On Aug 14, 11:43 am, wrote:
On Aug 14, 11:39 am, grodenhiATgmailDOTcom wrote:



Well I think I'm going to put in a backup sump pump for my basement.
We currently have a two year old Zoeler electric pump that does not
need to run too often, only for 3-4 storms a year (as it takes 3 or
more inches of rain in a day to even have water start to enter the
sump). Once the pump starts having to run it pumps 20 seconds every
3-5 minutes, but once the rain stops my sump pump stops having to run
after only a few hours (so I think my neighborhood has slow ground
water drainage, maybe we're on ledge or something). I've weighed my
options and come up with two solutions/technologies:

1.) Water-powered sump pump (http://www.basepump.com). Has anyone
used/heard good or bad things about this product? Would you
recommended another brand? I checked with my local water department
and they said in the event of total power loss in my area (say in a
hurricane), I have two 3 million gallon water towers servicing my part
of town (he said we'd have AT LEAST several days or more or normal
water pressure). I prefer this method as it don't have to worry about
batteries dying, needing maint. etc. Once my pump does start to run it
runs fairly often, about 20 seconds every few minutes, so I don't
think batteries would last too long (7-12 hours tops).

2.) Battery backup sump pump. Watchdog seems the popular one here.
If I hear bad things on the water powered pumps I would go this
route. Installation would be easier (no water service tie in).
However run time concerns me. If my pump runs 20 seconds every feew
minutes I think that's on the 7 hour time frame for battery life.

I come to this group looking what my best option is. Once you factor
in batteries both solutions cost nearly the same. Thanks!!

First step I'd take: DAGS (do a google search) on "sump pump backup"
and then work on filtering the 247k hits with additional search terms.

Much has been written on this, and even a segment on "Ask This Old
House" on water-powered pump. Why not tap into that first?

J

I've Google'd around quite a bit and know the pro's and con's of
each. I guess I was looking for a experiences good or bad people have
had with Basepump or Basement Watchdog (especially Basepump). I'm a
little put off that you have to order Basepump direct (why don't any
of the big box stores carry them?).