After the recent (Oct 12) 24 inch lake effect snowfall here in the
Buffalo area (no jokes please) we endured four days without power. (Many
fared worse.) We managed to bail the sump for two days then begged and
borrowed generator power for two days to avoid a flooded basement. I am
interested in a water pressure backup pump but have been told that the
capacity to pump water is limited and may end up with a flooded basement
anyway. I have considered a battery backup but for extended power
outages the battery doesn't last. I doubt we'll experience that kind of
outage again but I'd like to be prepared. The other alternative is a
generator...either way, a serious investment.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

Nathan Zimmerman

--
Replace "invalid" with "net" to despam

A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore --Yogi Berra

Be glad you didn't have 17 days with no power like we did with Hurricane
Frances. Then a 6 days after it was restored, we had 10 more days
without after Jeanne... The next year Wilma, and it was 4 days..

CP

Nathan Zimmerman wrote:

After the recent (Oct 12) 24 inch lake effect snowfall here in the
Buffalo area (no jokes please) we endured four days without power. (Many
fared worse.) We managed to bail the sump for two days then begged and
borrowed generator power for two days to avoid a flooded basement. I am
interested in a water pressure backup pump but have been told that the
capacity to pump water is limited and may end up with a flooded basement
anyway. I have considered a battery backup but for extended power
outages the battery doesn't last. I doubt we'll experience that kind of
outage again but I'd like to be prepared. The other alternative is a
generator...either way, a serious investment.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

Nathan Zimmerman

--
Replace "invalid" with "net" to despam

A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore --Yogi Berra

A small generator isn't that expensive (~$500 for something decent) and
in addition to keeping your sump pump active it will also sustain your
refrigerator and furnace along with some lighting.

Pete C.

Charles,
I'm sure that is very comforting.

"Charles Pisano" wrote in message
...
Be glad you didn't have 17 days with no power like we did with Hurricane
Frances. Then a 6 days after it was restored, we had 10 more days
without after Jeanne... The next year Wilma, and it was 4 days..

CP

Did you look at the printed gpm output and spec sheet, www.Basepump.com
or www.Zoeller.com on a 24 hr basis, its impressive. Go water powered
and get a cheap 2 stroke gas pump, Echo makes a good unit. Battery
powered are in my opinion not good, since batterys only last 5-7 yrs and
you wont know when they go bad, plus they dont pump much till they are
dead, only a few hours on New batteries.

If you already had 4 days without power why not just get a genertor and
transfer panel.

generator ONLY works if your physically home to set it up.

Is your sump ABOVE ground level somewhere on your property?

A lot of homes here are like that, let the pump do its thing but add a
overflow drain line to a low area well away from home if you can

this takes care of power failures, sump pump failures, check valve
failures and a long list ofother failures espically important if a
flooded basement can do real harm, like mucking up a gameroom.

for under 5 grand home depot has auto start standby generators
installed to run the essentials.

kinda nice if the power fails in the winter your home stays nice and
warm even if you arent there no eturn home to frozen pipes and
smashed toilets

On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:36:50 -0500, Nathan Zimmerman
wrote:

After the recent (Oct 12) 24 inch lake effect snowfall here in the
Buffalo area (no jokes please) we endured four days without power. (Many
fared worse.) We managed to bail the sump for two days then begged and
borrowed generator power for two days to avoid a flooded basement. I am
interested in a water pressure backup pump but have been told that the
capacity to pump water is limited and may end up with a flooded basement
anyway. I have considered a battery backup but for extended power
outages the battery doesn't last. I doubt we'll experience that kind of
outage again but I'd like to be prepared. The other alternative is a
generator...either way, a serious investment.


Bigger sump, and a manual pump. Why are you getting that
much water into your basement in the first place?

In article ,
(m Ransley) wrote:

If you already had 4 days without power why not just get a genertor and
transfer panel.

I want a backup that will be available if I am not at home when the
power goes out.

NZ

--
Replace "invalid" with "net" to despam

A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore --Yogi Berra

In article ,
"Pete C." wrote:



A small generator isn't that expensive (~$500 for something decent) and
in addition to keeping your sump pump active it will also sustain your
refrigerator and furnace along with some lighting.

Pete C.

Any recommendations for generators?

NZ

--
Replace "invalid" with "net" to despam

A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore --Yogi Berra

In article ,
Goedjn wrote:

On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:36:50 -0500, Nathan Zimmerman
wrote:


Bigger sump, and a manual pump. Why are you getting that
much water into your basement in the first place?

The housing development was built on very swampy land in 1970-71...plus,
we had 24 inches of wet snow that melted in two days followed by lots of
rain.

NZ

--
Replace "invalid" with "net" to despam

A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore --Yogi Berra

In article ,
"Stormin Mormon" wrote:

I have friends in Buffalo, they were out of power from the 12th
through to a Saturday, musta been the 21. They also have a sump.

I was considering doing a cellar pumping business, but wasn't sure how
to advertise. A couple friends of mine offered to be my secretary, but
neither came through. And the window of oportunity was only a couple
days.

Most battery backup sumps are 12 volts, which means you can charge the
battery with jumper cables off your car's power. Since a lot of folks
bought generators, look for them in the news paper or Swap Sheet in
about six months. As folks relax, and don't need the generator any
more. So they think.

Another option is a power inverter, and short cables to clip onto your
vehicle battery, while engine is running. Use short battery cables,
and a long extension cord. AC 110 volts travels a lot better.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
.

Thanks for your responses. They are very helpful. I bought a 1200 watt
inverter but need to find the short cables. I still want something that
will help when I am not at home...

Nathan Zimmerman

--
Replace "invalid" with "net" to despam

A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore --Yogi Berra

I have friends in Buffalo, they were out of power from the 12th
through to a Saturday, musta been the 21. They also have a sump.

I was considering doing a cellar pumping business, but wasn't sure how
to advertise. A couple friends of mine offered to be my secretary, but
neither came through. And the window of oportunity was only a couple
days.

Most battery backup sumps are 12 volts, which means you can charge the
battery with jumper cables off your car's power. Since a lot of folks
bought generators, look for them in the news paper or Swap Sheet in
about six months. As folks relax, and don't need the generator any
more. So they think.

Another option is a power inverter, and short cables to clip onto your
vehicle battery, while engine is running. Use short battery cables,
and a long extension cord. AC 110 volts travels a lot better.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Nathan Zimmerman" wrote in message
...
After the recent (Oct 12) 24 inch lake effect snowfall here in the
Buffalo area (no jokes please) we endured four days without power.
(Many
fared worse.) We managed to bail the sump for two days then begged and
borrowed generator power for two days to avoid a flooded basement. I
am
interested in a water pressure backup pump but have been told that the
capacity to pump water is limited and may end up with a flooded
basement
anyway. I have considered a battery backup but for extended power
outages the battery doesn't last. I doubt we'll experience that kind
of
outage again but I'd like to be prepared. The other alternative is a
generator...either way, a serious investment.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

Nathan Zimmerman

--
Replace "invalid" with "net" to despam

A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore --Yogi Berra

If you want a "not home" generator. Then look online for home backup
geneators. Northern Tools, and Harbor Freight come to mind. If you
want ot put it in yourself. You'll need a visit from the building
department, disconnect switch, some heavy wiring, etc.

Better idea. Call an electrician for a quote, you'll need a sparky to
put it in for you.

Portable gasoline power, check swap sheet in about six months.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Nathan Zimmerman" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Pete C." wrote:



A small generator isn't that expensive (~$500 for something decent)
and
in addition to keeping your sump pump active it will also sustain
your
refrigerator and furnace along with some lighting.

Pete C.

Any recommendations for generators?

NZ

--
Replace "invalid" with "net" to despam

A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore --Yogi Berra

home depot sells the auto stanby generators that run on natural gas or
propane, everything ius automated, it works wether or not your home.

natural gas is good in a emergency with no power gasoline is likely
unavilable, gas stations need power to pump and they can run out

On Wed, 01 Nov 2006 16:52:25 GMT, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

I have friends in Buffalo, they were out of power from the 12th
through to a Saturday, musta been the 21. They also have a sump.

I was considering doing a cellar pumping business, but wasn't sure how
to advertise. A couple friends of mine offered to be my secretary, but

Drop a line to the local fire department(s).