Category: Tips & Tricks

Mastering the Do’s and Don’ts with Your Garbage Disposal

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An incredible technological innovation, the garbage disposal has significantly simplified waste disposal by enabling swift and effortless elimination of food waste without the chore of transporting bags to the curb each week.

However, it’s essential to note that the garbage disposal isn’t designed to supplant the waste or recycling bin. Often, maintenance for the garbage disposal system is disregarded or overlooked, potentially hastening the need for an unexpected replacement. Using your disposal improperly can lead to clogs, damage, and even hazardous situations.

At Mallick Plumbing & Heating in Gaithersburg, Maryland, we’re here to guide you through the essential do’s and don’ts of garbage disposals for efficient waste management. Here are some guidelines for your garbage disposal:

The Do’s of Garbage Disposals

  1. Do Use Cold Water: Run cold water when operating your garbage disposal. Cold water helps solidify oils and grease, allowing them to be chopped up before passing through the pipes.
  2. Do Cut Large Items: Cut larger food items into smaller pieces before putting them into the disposal. This helps prevent jams and ensures smoother processing.
  3. Do Use Citrus Peels: Grinding citrus peels can help freshen up the disposal and eliminate odors naturally.
  4. Do Regularly Clean and Maintain: Periodically clean the disposal using ice cubes or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to remove buildup and maintain freshness.
  5. Do Use Proper Waste: Dispose of biodegradable food waste like fruit and vegetable scraps and non-fibrous leftovers in the disposal.

If you need assistance with your garbage disposal, call Mallick Plumbing & Heating at (301) 804-6759.

The Don’ts of Garbage Disposals

  1. Don’t Pour Grease or Oil: Avoid pouring cooking grease, fats, or oils down the disposal, as they can solidify and clog the pipes.
  2. Don’t Put Non-Food Items: Never dispose of non-food items, such as plastic, metal, glass, or paper, in the garbage disposal. These items can damage the blades or cause blockages.
  3. Don’t Grind Stringy or Fibrous Foods: Avoid putting fibrous or stringy foods like celery, corn husks, onion skins, or potato peels into the disposal, as they can wrap around the blades and cause jams. Also, refrain from putting uncooked pasta and rice down the drain. 
  4. Don’t Overload the Disposal: Refrain from overloading the disposal with too much food waste at once. Gradually feed items into the disposal to prevent overwhelming it.
  5. Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals: Avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach or drain cleaners in the disposal, as they can damage the unit and plumbing system.

Is your garbage disposal acting up? We can help. Give our Mallick Plumbing & Heating Team a call Today at (301) 804-6759.

Proper usage and maintenance of your garbage disposal can significantly extend its lifespan and prevent costly repairs. However, if you encounter persistent clogs, unusual noises, or malfunctions with your garbage disposal, it’s best to seek professional assistance from Mallick Plumbing & Heating.

Remember, responsible waste management with your garbage disposal not only keeps your kitchen running smoothly but also contributes to a healthier plumbing system and environment.

For expert guidance on garbage disposal maintenance or repairs, contact Mallick Plumbing & Heating. We’re dedicated to providing top-notch plumbing solutions to ensure your home operates smoothly and efficiently.

Don’t Let Your Bathroom Plumbing Scare You this Halloween

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As Halloween approaches the Gaithersburg, Maryland, area, the season of ghouls and goblins is upon us. While you may be preparing your costumes and decorations, don’t forget to give your bathroom plumbing a little extra attention. No one wants a plumbing scare during this spooky season.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating is here to help you keep your bathroom plumbing in top shape. Let’s dive into some common bathroom plumbing issues and how to prevent them from haunting your home.

1. Trick or Treat: Plumbing Fixtures

Bathroom fixtures are often the first things we notice in a bathroom, and they’re susceptible to wear and tear over time. Leaky faucets, running toilets, or clogged drains can all be spooky problems to deal with. These issues can be resolved with simple repairs, such as fixing a leaky faucet, replacing worn-out parts, or clearing clogs. Mallick Plumbing & Heating provides fast and reliable fixture repairs and replacements to ensure your fixtures are in perfect working condition.

2. The Phantom of Cold Showers: Water Heater Woes

Picture this: it’s Halloween night, and you’re looking forward to a warm, relaxing shower after a long day of festivities. But instead, you’re met with icy water. Water heater problems can be a real fright, especially in the colder months. If your water heater is giving you chills, it might be time for a maintenance check. Mallick Plumbing & Heating can inspect your water heater, address any issues, and ensure you’re back to enjoying hot showers in no time.

3. Beware of Creeping Leaks: Water Lines and Water Pressure

Hidden water leaks in your bathroom can be like silent phantoms, causing damage that goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Leaky water lines can lead to structural damage and mold growth, while inconsistent water pressure can be a nightmare during your daily routines. Mallick Plumbing and Heating can perform thorough inspections, locate and fix any hidden leaks, and address water pressure issues to keep your bathroom in tip-top shape.

Don’t let bathroom plumbing problems give you a scare this Halloween season. With Mallick Plumbing & Heating in Gaithersburg, Maryland, you can enjoy the festivities without the worry of plumbing nightmares. Our experienced team is here to ensure that your bathroom plumbing is in excellent working order, so you can focus on treats, not tricks.

Contact Mallick Plumbing & Heating Today at (301) 804-6759 and have a Spooktacular Halloween!

Maintain Optimal Water Temperature: The Importance of Flushing Your Water Heater

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When it comes to ensuring a reliable supply of hot water in your Maryland home, your water heater plays a crucial role. Over time, sediment buildup in your heater can cause issues like reduced water temperature and even lead to appliance damage.

Regular flushing of your water heater is a simple yet effective way to prevent these problems and keep your water heater running efficiently. Here, we’ll explain the importance of this maintenance task and how Mallick Plumbing & Heating can help you maintain optimal water temperature in your home.

Why Flushing Your Water Heater Matters

Over time, sediment, minerals, and debris can accumulate at the bottom of your water heater tank. This buildup can insulate the heating element and reduce its efficiency, which can lead to several problems:

  1. Reduced Water Temperature: As the sediment insulates the heating element, it has to work harder to heat the water. Over time, this often results in a noticeable drop in water temperature, making your showers less comfortable and your appliances less effective.
  2. Higher Energy Bills: An inefficient water heater consumes more energy, leading to increased utility bills. Regular flushing can help you save on energy costs.
  3. Shortened Lifespan: Sediment buildup can also shorten the lifespan of your water heater. By maintaining a clear tank, you extend the life of the appliance and reduce the need for costly replacements.

How Mallick Plumbing & Heating Can Help

Flushing your water heater may seem like a straightforward task, but it’s best left to professionals like Mallick Plumbing & Heating. Here’s how we can assist:

  1. Expertise: Our technicians have the knowledge and experience to flush your water heater properly, ensuring that all sediment and debris are removed.
  2. Safety: Handling a water heater can be dangerous, especially when flushing it. We take the necessary safety precautions to protect your property and ensure a safe procedure.
  3. Efficiency: We perform the task efficiently, minimizing disruption to your daily routine.
  4. Comprehensive Service: When you choose Mallick Plumbing & Heating, you can count on a thorough inspection of your water heater. If any issues or damage are detected, we can address them promptly and offer the best solutions tailored to you and your home.

Maintaining the optimal water temperature in your home is essential, especially during the colder months. Regular flushing of your water heater is a preventive measure that ensures you have a reliable supply of hot water.

Contact Mallick Plumbing & Heating to schedule your water heater flushing and enjoy the benefits of efficient and cost-effective water heating. Don’t wait for sediment buildup to affect your water heater’s performance; let the experts take care of it for you.

Contact Mallick Plumbing & Heating Today at (301) 804-6759 to learn more!

Tankless Water Heater Care: All You Need to Know

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Investing in a Tankless Water Heater has proven to be a game-changer for many Gaithersburg and Maryland homeowners, providing a continuous and efficient supply of hot water while reducing energy consumption and saving valuable space.

However, like all appliances, proper maintenance for your Tankless Water Heater is essential to ensure its longevity and peak performance.

We will dive into everything you – a responsible homeowner – need to know about the maintenance recommended for a Tankless Water Heater to continue to run at maximum efficiency for a long time.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating Can Help, Call (301) 804-6759 Today! 

1. Regular Descaling for Efficient Heating

Descaling your Tankless Water Heater is a crucial maintenance task for Tankless Water Heater. As water passes through your heat exchanger within your unit, mineral deposits and scale accumulate over time, hindering the heating process and reducing efficiency.

Just as a standard water heater should be drained at least once a year due to sediment build-up, Tankless Water Heaters should also be descaled annually. This can sometimes depend on your water quality and your home’s location.

2. Regularly Check & Clean the Filters

Included in the Tankless Water heater is a screen or filter designed to prevent debris from entering the unit. Over time and as it filters more debris out of the water, these filters can become clogged, which can impact the flow and efficiency.

To ensure a steady flow of water and maintain performance, inspect and clean the filters every few months or recommended by the manufacturer or plumbing professional.

These filters can be easily removed, rinsed through running water until they are clean with no visible debris and properly reinstalled.

3. Inspect Your Tankless Water Heater for Leaks

Leaks, no matter how small, can waste water, cause damage and lead to costly repairs. By taking a few minutes out of your day occasionally, you can ensure your Tankless Water Heater has no leaks.

If you do notice any leaks, it is important for you to address them as soon as possible. You can accomplish this by immediately shutting off the water to your home and calling your local licensed and insured plumber to come fix the leak.

4. Clear Intake and Exhaust Vents

Proper ventilation is crucial for a safe and efficient operation from your Tankless Water Heater. As a Gaithersburg or Maryland homeowner, you should ensure the intake and exhaust vents are free of obstructions, debris or any object that could hinder the airflow.

By taking time to inspect these areas and clean the vents, you can prevent potential issues with the unit’s performance and ensure it is running on all cylinders.

5. Call a Local Plumber to Inspect Your Unit

While homeowners can perform a few crucial tasks, professional plumbers can provide another level of expertise with a thorough inspection. Trained technicians – like the ones we have at Mallick Plumbing & Heating – have the tools and expertise to inspect your Tankless Water Heater and provide any needed maintenance for it to operate at peak performance.

The plumbing technician can also clean your unit, complete a safety check and address any potential issues you may be expected to come across.

Call Mallick Plumbing & Heating at (301) 804-6759 to have your Tankless Water Heater inspected.

Regular home maintenance includes the crucial task of maintaining your tankless water heater. By regularly descaling the unit, checking the filters, inspecting the unit for leaks and ensuring proper ventilation, you can keep your Tankless Water Heater energy efficient and running for year.

If you’re ready for a professional to inspect your Tankless unit, you can rely on experienced plumbing like Mallick Plumbing & Heating. Their expertise will keep your heater in top-notch condition but also save you money in the long term by maximizing its efficiency and preventing any costly repairs.

Call Mallick Plumbing & Heating today at (301) 804-6759 to speak with a team member!

MOEN Flo: Everything You Need to Know

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As a homeowner with a ton of responsibilities, one of the worst surprises you can get is an unnoticed plumbing leak in your home. Leaks can quickly lead to water damage in a home, which it is estimated 40% of homeowners suffer from, according to studies.

Water damage can not only lead to a multitude of other problems, including the buildup of mold, structural and electrical damage, harm to belongings among other things, but can also potentially be a costly surprise.

Fortunately for Gaithersburg and surrounding area homeowners, Mallick Plumbing & Heating can help by installing the MOEN Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff.

What is a MOEN Flo?

The MOEN Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff — or “Flo” for short – is installed on your home’s main water line and plugs into the nearest outlet within a 48” radius – or up to 25 ft. with an additional MOEN-supplied cable — and monitors you water supply system for any irregularities, including for any type of leak. It accomplishes this by monitoring the water’s temperature and your home’s water pressure.

For the smart home device to see irregularities within your water usage, it will need to operate for a short time period to learn you and your family’s regular water usage schedule. Once learned, MOEN Flo will possess the ability track your water usage and detect leaks as small as a drop per minute – such as a dripping faucet.

Prior to installation, it is important to get a professional plumber to inspect your plumbing system and perform leak tests to ensure there are no existing leaks. If your MOEN Flo is installed with an existing leak, it will recognize the leak as regular water usage and will not notify you.

When it senses any major leak within your home, Flo by MOEN automatically shuts off your home’s water and can alert you phone with the details if you’re utilizing the MOEN app. The app also gives homeowners the opportunity to track your water usage, flow rate, water pressure and temperature along with the chance to shut off your water with the tap of a button if needed and compare your water usage to the past with historical data.

Ready for MOEN Flo to be installed at your home? Call the experts at Mallick Plumbing & Heating at (301) 804-6759.

How much does a MOEN Flo Cost?

When Flo by Moen is installed, a licensed, certified and insured technician installs the smart home device on your home’s main water supply line. The installation also includes pairing the device to your home’s Wi-Fi, so you receive up-to-date and accurate notifications to your phone.

Depending on you plumbing system, location of the device and what size Flo by Moen device your home will work best with, installation costs will vary.

If you would like to know more about a MOEN Flo for your home, call the experts at Mallick Plumbing & Heating at (301) 804-6759.

Does Flo by MOEN work without the Internet?

Flo by MOEN is designed to work with internet connection for real-time monitoring and alerts of potential leaks in your home. However, it is not Wi-Fi dependent.

Without internet connection the device will continue to monitor your water flow, temperature and detect leaks, but it will not be able to notify you. If you happen to have a major leak in your home while your internet connection is offline, MOEN Flo will still possess the capabilities to quickly shut off your water.

If you’re uncertain whether you valve is open or closed, MOEN Flo possesses two lights – a red and a green one — on the device to indicate this. The red will represent the valve being closed, while the green will mark the valve being open.

The device does, however, require electricity. Homeowners should also ask their plumbing professional about the MOEN-provided emergency battery backup, which can operate for 3+ days if your electricity would cease or the device would be disconnected from an outlet.

Is there a monthly fee for Flo by MOEN? 

There is no monthly fee associated with Flo by MOEN.

However, there is an option to sign up for FLO Protect, which you can purchase for $5 a month with any-time cancellation that has all the following benefits, according to MOEN:

  • $5000 Deductible guarantee if the product fails under normal use
  • Extended 5-Year Warranty (1 Year out of the Box)
  • Proactive monitoring and water concierge
  • Enhanced water usage data
  • Eligibility for homeowner’s insurance discounts, which may vary depending on carrier
  • And more

(Benefits are subject to change over time)

Is Flo by MOEN worth it?

If we asked you if you have any leaks in your home, could you provide an accurate answer with 100% certainty? It is estimated that 17 gallons are lost due to leaks every day in a typical home – which could lead to larger issues.

If you’re looking for a smart home device that will monitor their water usage on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, detects any leaks, alerts you of any issues and allows you to shut off your system via a tap of a button within the app if a leak is detected then Flo by MOEN is absolutely one of the best decisions you can make for your family’s wellbeing, your home’s health and your financial savings.

Flo by MOEN can potentially grant you access to some homeowner’s insurance discounts, which you should contact your provider to learn more.

If you would like to be sure the smart home device is properly installed and explained, give our Mallick Plumbing & Heating Team a call at (301) 804-6759.

Winterizing Your Home

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As the temperatures cool it’s important to take stock of your home and prepare it for winter weather. So, what is ‘winterizing’ and why should you winterize your home? Keep reading to find out!

What Is Winterizing?

Winterizing is the process of preparing your house for the winter. This can be done by insulating pipes, sealing windows and doors, and adding extra insulation to the rest of your house. While winterization is typically used to prepare homes for vacancy during winter months, homeowners at high elevations and in areas with bitterly cold temperatures should consider winterization to preserve their home for years to come.

Most Common Ways to Winterize

While some people leave their home for warmer vacation homes, most people weather the winter by staying put. If you are planning to stay home, there are some simple but effective ways to winterize.

Some of the most common methods include:

  • Weather Stripping: Installing storm doors and windows can help to insulate a home, but a more cost-effective method is weather stripping. Adding strips of rubber or plastic seals around doors and windows helps to keep out drafts and hold in heat. Door sweeps also work to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.
  • Pipe Insulation: In many regions, burst pipes are a risk in the colder months. As near freezing water enters the pipes at high pressure, can cause the metal to contract which further weakens already vulnerable parts of the plumbing system. As the cold water continues to rush through, it could cause these week parts to collapse and burst altogether. Using pipe wrap and insulation fittings helps to protect pipes from the cold and prevent bursting.
  • Clean and Protect Gutters: While gutters don’t contribute to drafts, failure to clean them properly could cause build up and prevent proper snow drainage. If snow collects on the roof, it could cause strain, leaking, or even collapse over time. When prepping a home for the winter, it is crucial that you clean the gutters to ensure proper drainage and install gutter guards to keep out leaves and other debris that could clog them.
  • Fireplace Cleaning: Fireplaces are essential during the colder months, but when there are animal nests or creosote buildup a simple fire could become a serious hazard. Not only does cleaning the fireplace prevent issues, but it can also reveal opportunities for sealing and insulation if the fireplace is older or prone to draftiness. In some cases, a fireplace may be too drafty, and you may want to seal it for the winter season.
  • Sealing: Gaps in windows, openings in the attic, and other areas could be responsible for drafts and loss of heat during the winter. Using caulk and insulation to reinforce and seal these areas can protect you from the cold and save money on heating costs.

Are You Ready for Winter?

If you are a homeowner, it may seem like there is an endless list of things you have to do to prepare for changes in the weather. Keeping up with winterization can be a hassle, and it’s easy to forget a task or two. With the help of qualified contractors, you can protect your home, preserve your plumbing, and maximize the effectiveness of your water heater just in time for winter.

Schedule an appointment with Mallick Plumbing & Heating, Inc. today!

The Cost of Ignoring Preventative Plumbing Services

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Many problems can be avoided if we’d just take the time to figure out what causes them and prevent it from happening. For instance, many plumbing problems happen because the issues that led to them were ignored. This often results in a plumbing issue that would have only required a bit of simple and inexpensive maintenance developing into a huge problem that requires expensive repairs. That’s why it’s so important that homeowners and businesses take preventative plumbing services seriously. Stopping plumbing problems before they start can save you a lot of time, money, and headaches down the road.

What Are Preventative Plumbing Services?

Preventative plumbing services are annual inspections, maintenance, and repairs that are performed to make sure your plumbing system avoids breakdowns and continues to run smoothly. Preventative plumbing services generally involve inspecting your plumbing system’s components, identifying any underlying issues, and making minor repairs to prevent those issues from developing into more complex and expensive problems.

Preventative plumbing services often involve checking the following components:

Tips for Spotting Plumbing Problems Early

If you’re not a professional plumber, catching plumbing problems early isn’t easy. However, if you know what you’re looking for, you’d be surprised how often you can spot a plumbing issue before it develops into a larger problem. The following are a tips for spotting plumbing issues before they become expensive problems:

  • Check for leaks. This includes checking your indoor and outdoor faucets, fixtures, pipes, and hoses for leaks. In addition, you should check your appliances, such as your refrigerator, dishwasher, and washing machine for leaks. Also, check your toilets, bathtubs, sinks, and water heaters for leaks. Leaks can be sneaky. The leak may not be active when you check. You should also look for signs that a leak has occurred, like water stains or puddles of water.
  • Keep an eye out for drain problems. This doesn’t just mean clogged drains or toilets, but also slow drains. Generally, slow drains are the sign of a developing clog, which can be a relatively simple fix. However, if you have multiple slow drains, that could be the sign of a more serious problem. You could have a problem with your main sewer line, septic tank, or something else within your plumbing system.
  • Check your water pressure. You can check your water pressure with a pressure gauge. Low water pressure can lead to inconveniences, such as issues when you take showers or wash the dishes. When water pressure is too high, it can lead to more severe problems, like leaks and burst pipes.

Benefits of Our Preventative Maintenance Plan

For over 25 years, Mallick Plumbing & Heating has been providing residential and commercial customers in Gaithersburg and other surrounding areas with top-notch plumbing and heating services they can count on. Our technicians are licensed, insured, honest, knowledgeable, skilled, and reliable. Our customers and their best interests are always our top priority, which is why we offer our customers the opportunity to sign up for our preventative maintenance plan.

Our maintenance plan is a cost-effective way to ensure that your home’s preventative maintenance needs are met on time and in full. The preventative plumbing services that our maintenance plan covers include the following and more:

  • 79-point inspection of your plumbing system
  • Check exposed cold and hot water lines
  • Check water for chlorine, pH, iron, and hardness onsite
  • Dye test all toilets
  • Check all faucets, washing machine hoses, and fixtures for leaks

To learn more about Mallick Plumbing & Heating, check out our customers’ reviews.

For more information about preventative plumbing services, or to sign up for our maintenance plan, give us a call at (301) 804-6759 or contact us online today to speak with our experienced plumbers. When you contact us, ask about our special offers and financing options. We’re available 24/7 for plumbing emergencies.

Asking Questions to Determine the Quality of Your Home’s Water Supply

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Whether you’re in the process of purchasing a new home or evaluating your current one, water quality is not something that is on the forefront of your thought process – but maybe it should be. As often as you and your family utilize water in your day-to-day life – from cleaning to bathing to drinking – it is preferable your water is of quality, but if it is not, you need to be aware to make the appropriate changes. If not, it can harm you and your home.

With this issue in mind, here are four questions you should ask about your home’s water system and water quality.

Top 4 Water Quality Questions to Ask Your Plumber

  • Where is the House’s Water Source Located?
  • What are the most common water issues in the area?
  • Does the home have a water treatment system?
  • Are there signs I should watch for that suggest my water quality is poor?

Where is the House’s Water Source Located?

This should be your first plumbing-related question to your realtor. Once you know this, you can find out more about how it’s treated and if it has any historical quality issues. Municipal water systems are required to maintain government standards. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets water quality standards for the limits for almost 100 contaminants. Even with stringent regulations, water quality issues can still affect your household water supply. Quality concerns can derive from old pipes or contaminated transit routes where the water picks up contaminants while traveling into your home system.

What are the Most Common Water Issues in the Area?

It’s best to know upfront what issues others in your area are working to fix. Knowing what you are facing and if you want to deal with the problem is vitally important if you are considering purchasing a home. Minor issues that make your water unpalatable have easy solutions; however, you want to find out if there are health risks from the water coming into a home you plan to purchase. If the water is toxic, then you want to know why. Is the problem from the source or caused by your plumbing system? These are important questions you should ask your realtor and research yourself to make informed choices.

Does the Home Have Water Treatment?

Knowing whether a home has a water treatment system installed is the ultimate answer to your water quality questions. If the water in the home is being treated, then you have a place to start to find more information about the home’s water quality. You can also rest easy knowing the water is being treated and is safe for consumption and use. Water treatment systems add value to a home, so finding out a system is installed is a value-add to the home you’re purchasing. Traditional water treatment systems included water softeners, filtration systems, and reverse osmosis units. It’s a good idea to bring in a water treatment professional to test the systems to ensure they work and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

What Signs Indicate my Water Quality is Poor?

Many municipal water systems send out water quality reports or post them online. If you can’t find this document, you should note how your water tastes when you’re using it. Does it have a mineral aftertaste? Is your skin irritated after using it? Water with a heavy mineral load may be unpleasant to drink, but it’s typically not dangerous. There is a huge difference between hard water and poor-quality water. However, noticing your water is hard may be the first step toward establishing your overall water quality.

Choose Mallick Plumbing & Heating for Water Treatment Systems in Gaithersburg

Whether you have an existing water treatment system that needs to be inspected or wish to have a new system installed to protect you and your family in your new house, our expert technicians are ready to help with whatever you need. At Mallick Plumbing & Heating, we are committed to providing our customers with exceptional services. Call us today at (301) 804-6759.

Why is Sump Pump Maintenance So Important?

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Why Is Sump Pump Maintenance So Important?

If you have a sump pump, you know how hard it works to protect your home. A sump pump is installed on the lowest level of your home, so it’s able to prevent flooding in your basement or crawlspace. Your sump pump is housed inside a sump pit out of the way, so it’s easy to forget about it unless it stops working.

A sump pump sits in your home on standby, waiting for a reason to be activated. When there are heavy rains, your system will switch on once the groundwater around your home is high enough to activate the pump’s float switch. Once the system has removed the water away from your home, it will go back into standby status.

The water from the sump pump is typically drained into a storm drain, retention pond, or well. The sump pump acts as a fail-safe device preventing flooding in the lowest levels of your house. Because it serves such an important purpose, you must ensure your sump pump is in good condition and ready for action.

Sump Pump Maintenance Best Practices

By following a few sump pump maintenance best practices, you can keep your system in good condition. How often your system needs maintenance will depend greatly on seasonal weather conditions.

The harder your system works, the more maintenance it will need to ensure its components won’t become too worn. If your sump pump has been exposed to high levels of wear and tear, maintenance can ensure it doesn’t break down when you need it most.

Sump Pump Maintenance Checklist

The following steps will help you get your sump pump ready for action. It’s important to unplug your system from its power supply before performing any maintenance or inspections.

  • Clear Debris from the Sump Basin: Access the sump basin and remove debris. All loose and lodged debris must be removed, so the pump is easier to access for additional cleaning.
  • Check the Pump for Corrosion: Remove the pump from the basin. The discharge pipe will need to be removed from the pump as well. If the discharge pipe does not disconnect from the pump, it could be a sign of mold, corrosion, or buildup at the joint. Using a cloth or sponge, clean the pipe using a nonabrasive disinfectant. You can clean the pipe with just a damp cloth. If the pump is very soiled, you may need to rinse it first. Inspect the pump for corrosion. If you find any, contact your sump pump maintenance professional.
  • Check the Pump Inlet Screen: Find the sump pump inlet screen at the pump’s base. The screen serves as a filter that keeps debris from damaging your system. You can use a brush to clean the filter, removing any debris that may be trapped. Depending on your system model, you can take this time to lubricate the pump’s bearings if recommended for your unit.
  • Check the Discharge Pipe: Inspect the drainage system of your sump pump. You need to ensure your drainage system isn’t compromised and that nothing is preventing the free flow of drainage water. The discharge pipe should be carrying water at least 20 feet away from your foundation to keep your home protected.

How to Perform a Sump Pump System Test

The system test consists of the following:

  • After cleaning your sump pump, replace all the parts and reconnect your system to its power supply.
  • Add several gallons of water to the basin and wait for your system to turn on from standby automatically.
  • During this test, ensure the float switch is operating properly. Once it activates to remove the water you placed in the basin, the maintenance routine is complete.

Choose Mallick Plumbing & Heating for Sump Pump Maintenance

If you need help maintaining your sump pump, our expert technicians are the pros you want on your side. At Mallick Plumbing & Heating, we are committed to providing our customers with exceptional plumbing services, which is why we are a preferred service provider throughout Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Call us at (301) 804-6759 or contact us online to schedule sump pump maintenance with the team at Mallick Plumbing & Heating today!

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