A water pump is one of those items that are uncommonly ... check out how you can rig up your home’s sump pump to alert you of any impending crises.

But that may be the case if your home’s sump pump is disabled by a power failure, a mechanical breakdown, or simply an overwhelming amount of water. That’s why it’s wise to have a backup ...

To myself and my neighbors in arid California, people with enough rainfall and a high enough water table to need a sump pump seem fortunate. My friend who lives in the Detroit area would disagree.