Backup Sump Pumps

[LazKat]

A long weekend of heavy rain here in Virginia made me aware of a problem in my new (< 1 year) house. The builder in our subdivision, as everywhere in homes like this, obviously used the lowest acceptable quality of components. My sump pump was running quite a bit and continues to run even after sucking air for 10 minutes. Checking the tag on it, I found it's made by the "Cheap Pump Co. of Beijing" and is only 1/4 hp. Not good. Rather than have the builder install another piece of crap pump, I'm going to do it myself and go to either a 1/3 or 1/2 hp unit. At the same time, I want to put in a battery powered backup pump as a just-in-case. I worry about the power going out during a storm and the basement flooding. I looked around and found a system called the Basement Watchdog (www.basementwatchdog.com). Has anyone installed or have experience with systems like this? Are there better ones you can recommend?

I try to take a few minutes to catch up on messages here each day. I appreciate any and all replies!

 

[MikePA]

I've lived with sump pumps in our basement for years and have tried pretty much all that's available. My comments follow. Please don't take offense if I mention something you already know. I just want to cover all the bases. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

<font color="blue">My sump pump was running quite a bit and continues to run even after sucking air for 10 minutes. </font>
How long it runs is a function of what the start and stop levels are. How frequently it runs is a function of how fast the water is coming in. Running after all the water is gone is usually caused by the float getting stuck and not being allowed to drop and shut the pump off. Although, this depends upon what type of sump pump you have. Some have a float that's at the bottom of a stainless steel rod with start and stop buttons that trigger a switch on the top of the pump. Some have internal, fixed pump on/pump off settings.

<font color="blue"> and is only 1/4 hp. Not good. </font>
Might be good or might be bad, depends on how high the water has to be lifted.

<font color="blue">At the same time, I want to put in a battery powered backup pump as a just-in-case. </font>
I've tried a battery back up systems and, in my situation, found them to be worthless. Any storm that's big enough to knock power out is usually dropping a lot of rain and the battery operated pump was not big enough to handle all the water. In my case, power is usually out for a lot longer than the battery (deep cycle/RV 12v) will last.

I ended up buying a generator that I plug the pump into when power drops. The disadvantage to this is someone has to be home, or be able to get home quickly, when power drops, to start the generator.

 

[SimS]

I have a 12V back up pump. Mike is exactly right, any storm big enough to knock out the power will quickly overload the pump. Not enough oomp to move the water. They are worthless. Throw the money at a back up generator.

Sim

 

[jpr62902]

I'm going to offer a counterpoint, here. The key to a battery backup is to install it high enough so that it isn't triggered every few minutes or so. As the sump crock fills with water, the increasing hydrostatic pressure slows the influx of storm water, thus buying you more time and not taxing the battery operated system as much. I think they're worth the investment.