Unless someone has owned or lived in a home that had a basement with a sump pump system, they would just never understand all the choices and options that go into them. 12 volt sump pumps and 12 volt systems in general have their up sides, as well as their downsides that make using them a tough choice to consider.
Safe From Power Outages
The one big factor that everyone looks at when they consider a 12 volt sump pump for their system, is that it will function even if the power goes off in a storm. That is assuming that it also has some sort of battery pack to store electricity to run it. Is this the only benefit of a 12 volt system though and must a 12 volt sump pump always be the reserve unit?
Do You Need a Backup Pump?
The truth of the matter, is that it isn't all just that simple. For instance, if your home is located in an area where it isn't facing the prospect of massive amounts of water entering its basement, do you really need a backup pump at all? Also, for that matter, can't your one main sump pump be a 12 volt pump?
Safer and Easier
While a 12 volt sump pump doesn't pump the large amounts of water per hour that a higher voltage system will, it does have the advantage of it being 12 volts. This means that they are far easier to wire up and much safer when they are done, because no one is ever going to get electrocuted by 12 volts of electricity.
No Direct Fuse Box Connection Required
If all that your basement is facing is the prospect of a small amount of water coming into it then you might be better served with a 12 volt sump pump that doesn't have to have a wire ran all the way back to the main fuse box for power. This is because a 12 volt system can be plugged right into a wall socket just like you would any other electrical appliance.
Written by Joe Finkelman. Find the latest information on a 12 Volt Sump Pump as well as a Backup Sump Pump