Back Up Your Sump Pump to Prevent Basement Flooding

The snow melt this year has sump pumps working overtime to keep water levels out of the basement. But, what happens when the sump pump gives out, the float gets stuck or there is a power outage preventing your sump pump from kicking in? If you don’t have a back up option, your sump pit can overflow and cause damage to your basement.
So, what are your back up options?

Battery back up
A battery back up uses hydro to charge the battery, and needs to be discharged periodically throughout the year to maintain the ability to hold the charge. The battery should be replaced every five years to ensure continued protection. It is recommended to get a back up with an alarm that sounds every time it kicks in, so you know there is an issue with your sump pump. For the cottage, occasional home or the traveller, back ups can now be equipped to phone, text or utilize wifi to contact you if it kicks in.
It is important to remember with the battery back up, that it is a battery. Rechargeable batteries loose their ability to hold and maintain charge if they haven’t been properly drained and recharged occasionally. There is also only so long that a battery will operate before needing recharged. If this is a prolonged power outage, it could still result in flooding.

Generator
A gas powered generator is a good option for power outages, as if it is large enough, it can still operate your heating system, your sump pump, and water pump. A generator is loud, but will get the job done. This does require for someone to be home to switch power to the generator, so if your in the habit of being gone a lot, it may not be the ideal option for you. It also isn’t beneficial for if your float gets stuck or the sump pump quits.

Water Powered back up
A water powered back up gets power through water flowing through it from the municipal water system – meaning this is NOT an option if you are on a well system. It is highly recommended that you have an alarm on the water back up, as when it is operating, you are paying for the water to power it.
There are a couple concerns about the water powered back up, such as back feeding of water into the drinking water system, but installing a check valve or backflow preventer will prevent that from occurring. Should the water pressure from the municipality drop, it could mean the back up won’t keep up to the demand.

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