You know what I'm talking about here. Every time your sump pump or ejector pump activates and then shuts off, you hear a loud "thud" sound. If you have a baby or your bedroom is located right above your sump basin, you may be more familiar with that thud than others!

You may not realize it, but eliminating this tremendous noise from your daily life is cheap and simple to do. The first thing you need to understand however is that it's not the pump that's making that noise. While your pump does make its own noises, the thud is actually coming from the check valve.

A check valve allows water to flow in only one direction, preventing back-flow of sewage or ground water that's being pumped out of your home. When the sump pump kicks in and flushes the ground water out of your basement, the water presses the check valve open as it flows through. When the pump shuts off, the sudden reversal of the water in that discharge pipe causes the check valve to close, creating the loud "thud" that you hear.

Some check valves, called silent check valves are designed differently to make them quieter. They cost approximately twenty-five dollars, and installing it is relatively simple. Hopefully your line has a shutoff valve above the check valve. It may look something like the red one in the picture. Turn the shutoff valve so you don't soak yourself in dirty water. Then remove the current check valve.

Once you have the noisy check valve removed, you can replace it with your new silent check valve. If your new valve is larger, you may have to cut the PVC piping to fit the new valve. Just make sure you don't cut too much off - measure before you cut.

Now that you've replaced your check valve, reopen your shutoff valve and away you go. Now you don't have to worry about that loud and crazy noise anymore.

You could also mount your check valve at a 45-degree angle. This will help to reduce the sudden reverse pressure and noise produced when the check valve closes. Also, make sure your discharge pipe isn't coming into contact with any part of your home's structure. If it is, apply some type of foam or sound dampening material around that spot to reduce vibration and noise.

The installation of two primary pumps within a single sump basin is nothing new or unheard of. Many homeowners will install a second "primary" pump for extra "insurance" in the event that their main pump fails or cannot keep up with the incoming water rush. 

I will usually recommend going with a good 1/2HP or even 3/4HP sump pump as your second "primary" pump, just in case you need extra power during a major storm. There are just a few things you need to understand.


1. Does your current sump basin have enough room? A standard sump basin that measures 18" wide by 24" deep will have sufficient room for two pumps.

2. Do you have a separate dedicated 120 volt outlet for that second pump? All sump pumps should run on a dedicated circuit.

3. Make sure that the float switch for the second pump is raised a good 2"-5" above the activation point of your "Main" pump.

4. How do you plan on discharging the water from that second pump? If at all possible, it's always best to run a separate discharge pipe for the second pump. This will ensure that you will get the optimal pumping capacity from BOTH pumps should you need them during a major storm.

Of course you should also consider the possibility of power outages as well as the need for a battery backup system or small standby generator.

We've all been there. Sitting in our homes during a bad storm when all of a sudden, the power goes out. On top of scrambling around looking for flashlights, the last thing you want to worry about is your sump pump failing and your basement flooding. Unfortunately, this is the reality for many homeowners.

For this reason, I always suggest for homeowners to purchase a battery backup sump pump. These pumps have all the benefits of a primary sump pump, with the added benefit of battery power in the case of a power outage.

Another option during a power outage is to plug your sump pump into a portable generator. If you are experiencing a power outage and you own a portable generator, one of the first things you should connect is your sump pump. You could save thousands of dollars in potential flood damage.

Consider these options, and make sure your home is protected during your next power outage.

Primary Sump Pumps
Primary sump pumps are the standard pumps found in many residences. Designed to pump seepage water out of your basement, they prevent floods. They can pump up to several thousand gallons an hour to keep your home safe and dry.

There are two types of primary sump pumps: submersible pumps and pedestal pumps. 

Submersible pumps can be submerged under water in your sump pump basin. Pedestal pumps aren't fully submerged. The base of a pedestal pump (which contains the impeller) is set in the basin, but the motor sits atop the pedestal in the air stream. Pedestal pumps are great for shallower basins, but they can be a bit louder as well.

Battery Backup Sump Pumps
Battery Backup pumps provide you added insurance in the case your power goes out. As sump pumps are electric-powered, they can be rendered useless in a power outage, which is usually when you need them most. 

The battery backup unit is only used in the event of a blackout. When the power goes out, the battery on the unit kicks in providing the pump with power so it continues working, even without regular electric power. New technology allows some of these pumps to even text or email you in event of a failure.

Combination Sump Pumps
Combination sump pumps are just that; a combination of a primary pump and a battery backup all in one package. This is the way to go as you get everything you need in one fell swoop. If you've ever dealt with the aftermath of a flooded basement, you know exactly how painful that process can be.

With a combination sump pump, you are protected under normal circumstances and in power outages as well. Besides flood insurance, this is the pinnacle in home flood protection. The backup pump will also kick on in the event the primary pump cannot keep up with the water as it enters the basin.

Sewage Pumps
Sewage pumps aren't like traditional sump pumps, although they could be used for this purpose. Rather, sewage pumps are primarily designed to pump sewage waste and effluent from a home to a septic system.

Sewage pumps can pass solids up to 2", which is one of the biggest differences between them and regular sump pumps. Once installed, sewage pumps run automatically. They can either be installed in the septic tank itself, or in a separate pump chamber.