The Best Sump Pump Backup? Exton Home Inspector Explains!

The Best Sump Pump Backup? Exton Home Inspector Explains!

Spring is almost here and we know it from all the rain the past few days.  Several of my friends have had to stand by with their mighty shop-vac in preparation for that dreaded basement water.  

A solution for basement water is getting a sump pump, but many people don't understand about the best sump pump BACKUP until it's too late.  This is not something you want to find out the hard way! 

In case you aren't familiar with sump pumps, they are an electronic device used to remove water that has accumulated in a water collecting sump pit.  This pit is a small hole dug into the floor of the basement. Sump pumps are used in cases of moderate basement flooding which can happen for a number of reasons.  Perhaps the basement in located below the water table level or is located in a area likely to flood in general.  Sump pumps send water away from a house to any place where it is no longer problematic.  

Now, let's talk about the best sump pump backup systems out there.  Sure, there are battery backup systems which sound an alarm when the battery is getting low, but what if you are on vacation and there is no one home to hear the alarm?  You may come home to find a swimming pool in the basement. Or what if you do not want to be bothered with worrying about replacing the battery if it runs out?

Are there other back-up systems?  The good news is that there are!

As an Exton Home Inspector, I came across what I would consider one of the best sump pump backup systems in homes today... water powered!  You can see in the picture above, if you look in the sump pit, the round white float belongs to the primary sump pump.  Let's say this home loses electricity during a thunderstorm and the sump pump doesn't get activated (because it has no electricity), the water level would rise to the second float.  Because the backup system is powered by the home's main water supply instead of electricity, the owners live to see another dry basement day!

Spring is almost here!  Don't delay.. protect your basement today! 

If you are thinking of selling your home and need a professional real estate inspection of your home before putting it on the market, call David Artigliere with ARTI Home Inspections at (610)220-1907.  He is not only an Exton Home Inspector, but works all over Surrounding Southeastern PA.