Basement Terms: Battery Backup Sump pump – what it is, what it does, and why so many people are confused.

Over this past week I must have fielded somewhere close to 1000 phone calls dealing with people’s flooding issues in places like Milton, MA; Warwick, RI; and Newton, MA. One of the questions that I’ve gotten from many, oddly enough, is what’s the point of having a battery back up sump pump installed in the first place.

2^nd pump to help with volume.

First and for most, it’s a separate pump. Yes! It’s not just a battery that’s there to be hooked up; it’s a completely different pump from a standard sump pump. This means a couple good things for you as a homeowner!

First: It’s designed to back up the pump you have! Even some of the best pumps in flooding situations get overwhelmed with the amount of water they have to pump out of a basement. If the water comes in faster than a pump can pump it, then what’s to stop the water from getting in your basement? That’s where the battery backup can come in handy! It can act as a normal pump to backup the pump that’s installed; helping to handle volumes of water that 1 sump pump would normally fail to move.

Secondly, it can run on both battery power and normal electricity! This is the best of both worlds. You get a second pump to keep you dry when you’re power’s off, but you also get a pump that can operate when the Nor’easters cause the lights to go out in your neighborhood.

Depending on the type of battery backup sump pump you buy you can actually add power to it. The 2400s that Pioneer uses can actually carry up to 3 batteries to give you a combined total of approximately 21 hours of continuous pumping protection.

A Few words of caution:

I) If you’re in an area that’s prone to longer power outages of more than 2-3 days, a generator for your home might still be needed. Yes, a back up pump can help, but it can’t be guaranteed to work in a time frame that exceeds the power of the batteries it’s attached to.

II) A sump pump can’t solve all basement flooding issues. Moisture comes in the basement in a few different ways and a sump pump can only truly protect you against rising water under the slab of your basement floor. They aren’t designed to protect against foundation wall crack leaks, water coming over the foundation of the home, or water coming over the footing/wall joint and into the basement.

III) Size matters: A 1/3 HP pump can only do so much, having a pump that meets the same size as your standard AC pump is a good choice. For places along the shore or in areas that normally get high volumes of water during the rainy season, it’s possible that you’ll want to start with a stronger AC pump all together. Normal sizes for these are 1/3, ½, or Full HP. (1 HP).

Related Reading and Links

Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make.

Ask Jacob A question Directly on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums!

Sump Pumps, Service and Learning to Live in New England - Nor'Easter hits New England with Massive Rain and Flooding

(Boston, ma) Over 50,000 homes at the end of February and into March were without power causing many homeowners to flood or experience water in their basements for the first time in their lives.

Coastal towns like Plymouth and Sandwich Massachusetts saw water being thrust at them not only from the sky, but also from the surging beaches.

Increasing water table from natural accumulation saw many homes surrounded by water or with inches or more into their basements.

“With a huge Nor’easter storm like this, it’s hard to keep your home protected from it.” says Steve Andras, president of Pioneer Basement Waterproofing in Mass. “Many of our customers learned from last years ice storm at the end of December and bought their battery backup sump pumps which helped them wait out the majority of the downpours.”

“It’s really a key support that any home in New England should have with the amount of annual rain fall this part of the country has. Otherwise you’re really just gambling on the severity of the storm which no one can control.”

Response teams from emergency crews, basement waterproofing companies and even fire departments all over Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island responded around the clock to calls coming in, well over 24 hours.

“It’s a yearly occurrence that is happening at an interesting time this year,” said Chris Brown, president of Rescon Basement Solutions of New Hampshire. “Normally you can expect snow or rain, but not both in such an odd pattern this late in the winter. It was a storm that definitely took many households by surprise in Northern Massachusetts.”

With even the most extreme pump provided by some local Fire Departments having trouble keeping up with volume in some shore towns, homeowners got a solid reminder of what this part of the country can see during Hurricane season.


Related Reading and Links

Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make.

Ask Jacob A question Directly on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums!

Choosing the most “Green” Sump Pump.

Long ago I talked about the Glentronics pumps being the most “green” on the market. That article dealt more with how these pumps don’t contaminate or use drinking water to supply its pumping power. There are many more aspects of a sump pump that would make it eco friendly.

If you’re in the market for a sump pump and you’re being environmentally conscious then there are many other factors that you need to ask questions about:

What’s the Energy Draw of the sump pump?
The amps that the sump pumps use dictate the amount of energy that is pulled off the grid to power your sump pump. Amps range in the market from 3.8 or so to pumps that can draw over 12 amps. The cost to you would be more like $28/year to $88/year. The more amps, the more money the power company is going to charge you, and the more (possibly) harmful that can be to the environment depending on how you’re getting your energy.

What is the sump pump made of?
Many reputable and respected companies make their pumps out of cast iron. But the new solution for pumps has been the introduction into solid stainless steel construction. This introduces less rust, corrosion and introduction of processed minerals into your ground water.

Does it cool with Oil or water?
Cooling with oil is typical to most mechanical devices such as cars and lawnmowers. But with oil comes sludge. Oil can bind an engine if it reaches a certain temperature and in heavy rains when your pump can literally run all day to keep your basement dry, it’s not smart to take that change. Water cooled sump pumps use the water that’s around it, not drinking water, to cycle through and cool the interior of the pump. Different pumps have different cycles, but the important question to ask is “does that water come in contact with lubricants?” The answer to most water-cooled pumps on the market is no.

How much water should it pump?

3000gph/50gpm @ 10’ head is a good marker. Any pump that can do this amount of pumping with a 1/3 horsepower engine with around 3.8amps is a fantastic start. You’ll bind together pumping efficiency with energy savings to get more “bang” for your buck.

Is there an energy star rating for sump pumps?

As of right now there isn’t. The Sump Pump manufactures in America are working to get this coveted mark and hopefully soon this will be an easier way for you as a homeowner to find and shop for a product that’s right for your home.

Making the switch over to clean “green” energy for your home doesn’t have to disrupt the protection you’re installing in your basement. Sump pumps run of ether AC or DC Battery power. The easiest way to make sure that your energy draw is environmentally friendly is to take part in your state’s program to assign where you’d like your power to come from.

State of Rhode Island’s Renewable Energy Program information.

Where should a Sump Pump fall on my list of Priorities?

Where should a Sump Pump fall on my list of Priorities?

It’s a very common question, especially if you’ve already talked yourself out of believing you have a water problem in your basement.

If you have flooded, seen water, or experienced water of any kind in your basement, EVEN once a year (or once in a blue moon as you might put it), then a sump pump is a good starting point to help protect you from future flooding.

Sump pumps matched into the GrateSump are designed to help control the overall level of water, moisture and water vapor under your basement slab. Staying at 19” deep, the GrateSump is designed to house the pump, protect it and also discourage the moisture under the basement floor to coax any soil out from underneath the foundation footing which supports the house (in professional terms: Foundation Undermining).

Sump pumps that run less require less service, which in turn means that the pump will be more ready for your “once in a while” water that finds its way into your basement.

Once a sump pump is installed we can determine how often it runs, if there are any other problem areas in the basement that occur or reoccur and address those accordingly. Pioneer Basement’s uses the GrateSump because of its ease of extension. We can add onto the system whenever extra protection is needed in the future. More drain? Extra Pump? Wall Protection? Any one of these can be added to the existing sump, which would in turn become the heart of the water removal process.

A sump pump matched with the GrateSump is a great first step home improvement choice for those who want to address their basement and foundations properly.

How safe are Battery Back ups for Sump Pumps?

The right word is Extremely.

Battery back ups are low maintenance, encased in waterproof covers, usually accompanied with user control panels to monitor battery power levels and functionality.

Not all sump pumps can be powered by battery. Many companies supply sump pumps that are already designed to be powered by battery power. These would be the first option to a battery-back up sump pump system. Some are strong enough even to take over for the primary A/C power pump you have installed.

There are quite a few battery-back up sump pumps on the market. However, there are only some that are as versatile, strong, and rugged as the PHC-2400 Pro-Series Battery Back-Up pumps from Glentronics. Pioneer Basement has often supported the need for a battery back up. In New England Nor’easter storms, hurricanes, and heavy rain in spring and fall can, and often do, cause power outages.

By having 2 incased batteries supplying your sump pump with power; you give yourself an extra 18 hours of fighting chance to keep your basement dry under the worst of conditions.

There has been no record, that I have access to, of any major injuries with any battery back up system.

As with anything, there is some simple safety tips to familiarize yourself with if you choose to have a battery-back up sump pump system installed:

* Know when it needs to be maintained.
* If it’s refilled, what does it need, how do you do it, and what safety protection do you need.

As with any battery, use common sense. Don’t handle the battery out of the case with bare hands. Don’t open the battery to do any refueling unless you have gloves and eye goggles on. Don’t slam the battery down on the floor because that could render it useless by shaking the plates inside the battery.

If you have any questions about having a battery-back up sump pump system installed, contact your local GrateProducts Contractor in your area to ask how you can have a Basement Inspection at your home and find out which style battery back up sump pump is right for you and your basement’s protection needs.

Backup sump pumps that do not waste drinking water

The best way to protect a basement from flooding during an emergency is to install a battery backup sump pump. These systems can provide days of pumping when the power is out or the primary sump pump fails. Battery backup sump pumps include a separate pump and a powerful battery that is connected together with a monitoring controller.

Plumbing contractors offer the industrial grade version of these sump pumps under the PHCC Pro Series Brand. Product information and a listing of factory authorized installing contractors is available at www.stopflooding.com

For the Do It Yourself homeowner there is the Basement Watchdog brand of energy saving sump pump. Details on this brand and a list of stocking retailers is available at www.basementwatchdog.com

There are also backup sump pumps that actually use the power of your fresh running water from a faucet. The fresh water sucks up soiled sump water and dumps it outside of the building. Unfortunately this wastes huge amounts of valuable fresh drinking water that is needed to sustain us. As we have all witnessed in the summer months, we are restricted or prohibited from watering our gardens and lawns because there is a shortage of fresh water. Some areas have had to ration water just to provide basic service. This is the same fresh water that we are allowing to be used in backup sump pumps when the proven technology of battery backup sump pumps is available. A back-flow valve is required on water powered pumps to prevent the sump water from flowing back into the fresh water supply. If a valve is not installed properly the polluted sump water can contaminate your drinking water as well as the rest of your neighborhood. For this reason a licensed plumber is required to install these pumps properly.
-----------------------------------
above contributed by Glentronics.

It for these reasons, and many others, why Pioneer Basement and the Pioneer Home Basement Finishing Network don’t install drinking water use sump pumps. Our Waterproofing Experts only use the PHCC Pro Series Brand, which doesn’t use drinking water. We do this because we’re concerned about the health and safety of our nation’s people.

Additional Reading:
Sump Pumps: Going Green is the Standard; DIYGUYCT.blogspot.com
Why you need a battery backup sump pump: Glentronics.com

Do you need to get your Basement storm ready?

If you have a waterproofing system, thinking about getting one or just need something to give you a little bit of an edge in the next big storm, consider investing in a Battery Back-Up Sump Pump.

Battery Back-Up Sump Pumps are not just batteries that can be connected to an existing pump. They are typically whole separate units that require separate discharge lines as well. The higher quality units will also give you an alternator box to help recharge these batteries using AC power.

The nice thing is that these pumps don’t just come in handy during a power outage. They can be tailored to help out in any situation, using AC power or battery power. By simply placing the switch at a level that allows for the Battery Back up to kick in at a particular water level under your basement floor, you’ll set yourself up to add in pump redundancy. If the normal pump can’t handle the flow, the battery back up will turn on and jump in to “lend a hand.” BBU Sump pumps are essentially adding another two pumps to your line of defense against basement flooding. 1 pump that works when the power is on and another pump that works when the power is off.

With the massive storms blowing through over the next few weeks because of Hurricane season don’t forget to have a solid waterproofing company in your phone book in case you need an emergency pump out.

One such company is Pioneer Basement. Serving as far west in Massachusetts as Berkshire county, as far west in Connecticut as Hartford, all the way to the shore lines of southern Rhode Island, and well back up into Boston.

If you need an emergency pump out, if you want to stop the water from ever coming in again after this big storm, or you just want to get pumps to keep you well defended, get in touch with Pioneer Basement: the Basement Experts.

1-800-649-6140

Sump Pumps Going Green is the Standard!

Glentronics created by Alan Schulman is responsible for 80-85% of all the battery back up sump pumps sold in America. With water being a natural resource Alan felt that not only battery back ups should use surface water, and not drinking water to flush out a discharge line, but primary sump pumps as well. So, being the entrepreneur he is, he’s created one.

He is currently asking legislators for help. Glentronics thinks that is just bad business to be, in some cases, using our own drinking water to cool some pump units. Putting a strain on a very valuable commodity, especially during drought seasons, isn’t a good idea.

Besides conserving water, Glentronics has also pioneered the Pro-Series pumps which are proven to use from a third to one-half less electricity then ordinary sump pumps. They also only come into contact with surface water, not water that has been filtered for drinking, but its naturally occurring in the soil.

“What if all the sump pumps in the United States where energy efficient?” Schulman asked Diana Newton of www.Pioneerlocal.com. “..customers recognize that it’s good for them and the world…” (taken from “Local inventor pumps it out” by Diana Newton, 1/22/08, www.pioneerlocal.com, Chicago)

With the push to become less dependent on foreign oil, with natural energy resources coming to a very expensive bottle neck, it’s nice to know that something that is designed to keep you safe is also designed to save you money and save energy.

The Pro-Series 3033 is a true 1/3 horse power pump that Pioneer Basement, Grate Products LLC, and all the contractors associated with the Pioneer Home Basement Finishing network use every day in thousands of installs a year. The pump’s impeller shaft is balanced on both the top and bottom with ball bearings in order to assure that it stays vertical, doesn’t touch the sides, and decreases the amount of friction while spinning. The whole unit is designed to be cooled off the water that it pumps out. That means no oil, no oil clogs, no oil maintenance and that means that it doesn’t need to use the same oil that’s causing financial situations all over the world. The more important part, the energy specific part, is the split capacitor motor (PSC) which holds the charge of 4amps of electricity. This allows the pump to continuously use 4amps of electricity when in use. It won’t spike and surge as other units can and do, which will save you money in the long run. When used periodically over the course of a year, it has the possibility of saving you over $55 dollars in comparison to other pumps on the market.

Being American born entrepreneurs ourselves at Pioneer Basement, we’re very proud to help to support an American company with safety and energy efficacy in mind.