Dual Sump Pump Question

[stealle]

I have a new house recently built. I had the builder install two 18" sump basins right next to each other. The house uses a form-a-drain around the basement foundation. The form-a-drain is tied into sump basin #1. There is a short piece of PVC that connects the 2 sump basins up close to the top of the basins. In the event that sump pump #1 dies, water will rise and spill over into sump basin #2 where the second sump pump will kick on and take over. (FYI, sump pump #1 currently kicks on about every 2-3 minutes. It has been VERY rainy here. The ground is very saturated. I doubt it will ever run more often than it is now.)

I'm just wondering about the 2nd sump pump... I'm worried about an unused sump pump seizing up if it rarely gets used. So, I'm considering these options.

1) Keep the sump pump and basin #2 completely dry and don't run the sump pump at all until sump pump #1 dies?

2) Run my water softener backwash into the sump basin #2. It would only run 1-2 nights a week when the water softener regenerates.

3) I have my reverse osmosis located in the basement. (which goes to 4 locations throughout the house). I can have my RO waste water go into sump basin #2. This would probably make sump pump #2 run once or twice a day.

4) Don't worry about it. It won't seize up from being wet and not used for months or even years at a time.

What do you think about these options? Or, does anyone have a better idea all together?

 

[stealle]

Anyone?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Cameron Fields]

Anyone?

I voted; I think you should use it versus letting it sit. My family had a tri-level home; the foundation was lined with troughs routed to a sump pump. Anything that sits without use has the potential to cease working.

In fact I am looking to build currently, and while the home will not be tri-level I want troughs around the perimeter foundation that drains into a sump pump basin.
Sincerely

Cameron Fields