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#1
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dam around sump pit
During last rain storm we had water backed into our basement through
the sump pit.......it was caused by the pump not working for over four hours due to loss of power. We had significant damage that was also not covered by our insurance. We certainly don't want to repeat this incidence. Besides having some type of a back-up power supply, what other inexpensive options do I have? One that comes to mind is may be building a safety dam around the sump pit (say 3 ft X 3 ft X 1ft tall) that would contain the water for a brief period of time in case of extended power loss....does any one of you have any creative / simple ideas? |
#2
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dam around sump pit
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#4
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dam around sump pit
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#6
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dam around sump pit
If the water is filling faster than you can bail, your pump probably wouldn't keep up either and you have other problems. that is NOT true... my pump easily keeps up, but when the power goes out, its a run up a flight of stairs and out the door with a bucket full of water every few minutes,,, its not that easy to do for hours at a time... after doing that twice, I got a big inverter and a car battery for short term and a small generator for long term outages......... so now since I am ready, I have never needed them... BTW ..... DO NOT EVER run a generator indoors... EVER... Mark |
#7
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dam around sump pit
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#8
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dam around sump pit
Mark wrote:
If the water is filling faster than you can bail, your pump probably wouldn't keep up either and you have other problems. that is NOT true... my pump easily keeps up, but when the power goes out, its a run up a flight of stairs and out the door with a bucket full of water every few minutes,,, its not that easy to do for hours at a time... after doing that twice, I got a big inverter and a car battery for short term and a small generator for long term outages......... so now since I am ready, I have never needed them... BTW ..... DO NOT EVER run a generator indoors... EVER... Mark Bigger bucket. Good exercise. What else do you have to do in the dark anyway? Pete C. |
#9
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dam around sump pit
If you have city water look at www.basepump.com or www.zoeler.com if
you are on a well get a battery powered unit, but they pump less than city water powered units. or get a generator or gas powered pump |
#10
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dam around sump pit
wrote in message ups.com... During last rain storm we had water backed into our basement through the sump pit.......it was caused by the pump not working for over four hours due to loss of power. We had significant damage that was also not covered by our insurance. We certainly don't want to repeat this incidence. Besides having some type of a back-up power supply, what other inexpensive options do I have? One that comes to mind is may be building a safety dam around the sump pit (say 3 ft X 3 ft X 1ft tall) that would contain the water for a brief period of time in case of extended power loss....does any one of you have any creative / simple ideas? Why not just fill the sump in with concrete? No way it can overflow then! I am thinking about doing that with mine. (of course, I haven't had any water in it in the 13 years I have own the house. YMOV.) |
#11
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dam around sump pit
Does the OP have a place anywhere on their property thats lower than
thjeir basement floor? if so dig a drain line so that a over filled sump spills or drains the water to a low place well away from the outside of your home. its a permanent no energy let gravity do the job solution/ |
#12
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dam around sump pit
wrote in message oups.com... Does the OP have a place anywhere on their property thats lower than thjeir basement floor? if so dig a drain line so that a over filled sump spills or drains the water to a low place well away from the outside of your home. its a permanent no energy let gravity do the job solution/ Don't know, but it is unusual to get that much water if there is a lower place around to drain it to. 15 years ago the creek behind my house flooded during a week long power outage; I had 4' of water in my basement. My mother recommeneded I use a garden hose as a siphon to empty it. Thanks Mom... |
#13
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dam around sump pit
On Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:15:30 GMT, "Pete C."
wrote: If you're home sitting in the dark watching the sump pit fill up, you're being negligent. If you're there, bail the silly thing out with a bucket. Four or five hours of periodic bailing is nothing compared to uninsured losses. If the water is filling faster than you can bail, your pump probably wouldn't keep up either and you have other problems. My bucket wouldn't fit in my sump. But if one is considering doing that, a hand pump with a large hose to the basement sink might be a good idea. I've only seen pumps that fit garden hoses, but they must make them with bigger hoses and 14" cranks. |
#14
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dam around sump pit
mm wrote: On Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:15:30 GMT, "Pete C." wrote: If you're home sitting in the dark watching the sump pit fill up, you're being negligent. If you're there, bail the silly thing out with a bucket. Four or five hours of periodic bailing is nothing compared to uninsured losses. If the water is filling faster than you can bail, your pump probably wouldn't keep up either and you have other problems. My bucket wouldn't fit in my sump. But if one is considering doing that, a hand pump with a large hose to the basement sink might be a good idea. I've only seen pumps that fit garden hoses, but they must make them with bigger hoses and 14" cranks. Wouldn't work for me...oh, the pump would but putting in the sink wouldn't. Old house and the sink drain runs to the sump pump. Would get my weeks worth of exercise though . Harry K |
#15
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dam around sump pit
On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 23:26:15 -0500, mm
wrote: On Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:15:30 GMT, "Pete C." wrote: If you're home sitting in the dark watching the sump pit fill up, you're being negligent. If you're there, bail the silly thing out with a bucket. Four or five hours of periodic bailing is nothing compared to uninsured losses. If the water is filling faster than you can bail, your pump probably wouldn't keep up either and you have other problems. My bucket wouldn't fit in my sump. But if one is considering doing that, a hand pump with a large hose to the basement sink might be a good idea. I've only seen pumps that fit garden hoses, but they must make them with bigger hoses and 14" cranks. Boating stores, find a manual bilge pump. Or get a regular crank-pump from lehmans. They've got a rotary transfer pump, but I think for a long-duration pump-out, I'd go with the lightweight cistern pump instead, because the body mechanics work better. |
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