How a Battery Backup Sump Pump Protects Your Home During Floods

Battery Backup Sump Pump in Waukesha WI

As a homeowner, it is highly likely that you are currently watching the topsy-turvy weather conditions in the country. There is snow everywhere even as increased precipitation hits most regions. With time, this snow will thaw again increasing surface run-ons.

Last Line of Defense

If you have a basement or crawl space, it is time to start thinking about a battery backup sump pump to serve as your last line of defense during these conditions. While most homes have an electrically-run primary sump installed, the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) says many of these homeowners consider a battery backup unit a luxury.

A working main pump is considered in construction as one of the most effective waterproofing solutions. Nevertheless, like all appliances running on electricity, anything can happen especially during storms. Consider these situations for instance:

• A power outage: This would leave your basement exposed to rising water levels.
• Level control on the primary is obstructed or fails
• The capacity of the primary pump is surpassed
• Any other mechanical failure occurs rendering the electric-run pump useless during a storm.

In all these cases, your home will be exposed to rising water. This will lead to property damage while also compromising the strength of your foundation. A battery backup sump pump comes in handy as it picks up the task when the primary sump pump fails.  It is a system on its own with a float switch and when water rises in the sump, it automatically comes on and starts pumping.

Choosing the Right Battery Backup Sump Pump in Waukesha WI

In essence, this unit should be part of your home’s basement drainage system. It is a lifesaver with today’s capricious weather patterns. However, there is always the problem of choosing the right pump for your home. Here are some factors to consider:

• Pumping capacity: A reliable backup pump must be able to meet or exceed the capacity of the primary sump pump for it to be effective.
• Pump construction: There is the option of plastic or cast iron bodies and if you are looking for durability then go with a cast iron construction pump.
• Battery type: Traditionally, manufacturers used the ordinary batteries but they don’t last long. During a storm you need a battery that will work for long hence the best choice is absorbent glass mat batteries (AGM) which not only function longer but are also low-cost maintenance.
• Technology: The best backup should have an alarm system to alert you in case power is running low. An AC/DC backup unit is also ideal as it can either operate off your wall current or the battery.

As residential properties continue suffering the perils of increasing precipitation, a battery backup sump pump is no doubt a suave home improvement move.