Water Alarms Protect Property

SIOUX FALLS, SD - For some, the forecast of heavy rain overnight can bring a sleepless night over fears of sump pumps not working.  But there are a couple of devices that can ease that worry and possibly save your basement from flooding and thousands of dollars in damage.

This is what a lot of homeowners have woken up to lately. Basements filled with water due to heavy rains.

"I've sold a lot of these," Jim Rogers of ACE Hardware said.

It's a little alarm unit that can easily be installed next to your sump pump or wherever you might have water issues. It's designed to wake you up in the middle of the night if your basement starts getting wet. 

"It has a nine volt battery.  When the water crosses this sensor, it just make a little audible sound," Rogers said. 

This battery operated back-up sump pump could also give you peace of mind. 

"It has a little pump that will pump about 2,000 gallons an hour," Rogers said.

If there's enough room in your sump pump hole, you place it next to your existing one. If there's not enough room, simply place it on top of it. Since it's battery-operated, it'll turn on as soon as water touches the sensor.

The back-up battery unit retails for $165; the little alarm system $14.99.  A small price many are willing to pay to protect their property. 

"Thousands of dollars and all that misery of what you had to go through to get it cleaned out and I have heard a lot of stories this last week," Rogers said.

Rogers says if you buy a battery-operated sump pump for a backup, it's important to read and follow the instructions.