Why 2 Sump Pumps Can Be Better Than 1
So, you have a sump pump and you are wondering what would happen if yours failed?
There are 3 reason why 1 sump pump may not be enough:
1. Your sump pump decides it is time to die!
2. Your sump pump can’t keep up with the water coming in.
3. The power goes out
Sump pumps are like coffee pots or hair dryers. If your coffee pot quits working, you have to go to Starbucks to get your caffeine fix. If your hair dryer quits working, you have a bad hair day. Both can be replaced and your loss isn’t that significant. But, what will happen to your basement if your sump pump just decides to quit? You may not even know that it quit. Really, how often do you check on it? If your basement floods, what type of damage will that do to you?
So, one reasonable solution to this potential problem is to have 2 sump pumps instead of 1 in the same sump pit basin. A second sump pump can help reduce the potential threat of 1 dying or not being big enough to handle that big rainstorm.
How do you do this?
It is called the “piggy back” approach. It is simply 1 sump pump on top of another. You could set both sump pumps at the bottom of your sump pit basin, but that would mean that both pumps would run at the same time. This can actually hurt both sump pumps because they would both be cycling more often. The more a pump turns on and off the shorter the life span. So, by installing the 2nd sump pump slightly higher, or on top of the primary pump, they won’t be working in tandem. The 2nd pump will only have to work in the scenario that your primary pump fails or can’t keep up with the water that enters your sump pit basin.
Typical Kansas City sump pumps are expected to last 5 years. However, like any electronic device, they can last 1 day or a lifetime. Sure, they come with warranties, but the warranties don’t cover your property. What good will it do you to have a warranty that will give you a new sump pump AFTER your basement has suffered damage? But, if you get 5 years out of a pump, you should be happy. So, if you have a sump pump that is working, don’t throw it away no matter how old it is. You never know when it’s life is up. Unless you have money to blow, just keep it. You may consider adding a brand new pump to be there when your primary pump decides it is time to go to the dump.
It is also recommended to maintain your sump pumps on a regular basis. Go down to your basement during a variety of rain events and monitor your sump pump. Be aware of how often your pump cycles on and off. How fast does the water enter your sump pit basin? This may not be scientific, but it can help educate you as to how important your sump pump is at your particular location. Every house is different. Maybe your sump pump hardly ever runs and your threat is minimal. It is also recommended to clean out your sump pit basin. Sometimes, small rock particles and silt can infiltrate in and potentially cause your sump pump to clog up. Keep your pit clean! Try to do this when it is not raining so you aren’t fighting all that water. A wet/dry vacuum will do the trick nicely.
Gordon Energy & Drainage, located at 15735 S. Mahaffie in Olathe, KS installs over 2,000 sump pumps every year. They have a sump pump that they install for about $280 that can pump 2,400 gallons per hour. So, the question is simple. Is it worth $280 of your money to add a 2nd sump pump to your basement? Read more about Kansas City sump pump installation .
