| Author |
Message |
    
NRL
Citizen
Username: Nrl
Post Number: 261
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - 6:07 pm: |     |
The sump pump quits working due to a power outage, its pouring rain, the french drains are filling the pit or the water is rising from below inside the pit? The pit is filling up. How high would the water go? Will it fill up the basement like a swimming pool or will it stop at a certain point??
I may be paranoid, but I am thinkng battery backup or gas generator if this ever happens.. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3259
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - 6:13 pm: | |
Your new sump pump, purchased from HD, with the battery backup would take over.
If not, the pit will fill, the pipes and the trench would fill and some point it will flood over into your basement floor.
If you are dealing with just ground water, at some point it will stop filling. If you have outside water inbound, say from a gutter leader or a driveway, get a boat. |
NRL
Citizen
Username: Nrl
Post Number: 263
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - 8:20 pm: | |
George, You forgot to mention 200+ dollars for the bulldog backup system, $100 for the marine battery and $100 for the plumber to tap the line and check valve into the ejection pipe.
Does anyone else have the battery backup system?? Anyone else as paranoid as I am?? |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 288
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - 8:32 pm: | |
We have a battery back-up. It's common sense. The same conditions that can cause flooding can also cause power outages. |
marken
Citizen
Username: Marken
Post Number: 56
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 12:10 am: | |
Have you tested your battery backup lately?
If not, then unplug your pump, and dump a bucket full of water in the well (if it isn't sealed). The pump should come to life right away.
We bought our house in July, and were thrilled (OK, that's a bit strong .... pleased) to learn that our sump has a battery backup.
Well when hurricane whats-his-name was threatening in Sept, I checked the battery just to be sure. The charger was plugged in & working, but the battery was 3 years old, too small, and dry as a bone.
Be sure your battery has enough juice (IE reserve capacity) to power your pump -- check w/your pump's mfgr --- when it's needed.
Don't overcharge your battery (if you have a charger), and do routine battery maintenance : check the h20 level 1x/month.
We got the right size battery from Interstate in Linden.
Now we're ready for the 5th plague .... oh wait, isn't that locusts? or maybe cicadas? |
Davegateway
Citizen
Username: Davegateway
Post Number: 12
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 8:45 am: | |
Check this out - no battery.
http://www.zoeller.com/zcopump/products/backupsystems/homeguard.htm |
NRL
Citizen
Username: Nrl
Post Number: 267
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 9:00 am: | |
Where can I buy one? How much does it cost? WOuld you recommend it? |
lseltzer
Citizen
Username: Lseltzer
Post Number: 1838
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 9:22 am: | |
Batteries don't last forever and if your power's out the battery can't recharge. How long does a typical sump pump battery backup last?
In the last major storm my sister's ran out when they lost power for about 24 hours. |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 758
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 9:34 am: | |
Wow dave, that is cool. What would you charge to put one of those in? |
lseltzer
Citizen
Username: Lseltzer
Post Number: 1840
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 9:54 am: | |
If this thing is running by water pressure (the flow of water creating suction?) then it must also be drawing more water to be flushed out the sewage line, all at a time when there is likely flooding in the area. Is this a good idea? Or is it only a problem if everyone gets one? And can it work well in a low-pressure area like Maplewood? |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 312
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 11:17 am: | |
If there is enough water -- and your primary pump fails, these secondary pumps will hold off water coming in to your basement for only so long. I cannot imagine they come close to the same capacity as a main pump.
In my own experience -- more of a problem than electrical blackout is failure of the pump or switch. That's because its almost impossible to test them (its impractical to fill up the sump and run the pump for a while!).
And yes, the basement will fill up like a swimming pool. (this was after I replaced the original sump pump with a new one -- that turns out had a defective switch)
In my last house I installed a 2nd electric sump pump (with its own discharge and on its own electrical circuit). Not only did this offer a "back up" in case the "main" pump failed, during the hurriccane a few years back -- BOTH pumps were running -- and NEEDED to keep the basement dry.
(the cost of a 2nd pump is so cheap compared to the $15k+ in damages I had from the flood when the pump failed!)
Oh -- my plumber said that Zoeller pumps are the "cadillac" -- far superior to anything at the big box stores.
Lastly -- the capacity of the pump is based on the height of the piping to the discharge ("head"). I had a very deep basement -- and the pipe originally exited above ground level -- almost 8 1/2 feet. That reduced the pump capacity dramatically. They were reinstalled with a much lower "head" -- by digging a trench from the discharge area and burying the pipe. (we lived on a hill so this was practical)
All the best
Pete |
NRL
Citizen
Username: Nrl
Post Number: 269
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 4:11 pm: | |
LSeltzer, The label on the batTery they sell with the backup system says 7.5 hours. I would think thats on a continuous run. Since the pump switches on and off, I would think the battery would last a little longer. This is just my opinion and not fact since I dont own any of this equipment. |
Davegateway
Citizen
Username: Davegateway
Post Number: 13
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 4:29 pm: | |
Assuming an average water pressure of 60psi, and a height of 8' from the pump to the point at which the pipe exits the basement, the Home Guard backup pump will consume approx. 2GPM (120 gallons per hour)of your domestic water - about the same as an open basin faucet - and will remove 414 gallons per hour.
The pump lists for around $200, plus installation. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3262
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 5:33 pm: | |
The system Dave posted about is very interesting.
The basics have been used for 100 years or so by Fire departments and the US Navy. Called Water ejectors, you pumped water into them, the pressure is used to create a suction and the injected water and the sucked up water is blowen out of the area you are trying to empty.
I've never seen them used in a home application, but this unit looks like a super idea. |
themp
Citizen
Username: Themp
Post Number: 233
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 1:09 pm: | |
Ask around. Has anyone's basement actually flooded owing to rain and power outage on your street? Battery systems are expensive and a pain. It's kind of like all-wheel-drive - suddenly no one can get through life in New Jersey without it.
I looked into it and decided the heck with it. And I drive my front-wheel-drive cars in the snow. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 641
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 1:50 pm: | |
Actually themp mine did back in June. We had new carpeting put down just last summer. The electricity was out for around 8hrs in the middle of the night and I awoke to a squishy carpet, ruined paneling (water wicking), ruined doors etc. and ruined furniture.
At that point we decided to re-do the entire basement and its cost a significant amount of money to do it right. Looking back I wish we would have spent on the battery back-up. It will wind up costing significantly more when all is said and done. As a result my "new" basement will definitely include a back up. Unless you'd like to cough up the 10K if it ever happens again. |
tourne
Citizen
Username: Tourne
Post Number: 214
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 31, 2003 - 12:06 pm: | |
Check out www.plumbingsupply.com/12volback.html for both a water operated and battery backup system. The battery backup will operate for 9 hrs. continuously on the larger battery. Get an AGM sealed battery such as a Concorde or equivalent. I would go with the battery back up since water hoses also break and flood basements, probably moreso than power outages. It is worth the $500 bucks for a backup--or make sure your insurance has the rider for sump pump failure. |
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