Water in Your Basement or Flooding Due to Snow Melt?
Everything You Need To Know About Marine Deep Cycle Battery Back-Up Sump Pumps
The temperature is starting to rise, and you know what that means. Snow melt. With snow melt comes issues with water in the basement, which also means you are going to be running your sump pump more often. During these times, you need to know that your pump is going to be able to last. That’s where battery back-up sump pumps can be a lifesaver.
Sometimes, primary
sump pumps will fail due to excessive usage, mechanical failures, or even power
outages. When any of these unfortunate circumstances occurs and you lose the
primary sump pump, you could experience a flood in your home.
Why You
Need A Back-Up Sump Pump
Homeowners who are at risk of water damage in their basements should always take a few extra steps to ensure the safety of their home and belongings. This includes a back-up sump pump and decent battery. Power outages can happen at any time throughout the year, and sump pumps can fail. Purchasing a deep cycle battery is a worthwhile investment when considering how much money it could save you in repairs, water removal, and other issues that come from unexpected flood damages. The battery will also increase your peace of mind, because you know that you are more protected than if you didn’t have the back-up.
If your sump pump is
more than 5 years old, then the chance of breakdown increases. Buying a back-up
battery is a good idea, especially if you want your sump pump to come back
online before damage occurs. That said, if you have a 10 year old or older sump
pump, don’t just get a back-up battery. Buy a new sump pump too!
Back-up batteries come
with a sensor that will monitor the sump pump. Once the primary sump pump
fails, it will receive a signal that tells the battery to switch on.
About Deep
Cycle Batteries
There are a few battery types that you could choose from, but the recommended choice would be a marine deep cycle battery. These types of batteries will last the longest against any other type of back-up sump pump battery available. For example, at maximum capacity, a 200Ah battery can operate endlessly for 20 hours straight. These deep-cycle batteries are maintenance free.
Technology has made
back-up batteries even more efficient. Some can connect to smartphones and send
you danger reports. Others monitor primary battery status. Others run
diagnostic tests on themselves. All these little bonuses help keep your
property safe and dry.
You will have to
replace the battery every 3-4 years, depending on how often it is being used.
Deep-cycle batteries can be recharged, but over time the charging will become
less and less efficient.
Installation
You don’t need to hire
a professional plumber to install a back-up sump pump or battery, but you
should be cautious. Consider the following:
- Keep the battery in the protective that it comes in until you need to use it. When storing the battery, it should be on a shelf high above any water.
- Never use extension cords to power the battery charger or back-up sump pump.
- You may need to hire an electrician to install a circuit for the sump pump (both primary and back-up).
- If you don’t know anything about plumbing or electricity, you should hire a professional.
While a sump pump is
not something every homeowner needs, if you live somewhere with a lot of snow
melt or repeatedly have water in the basement, it is time for a sump pump—and
more importantly, a deep cycle back-up battery. Live with more peace of mind by
knowing that even when your sump pump goes offline, it will come back on in a
blink, thanks to your back-up system.
Have questions or want more information? Contact us today.
The post Water in Your Basement or Flooding Due to Snow Melt? appeared first on The Irish Plumber.
