Every house should be evaluated based on its own needs. However, a system that takes care of most of the potential sump pump problems and meets the typical needs of a house with wet basement problems is a dual pump system that consists of: • Primary Pump (Pedestal or Submersible) • Emergency Back-up Pump • Emergency Back-up Pump Alarm With an emergency back-up pump, not powered by 120-volt house power, if the electricity goes out, the back-up pump will take over. Using two pumps instead of one, it is very unlikely that both pumps will malfunction at the same time due to age. And, with the alarm system, you will be able to tell when the primary pump has failed and the back-up pump had to be used. That will tell you when it is time to replace the pumps. ___________________________________________________________ RULE OF THUMB: The quality of the sump system you purchase should be related to the value of what the pump is there to protect.