My fiancé owns a 5,000 square foot home with one sump pump (basement flooded 3 times in 5 years). It appears that the home should have been built with two sump pumps. Who makes this determination and what is the process for having a second sump pump installed?

THANKS!

Before installing additional sump pumps check gutters and down spouts to insure that they are clear and functioning. Insure that each down spout has a splash block to carry water away from the house. Better yet pipe the down spouts to carry the water far away. Check the grading to insure that all water runs away from the house and does not accumulate or pool any near the house. These things are easier to do and usually resolve the problem.

Hi All:

Harold gives good information/advise. Be sure to check all the things he mentioned.

SUMP PUMPS:

Homeowner usually decides to have these installed.

Some choose to install 1
Some choose to install 2
Some choose to install a battery back-up sump pump so that if power should fail during a rain storm/hurricane or similar they have some way of evacuating water from the basement while the emergency persists.

Battery back up pumps require pump, marine battery and proper installation. They are a back-up pump... and will only last so long on battery power... so not to be relied on for more then a day or so...

Check out the following link for more information on regular sump pumps and battery back-up systems:

Zoeller Corporation

Click on zoeller PUMPs, then click on products (upper right), then click on search products, then type in battery back up sump, etc.

Now... a 2 pump system is rarely needed.. except maybe for backup pump as presented and in cases where there are separate foundations/footings such that water cannot flow easily from one area of home to the other area.

Try the suggestions Harold gave you... check around the house... see if can improve things without 2nd pump.

Any more questions just get back to us... Mark

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Risse, are you saying that the sump pump aws functioning just fine but the baseemnt flooded anyway or was there a power failure? If he is on city water he may be interested in exploring a backup pump that runs off the water pressure inside you water pipes.