Your sump pump is one of those items you may not consider until you need it—then you hope it’s operating as it should. Some homes with basements or crawl spaces are sheltered from ground water damage by a network of drainage pipes around the foundation. The pipes direct water into a shallow pit, or sump, where a sump pump pushes the water out and away from the house through a discharge pipe. A damaged or broken pump can quickly allow water to overflow the sump and damage your basement.
Although relatively simple, a sump pump is one of the most essential and overlooked disaster prevention devices in a home. Sump pumps work systematically each time water fills the sump, making them easy to forget about. While normally very reliable, it is only as good as the power that keeps it functioning.
When this simple system breaks down, the results can be ruinous, leading to thousands of dollars in damage, daily disruptions caused by major repair work and higher insurance premiums for years to come. So spending some time and money on averting failure makes a lot of sense. That’s the advantage of sump pump battery backup systems—no matter what the reason for the pump failure, a backup system will save the day.
Advantages of battery backup systems
- Easy to maintain
- Basic installation
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Unlike water-powered systems, battery backup systems operate when there’s no water supply
- Operational during power outages
Considerations for battery backup systems
- Battery may run down before power is restored
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Battery water levels must be checked every few months
- Battery terminals must be cleaned twice a year
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Battery must be replaced every five years (and costs approximately $100)
So, when your sump pump starts acting different, call Fras-Air/General Service Experts to investigate your issue and help you decide on new sump pump installation, repair or replacement for your Hillsborough home.