Water powered backup sump pumps. Anyone here installed/use one?

[bbhaag]

So our sump has failed two times in the year and a half we've been in this house. The first was a failed pump and the second time was the other night when the power went out for close to 4 hours.
I'm looking at installing a water driven backup pump and was wondering if anyone here has done it before? If so how did the install go was it pretty straight forward? I have basic plumbing knowledge so could I diy it or is it to complicated and just call a pro from the get go?

I'm looking at these two models if anyone has used them before what was your experience been with them? Do they work as advertised? Any other tips or advise would be appreciated.
https://www.libertypumps.com/Product/SJ10A-SumpJet or the https://basepump.com/basepump-pro/

 

[lxskllr]

It consumes 50% of the water it pumps? Seems like a lot to me. Interesting idea, but I think I'd rather go with a generator, and a normal pump. The generator's more generally useful too.

 

[Greenman]

Install looks to be elementary, but I'd go with an electric pump with a battery backup.

 

[bbhaag]

It consumes 50% of the water it pumps? Seems like a lot to me. Interesting idea, but I think I'd rather go with a generator, and a normal pump. The generator's more generally useful too.

It does use a lot of water but it would only be for a short amount of time in most instances.
I originally had the same idea about a generator but then my wife reminded me that the first time the pump failed we were at work for 8 hours and didn't know the pump failed until we got home and there was 3 inches of water in the basement. I don't want to spring the money for a generator that automatically senses when the power is out and kicks in automatically.

Install looks to be elementary, but I'd go with an electric pump with a battery backup.

I thought about battery backup as well but they come with there own problems and it doesn't really help if the pump has a mechanical failure like we experienced. I know that would probably be the easier option but I'm not sold on them....I think thought the install looked pretty straight forward to so I might just go for it and see.

Anyway, thanks for the replies guys I appreciate it. If anyone else has some feel free to chime in!

 

[bbhaag]

Well the fucking float failed on the pump over night and we woke up to water in the basement AGAIN for the third time in a year and a half and second time in as little as two days......godman man this crap is getting old.
I went ahead and ordered the Basepump RB750 and it should be here in a few days. Hopefully the install goes smooth and works as a respectable backup.

 

[Gardener]

What a bummer. Dad had something like this in his dental office basement.

The battery backup pump is secondary to the primary, electrically driven pump.

 

[mindless1]

So if (I mean when) the valve in that fails, if it fails open then it's going to pass hundreds if not thousands of gallons of water if you're away from home so you don't notice?

I'd just get a standard battery backup pump. You are incorrect that pump failure is the same problem because they are an entire secondary pump which protects against that in addition to a power outage, and they tend to last a long time because 1) They never run unless the primary fails (or you periodically test it) and 2) They aren't submerged in water the whole time because they are above the water level the primary pump is supposed to maintain.

Suit yourself though, some people must think a water driven pump is a good idea or else they wouldn't be able to sell enough of them to stay in the market.

 

[bbhaag]

Yep it's a risk just like a battery powered backup pump is. They both have their pros and cons but after doing the research I've decided to "suit myself" and go ahead with the water powered option.

It arrived today and I'll be installing it on Thursday. I might ask for a little help on the install if I run into some problems.

 

[mindless1]

^ What are you talking about? You vaguely say " just like a battery powered backup pump is", when it's not at all the same risk. Either pump can fail to pump and then you have a flooded basement, but when the battery powered pump fails, it isn't valving your water supply so it can't cost you an enormous water bill.

Yes the both have their pros and cons, but that does not mean that those pros and cons are automagically equal to each other. Maybe in your subjective situation, a battery backup is not the right solution, but you have given no reason why that would be true. You may not have gone into enough detail about your situation.

Granted, I have semi-hard water and valves failing are not a risk, rather an eventuality so it would fail eventually and I'd get a massive water bill, far more than the battery backup pump cost unless I happened to notice it right away.

 

[bbhaag]

Bro what bug crawled up your ass? Why is my choice of a sump bump backup such a personal affront to you? Look bro I'm good I don't need anymore words of wisdom from you.

 

[mindless1]

^ It's not an affront to me, won't cost me a penny if the valve gets stuck and you get a massive water bill. I'm telling you that it's not even a close contest to me for that reason, that to me subjectively, it is not at all some vague "both have pros and cons" but rather, that one con outweighs all others.

You did ask.

 

[Greenman]

Lets calm down fellows, were talking about a sump pump, not a Trump pump.

 

[bbhaag]

Yeah I did ask......on the 27th then 5 days later you responded after I had made a decision. Then you decided to get on a soap box about my choice. You can put that stuck valve were the sun don't shine buddy and your advice along with it.

 

[Greenman]

Yeah I did ask......on the 27th then 5 days later you responded after I had made a decision. Then you decided to get on a soap box about my choice. You can put that stuck valve were the sun don't shine buddy and your advice along with it.

That's was a pretty aggressive use of italics.

 

[Micrornd]

Lets calm down fellows, were talking about a sump pump, not a Trump pump.

Even Newsom's got better lines than that

 

[Spacehead]

@bbhaag

What's the problem that your basement keeps flooding? Where's all the water coming from?

 

[JEDIYoda]

I would just go ahead a hire somebody to live in the basement witrh the understanding that their only job was to use a bucket and remove the water......

 

[mindless1]

Yeah I did ask......on the 27th then 5 days later you responded after I had made a decision. Then you decided to get on a soap box about my choice. You can put that stuck valve were the sun don't shine buddy and your advice along with it.

Soap box?

You seem overly dramatic about something that is not that hard to grasp.

Again, it won't effect me a bit if you get a massive water bill. You just can't appreciate people looking out for YOU despite your ego thinking it is the opposite.

If you ask, then ignore, okay it's your money but the drama doesn't make the differences between the choices go away. That's like burying your head in the sand, after the fact.

I hope you get a long life out of your pump and never have it fail, except that all things, eventually do, then the question is, what further harm is that failure...

 

[Red Squirrel]

I would not use it as a primary but if your basement is low enough that it relies on a pump always running when it rains, I would maybe consider installing one as a backup if the electric ones fail. Have 2 electric ones set to slightly different levels and then the water one higher. Definitely want a good generator too.

 

[Genx87]

Lived in a house with water problems like the OP describes. I empathize with your situation. It is not fun when pumps fail and there is water in the basement. I ran two sumps and it saved me once. But when the power goes out the second pump did nothing for me. Did not go with a battery powered one. Really nowhere to put the battery with how the sump and basement was configured.