Plumbing in Maplewood, the short answer
PlumbTek plumbs homes in Maplewood, MN 55109, as well as the 55117 and 55119 parts of the city bordering Saint Paul. Most houses here date from the 1950s to 1970s, so sump pit upgrades, water heater replacements and repairs to original copper and cast iron make up much of the work. Call (612) 254-6294 at any hour, and you'll hear the price first.
Original sump pits around the Maplewood lakes
Maplewood homes on lower ground near Lake Phalen, Keller Lake and the city's wetlands often have sump pits dating to when the house was built. Many are small clay tile or concrete holes, sometimes without a lid, that were sized for lighter rainfall patterns than the storms the east metro sees today.
A small pit fills quickly, forcing the pump to start and stop every few minutes during heavy rain. That short cycling burns out motors. Upgrading to a larger lined basin gives the pump more room, cuts down on cycling and keeps silt out. When PlumbTek replaces a pit, the plumber also checks the discharge route and adds a check valve.
Water heaters and pipes from the mid-century build
Water heaters in these houses often sit in a corner of an unfinished basement near the furnace, venting into a shared chimney. Replacing one means checking that the chimney liner and vent connector still suit a modern tank, since older chimneys sometimes need a liner update when the furnace has already been replaced with a high-efficiency model.
The copper supply lines and cast iron drains in Maplewood homes from this era are now in their sixth or seventh decade. Copper may show green crust at joints, and cast iron may develop rust weeps near the floor. Neither always needs immediate replacement, but both are worth watching and documenting over time.
Maplewood tips for mid-century basements
- Time the sump during a storm. Watch how often the pump runs during heavy rain. If it cycles every minute or two, the pit is too small and the pump will wear out early.
- Check for backdrafting at the heater. Hold a match near the draft hood of a gas water heater after it fires. If the smoke drifts outward instead of up, have the venting checked soon.
- Note the date on rust weeps. If you spot a rust stain on cast iron, take a photo and write the date. Comparing it months later shows whether it's growing.