Best Back up for sump

[caleyg]

OK the two options I know about for sump back up in the case of a power outage are battery backup pump and the kind that uses municipal water pressure to run a pump. The battery backups are $250-350. The water pressure kind are $100 (but take some effort to hook up).

I'm told that a few years back my town lost power for several days straight--in that case the battery backups don't last long enough and lots of people had flooded basements

Is there any reason I should NOT go with the water pressure backup pump?

[Pilot Dane]

When hurricanes or ice storms come through here and knock out power for more than a couple days many towns have trouble pumping water. My town can provide water for about three days during a power failure and then nothing. The local power company makes restoring power to infrastructure (water & sewer plants) a priority so in the past 5 years the water has not stopped flowing, but it did come within about 8 hours once.

Water powered pumps waste a lot of water, so if your eco minded...

Battery pumps only work when the battery is charged and how long it will last depends on the condition of the battery. Just like in your car, a battery has a short (about 3 year) life span so your pump will not run as long near the end of the batteries life.

You could get a generator. It's certainly more expensive but you can keep your sump pump & fridge running and maybe even watch some TV.

[caleyg]

Thanks, that makes sense. I'm guessing the water powered pump is best for my situation--set it and forget it.

The water waste doesn't seem that hight to me. 1 Gallon of municipal water for every 40 gallons pumped out.

[Pilot Dane]

If one gallon of city water pumps 40 gallons that's much more efficient than I had heard. I'd give it a try.

[Bob Haller]

I have a home that the sump pump quit in a 100 year flood from a power failure:(

After checking things out I found the bottom of the sump was higher than the street. theres enough fall to drain the sump thru gravity with a regular 4 inch pipe. in the mean time the home found a buyer, and he didnt like the idea.

He is buying the home tomorrow. So its NOT my problem:)

but I aam going to install a interior french drain here and drain it to the street. No pump, mo power, nothing to fail:)

[trinitro]

I seriously doubt the 1 gallon of water used for every 40 gallons of pumped water. Perhaps if the city water runs at 400psi...

[caleyg]

Looks like you're right. I thought I remembered that number from the box of the water powered sump at menards, but the two systems I've been able to find online pump 1:1 & 1:2

[Bob Haller]

Plus it CANT be in a area that freezes:(

Personally I believe a back up pump should NOT use the same drain line as the primary pump. If that fails or the check valve goes bad yoiur still flooded
:(

Better to pump the emergency drain water to a safe spot outside, even if its just a few feet from the home where it cant reenter.

having had a pump fail its the total pits... :mad: