Sump pumps help keep basements free from water accumulation. However, many first-time homeowners have only one operational sump pump in their basement. That pump may let you down when you need it the most. This article discusses some key reasons why it is advisable to have a backup sump pump in your home.

Risks of Power Outages

Many sump pumps rely on the electricity supply in order to work. That power supply may fail during a violent storm. That same storm that took out the power can also release large amounts of water into your basement. A backup sump pump that runs on fuel, such as diesel, can kick in and deal with the water getting into your basement during or after the storm.

Unexpected Volumes of Water

Sump pumps have a maximum volume of water that they can discharge during each hour of their operation. It is therefore possible that an unprecedented volume of water that gets into your basement during a storm will overwhelm your sump pump. So it’s possible that an unprecedented volume of water could overwhelm your sump pump. The backup sump pump can support the main pump so before water causes extensive damage within your home.

Pump Malfunctions

Any machine is capable of breaking down at any time during its service life. It is therefore not possible for you to guarantee that your primary sump pump will never suffer a malfunction that can make it incapable of performing when water enters your basement. For instance, the pump may overheat and stall while it was pumping water out of your basement. Such defects are particularly possible for sump pumps that are nearing the end of their service life. Poor maintenance practices may also predispose sump pumps to malfunctions. Having a backup sump pump can prevent water damage because the extra pump will remove the water as it accumulates within the sump basin.

As you can see from the discussion above, it is very risky to rely on only one sump pump in your basement. It is better for you to have an extra pump on standby so that the two pumps can complement or support each other when the need arises. If you have more questions or want more advice, talk to a plumber in your area so that he or she assesses your requirements before recommending an appropriate backup sump pump for installation in your basement.

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