Take it from a seasoned homeowner, it is necessary to have an efficient sump pump and sump pump drainage system set up in your home basement or cellar. If flooding should occur, you need to be prepare and protected. To make sure you buy the best sump pump, here are some helpful guidelines.

1. The very best in sump pumps must have a power source which is reliable or else consider an alternative power sources. In the unfortunate event that your primary sump pump breaks down or the power goes out, you should have a secondary sump pump that does not require electricity or water pressure to function. Time and time again, I've heard horror stories of people not having battery backup sump pump systems in their basement. After a big storm, their power goes out and so does their sump pump. After the storm, they're left with a lake in their basement and thousands of dollars worth of damage to their foundation and furniture. It's a sad story for them, but a great lesson for you. Get a secondary back up sump pump to protect your home. You'll be glad you did.

2. All sump pumps on the market require some degree of maintenance. It's important to check your sump pump at least once a year to ensure it's functioning properly. Several problems can happen throughout the year causing your sump pump to malfunction (e.g. if a sump pump float switch becomes misaligned it may fail to start or if a sump pump check valve becomes clogged from a lack of cleaning and debris the pump might not work). Most sump pumps on the market today have a life span of five to ten years. To ensure your sump pump works, keep it clean and replace any parts before they break or wear out. Also, be sure to check your sump pump drainage system. If the drainage pipe is blocked or frozen, the water might flow back into your basement. Be sure you follow the proper sump pump maintenance as outlined by the product specifications of your specific model.

3. Find a sump pump that meets the draining requirements and specifications of your house. If you live in an area with high flooding potential from a river, storm, or other means, be sure to get a sump pump that meets your requirements. You might even consider a commercial sump pump or industrial sump pump that has more horse power and can pump higher volumes of water. If you have a little basement that doesn't get much flooding, than shop around for smaller models.

4. Look for sump pumps that have additional backup components for better coverage. These components will not only increase the safety of your house, but will make the sump pump last longer. Back up components can include a gasoline powered generator or a battery backup sump pump that can be operable during a power outage, a sump pump alarm to warn you of a rising water level, a sump pump check valve which keeps water from flowing back into the basement, and a sump pump cover to keep the components of your sump pump clean.

What to Look For In a Quality Sump Pump

Here are some other tips for finding a quality sump pump

Size your pump correctly to make sure it will provide the best efficiency for your needs.
Determine your pump capacity, or the volume of water pumped in gallons per minute and the travel distance of the water (height and distance).
Determine the pipe size. A minimum of 10 millimeters is recommended in case stones need to pass through the pipe and the discharge pipe should be at least 1 1/4 inches.
Look for a pumping head of at least 10 feet in height.

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