The outdoor sump pump alarm has been around for a long time, especially in commercial applications. However, it isn’t until recently that they have become more popular in the residential market. And while homeowners are discovering the protections offered by these devices, there are still many who don’t know about them or what they do. The term “sump pump” actually refers to two different types of pumps. The first is the recirculation type used to lift the water up and out of a pit known as a sump basin. This process can be used to remove groundwater from crawl spaces beneath homes, basements, etc., or it can be used to drain standing water from flooded areas. Homeowners often use a battery-powered version to keep the crawl space dry or remove water from flooded basements.
The other type of sump pump is the sewage ejection pump. This is what’s used to remove wastewater from restrooms or kitchens, but it can also be used with a drainage system to help prevent flooding. In recent years, applications have increased for this type of pump because so many homes now have basements and crawl spaces instead of sloped yards leading away from the house. Since these areas are now below ground level inside the home, they are much more likely to become flooded during heavy rains or severe storms. The outdoor sump pump alarm can protect your investment by sending out an audible alert when it detects that the power supply has been disrupted – either accidentally or by a lightning strike.
Even though the alarm is designed to be water-resistant, it can still be compromised if flooding occurs. A good rule of thumb is to place the alarm in a location where it can be heard – even if it gets wet. That way, when your sump pump enters “the most important 15 minutes of its life,” you have a better chance of being alerted so that you know when to turn off the power and shut down the system manually. Since a typical sewage ejection pump will continue running for between 16 and 20 hours when flooded, an audible alert from the outdoor sump pump alarm that something has gone wrong could give you enough time to stop costly damage from occurring.
Setting up an outdoor sump pump alarm is fairly easy, but there are a few steps you’ll need to follow to make sure you install the system correctly. First, be sure that your sump pump can handle the job. If it’s too small to drain large amounts of water quickly, an alarm won’t do any good because it will shut off before enough water has been removed.
