Sump Pumps

Many homes in the Peoria and Central Illinois area have sumps, and they are getting a workout this year!  This March was one of the wettest on record, and April is continuing on the same path so far.  The ground is saturated, which means that your sump pump is critical to maintaining a dry basement.  However, what many people don't think about until it is too late is:  what happens if there is a power failure?  Answer: if you do not have a back up pump, you will be in trouble.

There are several options for backing up your sump pump.  The most well know is the battery back up.  This system uses a battery similar to the one in your car to run your sump pump during a power outage.  There are, unfortunately, several drawbacks to a battery back up.  First, if you do not take precautions to make sure the battery is always charged and ready to go, it could be dead when the moment of truth arrives.  Second, even if the battery is fully charged, it will only last for a few hours.  If the power stays out for an extended period of time, you could still be out of luck.

Another alternate which is safer, at least for those home owners who are on city water, is a hydraulic back up sump pump.  These units operate on the water pressure in your house and do not require any electricity.  Thus, as long as you have water pressure, the pump will run forever.  Most cities seldom if ever lost water pressure, so these units are much safer.

To investigate a hydraulic back up sump pump, call your favorite plumber.  If you do not have one, Call Robinson Plumbing in Pekin.  They installed my unit..........