Sump pumps are small, fully-enclosed, submersible pumps that are placed into a pit in areas where water infiltration is a problem due to rain, snow or other flooding circumstances. These pumps work to keep water out of basements and foundation areas of your home, but if the electricity goes out and your pump cannot operate, it could be a disaster. This is why some homeowners choose to install backup water pressure sump pumps. These backup pumps can certainly help in the event of a power failure, but they do have their pros and cons. Does this Spark an idea?
Pro: Compatibility with Municipal Water Supply
Even if a storm or other situation---such as a short in the panel box caused by flooding---prevents your conventional sump pump from operating, a water pressure sump pump will continue to operate and pump water as long as you have a steady flow of water pressure in your indoor plumbing system. This is usually the case with municipal water, which is pressurized by a pumping station. However, well water is pressurized by an electric well pump at your home, which of course will not work in a power failure.
Con: High Water Usage
One of the cons of a backup water pressure sump pump apparatus is that these pumps can eventually drain away a lot of money. While municipal water providers often charge as low as 0.03 cents per gallon of water used, pumps that must run for a long period of time can still account for a significant amount on your monthly municipal water bill.
Con: Potential for Flooding
If the discharge pipe on a backup water pressure sump pump system is disturbed during operation by other sump pumps that are operating and flushing into the same discharge, there is the potential for damage to the one-way check valve in the system. This could lead to the water coming out of the sump pump system under pressure and potentially flooding your basement or foundation area even further.
Pro: Easily Sealed
Since a backup water pressure sump pump consists simply of a pipe going into the ground, you can seal the sump pump pit tightly, allowing the prevention of radon and other gases from entering your home.
Tags: sump pump, pressure sump, water pressure, water pressure sump, backup water
