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I'm protected! Installed backup sump pump today

Fritzo

Fritzo

Lifer
Just installed one of the battery backup sump pumps. If the power goes out, this thing takes over and can operate for up to three days. I had to cut into the pvc pipe of the old pump (which is draining water buildup every 15 minutes), and quickly tie the piping into the new pump.

Having only 15 minutes to put it in, I kind of felt like one of those bomb squad guys looking at a timer 🙂

Then, on the battery, you had to pour your own SULFURIC ACID into each cell! Not a job for the faint of heart, but at least I'm not going to get my basement soaked if we lose power.

And that was the start of my weekend.

Pics! 1
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i have been considering putting a battery backup in also. Did you have to make the sump pit bigger, or does it fit right next to the regular pump somehow?
 
Pretty cool. But couldn't you have cut the power to the sump pump while you were working on the line? I don't think your basement would flood in 15 minutes. 😉
 
Originally posted by: IGBT
..where's the water comming from?
Click to expand...

Yeah seriously, you shouldn't have to have the pump running that often unless there's another, bigger problem somewhere. Also, if you're on town/city water, you can get a backup pump that will run off the water pressure from that, rather than a battery. Keeps going as long as your town/city water remains intact.
 
Originally posted by: Sphexi

Yeah seriously, you shouldn't have to have the pump running that often unless there's another, bigger problem somewhere. Also, if you're on town/city water, you can get a backup pump that will run off the water pressure from that, rather than a battery. Keeps going as long as your town/city water remains intact.
Click to expand...

Yes those municipal water potential powered eductor removal systems are neat. 🙂

I question the ability of a battery (pile) power system to keep a pump onguard for three days. Pardon my ignorance as shipboard systems are much different than pit pumps used on land - however have you given consideration to how much water the pump can move when installed? Most gal/hr ratings are based on a pump having ZERO head pressure. Often installations with elbows and smaller than optimal escape plumbing present a head (lift) of ten feet or more. Small centrifgual pumps under such conditions will present capacities often less than 65 percent of published zero head values!

What this boils down to is a false sense of security. You may THINK that you have protection and a gullywasher thunderstorm comes along knocking out your power AND raining hard enough to overwhelm your pump station and your habitable areas get damaged.

Something to think about. 🙂

 
Good for you. It always amazes me how people with even brand new homes have a single pump in place. That is just asking for problems. Even if it provides six hours of extra time, you will be well off. It generally takes closer to 12 hours for there to be anything visible in a basement.
 
Originally posted by: jumpr
Pretty cool. But couldn't you have cut the power to the sump pump while you were working on the line? I don't think your basement would flood in 15 minutes. 😉
Click to expand...

Yeah, it would 🙂 We're in a new contruction house, have no grass yet, and the ground was a farm field so it's VERY soft. Our pit is 3 ft deep and it fills up that fast. Once they get the grading in the neighborhood finished and the grass grows, that'll go away.

The pump comes with a bracket so you can mount it on top of your existing pump.


*PICS ADDED TO OP!* (crappy phone cam pics though)



 
Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Originally posted by: Sphexi

Yeah seriously, you shouldn't have to have the pump running that often unless there's another, bigger problem somewhere. Also, if you're on town/city water, you can get a backup pump that will run off the water pressure from that, rather than a battery. Keeps going as long as your town/city water remains intact.
Click to expand...

Yes those municipal water potential powered eductor removal systems are neat. 🙂

I question the ability of a battery (pile) power system to keep a pump onguard for three days. Pardon my ignorance as shipboard systems are much different than pit pumps used on land - however have you given consideration to how much water the pump can move when installed? Most gal/hr ratings are based on a pump having ZERO head pressure. Often installations with elbows and smaller than optimal escape plumbing present a head (lift) of ten feet or more. Small centrifgual pumps under such conditions will present capacities often less than 65 percent of published zero head values!

What this boils down to is a false sense of security. You may THINK that you have protection and a gullywasher thunderstorm comes along knocking out your power AND raining hard enough to overwhelm your pump station and your habitable areas get damaged.

Something to think about. 🙂
Click to expand...

The pump is rated at 75% of the existing one, and it doesn't run all the time. It's designed to clear the pit out, then shut off. It has a monitor on it that detects battery charge, power failure, and moisture on the floor. It also comes with a $5000 insurance policy if it fails 🙂

Here's the system.
 
Are sump pumps used primarily in certain areas where the water table is really high? Don't think I have ever seen one here in GA.
Don't have one myself and my basement stays dry with the use of a dehumidifier. Most of the moisture comes in fron the walls not the floor.

So they did a hole under the basement from which they suck out all the water? Is that how it works?
 
Holy sh1t, do you live in my subdivision? That is exactly what the sump corner in my basement looks like, down to the fake brick on the walls and the positioning of the sump pit.
 
Originally posted by: EatSpam
Holy sh1t, do you live in my subdivision? That is exactly what the sump corner in my basement looks like, down to the fake brick on the walls and the positioning of the sump pit.
Click to expand...

his profile works fine...
 
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Originally posted by: EatSpam
Holy sh1t, do you live in my subdivision? That is exactly what the sump corner in my basement looks like, down to the fake brick on the walls and the positioning of the sump pit.
Click to expand...

his profile works fine...
Click to expand...

well, that answers my question!
 
good job, you even used purple primer, which is required to meet code. Nice job following the instructions 🙂
 
I have 2 pumps in my basement, 1 for ground water, and 1 for the sewer, and like the op, I was concerned about a power outage. What I did was install an automatic 15k backup generator. Not only powers the pumps, but ALOT of other things. 😀
 
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