A Brief Guide To Backwater Valves And Sump Pumps

Both backwater valves and sump pumps are important plumbing devices. These pumps are used to prevent floods in and around your household.

Now the question is which is better? To answer this question, you need to first learn the difference between the two devices.

If you are planning to install backwater valves and sump pumps, you might find this post useful.

What is a sump pump?

A sump pump is a device that helps drain excess water. It is a cylindrical plumbing device that is buried at least 3 feet deep in the ground. For it to be effective, you must place it at the lowest point of your home. For example: a crawl space or basement.

This device proves to be beneficial during heavy rains. It prevents your house from getting flooded with rainwater. It pumps the excess water in a different direction so it doesn’t enter your house.

A sump pump is made of three important components:

• A pump to drain excess water.
• A tank to retain the water that gets drained.
• An alarm and battery backup system.

What is a backwater valve?

A backwater valve device stops the outbound water from entering your house. It acts as a backflow prevention tool and has a flap. When the flap is open, it lets the water out and shuts it to prevent any backflow.

This device is mainly used for sewer lines. They activate these pumps to handle large amounts of water.

A backwater valve is made of two important components:

• A cleanout.
• A flap channels the water in one direction.

Should you get a backwater valve or a sump pump?

For the best results, you should install both devices. This will provide maximum protection to your home from flooding.

Although both devices are used for the same purpose, they do the job differently. So it’s better to have both pumps, instead of any one of the devices.

Both sump pumps and backwater valves prevent flooding. If you live in an area that is prone to rainwater flooding, you should install these devices to keep your home safe.