Battery back-up sump pumps

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user 64972

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Any members have any experience with battery back-up sump pumps. I'd like to know what brands are best, any things to look out for. i want to install one that is very reliable and that will do a good job. A good unit for the money...



Thanks for any info,

'07 ST
 
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Where do you live? Are you on city water, or do you have a well? The reason I ask is that there are also water-powered backup sumps available. I'm on city water, so I chose to have a H2O-powered backup pump installed. A battery-powered pump is only good for as long as the battery has juice, whereas a H2O-powered pump will work as long as there's water pressure from the municipality.



I figured that in the event of a long-term power outage, a battery-pump would die long before I'd lose city water, given that the water plant probably has at least one, if not several redundant backup systems to keep city water flowing in the event of an emergency.
 
Ohio with city water. How does an H2O powered pump work?
 
check this episode of ATOH...





http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tv/ask-toh/video/0,,20555837,00.html



and

 
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You can make one with a car battery, power inverter, charger and a pump....LOL But for the $199 and up price tag for a kit thats the better option......



We have installed a few here, the issue is the battery like any car or truck thats not used,,,,, But they do work well when needed.....



I would just tandem a second battery for longer life in an outage, OR have a generator on hand.



Todd Z
 
For some reason STanner's link didn't work. Try this one. A H2O-powered pump basically uses the pressure & flow of city H2O to power the pump instead of a battery-powered electric motor.
 
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I have experience with them.



I have the "Basement Watchdog" brand that I bought at The Home Depot.



I have had it for at least 9 years and am on my 2nd or third battery.



Last October we lost power for 3 days due to a freak snow storm that took down a bunch of power lines. There was a 6" snow with some freezing rain mixed in, so there was a lot of groundwater. The battery backup for the sump ran constantly for over 26 hours until I ran an extension cord to a neighbor who had power (fed by another distribution grid). During that time the pump ran every minute or so (no less frequently than every 80 seconds) and ran for about 10 to 12 seconds to empty the sump pit.



The battery was strong after 26 hours.



The key is proper installation (get the float setup to kick on only upon a water level that would be high due to the primary being offline or without power), put in a check valve.



It is a DIY installation.



TJR



 
I think the Water Powered Sump Pump is a really ingenius idea, however it appears that it is only designed to be a backup sump pump to a conventional electric pump in lew of using a battery backup system.



I think the water powered sump pump would be more reliable since the battery has a limited amount of backup power. The most difficult part of the water powered sump pump is the installation because it requires a minimum 3/4" water line which is much more difficult to install especially if there is no large water lines near by to tap into.



If there is access to a large water line near the sump pump location it would be a fairly simple installation. It would be my especially if you have the tools and skills to route the water pipe to the sump pump. It might expensive to have a plumber do that work.



...Rich
 
My father had the battery back-up style but changed it out after he had an issue while on an extended vacation.



He replaced it with the water type and it has worked flawlessly thus far....

It requires no power so there is no concern of not having electricity or a battery going bad..
 
Where I live we dont have basements.

I see a catch 22, though. What if a major storm knocks out. power to your local water pumping station also. It has happened here. My local backup supply is a ground level tank. No tower. Might feed the hood for 30 minutes.

There are 2 towers but several miles away. City of 150K people or more.
 
Eddie,

If you don't have a basement, you probably don't have a need for a sump pump..:grin:



I see your point, but where I live we have water towers and one is less than 2 miles away. But I don't have a basement either, so I have not need for a sump pump...:bwahaha:



As many storms as we have had her in Central Texas over the years, I have lost electric power many times but never lost water? So I would think the water powered sump pump backup would be much more reliable.



I did have low water pressure once at my new house. There was no storm or power outage and I called the city water company. While I was on the phone, full pressure came back, and I never knew what caused the water pressure drop. I had water, it was just slow and and kind of trickled out of the faucet at about half the normal rate.



Most larger cities have backup generators to power the pumps if comercial/City power should fail. I think it would take the perfect storm to knock out electricity, knock out the generators at the city water pumps, and have your sump pump, and water back up all fail at the same time.



...Rich



 
We have public water and it is fed from a water tower so I suspect pressure wouldn't be an issue in an outage...never has been in 14 years, always water even when no phones, cable, or electricity.



However, I still probably will stick with the battery backup. Sure, water powered has the advantage of outlasting a batter, but at the disadvantage of requiring a more complicated installation, one that might not work for everyone.



The way I look at the battery backup is that it doesn't have to outlast the outtage, but instead the period of time between the outtage and when the homeowner can deal with and remedy a multi-day outtage (which is very rare). A portable generator works in those very rare cases.



TJR
 
TJR,

I agree with most of what you said, however I think that during severe storms that takes down trees and power lines, it can often take longer to restore power.



In cases of hurricanes and tropical storms, the power usually goes out long before the basement flooding starts. Backup batteries can work good as long as they owner has monitored the condition of the batteries...which often does not happen.



Also, your scenario assumes that the owner is home to turn on a generator? What happens if a storm hits when you are out of town, and/or you are not allowed to return to your home for days or even weeks?



Of course those things are rare and would only effect a small percentage of the population. but if you are going to put out money for a sump pump back up, the water powered sump pump would be the most reliable for a long power outage, but the cost of installation has to be considered. The further the sump pump is from the water supply line, the more expensive the installation will be.



If I lived in an area where these kinds of storms occurred with some regularity, I would want the most reliable back up system. If I already had a battery backup, I would keep it, but if I did not have any backup, I would seriously consider the water powered sump pump.



It might be good to see if your insurance company allowed for any discounts for a sump pump backup, and if there was any difference in between the discount for a battery backup vs the water powered backup?



...Rich
 
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I'm gonna suggest that Dad get a water-powered backup in addition to his battery backed up sump pump. Don't see much reason to not have BOTH.



Installation of the water-powered pump is a non-issue. I'll install it for him- should take a few beers and $50 worth of materials. :banana:
 
I'm gonna suggest that Dad get a water-powered backup in addition to his battery backed up sump pump. Don't see much reason to not have BOTH.
Click to expand...



Why spend the extra money on the battery pump if you're installing the H2O-powered pump? Seems unnecceary to me. The battery pump will fail long before the H2O pump. I think that if you just install the H2O-powered pump for a backup, you'll be fine.
 
He's already got the battery backup unit. It came from Lowes, looks really cheap and cheesy despite the high price, and the batteries last only 2-3 years. I wouldn't trust it to run very long or pump very much water. The H2O unit looks very simple and easy to install, and seems like a no-brainer to me.
 
Gotcha. Misunderstood your post above, and thought that you were buying/installing both. Didn't realize that he already had a battery pump.
 

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