Battery Backup Sump Pumps
- Thread starter duwem
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GrayFlattop
Well-known member
Our 1894 house with a stone foundation was always somewhat problematic. Compounding this, our local geology puts us on a limestone shelf some spots it’s solid rock 6-7’ down, sometimes you hit it at 4’. The soil itself is dense clay under 6-8”of top soil. In other words, when we get a heavy rain, the water takes a long time to percolate and standing water in the yard is not uncommon after one of those “100 year rains” that seem to be happening every year or two. Being in an urban area with a lot of paved area doesn’t help.
So about 14 years ago, we put on a decently sized addition with the deepest basement the excavator could provide without blasting - that was about 7’ below grade, or about 3’ below the basement in the original house. In other words, a low point that could fill with water quickly if the sump pump or power failed. And one day about 6 or 7 years ago we got some epic t-storms that dumped something like 6 inches of rain in an hour and a half. Then the power went out and I was an hour away from home. And of course the wife was panicked.
We ended up with roughly 8” of standing water in the basement- it took out a new refrigerator and a new freezer. Great...
It took hours for the sump pump to evacuate the water using a generator for power.
So I upgraded to a zoeller 98 and a somewhat generic battery pump - a modest “ace in the hole”pump that maybe could evacuate 1200 gpm. With a single deep cycle battery, I thought I was set. Then a year or two later, epic rains, power out and the good news is we only took on 2” of water - grrrrrr.
Next was the set up I SHOULD have put in in the first place. I went with a PS C33 combo unit with two of the biggest deep cycle AGM batteries Menards could order and wired in parallel for max runtime.
The primary pump is good for 3000 gpm and the battery unit is rated at 2400. If main power remains on in a rain event, and the ac pump is overwhelmed, the battery pump will kick in.
It’s a helluva combo that cost a pretty penny, but I can recommend it completely. No problems since -with plenty of “100 year” rains in the last few years.
Next project when I feel so motivated is digging a second sump pit and popping for another combo unit. Sort of like “suspenders and a belt” and another belt, and another belt.
Things break and I don’t want to take the risk - or spend another day of mopping.
So about 14 years ago, we put on a decently sized addition with the deepest basement the excavator could provide without blasting - that was about 7’ below grade, or about 3’ below the basement in the original house. In other words, a low point that could fill with water quickly if the sump pump or power failed. And one day about 6 or 7 years ago we got some epic t-storms that dumped something like 6 inches of rain in an hour and a half. Then the power went out and I was an hour away from home. And of course the wife was panicked.
We ended up with roughly 8” of standing water in the basement- it took out a new refrigerator and a new freezer. Great...
It took hours for the sump pump to evacuate the water using a generator for power.
So I upgraded to a zoeller 98 and a somewhat generic battery pump - a modest “ace in the hole”pump that maybe could evacuate 1200 gpm. With a single deep cycle battery, I thought I was set. Then a year or two later, epic rains, power out and the good news is we only took on 2” of water - grrrrrr.
Next was the set up I SHOULD have put in in the first place. I went with a PS C33 combo unit with two of the biggest deep cycle AGM batteries Menards could order and wired in parallel for max runtime.
The primary pump is good for 3000 gpm and the battery unit is rated at 2400. If main power remains on in a rain event, and the ac pump is overwhelmed, the battery pump will kick in.
It’s a helluva combo that cost a pretty penny, but I can recommend it completely. No problems since -with plenty of “100 year” rains in the last few years.
Next project when I feel so motivated is digging a second sump pit and popping for another combo unit. Sort of like “suspenders and a belt” and another belt, and another belt.
Things break and I don’t want to take the risk - or spend another day of mopping.
Last edited:
bas157
Well-known member
I have one of these, https://www.basepump.com/products/rh1400/
have to get it installed though so no first hand feedback. My sister has one at her house it is seems to work for them but they've got a standby generator now so not sure if it'll ever come on much.
My pit is very small so no room for another pump IN the pit. This puts the pump outside the pit so it was really my only option (no city water so no water powered pumps)
have to get it installed though so no first hand feedback. My sister has one at her house it is seems to work for them but they've got a standby generator now so not sure if it'll ever come on much.
My pit is very small so no room for another pump IN the pit. This puts the pump outside the pit so it was really my only option (no city water so no water powered pumps)
There is not much else in the market -- they are all basically a battery and a pump. It's a question of quality.
My house/office in the suburbs is the end of the sewer line -- in my case I have a sump pit and pump just in case of a sewer backup in heavy storms. It's only had to do it's thing a couple times in 25 years .. but it not working is a bad option.
I would first make sure you fixed the float issue -- what happened? One thing to think about is the amount of room in the pit -- some don't have enough space for both pumps.
My house/office very rarely has any power interruptions -- so my main concern is to have very good pit/pump and float -- mine is overkill. My pit is large enough for the basement watchdog to sit inside.
I ran a dedicated line from the backup pump to outside as the main line runs very far from the house and I was concerned about the power of the backup.
Naturally -- have never needed to backup pump. It's important to test them occasionally. I replaced the main pump after 15 years ...
Nuccio
Well-known member
I have a customer of mine that I installed the sump pump and the liberty backup with a real battery that still flooded but he lost power for a week straight. I did recommend a backup generator when he built the house since we put a 12' deep basement. He did have one installed after the basement flooded. Also another customer we did an addition for his basement was 2' lower then his existing basement, we were in the water table with water coming in constantly. I installed 2 sump pit with 2" submersible pumps with water sensors. Those pumps constantly ran I also recommend a backup generator.
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Nuccio
Well-known member
One more thing to think about is where the discharged water goes. I have seen a system hookup to (2) 1,000 gallon seepage pits that filled completely and the pumps had no ware to pump to.
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I had this pump installed yesterday.
https://www.stopflooding.com/phcc-pro-series-2400/
Plumber said I could get a better deal then he could on a battery since he has to mark it up once he buys it.
PHCC sells an AGM battery, but says right on the side made in China.
https://www.stopflooding.com/maintenance-free-agm-standby-battery/
Looking for some recommendations. Looks like its a Group 27 90amp hour.
https://www.stopflooding.com/phcc-pro-series-2400/
Plumber said I could get a better deal then he could on a battery since he has to mark it up once he buys it.
PHCC sells an AGM battery, but says right on the side made in China.
https://www.stopflooding.com/maintenance-free-agm-standby-battery/
Looking for some recommendations. Looks like its a Group 27 90amp hour.
bob15
Well-known member
I have had good luck with the US-made Deka/East Penn batteries
http://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/wp-content/uploads/Intimidator-Deep-Cycle-Flyer-1740.pdf
https://www.dcbattery.com/deka_8a27.html
http://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/wp-content/uploads/Intimidator-Deep-Cycle-Flyer-1740.pdf
https://www.dcbattery.com/deka_8a27.html