If you are one of the millions of Americans with a sump pump installed in your basement or crawlspace to protect your home against flooding, you should consider maximizing your protection by installing a back up sump pump. Most experts agree that a backup sump pump provides an extra level of protection against flood damage. This extra protection is especially important if you frequently depend on the sump pump to keep water out of your home or if your sump pump is installed in a second home or vacation home that does not get used year round.
Sump pumps are generally pretty reliable, but when the flood waters rise, you need to be absolutely certain that the pump will work. A sump pump can be clogged by hair, dirt, debris, pet hair, or a rodent’s nest. In addition, the float switch can get stuck, the motor can seize up, or the discharge pipe can become clogged or frozen. You may need your sump pump to work during a storm, but this is most likely time for a power outage that will render the sump pump useless.
Most people discover a problem with their sump pump at the worst possible time – when the water is rising quickly. If you are at home, you may be able to clear a clogged sump pump or discharge line, free a sticky float, or connect the sump pump to a portable generator, but if you are not at home or simply fail to notice the problem you can quickly be facing expensive floodwater damage.
You can avoid these problems by having your plumber install a backup sump pump that will kick in if the primary sump pump stops working or cannot keep up. Some backup sump pumps are battery operated and others work using household water pressure. Your local plumber can help you decide what type of backup sump pump would be best for your home.
