Why a backup matters
A primary pump can fail for many reasons: a power cut, a tripped breaker, a stuck float or simply age. Any of these during heavy rain or spring melt can flood a finished basement within hours. A backup system adds a second pump on a separate power source.
- Covers power outages during storms.
- Covers a mechanical failure of the main pump.
- Sounds a buzzer the moment the primary quits.
How we install it
- We check the pit diameter and depth, since both pumps and floats must move freely.
- The backup pump is set on a stand or bracket slightly above the primary pump's start level.
- Its discharge joins the main line through its own check valve, or exits separately where that is simpler.
- The controller and a deep-cycle battery are mounted off the floor near an outlet.
- Finally we pull the primary’s plug, run a hose into the crock and listen for the second pump and its buzzer.
Once the upstairs sink, the tub and the basement drain all sulk at once, look past the branches to the main.
Options compared
| Type | Strength | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Battery backup pump | Works with no power at all | Run time depends on battery charge |
| Combination unit | Primary and backup in one assembly | Replacing one part may mean the whole unit |
| Generator connection | Long run time | Someone must start and fuel it |
Rebates and planning
The City of Markham has offered basement flooding protection subsidies that have covered sump pumps in some cases. Programs change, so confirm current eligibility and terms with the city before work begins. Adding a backwater valve covers the sewer side as well, and keep the main pump healthy with sump pump repair.
Keep an eye out
- Floor drain flooding as laundry pumps out.
- Upstairs and downstairs fixtures all sluggish together.
- Toilet water rising when a shower drains.
- Wet, sunken patch over the line between house and road.
Markham note: village-core houses tend to hide cast iron and galvanized behind plaster, while Cornell and Box Grove builds run PEX to a manifold. We ask the year your house was built so the right fittings ride along on the truck.
Straight from the phone log
How many hours will the battery carry it?
It depends on battery size and how often the pump cycles. A busy storm can drain a battery in hours, so a larger battery is worth it in high-water areas.
Can I add a backup to my existing pit?
Usually, if the pit is wide enough. Very narrow pits may need a combination unit.
Ready to get it fixed?
One call, a clear explanation, and work finished tidily before we leave.