Sump Pumps

[Mike Goetzke]

My sump pump failed and I got some water in my finished basement. I have a water alarm and my daughter heard it at 3AM but there was water covering my unfinished storage area. I have a 12V pump from an old backup system so I rigged it up to take care of the sump but I have maybe 100sf of carpet that got wet. I have two wet vacs and a carpet cleaner so lots of work but everything was dried up pretty quickly.

Many years ago I had a battery backup sump pump but it was nothing but trouble. Pump locked up under warranty, electronic sensor would fire the pump when not needed, the trickly battery charger had issues ...

So, I'm sure technology has improved (or at least changed). Are there any systems owners could suggest?

Thanks
Mike

 

[nclemmons]

Install a generator.  I had two sumps fail with two flooded basements. No fun.  First had no insurance and cost me $15K.  Second was twice that but I had insurance. 

Generator solved that issue plus peace of mind in cold climate. 

 

[kevinculle]

A generator won't help when the pump fails.

 

[Sparktrician]

Recommend that you look for a Zoeller sump pump but find one with a battery backup. 

Don't forget to buy a check valve with any sump pump.

 

[Ron B]

Twenty years ago I knew someone who had a backup system that ran off of city water pressure.  When the electricity goes off, then the pressure from the city water would run a turbine and pump the water out of the sump. I don't have any other details, but that is an avenue to explore. Hopefully another FOG member will chime in. 

 

[GoingMyWay]

I don't have any personal experience with a sump pump, but I learned about the backup sump pumps that run on city water pressure watching This Old House.  This is one of the segments that I had seen:https://www.thisoldhouse.com/plumbing/21016767/how-to-install-a-water-powered-sump-pump.

I watch a lot of Steve Lavimoniere's videos on YouTube.  I believe he used to use Zoeller pumps, but he's come across a lot of failures so now he's using Liberty or Myers.  Here's one example:

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Recommend that you look for a Zoeller sump pump but find one with a battery backup. 

Don't forget to buy a check valve with any sump pump.

Thanks - that’s the brand I bought for the main pump. It was their commercial model but it weighed twice the standard model. It is all cast iron. Will look at their backup options.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Twenty years ago I knew someone who had a backup system that ran off of city water pressure.  When the electricity goes off, then the pressure from the city water would run a turbine and pump the water out of the sump. I don't have any other details, but that is an avenue to explore. Hopefully another FOG member will chime in.

I looked at these a couple years ago. The are popular bin Canada but not legal in most of the US since you are throwing clean water out. I don’t understand it.

I see the price of water powered backup pumps has come down compared to several years ago. I did some googling and most places won't allow water powered sumps for daily use but do allow them for emergency use.

I'm looking at a Zoeller 540-Flex.