| Sump pumps are essential in protecting your | | | | days at a time or for however long it is needed. Also, |
| basement from being flooded over due to heavy | | | | primary pump detection systems are usually designed |
| rainfall. In order to save on energy, most sump | | | | to monitor only water levels, whereas backup pump |
| pumps are designed only to activate when basement | | | | systems are designed to monitor both water levels |
| water begins to reach a level that could be described | | | | and whether the primary pump is operating or not |
| as bordering on unmanageable. It is ironic, though, | | | | before it turns itself on and begins pumping water |
| that most pump models need electricity to work, | | | | out of your sump. |
| when it is usually heavy storms that do enough | | | | Practically speaking, any home with a basement or a |
| damage to power lines in order to produce blackouts, | | | | low floor can benefit a lot from having a backup |
| thereby nullifying any potential effectiveness of the | | | | pump installed in a sump in their home. People who |
| sump pump during the times it is most needed. This | | | | are required to leave their homes for extended |
| often means that you will have to resort to a backup | | | | periods of time, though, are those who probably |
| sump pump for these times, again, when such a | | | | benefit the most from having a backup sump pump |
| device is needed the most. | | | | around. One can hardly imagine, after all, the hassle |
| There are several differences that distinguish a | | | | and frustration that comes with going home from a |
| backup pump from a primary sump pump. The first | | | | trip out of town to a flooded basement, or worse, |
| notable difference has been mentioned in passing | | | | your entire house flooded over. Reactivating your |
| above: primary pumps usually work off electricity, | | | | sump pump at this stage may even prove to be a |
| whereas backup pumps are designed to run off an | | | | hazardous undertaking, especially if your pump is of a |
| independent battery system, in order to keep their | | | | design that is not meant to work while submerged, |
| efficiency during power outages. These battery | | | | not to mention the cost in damages to not only your |
| systems usually feature gel-pack technology that | | | | basement, but also to whatever items of value you |
| allows special batteries to supply huge amounts of | | | | have stored there. |
| power to your sump pump, allowing it to function for | | | | |