Basement Remodeling

One of the most important things you can do before you finish your basement is to ensure you have a quality sump pump and backup system.
Every year I get calls from homeowners who’s basements have flooded due to power outages or failed sump pumps. I recommend backup systems in every basement I finish. If only the contractor that finished their basement would have recommended or installed a backup sump pump system they could have saved thousands of dollars in repairs, insurance premiums, not to mention the headaches of refinishing their basements. If your remodeling your basement spend the extra $500-$1,000 to install the proper backup equipment. Most water backup insurance deductibles are $1,000 and if you have a problem you’ll spend that anyway. At least this will save you the hassle and headache of tearing out the carpet, trim, drywall, insulation and re doing it all.
There are many things that can go wrong down with a sump pump that can cause basement flooding. It can be a power outage, a failed sump pump, a stuck float switch or a sump pump that cannot keep up with the inflow of water. Most builder use the cheapest pump they can find during construction and usually the sump pit is littered with debris by the end of the job. that sump pump has been pumping out mud, sawdust, trash, or anything else that falls in the pit. By using a battery backup sump pump your basement should remain dry during almost any occurrence.

So here are my recommendations.
1. Change out your existing pump with a high quality pump like the Zoeller M53 Automatic Mighty Mate 1/3 hp Sump Pump

2. Buy a battery backup system to install or have your contractor do it. The two I recommend are the following:
Standard- Glentronic’s Bw4000 Combination Primary and Back-up Sump Pump System
Best- SUMPRO Gold Complete Battery Back-up System w/ 2 Batteries (5000 GPH) – SPD- SUMPROGOLDKIT
(Most systems require you buy the batteries separate but you normally get the best deal from a local dealer like interstate batteries or an auto part store.)

3. Always, Always, Always have you battery backup system installed on a seperate breaker from your existing sump pump. If for some reason one of the breakers trips the other one should still function.

4. Normally the batteries only last for about 4 years so keep track of when you installed it and when its due for replacement. 

Always use a backup sump pump in your finished basement

Author: David Michael