Connect 2 Sump Pumps in One Pit and Save Your Basement!
Christ! Your home is drowning!
The first thing you saw in the morning is that your basement is flooded with water. You start wondering what happened to the sump pump. Why isn’t it working?
Well, there’s another sump pump in your basement but you don’t know what it’s for. Does it support the primary sump pump?
Can you connect the 2 sump pumps in one pit?
Yes, you can connect both of the sump pumps in one pit. The main reason you should connect the two sump pumps is for keeping a backup plan. When the primary sump pump is down, the second one will save your house! And you only need to follow 3 steps to install another sump pump.
Are you interested to know how to connect these two? Are you also worried about the cost? In this article, I’ll answer each of your answers in detail.
So, let’s start from the basics!
Why Are There 2 Sump Pumps in My Basement?
You saw 2 sump pumps in the basement. And all you’re thinking right now is how to connect them.
But hey. Do you know why there are two sump pumps in your house in the first place?
Well, I do. There are three solid reasons why your basement has two sump pump pits. These are:
Damaged Primary Sump Pump
If one sump pump fails, the other one saves you from drowning. It’s like having a backup plan for your primary sump pump.
I know a friend of mine just slipped into the crawl space because of excessive water. And it happened because there was only one sump pump that stopped functioning. If there was a secondary sump pump, there wouldn’t be water on the ground.
Worn-Out Primary Sump Pump
A secondary sump pump prevents any issues if the primary one loses its power.
A pump’s lifespan gets shorter with each time you turn it on and off. So, the primary sump pump can wear off very quickly.
And so, a secondary sump pump can come in handy in this case.
Heavy Rain and Lower Locality
You live in a lower locality where a large amount of water enters your house. When it rains heavily, your basement gets flooded.
Again, if your basement is too deep, a simple drizzle can drench your basement.
In short, the second sump pump acts as additional support to the first sump pump.
That’s why you’ll see there’s one primary sump pump and a secondary sump pump. You can also replace this sump pump with a battery backup one.
So, you see…Having two sump pumps at home is a blessing!
If you don’t have two sump pumps installed, I would suggest going for it right now. Your house needs 2 sump pumps for your own safety!
Now, the question is do you really need 2 sump pumps? Here’s what I think about installing two sump pumps at your home.
Do I Need Two Sump Pumps?
Yes, you need two sump pumps and there are many reasons behind it. Check out the following points below. These points will help you understand why two sump pumps are better than one.
Inefficient Sump Pump
The quality and capacity of a sump pump matter in handling excessive water. If the sump pump is not powerful enough, it won’t do the work. As a result, you’ll need another sump pump to support the excessive water flow.
Improper Sump Pump Installation
Installing a sump pump correctly is a must. Otherwise, the pump will not be able to function properly. The drain tile will get clogged up. Water will submerge the whole basement but not divert the way it should.
Frozen Discharge Lines
In winter, you might see the sump pumps aren’t quite working. The reason is that the discharge lines that move water got frozen at extremely low temperatures. So, if there was a secondary sump pump, in this case, your basement wouldn’t have flooded.
Clogged Up Sump Pumps
Another way your sump pump can be clogged up is by dirt and debris. A lot of the time we don’t clean the sump pumps too often. As a result, dirt piles up and clogs the whole drainage system. So, water flow becomes really slow. In some cases, you don’t see water running at all.
Damaged Sump Pump
Having a disastrous storm in your basement can damage the sump pump power lines. Apart from natural calamities, a circuit breaker trip will power off the sump pump. Unlike these severe accidents, a silly mistake like unplugging the pump will cut off the sump pump.
So, you see, having one sump pump will be risky for you. That’s why you need a secondary sump pump to support the first one. And for this reason, most of the houses already have 2 sump pits in the basement.
Now that your house has two sump pumps, this brings us to your original question.
Is it possible to connect 2 sump pumps in one pit?
Continue reading to know the answer from the next section.
Can I Put 2 Sump Pumps in One Pit?
Yes, you can put two sump pumps together in one pit. Putting 2 sump pumps in one pit can give you an edge in diverting water.
You just have to make sure that you’ve connected them properly to the weeping tile system. It’s the perimeter drain pipes you saw while using one pit.
The idea here is to use the secondary sump pump only when you need it the most. Again, it’s important to ensure that the sump pumps don’t sit idle for a long time. Or else, they will wear down very quickly.
So, for this what you’ll do is only run the primary sump pump in less wet seasons. Make sure you adjust the float switches every month or so. This will help in both the pumps’ functionality and prevent wear and tear.
There’s one thing to remember here. You should start the second pit when the first one gets two-thirds filled. It’s because the slower the first pump functions, the better it performs.
This helps the water to queue up in the weeping tiles for a longer time before getting and diverting from the pump.
Okay, so you know that it’s possible to connect two sump pumps in one pit. But are there any consequences? Follow the next segment to figure this out.
Is It Okay to Install 2 Sump Pumps in One Pit?
Fortunately, yes, it’s okay to install 2 sump pumps in one pit. And the reason is that the secondary sump pump works as a support when the sump pump gets cut off.
But there’s a catch. You can replace the battery backup with a secondary Primary Sump Pump. And you can do that when you have a whole-home generator. The power will remain just as fine as it was before.
You should also be aware that the backup should work immediately when the primary one goes out. It’s all about saving your basement when your sump pump has worn out.
How to Install 2 Sump Pumps in One Pit?
So, now let’s install 2 sump pumps in one pit. I’ll show you a step-by-step process for your ease. Make sure to bookmark these steps so that you can check and act later.
Step 1: Design an Over-Sized Basin
The first thing you have to do is excavate a sump basin larger than the sump pit. Yes, a sump basin should be perforated. And it should be large enough to hold two sump pumps.
Make sure you leave a minimum of 2 inches of clearance in between the sides of the pumps. You can dedicate one circuit for both of the sump pumps together. But in this case, don’t use the circuit for powering up any other devices.
Step 2: Install the Sump Pumps
Now it’s time to install the sump pumps in the basin that you designed earlier. And for this, you have to install a short drain pipe and a check valve into the outlet port of each pump. The valve will control the water flow.
I want to emphasize one thing here. You should use an independent discharge pipe for your backup sump pump. It’s because it will keep the discharge separate from both of the sump pumps. As a result, there will be no blockage or water flow issues.
If you want, you can also extend and join the two drain lines. This will help you to drain out water to the designated area.
Step 3: Activate the Sump Pumps
Finally, it’s time to activate the pumps! You can activate the pumps in two ways.
One way is to activate the first pump and wait until the water reaches a certain height. When the first pump doesn’t have more capacity to handle the incoming water, that’s when you count on the second pump. Usually, you’ll see this type of procedure in the dual pump system.
Another way is to activate both pumps simultaneously. Both of the pumps will remove water together. Hence, there’s no chance that one pump will fail due to sitting idly for a long time.
Tip: I want to give you a small tip in this regard. Try to install sump pumps of the same type and brand. You’ll see the pumps working more efficiently then.
How Much Will It Cost to Install 2 Sump Pumps in One Pit?
Now, it’s time you be aware of the costs too.
On average, you will need to spend about $2,500 to $5,500 to install 2 sump pumps in one pit. But if you already have one sump pump built in already, the cost will be lower. You’ll only have to pay around $490 in this case.
On the other hand, if you install the sump pump yourself, it’ll cut down your costs more. You’ll have to spend approximately $280 then only.
Well, this is an average estimated cost. It can get higher or lower based on several factors. Things like the type of floor, type of sump pump, size of a sump pump, location, and labor cost can affect the price range.
So, it’s best if you set a budget a little higher than my calculation. You’ll be on the safer side!
Now, that you’re ready, you should be aware of a few things before you start. Read the next section carefully and try not to miss any points.
Caution: Things You Shouldn’t Do While Adding a Second Sump Pump!
Finally, I want to warn you about a few things. Here’s what you shouldn’t do when you’re connecting a second sump pump:
- Don’t connect the drainage system with the sewer system without a legal permit. Make sure you’re discharging the water at the lowest point from your house.
- Don’t opt for any illegal ways of connecting sump pumps. Or else, you’ll be fined approximately $1000 and $50 per day.
- Don’t divert the water from a sump pump to a septic tank system. Otherwise, the system will get overloaded and lead to failure.
Well, is it getting hard to install a sump pump for legal reasons? If so, don’t worry. There’s another way to save your basement!
Install drywall instead of a sump pump. This will also help lower the water levels and prevent swampy conditions.
Conclusion
So, what do you think? Connecting 2 sump pumps in one pit isn’t a hard job after all, right? And if it seems so, you always have your phone to call a nearby professional.
But I would like to leave a small tip here. You should always look out for a highly trained person for this type of work.
Don’t rely on semi-trained professionals. They have a higher chance of damaging the whole system. It’ll cost you more than it would if you’d apply some DIY techniques.
So, hopefully, this article was useful for you. Good luck with connecting the two sump pumps. Adios!
