Sump Pump Back up Systems

What is your plan for a back up system for your sump pump? Many homeowners here in the North Saint Paul, Maplewood, Oakdale, Stillwater area deal with wet smelly basements.  

Sump Pump Systems

We all know too well the pain of going downstairs and seeing water standing on the floor. Some go as far as to install a drain tile system that includes a sumppump.

The drain tile diverts water to the perimeter of the home or building and routes it into a catch basin. In the catch basin there is a pump the pump is activated when the water reaches a certain level the pump then pumps the water out and away from your property.

The drain tile itself is pretty basic and rarely fails, however the pump is subject  to mechanical failure or even power failure.

Extreme water situations typically arise from storm activity. Storms can flood areas with heavy rain, they can also take out power sources. What good is a sump pump ran on electricity when the power goes out? The answer is it’s not any good and flooding will result. Fortunately there are some options from very little cost to larger more dependable sump pump systems

There's a simple way to ensure that your sump pump continues to operate even when the power goes out: Install a battery-backup sump pump. This two-stage system includes a 120-volt electric sump pump connected to a 12-volt backup pump that runs off a deep-cycle marine battery. During normal operation, the electric sump pump will pump water from the pit. But if the electricity goes out, the battery-powered backup pump will automatically start up when the pit fills with water. An electric charger keeps the battery-backup pump fully charged so it'll be ready at any time.

Here are a few different types of back up systems for basement water control

          

Battery Backup Sump Pump Systems

Manufacturers of battery backup systems usually sell three models: good, better and best, with “best” costing three times as much as “good”. The “best” units come with a larger battery and a more sophisticated battery charger. The larger battery gives you a longer run-time, and the better charger prolongs the life of the battery.

Water Powered Back Up

A water-powered backup pump uses water pressure to siphon water out of your sump. Most use 1 gallon of city water for every 2 gallons of sump water they remove. So a pump that's capable of removing 1,500 GPH will use 750 GPH of city water. And that's created a lot of controversy. In fact, a few municipalities prohibit their use due to already severe water shortages.

Generator-powered sump pump

battery back up sump pump

During a power outage, a generator can pay for itself in a dozen ways. One of those ways is powering a sump pump. A typical sump pump draws about 9 amps, so it won't add much load to the generator. But a generator isn't a perfect substitute for a backup system. A battery- or water-powered system kicks in automatically, whether you're home or not and no matter what the failure. A portable generator works only if you're around to connect it.

Tired of damp smelly basements and sump pumps failing during power outages? contact Paul Vadnais Plumbing we have a sump pump back up solution for you.

Paul Vadnais Plumbing
651-429-8908
651-231-0944 
Professional Plumbers

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