Most homes with an Upper Marlboro address sit outside the small county-seat town, in a large area that mixes horse country with newer developments, and many have basements that need a working sump pump. If the pit is filling, a few quick steps help until a plumber gets there. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Upper Marlboro.
The incorporated Town of Upper Marlboro has only a few hundred residents and has been the county seat since 1721, but the Upper Marlboro postal area covers about 77 square miles. The median home was built in 1982, and newer subdivisions keep going up. That spread means a sump pump call here could involve a builder-installed pump in a new basement or an older system on a large rural lot near the Western Branch of the Patuxent River.
What to do now
- Turn off the basement circuit before stepping into water near outlets or equipment.
- Check the pump's plug and outlet; reset a tripped GFCI once.
- Free a stuck float with a stick or broom handle.
- Go outside and check the full length of the discharge line for kinks, ice or a disconnected joint.
- Lift belongings off the floor.
- If the water is sewage, stop using water in the house until the line is checked.
Common symptoms
| Symptom | Common cause |
|---|---|
| Pit full, pump silent | Power problem, stuck float or failed motor |
| Pump runs, water stays | Clogged intake or blocked discharge line |
| Frequent short cycles | Bad check valve or a pit too small for the inflow |
| Overflows in long storms only | Pump undersized for the lot |
| Pump fails during an outage | No backup system in place |
What affects cost
- Part repair or full replacement
- Pump capacity for large or sloped lots
- Long discharge runs across a big yard
- Ejector work for a basement bathroom
- Battery backup, or water-powered backup where there is public water
- Storm and after-hours timing
Most Upper Marlboro-addressed homes are in unincorporated Prince George's County rather than the town, so county and WSSC rules are the ones that apply. WSSC Water runs mains serving the Upper Marlboro area, but service in outlying rural parts of the postal area varies by address, so check your bill. Sump water should always go outdoors, never into a sewer line or a private onsite wastewater system. On a private well, choose a battery backup. In Prince George's County, all plumbing permits are issued by WSSC Water, and replacing an existing pump generally needs none; for sewage overflowing from a public manhole, call WSSC at 301-206-4002.
Sump Pumps questions in Upper Marlboro
Will a water-powered backup work if the house is on a private well?
Where should the discharge line end outside?
What should I do if the pit is overflowing right now?
What does a high-water alarm do?
More plumbing services in Upper Marlboro
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