Normally when the primary pump fails because of water damage, power outages, mechanical failure, or by using excessively, there will be a necessity for sump pump battery backup systems in order to make it work for some extra hours.
During storms sometimes the primary pump will fail to pump all the water letting the water rise. In such cases, a second or backup sump pump comes into action. When a backup pump is maintained it will double the pumping power making it easy to work.
Tips to make note while installing
When the person himself wants to install the backup sump pump the following details are to be taken into consideration.
- The battery should be placed in its own protective case above the water level.
- When the pump has started the circuit of the sump pump and its battery charger should be able to handle both the continuous draw and the sudden increase in the amperage
- Avoid using extension cords
- If a dedicated circuit should be provided for the sump pump consider hiring an electrician
- As the process involves both power and water, it is always recommended to do things under supervised guidance.
Advantages of sump pump battery backup systems
When water-powered pumps are compared with battery backup pumps, battery backup ones have more advantages. Some of them are listed below.
- Many homes can use them because of their versatility.
- They can be powered with a power of 3000 gallons per hour at 10 feet of lift.
- The installation of this backup is the same as that of the primary one and hence it is pretty straightforward.
Drawbacks of water-powered sump pump include
As there are many advantages with water-powered sump pumps there are many disadvantages as well. Some of them are given below.
- For homes having wells, this is not an ideal option as the power outage will shut them off.
- For using these, some plumbing requirements have to be met by the home’s plumbing methods.
- When compared to the power, the pumping rate in water-powered pumps can not compare with the sump pump battery back up systems except in the case of homes having active sump pits.
- These are a bit difficult to install as they have to be connected to the home’s water supply.
Batteries used in the sump pump for backup
For battery-based sump pump backup, there will be two types of batteries. They are
- DC battery
- AC/CD battery
When the power fails, the battery backup systems will switch from AC to DC battery power. But when there is no issue with power, they will work directly on AC without depleting the battery.
There are deep cycle maintenance-free batteries that are sold as marine batteries or solar batteries. Wet cell batteries are mainly used in vehicles.
Conclusion
Floods and storms will not come after informing beforehand. So it is always better to have a backup system for the sump pumps to ensure the safest way to keep the home dry and protected.
There are many types of backup pumps available in the market to select from.
