Backup Sump Pump

Electric sump pumps may fail for a variety of reasons such as power failure, broken impeller or drive shaft, blown fuse, damaged power feed line, clogged or frozen sump pump discharge pipe. When such a sump pump fails, there is great damage, which insurance companies exempt from their policies. Taking care of this damage from ground water flooding is extremely expensive. A backup sump pump is useful here especially when one’s entire basement is dependent on a sump pump. In instances such as this a backup sump pump is effective but inexpensive flood insurance. A backup sump pump is usually fully automatic and immediately turns itself on when a sump pump fails whereas other requires someone to turn them on.

A backup sump pump comes in two variations: battery backup sump pump and water powered backup sump pump. A battery backup sump pump can run up to 4 to 8 days after a pump sump fails. However a battery operated backup sump pump requires a battery charger and the use of a charger can be ineffective during instances of power failure. Water powered backup sump pump works on the principle similar to fight fire with fire: in this case pump water with water. It can for as long as required after the failure of a sump pump and also does not require electricity to run.

When it comes to purchasing a backup sump pump, several factors have to be taken into consideration. One factor is the power source a backup sump pump requires. Ideally power sources should be ones that do not require electricity such as batteries, water power or a portable generator. If batteries are used as a power source, charger strength is another factor that should be taken into consideration. Also when purchasing a backup sump pump it is important to note the non electrical trigger that activates the backup sump pump on failure of the primary sump pump. For instance a battery operated backup sump pump spurs into action when the water level rises to the float.

Whereas a portable generator powered backup sump pump has to be started by a human being. Another factor to be taken into account is the material used in the making of a backup sump pump. Thermoplastic is cheap, durable and weighs less whereas cast iron and stainless steel is also durable but is heavy and is expensive. One of the most important aspect that has to be considered before the purchase of a backup sump pump is the size of the backup sump pump and the sump pit. Each backup sump pump comes in a different size so ideally a sump pit should have a diameter of eighteen inches so that it can accommodate most backup sump pumps.