, cast iron, and PVC joints — or to the plumber who opens the line after it didn't work. Here's the honest truth.
Homeowner Tips
Plumbing Tips for Every New Homeowner: What to Know Before Something Goes Wrong
The keys are in your hand and the boxes are everywhere. Before you unpack the kitchen, take 30 minutes to learn three things that will save you from the most expensive plumbing mistakes new homeowners make: where your main shut-off is, how your water heater works, and who you'll call when something breaks.
Water Heaters
Common Reasons Your Water Heats Up Slowly (and How to Fix It)
Slow hot water is really two different problems: waiting too long for hot water to reach the faucet, and a heater that takes too long to recover. Here's how to tell which one you have — and the most common causes we find in Chicagoland homes.