Among plumbers and contractors there’s a common joke: “so you had $50,000 to finish your basement, but you didn’t have $1,000 to keep it from flooding!” It’s sad but true. We’ve even seen home theaters underwater. The fact is, a backup system, which includes backup “power” (a gel battery) and a backup “pump” (a second sump pump in the same pit) you end up having protection from both the failure of your primary pump and the loss of electricity (which is very common during heavy rainstorms!
JEM Plumbing has worked with many backup systems, and we can tell you the pros and cons of different models. Indeed, some of the most popular systems you find in big box stores are also the worst! The system we recommend at this time, due to a combination of quality and features is the Glentronics Pro 2400.
Sump Pump Backup Systems are not cheap – invest in one before you have a problem, lest you find yourself buying a new sump pump, backup system and carpet all at once!
Just because someone calls them self a plumber or works for a plumbing company, does not mean they have the wisdom of experience. Seemingly simple things like placement of sump pump check valves can make the difference of whether your system prevents a flood or causes one!
We recommend Gel Sealed Batteries for all backup system installations. People forget about their backup systems for years at a time – maintenance is unlikely to be performed. For that reason, we do not recommend wet-cell batteries.