Design Talks Sump Pumps

When sitting in your design appointment picking out selections for your new Thomsen home, sump pumps can be the last thing on your mind. I asked our Design Team to explain what a sump pump is and why you should consider adding a sump pump backup. According to our Design Specialist, Heidi Toso, your home is a major investment that you’ll want to protect. Adding a sump backup is crucial in the Fargo-Moorhead area as they can run year-round in a lot of homes. The ground remains saturated from snow and rain so sump pumps are constantly working year round to pump water away from your home. 

What is a sump pump?

First, let’s talk about what a sump pump actually does for your home. According to the Thomsen Homes Homeowner Manual, the foundation design on your home includes a drain-tile system around the perimeter, and a sump pump. The perimeter drain runs around the foundation to gather water and channel it to the sump pit. When the water reaches a certain level, the pump turns on and pumps the water away from your home.In summary, a sump pump keeps water out of your basement and pumps it away from your home. After learning about what a sump pump does, my next question was, “Well, what if it fails or stops working?” Heidi had an answer for that too, a sump pump backup.

Sump Pump Backup

Thomsen Homes offers two different sump pump backups: battery backup and a water powered backup. If your sump pump were to fail due to power outages, mechanical failure or excessive use, either one of these options would be beneficial for your new home.

If you’re interested in a battery backup, Thomsen Homes has several choices. Some of the options include an audible alarm system, which can be very handy if you’re home to hear the alarm. One of the battery backups that Thomsen Homes offers has a “trickle” charge, while the other has re-chargeable battery that can last for several days (great if your home electricity goes out longer than a few hours).

The water powered backup can be an appealing alternative if you do not want to rely on a battery; however, the downside with a water powered backup is that you are using water to get rid of water. Heidi recommends adding a sump bypass if you choose the water powered route. A sump bypass allows homeowners to control where the water from the sump pump is pumped to. In the winter, homeowners can have the water pumped through the floor drain and in the summer, homeowners can have the water drained outside. However, homeowners should check with their municipality on the rules and regulations for directing the water down the drain.

Another clever feature that can be added to your sump pump is the Night Eye Alarm system. This system monitors your pump and will send an alarm notification to your smart phone via their app if something is in disarray with your pump.

If you are starting the home building process and going to meet with your Design Specialist, talk to them about the different options for your home. We are always happy to help answer any questions you may have.