| What is a Backup Sump Pump? | | | | power. |
| A backup sump pump is another pump that is | | | | - The amount of water moved during operation |
| installed to operate should the primary sump | | | | of a water powered backup sump pump is |
| pump fail. Surprisingly enough there are many | | | | determined by the municipal water pressure. The |
| reasons a primary pump may fail including: | | | | greater the pressure the greater volume of |
| electrical power outage, float or switch failure, | | | | water that is discharged. Generally water |
| broken impeller or drive shaft, clogged intake | | | | powered pumps have a lower operational |
| screen. | | | | capacity. |
| What Factors Should Be Reviewed? | | | | 7. Dimensions of Backup Sump Pump and Pit |
| There are eleven major factors to consider when | | | | Each backup sump pump has unique |
| comparing backup sump pumps: power source, | | | | measurements. |
| charger strength, trigger, dependability, material | | | | - A sump pit with an 18"diameter basin or larger |
| used in construction, operational capability, | | | | provides the greatest flexibility in being able to fit |
| dimensions, size of discharge, protection against | | | | a primary and a backup sump pump into the pit. |
| solids or sludge, alarm notification, and | | | | - A tether float requires a larger diameter-based |
| manufacturer warranty. | | | | pit than a vertical float. |
| 1. Power Source | | | | 8. Size of Discharge Port Diameter |
| The backup system installed should be sourced by | | | | What are the different sizes? |
| something other than electricity. | | | | - The size is either 1 ¼ or 1 ½ |
| What are the different types of power sources | | | | inches in diameter. |
| used? | | | | - Most backup pumps have an adapter to |
| - A Battery provides the power to enable a | | | | accommodate either size of PVC piping. |
| backup sump pump plugged into it through the | | | | What are the advantages and disadvantages of |
| use of a wired housing case to perform the | | | | the different sizes? |
| pumping cycle for the removal of the water from | | | | - The capability to adapt to either a 1 ¼ or |
| the pit. Twelve or twenty four volt battery | | | | 1 ½ inch size PVC pipe is extremely |
| power is used. The voltage and type of battery | | | | beneficial. |
| required varies by manufacturer. | | | | - A size of 1 ½ inches is required to handle |
| - Water Pressure provides the power to keep a | | | | heavy volumes of water. |
| backup sump pump running. The water used must | | | | 9. Protection against Debris, Sludge, or Spherical |
| come from a municipal source and have a | | | | Solids |
| pressure between 40 and 100 PSI (pounds per | | | | - Backup pumps use screens to protect against |
| square inch). | | | | particles. |
| - A portable generator provides power through | | | | - Those with the additional protection of float |
| the conversion of gas or propane into energy. | | | | cages are built so the cage bottom concaves |
| The pump must be plugged into the generator. | | | | causing particles to run off. |
| - Automatic start standby generator provides the | | | | 10. Alarm notification |
| power when the sump pump is plugged into it. | | | | Each of the battery backup sump pump systems |
| What are the advantages and disadvantages of | | | | have audible alarms that sound when the battery |
| the different power sources? | | | | is activated when backup sump system is running. |
| - Batteries require monitoring to make sure they | | | | The alarm also sounds when the battery is |
| are operational in the time of need. Most backup | | | | discharged. |
| systems have an alarm that lets the owner know | | | | The Basement Watchdog Backup series also has |
| when a battery requires maintenance or | | | | an audible alarm when the battery fluid levels are |
| replacement and is being used by the backup | | | | low. |
| pump. Batteries are rechargeable. | | | | 11. Manufacturer Warranty |
| - Water power requires no batteries and has no | | | | What manufacturer warranties exist? |
| moving parts. Operation of watered power | | | | - Some have no warranty |
| systems requires a PSI water pressure between | | | | - Others have one, two or three years |
| 40 and 100 PSI (pounds per square inch). Private | | | | What are the advantages and disadvantages of a |
| well water cannot be used and the municipal | | | | warranty? |
| provided water must have reliable water pressure. | | | | - No warranty may mean manufactures are very |
| It takes 1 gallon of municipal water to remove 2 | | | | confident of product quality. |
| gallons of sump pit water so can be costly to | | | | - The purchase price of the pump may be higher |
| operate. | | | | because the cost of warranty is included. |
| - Portable generator: The generator must be | | | | - Limited warranties will not pay the entire cost to |
| placed outside. It must be started manually. Most | | | | fix or replace. |
| operate from propane tank. | | | | - The length of warranty is usually based on the |
| - Automatic start standby generator: They are | | | | length of time most of the pumps like it are |
| expensive to purchase and install (four to ten | | | | known to operate without failure. |
| times more expensive than battery power) but | | | | How Can You Determine Which Backup Sump |
| are very reliable. This type of generator runs off | | | | Pump System Is Best for You? |
| of natural gas or propane tanks and can provide | | | | The following FAQ are provided to help you make |
| power to multiple household appliances during | | | | your decision. |
| power failure. | | | | Are you concerned about other household circuits, |
| 2. Charger Strength | | | | experience electricity failure frequently and for |
| This term applies when batteries are used as the | | | | long periods of time, and have no ordinance |
| source of power. | | | | limitations regarding the placement of a 48" (L) x |
| - The higher the charger strength the faster the | | | | 25" (W) x 29" (H) box outside your home? |
| battery will be recharged after usage. | | | | - The automatic start standby generator can |
| - Charger strength varies from.4 to 20. | | | | provide the most reliable power for a backup |
| 3. Trigger | | | | sump pump system as well as other household |
| Each backup system has a trigger that activates | | | | items. Is your water provided from municipal |
| the non electrical power source to begin operation. | | | | water source and it is reasonably priced? |
| What are the different triggers? | | | | - Water powered backup systems only work with |
| - For battery powered backup sump pumps, | | | | municipal water source not private well sources. |
| when the water level raises the float, the battery | | | | - It takes 1 gallon of municipal water to pump out |
| is activated into operation. | | | | 2 gallons of sump pit water. Are you concerned |
| - For water powered backup sump pumps, when | | | | about backup sump pump float-switch failure |
| the float raises, a valve allows pressured water to | | | | during operation? |
| flow down to the pump. The flowing of the | | | | - The Watchdog Big Boy, Watchdog Special and |
| pressured water activates the backup system | | | | Watchdog Emergency Backup systems have a |
| into operation. | | | | vertical dual float switch. If one float-switch fails |
| - An automatic start standby generator is | | | | the second one begins operation. The float-switch |
| activated when the transfer switch senses a | | | | mechanism can also be replaced without removing |
| utility power interruption. | | | | the backup pump from the pit. |
| - A portable generator becomes operational when | | | | - Wayne, Little Giant and Zoeller use vertical |
| a human starts it. | | | | switches which are more reliable than the tether |
| What are the advantages and disadvantages of | | | | floats used by Simer Ace in the Hole and Flotec. |
| each trigger? | | | | Are you concerned with time required to |
| - The transfer switch for the standby generator | | | | recharge the battery after usage? |
| is the most reliable and quickest way to activate | | | | - The Watchdog Big Dog provides the quickest |
| the operation of a backup system. The backup | | | | recharging. It has a 20 amp charger. |
| pump is operational as soon as the power goes | | | | - Little Giant and Simer Ace in the Hole have 2 to |
| out. | | | | 3.5 amp charger. |
| - Battery and water powered systems are not | | | | - Flotec and Zoeller have 8 to 10 amp charger. |
| activated until the water rises to the height of the | | | | Are you concerned about notification of battery |
| float. That means water has already collected in | | | | depletion or failure? |
| the pit. | | | | - All major brands include this feature. |
| 4. Dependability | | | | - Watchdog Backup systems provide the most |
| - Batteries deplete and loose charge. | | | | detailed warnings regarding the battery backup |
| - Municipal water pressure is not constant. A drop | | | | system. Is a warranty important? |
| below 40 PSI means the backup system is not | | | | - Wayne offers the longest warranty of three |
| operational. | | | | years. |
| - The float-switch mechanism, impeller or clogging | | | | - The other major brand warranties range from |
| of the backup sump pump plugged into a battery | | | | one to three years. Are you concerned about |
| or standby generator source of power could fail. | | | | how many hours the battery will run continuously? |
| - The tether switch is not as dependable as the | | | | - The continuous run time for all the major brand |
| vertical switch. | | | | battery backup sump pump systems is within the |
| - Dual vertical switches offer twice the reliability. | | | | range of six to nine hours. |
| 5. Materials Used in the Construction of Backup | | | | - Simer Ace in the Hole runs continuously for six |
| Sump Pumps | | | | hours; Little Giant runs for nine hours; Wayne, |
| What are the different materials used? | | | | Zoeller and Watchdog run for approximately |
| - Thermoplastic: Outer casing is made of a hard, | | | | seven hours. Do you have a sump pit diameter |
| durable plastic. | | | | under or over 12"? |
| - Cast Iron and Stainless Steel: The outer casing | | | | - The Watchdog pumps have the smallest width |
| and bolts are made of metal. | | | | (9") and require only ¼" additional for the |
| What are the advantages and disadvantages of | | | | vertical switch. |
| the different materials? | | | | - In most cases backup sump pumps are installed |
| - Plastic weighs less and is cheaper. | | | | on top of the primary sump pump so size is not |
| - Cast iron and stainless steel lasts a lifetime, | | | | as much of an issue. Do you want to exchange a |
| weighs more and is constructed to handle heavy | | | | faulty float/switch mechanism without having to |
| duty usage. This material is more expensive. | | | | remove the entire pump from the sump pit? |
| 6. Operational Capacity | | | | - The Watchdog sump pump float/switch |
| What are the volumes at which backup pumps | | | | mechanism is external to the pump so the |
| can discharge water? | | | | float-switch can be replaced without removing the |
| - Pumping capacity is measured by number of | | | | pump from the sump pit. |
| gallons per minute or hour at a specific rise. | | | | Check Out These Backup Sump Pump Systems |
| - Capacity is determined by size of motor and | | | | Today |
| source of power. | | | | Your home is an important asset. Make sure it is |
| What are the advantages and disadvantages of | | | | protected against water damage. It is cheaper to |
| operational capacity? | | | | buy good backup sump pump systems than to |
| - Larger motors using battery or generator | | | | clean up after a sump pump failure during a |
| power move more water during operation. | | | | heavy rain storm. Be prepared before those |
| - Smaller motors move less water during | | | | heavy rains come. |
| operation and require less battery or generator | | | | |