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
- A battery backup sump pump is a separate pump installed in the same basin adjacent to your electric primary pump.
- A battery backup pump typically runs on 12- or 24-volt DC battery power.
- Battery backup sump pump generally is installed above primary pump.
- 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
- A water powered backup sump pump is a reliable backup system.
- Water powered backup sump pump systems operate using a pressurized municipal water supply, without the need for battery or electrical power.
- 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.
- 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.
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
