Having a wet basement isn’t only problematic because of the mold and standing water, it can also be detrimental to the energy efficiency in your home. Because of the stack effect, the air in your basement can rise to the upper levels of your house and influence how hot or cold it is. Your HVAC system must combat the intruding air and work harder to keep the temperature in your home comfortable for you and your family. Overtaxing your HVAC system can make your energy bills skyrocket, a problem that could be fixed with a properly insulated, waterproof basement.
Part of making sure your basement is waterproof and stable is having a sump pump. It’s recommended that you have two sump pumps, especially if you live in a rainy place like Birmingham, Alabama. If you’re an energy-conscious homeowner, you might wonder how having two sump pumps might affect your electricity bill.
Why Having One Sump Pump Is Not Advised
Alabama is the fourth rainiest state in the contiguous United States. Because of all the rainwater and storms the state sees on a yearly basis, homeowners typically have overactive sump pumps. It’s normal to hear your sump pump running in the background as it pumps water out of the basement and surrounding soil. Often, however, after a period of excessive rain, you’ll hear that your sump pump is louder than it should be. A quiet hum is fine, but the sound of a mini-waterfall in your own basement is a red flag.
Besides the roar of copious amounts of water being dumped into the pit, if you feel like too much water for a single pump to handle, you should get a backup. After storms, sump pumps tend to malfunction because they can’t keep up with all the water they need to pump out. This is why it is a smart idea to get a second pump—so that you don’t have to worry about basement flooding.
How Having a Backup Pump Can Help You Save Money
Having a second sump pump will not raise your energy bill. The amount of energy the pump needs to function does not rise because the second pump is only there as a precaution if the first one malfunctions. Two and even three sump pumps are necessary if you want to protect your basement.
A double sump pump system can save you money overall. If your sump pump malfunctions and you don’t have a backup, the other waterproofing solutions and machinery in your basement might break down if a flood ensues. For example, your dehumidifier, which is only meant to take in the humidity in the air, is not capable of handling a flood. Costly repairs and expenses can be avoided if you have a backup pump.