Backup Sump Pumps in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Lynchburg
A sump pump system will protect your basement most of the time. However, mechanical failures in the sump or the sump pump switch lead to significant basement water problems.
When waters are rising and rains are at their worst, you'll be glad there's a battery backup sump pump available to kick in and handle the water the primary sump pump couldn't handle.
If you're looking for a great sump pump battery backup, Evergreen Basement Systems offers free, no-obligation inspections and quotes on the installation. Call or e-mail them today!
Battery Backup Sump Pumps
If your sump pump system has no battery backup sump pump, it won't matter how nice the system is when the power goes out. And, unfortunately, the power goes out most often when there are heavy rainstorms and wind are present.
Let's break down the different battery backup sump systems available:
Generator-powered sump pump backup in VA: For around $400, it's possible to buy a portable generator that can be used to run the sump pump if there's ever a power outage. However, this generator will only be useful if the homeowner is home and awake to turn it on, and usually must be started outside (in the rain). For $7,000-$10,000, you can buy a powerful generator system that's wired to the sump pump and will turn itself on automatically. If you want your basement dry all the time and don't know if you'll be home - and awake - every time you lose power, the more expensive option is all generator-powered systems have to offer.
Remember also that you'll be powering your primary sump pump and that no battery backup will be available. If the sump pump simply clogs or experiences a mechanical failure, there will be no other pump available to help keep the basement dry.
Alternate Sump Pump Power Source: Homeowners will sometimes hook up a battery to their AC powered sump pump that will convert the battery's DC power to AC power to run the sump. Unfortunately, much of the battery's charge will be lost as it converts DC to AC, and the battery will generally run out of charge after either an hour has passed or 2,200 gallons of water have been pumped out. And like the generator-powered systems, there is only one sump pump in the pit, and if it fails, your basement floods.
Generic Battery Backup Systems: Irresponsible basement waterproofers have been known to rig up a cheap battery backup sump pump, hooking it up to a car battery for its power source. However, car batteries were not intended for work like this, and as they sit on the cold concrete floor, they will begin to lose their amperage-hour capacity. If the basement floods a year later, you won't be able to count on them to last for very long!
Sump Pump Battery Backup Systems: Top-quality battery backup sump pump systems in Virginia have been created specifically to last in crawl space or basement. These battery backup sump pumps can pump out 3-5 times more water on a single charge than an alternate power source is able to. The UltraSump Battery Backup Sump Pump offered by Evergreen Basement Systems can pump more than 11,500 gallons of water on a single charge. If you want more power in your sump pump system, it's also possible to hook up two or more batteries to a single battery backup sump pump.
Backup Pump or Battery Backup Pump?
Both. While a battery backup sump pump is the more important of the two because it can run even when the power goes out your basement will stay dry.
However, prolonged rains or flooding are liable to use up the charge on any basement waterproofing system, eventually leading to a flood in the basement.
However, using an AC-powered sump pump backup will ensure that your system has a second line of defense, and that as long as your home has power, your sump pumps will be working to protect your home investment.
As a side note, be sure that if you're installing two sump pumps into a single location, it's important to use two sump pump discharge pipes to send the water out of the home. The pipes hold a limited amount of water, and the second pump will need a new venue to send it out with.
Evergreen Basement Systems would like to help you with your battery backup sump pump needs. For a free, in-home inspection and sump pump quote in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Lynchburg and all across Virginia, call or e-mail them online today!
