How do you clean a sump pump with vinegar?
Every home has several products considered versatile or widely applicable to several uses. Vinegar easily comes to mind as one of such.
Cleaning Sump Pump With Vinegar
The connection between cleaning and vinegar is often highlighted a lot. In other words, vinegar can be used as a detergent for cleaning up all sorts of dirt and debris.
Homeowners can use this aqueous solution of acetic acid for a wide range of uses including maintaining their sump pumps.
As a universal cleaner, vinegar can be put to several uses including erasing ballpoint-pen marks, cleaning computer mice, general home cleaning, as well as for removing carpet stains just to mention a few.
A Ready Replacement for Bleach
Bleach is a widely-known chemical-based cleaner that leaves behind a strong smell.
Also, they may be harsh to the skin as well. Not everyone likes to perceive such a smell. If this sounds like you, your best bet will be to find natural and environmentally safe alternatives like vinegar.
This is a food ingredient with uses that extend well beyond food preparation and/or preservation. As a cleaner, there’s almost no area you can put vinegar to use.
However, you’ll need to fully understand its safe use to avoid damaging your pump during cleaning.
Can All Vinegar Types Serve As Sump Pump Cleaner
To have the best result, you’ll need to consider the type of vinegar being used. Certain vinegar types are considered stronger than others.
Speaking of the different types, they include red wine vinegar, distilled white vinegar, cane vinegar, red vinegar, white wine vinegar, beer vinegar, and champagne vinegar.
Others are malt vinegar, rice vinegar, sherry vinegar, apple cider vinegar, apricot vinegar, raisin vinegar, black vinegar, and balsamic vinegar. So, which of these best serves the purpose of cleaning a sump pump?
As mentioned earlier, the stronger the vinegar the better.
What then constitutes strength? This has a lot to do with its acetic acid content. White vinegar has acetic acid concentrations of between 5% and 20%.
This should perfectly fit your sump pump cleaning needs.
Sump Pump Cleaning Solution: Vinegar
It’s no news that vinegar is considered for a variety of uses including cleaning. However, not many people have an idea of why vinegar is considered a great sump pump cleaner.
Sump pumps are mostly made of epoxy resin and stainless steel. These are materials vinegar reacts excellently too.
In other words, all forms of debris and dirt on a sump pump easily get dislodged by simply applying vinegar the right way. There’s a right way of using vinegar for this type of cleaning job.
The step-by-step procedure described above will help give you the results you seek.
Vinegar Sump Pump Cleaning Process
The use of vinegar for sump pump cleaning isn’t a difficult procedure at all.
All you have to do is follow simple guidelines as provided here. You can follow any of the two procedures mentioned here to have your sump pump cleaned.
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Method 1
The first method can be termed the lazy way to get the job done. It’s not as thorough as the second method. First, you’ll need to have your sump pump unplugged.
Secondly, pour your vinegar into the sump pit. A gallon must be of vinegar is diluted with about 2 gallons of water before pouring. Allow sitting for around 15 to 30 minutes.
This helps with the breakdown of debris covering the sump pump as well as those within the pit. At the end of the waiting time, pour 5 gallons of hot water into the sump pit. Now, plug back your sump pump to power and turn it on.
This sucks up the water and vinegar solution within the basin or pit.
As it evacuates such, it also cleans itself at the same time. This procedure does no damage to your pump. However, it’s important to state that this process isn’t as detailed and won’t do a thorough cleaning job.
For a more thorough cleaning job using vinegar, consider the second method.
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Method 2
This method involves a lot more work than the first. Here, you’ll need to plug out your power cable from the wall. Also, have your alarm and battery disconnected.
Has the discharge pipe disconnected as well before finally having your sump pump removed from the pit?
You may wish to have your sump pump removed from the basement to a more spacious area for proper cleaning. Consider placing it in a trash bag before taking it out to your yard.
To ensure that no debris is left on the pump, have all caked debris carefully scraped.
The sump pump might also have some rust as well as sludge deposits. Have these been removed as well? Using a 1:2 mixture of vinegar and water, pour the cleaning solution or detergent into the sump pump.
Allow sitting between 15 to 30 minutes. This should be sufficient time for debris to break apart.
With the help of a sponge, brush the pump to get rid of remaining debris if there’s any left. Now, the pump needs to be properly rinsed to remove all vinegar residues.
Having completed this procedure, you’ll need to also clean the drainage pipes. The same type of solution should be poured into the discharge pipe and allowed to sit for about 20 minutes.
About 2 buckets of water should be turned into the pipes. Now, it’s time to reconnect your sump pump. Return everything to its place and start the pump to test.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a DIY Project
DIY sump pump cleaning isn’t for everyone. So, instead of going through the rigors mentioned above, you can skip all of those to call for a professional cleaning job.
An experienced plumber should be able to perform this job comprehensively. Achieving your maintenance objectives should be your main concern.
Never Apply Vinegar Without Dilution
It’s important to have vinegar diluted in the right amount before using it on the sump pump. Because it’s an acid, it’s likely to react or corrode surfaces even when not as strong.
Now you have an idea of how vinegar can be used for your sump pump cleaning needs. All you have to do is follow any of the methods mentioned above.
