Why You Need a Backup Sump Pump

Homeowners often learn the hard way the many reasons why a backup sump pump is an absolute necessity.

A primary sump pump is the first line of defense against basement flooding. However, it is insufficient by itself and many homeowners have learned the hard way that in addition to the primary sump pump, a backup sump pump is also an absolute necessity. In fact, there are three important reasons why you need to install a backup sump pump system today in tandem with your primary pump:

Your primary sump pump will not run during power outages.
During heavy rains, primary sump pumps can be overwhelmed.
Primary sump pumps can fail unexpectedly.

Let’s dig into each of these reasons to have a backup sump pump.

1. Your primary sump pump will not run during power outages.

Primary sump pumps can only run when your home has electricity, since they run on standard AC power. For day-to-day use, this is great solution since it will maintain low water levels in the sump throughout the year.

However, during severe rain storms it is very common to lose electrical power leaving your home defenseless against basement flooding. In addition to electrical blackouts, power surges during thunderstorms can damage your pump and leave it inoperable as well.

In each of these scenarios, your sump will quickly fill with water and your basement will be flooded before you even realize there is a problem.

Water Commander™ Water-Powered Backup Sump Pump — Water Commander™ backup sump pump

The solution is to install a backup sump pump to run alongside your primary sump pump. Water Commander™, a water-powered backup sump pump, is a great solution since it will never run out of power even during the longest power outages and has high pumping capacity, comparable to electrical sump pumps.

2. During heavy rains, primary sump pumps can be overwhelmed.

Even when your primary sump pump is operational, the high volume of water entering your sump during a rain storm can overwhelm its pumping capacity. Even with electric pumps that have pumping capacity of several thousand gallons per hour (gph), extreme rain falls and flash floods can be too much for one pump to handle.

With a backup system installed and running simultaneously with the main sump pump, you can rest easy knowing the pumping capacity of both pumps will be enough to handle severe water flows into your sump pit. In this scenario, it is always better if your backup sump pump has an independent discharge pipe, not connected to your primary electric sump pump.

3. Primary sump pumps can fail unexpectedly.

Like any piece of equipment, primary sump pumps are known to fail when you least expect it. There are any number of reasons for why it may stop working, but the most common are:

A failed switch: It is very common for switch to malfunction and fail. This often requires replacement of the entire pump. Another common problem is the float mechanism becoming lodged or restricted from moving properly in the sump pit, prohibiting the electric pump from operating.
Blocked or frozen discharge pipes: Any clog in the discharge pipes will render your pump inoperable until the blockage is removed. (A backup sump pump with an independent discharge pipe would be the ideal solution to resolve this problem.)
Normal wear-and-tear: After several years of usage, it is not uncommon for the components of a sump pump to begin to wear down and need replacement. Unless you are regularly testing the pump to ensure it still operates, you risk discovering your pump has died when your basement floods.

Each of these reasons for sump pump failure may be easily resolved, but if you don’t have a backup sump pump, you risk a flooded basement until it can be fixed.

It’s also important that your backup sump pump is reliable and will run whenever needed. While better than no secondary pump, backup sump pumps powered by batteries often fail as well. They lose power over time and have limited run times when in use.

One solution is the Water Commander™ water-powered backup sump pump, which has a high pumping capacity and will reliably pump for years since it does not use any electricity or batteries. It runs on your home’s municipal water supply, which is more dependable than the electrical power or a battery.

Install a backup sump pump today.

If you don’t already have one, seriously consider installing a backup sump pump. Don’t wait until after your basement floods to realize how important it is. Invest now and save yourself from the headache and the extra cost of a flooded basement.

If you want to learn more about the Water Commander™, check out the rest of our website. If you have any questions, please reach out to us and we’ll help you out.

Live demonstration of a water-powered backup sump pump.

Looking for a quality backup sump pump?

Water Commander™ is the best backup sump pump system available on the market today. It’s non-electric, can out-pump your electric sump pump, and will run at full power for years to come.

It is more reliable than battery backups and is the perfect solution for homes with municipal water.

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