In my column in today's Dispatch, I wrote about back-up sump pumps for those times that the power goes out or the cat knocks a broom onto the primary pump and keeps it from turning on when needed.

Your faithful sump pump is waiting to save your basement from stormwater damage. But it may not be able to do the job alone. It needs a sidekick, a helpmate, a partner. It needs a battery backup sump ...