As a homeowner, one of the most important things that you can do to keep your house safe and secure is taking steps for preventative maintenance. Whether you want to avoid mold and mildew growth, take extra measures to protect the appliances in your basement, or prevent water damage after heavy rain, installing a sump pump battery backup is always a great idea. By installing a battery backup for your sump pump, you can prevent these issues and have peace of mind if your original device clogs, fails, or malfunctions.
How Does a Sump Pump Work?
Before understanding why you need a battery backup for your sump pump, you should first know how the equipment works in the first place. To start, a sump pump is a plumbing appliance that is installed in the lowest point of your home, such as your basement or crawl space. During heavy rainfall, the sump pit, or location where your unit is installed, can become oversaturated and even flood. Sump pumps collect excess groundwater and prevent it from traveling to your basement or the lowest level of your home so that you can avoid flooding and the hefty price tag that comes along with water damage repair.
Why Should I Have a Battery Backup for My Existing Sump Pump?
Although we have four specific seasons in Middle Tennessee, sometimes the weather here can be completely unpredictable. When major rain storms hit and power outages occur, the flood prevention you thought you had may no longer be an option. Once your power goes out, your electric sump pump will stop working as well. However, having a battery backup for an existing sump pump ensures that even if your electricity goes out, your backup will kick into gear to prevent flooding and water damage in your home. Even though severe rainfall can be a rarity in Middle Tennessee, it still happens, which is why we always recommend being safe than sorry with a battery backup for your sump pump.
They provide extra protection from severe storms
Although we have four specific seasons in Middle Tennessee, sometimes the weather here can be completely unpredictable. When major rain storms hit and power outages occur, the flood prevention you thought you had may no longer be an option. Once your power goes out, your electric sump pump will stop working as well. However, having a battery backup for an existing sump pump ensures that even if your electricity goes out, your backup will kick into gear to prevent flooding and water damage in your home. Even though severe rainfall can be a rarity in Middle Tennessee, it still happens, which is why we always recommend being safe than sorry with a battery backup for your sump pump.
They’re easy to maintain
Once your local plumber installs your sump pump battery backup, there isn’t much you need to do to keep it in working condition. We recommend just a few simple steps to ensure your device continues to operate as it should. From time to time, check its water levels to make sure it is not completely dry. Also, because backup sump pumps are battery-operated, they can lose power over time just like your tv remote or car battery. If you know a major storm is coming, stay prepared by checking on your sump pump battery backup to make sure it’s working and the battery is in good condition. Lastly, you’ll need to replace the battery as needed—some models have a 36-month lifespan and others operate for a shorter or longer duration.
Sump pump battery backups are affordable
Some homeowners consider purchasing a secondary electric sump pump for their basements or crawl spaces. However, we recommend sticking with an affordable sump pump battery backup, because once your power goes out, the additional electric version is not going to be much help. Purchasing and installing an additional electric sump pump will also be much more expensive upfront and down the line, if a power outage knocks out both units.
Who Installs Sump Pumps?
We do! At Better Homes & Windows, we are known for our reliable, affordable plumbing services throughout Nashville, TN. If you’re interested in backup sump pump installation for your home or need further information on the benefits of battery backups for sump pumps, get in touch with us for an estimate today!
