Every home in Fisher, IL with a sump pump should have a reliable backup system. Not only will it give you peace of mind, but you’re also protecting valuable possessions and property. An often-overlooked benefit, and maybe the best benefit of all, is avoiding the frustration, aggravation, and hours of cleanup time associated with a flood due to pump failure. At any point one of the following situations could occur, rendering your primary pump inoperable:

  • Power outage
  • Mechanical failure
  • Switch obstructed
  • Overwhelmed, clogged, or broken discharge

Types of Backup Sump Pump Systems

  • Battery Backup Sump Pump
  • Water-Powered Backup Sump Pump

Battery Backup Sump Pump

  1. A battery backup sump pump is a separate pump installed in the same basin adjacent to your electric primary pump.
  2. A battery backup pump typically runs on 12- or 24-volt DC battery power.
  3. Battery backup sump pump generally is installed above primary pump.
  4. The battery backup pump is activated when the primary pump:
  • Cannot keep up with the inflow due to excessive amounts of water entering basin
  • Experiences power failure
  • Experiences mechanical failure
  • Discharge is overwhelmed or failed

Water-Powered Backup Sump Pump

  1. A water powered backup sump pump is a reliable backup system.
  2. Water powered backup sump pump systems operate using a pressurized municipal water supply, without the need for battery or electrical power.
  3. The water-powered backup sump pump has a float installed in the basin above primary pump, when the water rises in basin, the float activates a valve, which controls the flow of water.
  4. The water powered backup pump is activated when the primary pump:
  • Cannot keep up with the inflow due to excessive amounts of water entering the basin
  • Experiences power failure
  • Experiences mechanical failure
  • Discharge is overwhelmed or failed
  • Float has been obstructed

How Does a Water-Powered Backup Sump Pump Work?

These sump pump systems are designed to use the energy of flowing water through a venturi tube to create a low-pressure region as the pressurized water moves through the device, which in turn allows atmospheric pressure to push water out of the sump basin and empty it.

Water Powered Sump Pump

Lanz Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. Recommends Installing an Independent Discharge for Your Backup Sump Pump System

While it’s not uncommon for a backup sump pump to be connected to the existing primary pump discharge piping, an independent discharge is preferred because:

  • Connecting to an existing discharge pipe creates a potential path back into the sump
  • If a blockage occurs in the existing discharge pipe, this will affect both the primary and the emergency backup pump
  • Two pumps discharging into one pipe can be restricting and impede pumping efficiency, especially during extreme conditions

Pin It on Pinterest