Maxwell Plumbing: Everyone Needs A Good Plumber

Bidet Curious? Here's why you'll never look back.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:16:30 GMT

A bidet for you! A bidet for you...and you! Yes! A bidet for everyone!

Warm seats, warm water, controls galore.

Cleaner than clean feeling. Less toilet paper, fan dry, UV smart clean...the list goes on.

As a 4th Generation plumbing company, we've seen trends come and go, but bidets are not a passing trend. Bidets are gaining huge popularity in the SW Washington and Portland metro area for good reason.

The Cleanest Clean Possible

Let's face it--dry paper isn't the most effective cleaner and wet wipes reek havoc on your plumbing.

Using water with a bidet provides a far superior level of hygiene, leaving you feeling fresh and truly clean every single time.

Say Goodbye to Toilet Paper Dependence

The environmental impact of traditional toilet paper production is significant, and let's be real – it's an ongoing expense! Bidets drastically reduce your reliance on toilet paper, saving you money and contributing to a more sustainable future. While you might use a tiny bit of paper for drying (though many bidets have built-in air dryers), the difference is massive. Added bonus--when there's another toilet paper shortage you won't have to be stressed and fight the hoards of people at Costco.

Maximum Comfort & Gentle Care

Traditional wiping can sometimes cause irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin or certain medical conditions. A gentle stream of water is soothing, non-abrasive, and incredibly comfortable. You can control warmth, pressure, angles and more on almost every unit on the market.

An Eco-Conscious Choice

As we become more aware of our environmental footprint, choosing products that conserve resources is essential. Many bidet models feature water-saving technology, not to mention the sheer amount of water it takes to produce toilet paper.

Self Cleaning and Deodorizing

New trends are emerging with UV lights, pre-misted toilets, stronger flushes, like TOTO's "Tornado Flush" as well as deodorizers and more. You can get really carried away with how many options there are available.

MAXWELL PLUMBING is Here to Help!

Thinking about adding a bidet attachment, seat, or smart toilet?

We can:

Assess your bathroom layout.
Advise on the best bidet model for your needs and budget.
Handle the professional installation.
Ensure all plumbing and electrical connections are perfect.

Call MAXWELL PLUMBING at 360-209-4048 today to discuss your bidet options and schedule your installation! We're proud to serve our community with honest, reliable service you can trust.

BACKFLOW: Why is yearly testing required?

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:26:43 GMT

BACKFLOW TESTING IS REQUIRED ANNUALLY IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON...BUT WHY?

Water Safety 101: Why Your Backflow Device is the Unsung Hero of Your Plumbing

We rarely think about the direction our water is flowing. We turn on the tap, and fresh water comes out. We flush the toilet, and waste goes away. It’s a simple, one-way street—until it isn't.

When water flow reverses, it’s called backflow , and it’s one of the biggest threats to a clean water supply. That’s where the backflow prevention device comes in.

What Exactly is a Backflow Device?

In short, a backflow device is a gatekeeper. It is a mechanical assembly installed on your water pipes that allows water to flow in one direction (into your home or business) but prevents it from ever flowing backward into the main municipal water supply.

Think of it as a safety check valve . Under normal conditions, the pressure from the city water main keeps the "gates" open so you can shower or run the dishwasher. However, if there is a sudden drop in pressure—like a water main break or a nearby fire hydrant being used—the gates slam shut.

Why Does Backflow Happen?

There are two main culprits behind this reversal:

Back-Siphonage: Imagine drinking through a straw. If the pressure at the source drops significantly, it creates a vacuum that "sucks" water backward.
Back-Pressure: This happens when the pressure in your own system (perhaps from a pump or boiler) becomes higher than the city's water pressure, pushing your water back into the public lines.

The Danger: What’s Lurking in the Pipes?

Without a functioning device, "used" water from your property can mix with the community's drinking water. This could include:

Fertilizers and pesticides from irrigation systems.
Chemicals from industrial soap or manufacturing.
Fecal matter and bacteria from swimming pools or toilets.

Why Testing is Mandatory (and Essential)

Because these devices are mechanical, they contain springs, seals, and moving parts that eventually wear out. A backflow device that isn't working is just a fancy, expensive pipe.

Protecting Public Health: Regular testing ensures that your "cross-connection" isn't the reason a neighbor gets sick.
Legal Compliance: Most municipalities require annual testing by a certified professional. Failing to do so can result in hefty fines or having your water service shut off.
Preventing Property Damage: A malfunctioning device can lead to internal pressure issues that might damage your own plumbing.

The Bottom Line

MAXWELL PLUMBING can provide backflow testing

Where's the LEAK? Listen UP!

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:09:24 GMT

Instead of "Where's Waldo?" Plumbers Play a Game called "Where's The Leak?"

Where's The Leak: How Our Audio Leak Detection Helps pinpoint leaks behind walls and underground

MAXWELL PLUMBING is constantly striving to provide the best possible service to our customers. That means not only fixing problems effectively but also ensuring our customers feel confident and informed throughout the process. One of the most powerful (and fun!) tools we've invested in to achieve this is our advanced audio leak detection equipment.

You might be wondering, "What exactly is audio leak detection?" It's technology that allows us to pinpoint the exact location of a water leak, even if it's hidden behind walls, under floors, or buried underground. We still use tried and true methods learned from generations of expertise and experience to help isolate and determine where leaks must be, but audio detection actually allows us to listen to the leaks and confirm their location.

How Does it Work?

Imagine a tiny, persistent drip deep within your pipes or underground. To the human ear, it's often imperceptible, but our specialized equipment amplifies those subtle sounds. We use highly sensitive microphones and acoustic sensors that can detect the distinct sounds of escaping water, even through solid materials.

Building Trust, One Leak at a Time

So, how does this sophisticated technology translate into greater trust for our customers? Simple--we treat your home the way we'd want ours to be treated!

Non-Invasive Solutions: In the past, finding a hidden leak often meant breaking into walls or digging up yards, leading to costly and disruptive repairs. With audio leak detection, we can often find the leak without causing any unnecessary damage. This saves you time, money, and the headache of extensive restoration work. Knowing we prioritize non-invasive methods builds immediate confidence.
Accuracy and Efficiency: When we can pinpoint the exact source of a leak, we can fix it quickly and efficiently. This precision means less time spent on the job, fewer return visits, and a more effective repair the first time around. Customers appreciate our ability to get to the root (PUN INTENDED!!) of the problem
Cost Savings: By accurately locating leaks, we prevent unnecessary repairs and minimize the scope of work. This direct approach often results in significant cost savings for our clients, which is always a welcome benefit and a testament to our commitment to fair and honest service.
Peace of Mind: Water leaks, especially hidden ones, can cause extensive damage to your home and lead to skyrocketing water bills. Knowing that we have the technology to accurately find and fix these issues quickly provides invaluable peace of mind. You can trust that your home is in expert hands and that we're using every available resource to protect your property.

Our Commitment to You

At MAXWELL PLUMBING, our investment in audio leak detection technology is an investment in our customers. It's about providing a superior service experience, marked by efficiency, accuracy, and above all, trust. When you choose us, you're choosing a plumbing company that uses the best tools available to solve your problems with minimal disruption and maximum transparency.

Don't let a hidden leak cause you stress. If you suspect a leak in your home or business, contact us today!

Protecting Your Tankless Water Heater In Freezing Weather

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 19:55:36 GMT

Protecting Your Tankless Heater This Winter: Important Information You Should Know

Modern homes all over the PNW are equipped with tankless water heaters—they’re efficient, compact, and provide endless hot water. However, when the temperature drops below freezing, these high-tech systems are surprisingly vulnerable. Unlike traditional tanks that hold a large volume of heated water, tankless units rely on small, intricate copper pipes that can freeze and burst in a matter of hours.

If you want to avoid a mid-winter cold shower, here is how to winterize your tankless unit.

1. The Power of "Freeze Protection"

Most modern indoor and outdoor units come with built-in freeze protection. This system uses electric heaters to keep the internal components just a bove freezing.

Crucial Step: Never unplug your unit in the winter. If the power goes out, the freeze protection goes out with it.
Pro Tip: If you live in an area prone to power outages, consider a Battery Backup (UPS) specifically for your water heater to keep those internal heaters running.

2. The "Slow Drip" Method

If a hard freeze is coming and you’re worried about the pipes leading to the unit, use the oldest trick in the book: the slow drip.

Find the faucet furthest from the water heater.
Turn on the hot water tap just enough to get a thin, steady stream (about 1/8 of an inch wide).
Why it works: Moving water is much harder to freeze than standing water. This also relieves pressure if ice does begin to form.

3. Insulate Your External Pipes

The unit itself might be protected, but the pipes carrying water in and out are often exposed. Use high-quality foam pipe insulation to wrap every inch of exposed copper or PEX piping.

For extreme climates, you might even consider heat tape —an electric cable that wraps around the pipe and generates heat when temperatures dip.

4. Guard Against Backdraft

This is the "silent killer" of indoor tankless units. When it’s freezing outside, cold air can travel down the vent pipe and reach the heat exchanger inside the unit.

Ensure your vent terminations have flappers or cowls that prevent wind from blowing directly into the system.
If your unit is in a garage or basement, make sure the room itself stays above freezing.

5. What to do During a Power Outage

I f the power fails and the temperature is sub-zero, your internal freeze protection is gone. In this emergency scenario, you must drain the unit :

Turn off the gas and power.
Close the cold water inlet and hot water outlet valves.
Open the pressure relief valve and the drain ports (usually found on the service valves) to let all the water out of the machine.

As always, you can count on Maxwell Plumbing for

any tankless water heater maintenance, repairs, or replacement.

Call 360-209-4048 or book your FREE ESTIMATE on our website www.maxwellplumbingPNW.com

Sump Pump vs. Ejector Pump: What’s the Difference?

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 22:00:22 GMT

#everyoneneedsagoodplumber

Sump Pump vs. Ejector Pump: What’s the Difference?

We were recently called out to a home in Camas, WA because their sewer ejector pump was malfunctioning.

Turns out they didn’t have a sewer ejector pump installed, they had a sump pump where they should have had an ejector pump. The two look similar but have very different uses. If you have a basement, or live in a low lying area you likely have a hole in the floor with a pump in it. But is it protecting your home from a flood, or is it an essential part of your plumbing system? If you have a bathroom or laundry room that’s below-grade (often times also in a basement or low lying area) you have the need for an ejector pump. Understanding the difference is crucial for proper home maintenance and avoiding a messy disaster.

1. The Sump Pump: Your Flood Defense

A sump pump is designed to handle groundwater . When it rains or snow melts, water can collect around your foundation. To prevent this water from seeping through your basement walls or floor, it is directed into a "sump pit."

What it pumps: Clear water (rainwater, groundwater).
Where it goes: The water is usually pumped outside the home, away from the foundation, or into a dry well or storm drain.
Key Feature: It typically has a "float switch" that activates the pump once the water reaches a certain level in the pit.

2. The Sewer Ejector Pump: Your Basement Plumbing Partner

A sewer ejector pump is required if you have a bathroom, laundry room, or floor drain located below the level of your main sewer line . Since gravity can't pull waste "uphill," this pump handles the job.

What it pumps: "Blackwater" or "Greywater" (waste from toilets, sinks, and washing machines).
Where it goes: The waste is pumped upward into the main sewer line or a septic tank.
Key Feature: These pumps are designed to handle solids. The pit (or basin) is also hermetically sealed with a vent pipe to prevent sewer gases from entering your home.

Why You Can’t Swap Them

It might be tempting to think a pump is just a pump, but using the wrong one can be a major mistake:

Sump pumps cannot handle solids. If you try to use one for a basement bathroom, it will clog and burn out almost immediately.
Health Risks: A sump pump pit is usually open. If you pump sewage into it, your basement will quickly become a health hazard due to fumes and bacteria.

Maintenance Tips

Regardless of which pump you have, regular maintenance is key:

Test annually: Pour water into the pit to ensure the float triggers the pump.
Battery Backup: For sump pumps, a backup is vital during power outages (which often happen during heavy storms).
Listen for Noises: Grinding or thumping sounds often signal that the motor or impeller is failing.

Schedule a free estimate with us, no cc required: www.maxwellplumbingPNW.com

Test and Review of Essency EXR Water Heater

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:57:18 GMT

Testing this next-generation Essency EXR Water Heater: Here's our Review 2 months in

A few months back our hybrid electric water that came with our house was on the fritz…only 5 ½ years old! The electrical boards were throwing codes and the company sent us replacements. The truth was, we had never been totally happy with this water heater. Since it was a hybrid, we did like how it cooled our garage in the summer months, but as a family of 5, our electric water heater was never able to keep up with baths, showers, dishes, and laundry. We had discussed adding a mixing valve and even adding a secondary water heater. Our house also has natural gas so I had yearned to have a tankless water heater to solve all of our problems. This, of course, would mean running venting and connections. Coincidentally that very day our water heater was giving us trouble, our local Ferguson rep mentioned the Essency EXR, a 55 gallon new technology water heater. He went on and on about how it has a 20 year leak-proof transferable warranty. It works through the use of an oversized heat exchanger that they say is the equivalent capacity to a 230,000 BTU tankless water heater. It works as an “on-demand” tank and might be perfect for our hot water loving family as it claims to have an 80 gallon first hour rating.

It’s intriguing looking and it meant we weren’t going to rush into a tankless install. I read some reviews we found online and we decided to give it a shot. In person it is really interesting looking as it’s basically a big plastic looking box.

Upon install, you learn that the tank is only filled once, water doesn’t actually flow through the tank meaning that it doesn’t pick up sediments and gunk from traditional water heaters. Because it has a polymer insert, scale doesn’t build up inside the unit. It also doesn't need a sacrificial anode rod or dip tube like other tanks (side note: please consider a yearly preventative maintenance on your traditional and tankless water heaters if you want them to last!!).

Aaron took his time to do the install and we read the instructions front to back. The initial fill sounds odd and setting up the app was a bit odd too. Both are the type of things that with repetition become second nature, but that first install leaves you questioning/testing.

Once we got it set up, it didn’t take long at all for our water to heat up, and get that first bath in! We adjusted the water to a slightly warmer temperature and over the next few days kept checking in with each other, “Did you run out of water?” “Do you like it?” “There’s something different…the water feels cleaner?!” We played around and used the Boost setting and yes, we are happy to say, we’ve had 3-4 baths/showers back to back or even simultaneously while doing dishes and laundry and we HAVEN’T HAD TO WAIT FOR HOT WATER!! It’s been pretty awesome!

Cleaner water? We both felt the difference. It felt like a bit of a mind trip at first… our water genuinely “feels” cleaner–which makes sense. Traditional and Hybrid Water heaters develop sediment and gunk and some of that way inevitably makes its way out of our faucets and shower heads and onto our bodies as well as in our cooking and laundry.

Other bonuses:

It also has a lithium-ion battery which provides power to the unit allowing for hot showers even during a power outage!
Low maintenance, some water will eventually evaporate from the tank and it’ll need to have water added, but we won’t have to take it apart and put it back together!

We are now happy to stand behind the Essency brand and see them as a great alternative to natural gas driven tankless water heaters, these are especially great for high consumption homes like ours!