More Sump Pump Info
3C Plumbing installs and replaces backup sump pumps to prevent flooding and ensure that your home’s basement stays dry in case your primary sump fails. There are many things that can go wrong down in the sump pit to cause basement flooding. It could be a:
- Power outage
- Failed sump pump
- Stuck float switch
- Sump pump that can’t keep up with the inflow of water
A backup sump pump will keep your basement dry during any of these occurrences.
How Backup Sump Pumps Work
Since a sump pit may overflow if not constantly pumped, a backup system is important for cases when the main power is out for prolonged periods of time. There are two basic types of backup sump pumps available:
- Battery Operated – options include:
- Battery-driven 12 V sump pump with its own water level sensor, piping, and check valve
- Standard lead-acid battery
- Marine deep cycle battery, or special long-life standby battery
- A trickle-charge battery charger
Battery operated backup pumps may have a specialized controller to manage, monitor and test that the battery holding a charge. Some systems include an alarm in case of low battery charge or electrical component failure.
- Water Powered – driven by municipal water pressure. These pumps are similar to backup battery-driven systems with a separate pump, float and check valves.
Water Power vs. Battery Backup Sump Pumps
For the vast majority of homes, water powered sump pumps are the best solution. Water powered backup pumps are much simpler than battery powered backup pumps. They use fewer, and less complex, parts that require little or no maintenance, so they fundamentally have less to go wrong. You just need to test it briefly every 6 months or so, and that’s about it.
- As with any battery operated device, battery operated backup sump pumps can only operate for a limited time, generally about six to eight hours.
- If your power went out while you were away on vacation, the backup pump would continuously operate until it ran out of power, which means you could potentially come back to flooded basement.
There are some cases where a battery operated backup is needed. Water powered backup pumps need a reliable municipal water supply that consistently supplies 40psi of pressure or more. For this reason, water powered sump pumps are not recommended under these circumstances:
- For use with an electrically powered well water system
- As a long-term substitute for your ac powered primary basement sump pump system
The next time you have a problem with your sump pump, or if you want to have a backup system installed or replaced, call (317) 850-5114 for prompt, reliable service.
