Has your basement ever flooded? If it hasn’t, you’re one of the lucky few in the country saved from the problems caused by water damage, such as soaked valuables or risks to your home’s infrastructure.
An estimated 98% of basements have experienced water damage in one form or another. It’s a serious concern, especially for homeowners in the Midwest, East Coast, or southern states. Recent water damage statistics show flood risks threaten 14.6 million US homes, with the average restoration costs reaching $4,250.
Many homeowners don’t even realize their basement or crawl space is in danger until they decide to monitor it. That’s why it’s critical to be proactive in protecting your home. Enter a smart home sump pump monitor system that alerts you of issues early on so you have a better chance of preventing the costly impacts of basement flooding.
A sump pump monitor alarm system notifies you immediately of issues with your sump pump. Since they are usually installed in hard-to-reach places in your home, such as in a crawl space, under a sealed cover, or in a three-inch deep well, smart alarm systems make monitoring their status much more convenient.
A leading reason most homeowner’s basements become flooded is sump pump failure. It is then critical to know basic information about your sump pump system, including the available types and their advantages and limitations. Regardless of the sump pump model, they each operate similarly.
Sump pumps actively expel water seeped into your basement during a serious weather event or heavy rainfall. Without a working system, water will accumulate and remain in your basement, leading to flooding and its disastrous effects.
Since sump pumps work hard to keep your basement or crawl space dry, it’s prone to breaking down over time. Faulty float switches are the number one cause of sump pump failure, highlighting the importance of regularly monitoring your system.
Water can enter your basement staggeringly, especially during storms. Some sump pumps, such as the DC Defender Battery Backup Pump, can expel 31.31 gallons per minute and operate for 8.15 hours continuously.
Since sump pumps are mechanical devices with oil-sealing gaskets and multiple moving parts, they require regular cleaning and maintenance. These include inspecting the discharge pipe, checking the power source, and testing the float switch.
Sump pump systems operate similarly to car engines: they must run regularly, even for a few seconds, to keep the inner parts lubricated and debris-free.
Dry sump pits expose the system to rust and dried-up seals and cause long-term damage, so addressing it as soon as possible is important.
A smart sump pump monitor system, especially one from Basement Defender™, is beneficial and protects your home from flooding. Basement Defender™ has a sump pump monitoring app that allows you to keep a close eye on the status of your sump pump at all times, providing you with several benefits.
Daily testing of your sump pump doesn’t only ensure its parts are lubricated. It also lets you know first thing in the morning if the system has any issues and is working efficiently. Smart sump pump systems will run tests automatically and notify you of the results on the connected smartphone app, so you won’t even have to leave your bed to check if everything is working.
A smart sump pump monitor sends notifications to your smartphone about any issues, such as if it’s been running excessively or if there are possible electrical outages. Such issues are also early warning signs that it’s time to replace your sump pump.
A battery backup sump pump operates independently from your home’s electricity, meaning a power outage won’t stop it from keeping your basement dry.
You can easily test your Wi-Fi strength on your computer or mobile device to ensure your sump pump operates successfully.
Smart sump pump monitoring system updates you on the status of your sump pump every hour. This is especially beneficial in serious weather conditions when you’re away but still want to monitor your home regularly.
Changes in humidity and temperature in your basement could indicate impending water damage. It might even begin to expose you to the health risks of a wet basement, such as the growth of mold and mildew.
With a smart sump pump monitor alarm system, you get notified if the temperature drops below 44°F in your basement, helping you prevent your pipes and discharge lines from freezing.
Buying your sump pump from a reliable provider such as Basement Defender™ can come with perks. For one, you get 365 days of sump pump testing to ensure the system continues to work as intended.
A mobile app, like the Basement Defender™ app, allows you to test your sump pump even when you aren’t at home. It also provides real-time data, such as total run time and testing results.
A smart sump pump monitor system typically requires a few standards to operate properly.
Certain smart sump pumps require a strong 2.4GHz Wi-Fi signal. You can consider investing in the Basement Defender™ Mini Router Kit if you have a weak signal to eliminate network issues quickly with your sump pump.
Sump pumps require an average discharge line height of 8 feet to efficiently expel water from the basement. Using a 12V battery backup pump is recommended if your discharge line height is significantly less than that, such as eight feet.
How often does your power go out? Sump pumps must connect to your home’s power supply to operate regularly. Since power outages are more common during storms, invest in a battery backup kit for your sump pump and a UPS battery backup for your Wi-Fi router.
Iron ochre is a bright, rust-colored byproduct of iron bacteria mixing with oxygen and other minerals in your sump pump pit. The sludge can restrict the system, impacting its efficiency. Iron ochre prevention through a clog hog drain cleaner or a jetter hose is critical to ensure floodwater flows out of the sump pump unobstructed.
A dedicated circuit is an outlet reserved only for a single appliance. All sump pumps require circuits to avoid overloading your home’s electricals.
As powerful as sump pumps are, they only require the standard 120V AC power that most US households already have.
Basement Defender™ works with most 12–19 Amp sump pumps with a mechanical float switch, which can help you create a more cohesive basement defense setup.
It’s essential to consider a few factors before investing in a sump pump monitor system, such as the following:
Research the founders of a sump pump brand to gauge how experienced they are in protecting homes from flood damage.
For example, Roy Spencer took advantage of his over 45 years of hands-on waterproofing experience when he created Basement Defender™. Basement Defender™ products have since been field-tested over five years in 6,500 homes without incurring one flooded basement due to sump pump failure.
Look for positive customer reviews and testimonials to determine how trustworthy a sump pump brand is before you buy from them.
Basement Defender™ has a 5-star Google review rating and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. Additionally, customers have a 96% renewal rate of the daily testing and alert service, highlighting how satisfied they are with the products.
Look for pumps that match your unique needs. For instance, Basement Defender™ sump pump systems operate with a patented daily testing system that allows you to test your AC pump regularly, which is excellent if you have a packed schedule and want to automate some of your home maintenance tasks.
How often do you travel? A smart sump pump alert system allows you to monitor your basement’s status during a serious weather event wherever you are.
You can expect to spend an average of $4,250 repairing a flooded basement. Sump pump systems, in contrast, cost significantly less than that; in most cases, you can expect a 30% return on investment when you waterproof your home. This isn’t to mention the value of your possessions lost to the flood.
Basement flooding can happen when you aren’t aware of it. Without the right systems, you might only learn too late that your precious items in your basement have succumbed to water damage.
With a smart sump pump monitoring system, you’ll always be prepared to keep your basement safe. It sends real-time alerts and notifications about the status of your sump pump and whether it’s encountered any issues or early signs of failure.
Don’t wait until your belongings are submerged to invest in a smart sump pump monitoring system. Basement Defender™ is one of the best smart home sump pump monitor alarm systems on the market today. Browse our online store and contact us about our products to learn how to keep your home and loved ones safe from flooding.
Roy is a respected authority in the waterproofing industry, with over 40 years of experience under his belt. His company, Perma-Seal, has earned a reputation as Chicagoland’s premier waterproofing contractor, thanks to Roy’s unwavering commitment to quality, integrity, and customer satisfaction.
His latest innovation, the Basement Defender, is a testament to his dedication to providing homeowners with the best possible protection against basement flooding, representing a major leap forward in the industry’s efforts to prevent water damage and save homeowners from costly repairs.
