The most important item in a basement is a sump pump. Without it, flooding would be an all-too-common occurrence for many homeowners. That said, some basements experience flooding that is just too much for the average sump pump, especially in Cleveland, OH, where flooding isn’t uncommon. A good sump pump can run its own and keep things dry automatically, but it’s still important that you are aware of the state of your basement. Your basement can still flood despite there being a sump pump. The most common problem homeowners have with sump pumps is that they malfunction in the middle of a storm while there’s water still coming in. Sometimes, the water simply comes in faster than the sump pump can drain it out. Most sump pumps don’t warn when they’ve malfunctioned, so homeowners don’t find out that something is wrong until they see the water in their basement. This is why you should get a sump pump with a battery backup. The sump pumps in our AquaStop series can be installed with a battery backup that lets you know when the primary pump has shut down. It also alerts you when water gets too high in the basin, which means that it might overflow soon. These features are a great way to warn homeowners that there might be a problem with the sump pump. By staying one step ahead of the incoming water, you can mitigate the damage to your foundation and then take the necessary steps to get your sump pump running properly again.