Just moved in to a new house. I have a proflow 1/3 HP primary and battery backup pump. They are fairly new, but I don't think the 1/3 HP is enough as it barely kept up during a storm we recently had. I had a company check the pump out and they recommend a new system where the primary is 1/2 HP and the backup does 2580gph at 10feet. The estimate they gave me was $1800 for the system. I looked at home depot and they have a Wayne system that is 1/2 HP primary and 2300gph backup. Seems fairly similar and is only $400. I've installed sump pumps before and they are fairly easy. So I know I can do this. The company was very derogatory about big box pumps (as almost every plumber I've ever talked to is). The Wayne system has 320 reviews with 4.5 stars on Amazon. I can't be that bad. So my question is should I spend the extra $1400 for other system? My only hesitation was I installed a home depot pump in my old house and it only lasted one season. So I had a new pump professionally installed and that pump lasted for more than four years until I sold the house.

I'm helping my son replace his sump pump. I noticed that his discharge pipe has a T-joint above the check valve. One of the pipes continues outside to discharge the water from the sump pump, but the other goes directly back into the sump well. It seems that this configuration would defeat the purpose of the check valve. Is there any reason that the sump pump would be set up like this? Thanks for any help.