Everyday ResiliencySump Pumps & Basements
Backup pumps, power alerts and leak sensors that help keep the basement dry.
A sump pump gets noticed only when it fails, and that tends to happen during a heavy storm, sometimes with the power out too. The projects here are the layers I use in my own basement: a battery backup pump, an alert when the pump loses power, leak sensors on the floor and a way to see each time the pump runs.
None of them replace testing the pump. Every three months I pour a bucket of water into the pit and watch the pump switch on and empty it. For pumps, check valves and anything wired into your electrical panel, follow the manufacturer's instructions and local codes, and call a qualified plumber or electrician if you're unsure.