Backup Sump Pump

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Water Powered Basepump RB 750

The idea of a water powered water pump might be confusing to some people, as these aren't commonly used, and many people are simply unaware that you can have a backup sump pump without using battery power. This is an alternative to expensive battery powered units.

Keep in mind, that this doesn't work at all if you're on well water, you must have water pressure... and although the city main pumps also shut down during a water outage, water pressure is usually still there in the pipes because of city water towers. So as long as you have water pressure even during a power outage, using water power to get rid of excess water still works.

On the right, you'll see a diagram of how water powered water sump pumps work. The actual RB 750 unit is mounted on a ceiling joist. The actual installation should probably be done by a plumber, who'll probably take no more than 2-3 hours to install this - but many mechanically inclined owners have installed their own system.

Here's a review by an owner who's found out the hard way that you need a backup:

OK, so when I installed my primary sump pump a year ago, I thought about a backup-- but, didn't think much because my crock BARELY drips, and we live in an area with little or no power outages.

Whoops. 3 weeks ago we had a massive series of storms, and our crock went from drips to a steady stream of water pouring in. Oh yeah, and we lost power for SEVERAL hours. Fortunately, this time we were home and sat by the crock and bailed. And bailed. And bailed. TONS of homes in our area had flooded basements.

The next day I ordered this unit, the RB750. Even under the worst conditions, this version rated way above the max water we ever get.

Set aside a good day for the installation- the plumbing takes the longest (considering you need a new valve, union, a few elbows, a "T"). I am skilled at plumbing, so the installation for me was relatively easy - just time-consuming because you need to take care to do this RIGHT.

When I hooked it up and fired up the water supply, I have to admit that although I was a bit skeptical, my attitude quickly turned to amazement because this thing works GREAT. As a test, I unplugged my primary sump pump and started filling the crock with water. *click*. *whoosh* - and the pump turned on and instantly started sucking water. I did some measuring and this thing emptied about 3 gallons out of the crock in 15-18 seconds, which actually does match the rating of the unit (750 gallons an hour).

Some people complained about "hammering" (loud noise) when the pump shuts off, I didn't notice it that much but we have arrestors in other parts of our plumbing. I suspect this is more prominent in the bigger model (RB-1000).

Despite the majority of the parts being made of plastic, I highly recommend this as a backup system for your sump pump. One afternoon and the install is done-- and no maintenance required, no super-expensive batteries, etc. And it works quite well.

Review by Caseybea - Read the original review & comments here.

Right Now, You Can Buy This Water Powered Backup Basement Sump Pump and Save The Environment!

The technical specs on this 'Basepump RB 750' are:

• Extremely reliable, very powerful, water powered backup sump pump system
• No battery to wear out or maintain.
• No charger to plug in or monitor.
• Automatic, independent system from the primary sump pump
• Mounted on the ceiling, high above the sump, clean and dry.
• And did I mention... No battery to wear out or maintain.

Here's another review from a water powered water pump owner:

Now that I look back at my situation with my sump pump setup, I don't know how I would live without the Basepump. This product simply works! After looking at battery backup sump pumps, concrete cutting options, barrier/dam creations, and all other ideas myself and others came up with, this gem landed in my lap.

When the power goes out, what is the one thing that in most cases still works? Water.... or water pressure to be more specific. This item creates suction using water pressure, and let me say it creates really good lift.

After contacting some plumbers for a install quote, I decided to install it myself. The package contains almost everything you need, minus some pipe and a few fittings/glues. I would say I spent around $50.00 in parts, and it took me around 4 hours total to get it in. I unplugged my main pump to simulate a power failure and waited until the water level put the water powered sump pump into action.

At first I barely noticed the unit running, it is super quiet. It also pumps alot of water out, I would say just as fast as my main sump pump. I now sleep alot better when a hard rain comes down, knowing that I have my main pump, my backup Basepump, and two flood alarms downstairs keeping my basement dry.

My question always was, what keeps your basement dry when the power goes out for a extended period of time, and you are NOT home? The answer is Basepump, a water powered sump pump. Don't think about it, just get it.

Review by M. Reimer - See original review here.

Installing the Basepump RB 750 isn't really for the fainthearted - it does take a little bit more installation work than your typical battery operated backup sump pump - but since you don't have to replace batteries every 3-5 years, the savings can add up over the long haul. Even if you spend the money to have this professionally installed, you'll probably end up saving money over the best of the battery operated systems - simply because there is far less maintenance involved with the water powered RB 750.

Here's another review by an RB 750 owner:

I just had this installed by a friend. Really all you need is some good planning and some experience soldering copper plumbing. I had a plumber tell me these weren't any good but I have a feeling they have experience with the really cheap versions sold at places like Home Depot. And they happen to prefer the battery based units they sell for almost $3000 installed. Go figure.

Pros:

1. No battery needed, purely mechanical. Batteries also normally need to be replaced every 3-5 years so no worry about that here.
2. I'd rather pay extra for water than have water in my basement
3. Can be away from home for long periods of time without worry
4. Great instructions, fairly easy to install if you plan ahead

Cons:

1. Loud when shutting off but this can be an indicator of when it is running. (Can also install a water hammer thing - don't know the exact name).
2. Needs to run 1 full minute before the air gets sucked out and water is actually evacuated.
3. Effectiveness depends largely on your water pressure but this makes sense.

I just don't know why people have hardly heard of these. I saw this on 'This Old House' at least 10-15 years ago. I can't find any negative reviews either. 1 person complained it ran and ran because his main pump failed and he didn't know it was running. He ended up with a fairly large water bill. So... it was working and he never checked his basement? I don't know to me that means it works even for long periods of time which it wasn't meant for. And it's the owner's responsibility to install an alarm so you know when it's in operation.

I think 'con' (2) can be taken care of by a dual-check valve to keep water in the vertical discharge pipe (so it doesn't fill with air) but I don't know if the suction is enough to actually open the valve. I'm not a plumber and don't have enough experience with these valves. As it is, it works great given the 1 minute of sucking air, but again this is a backup and hopefully will never be needed.

If you set this up right I think you will sleep well at night knowing it is there.

Review by RocketScience - See original review here.

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Zoeller 507 Battery Backup Basement Sump Pump

Everyone invests their time, money, effort and other resources in converting a house in to a beautiful home. No one wants anything to damage their home. After all a home is a lifetime investment for people. Unfortunately, we still can't control the weather, and if you have a basement, you know well the damage that a storm can cause... having a sump pump is a practical necessity.

There are many reasons for having a backup water sump pump as well - having a power outage during a storm is only the most obvious, but you could also have your primary sump pump fail due to damage, a mechanical malfunction (such as an aging switch), obstructions in the pit, or even simply when the primary pump can't keep up due to too much water.

Now, there is one thing to consider - the battery is not included. This means that the total cost must include the purchase of a good 12v battery to use with this water sump pump. Zoeller makes an excellent battery for use with this unit, and will extend their normal 12 month warranty to 36 months if you purchase and use their 'Aquanot' battery (as well as return the warranty card to Zoeller - of course!)

Here's a review from one owner of the Zoeller 507 Basement Sump Pump:

A house we are remodeling had a leaky basement. Heavy rains lasting a few days resulted in an inch or more of water in the basement. A real mess. We got bids from 6 basement waterproofing companies. Five of the six said they used Zoeller equipment because they had the most reliable pumps, and past customers whose pumps failed were bad for business.

Our contractor installed a sump basin with TWO pumps: a Zoeller model 507 as backup to a 110 volt Zoeller M-53. At a 5 feet head (rise from pump to water discharge), the M-53 is rated at 43 gallons per minute, and the 507 is 23 GPM. The 507 provides extra protection if the M-53 should fail due to a storm, blackout, damage, mechanical malfunction, obstruction in the pit, or when the M-53 fails to keep up with excessive water due to rain or overloading. It uses a group 27 or group 31, 12 volt, marine battery.

The only disadvantage of a battery backup pump other than price, is that the battery needs replacement every 4 to 5 years.

Our large 12 volt marine battery sits on a strong shelf two feet off the floor, and the battery charger is attached to the wall. As far as I know, our model 507 pump has never kicked-in due to an emergency, but it certainly alleviates worries about basement flooding.

Review by V. Agresti - See original review & comments here.

Right Now, You Can Buy This Battery Backup Basement Sump Pump for 15% Off Normal Retail Price

The technical specs on this 'Zoeller 507-0005' are:

• 10 Amp Battery Recharger
• Burnout and Overcharge protection
• Fully solid state automatic controller with alarm
• Reliable low voltage float switch
• Battery Case made from noncorrosive polyethylene
• Battery is not included

Here's an owner who's backup system saved him:

It works!

My home has two Zoeller pumps in the pit: a Zoeller M53 and the 507 Basement Sentry. Coming home from out-of-town one weekend (during which we received about 5 inches of rain), I arrived with the battery alarm in the basement going off. Upon checking the state of the pumps, it turns out the M53 was obstructed, but the basement was completely dry. The alarm went off because the battery was draining...this meant that the 507 did its duty when the M53 malfunctioned. Since this incident, the M53 has been functioning fine. I glad I invested in the 507!

Review by A. Diccion - Read the original review here.

Basement sump pumps are essential today to lead a worry free life and to protect your investment from water damage. Things like rain, defect in the water pipe, overflow of water, storms, high water tables, etc can happen anytime. It is important to keep preventative measures in place to avoid costly water damage repairs.

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Zoeller M57 Mighty-Mate Basement Sump Pump

This is the product that plumbing & construction professionals recommend - it's the 'Cadillac' of sump pumps, and you will be hard pressed to spend your money more wisely than this. Featuring the power to drive 2580 GPH at 5', 2040 GPH at 10', and 1140 GPH at 15', this great Zoeller product also has a caste iron impeller - so if you have any chance of gravel, sand, or other solids getting sucked up by your sump pump - this is the one model that will stand up to such abuse.

If you don't have to worry about solids getting sucked up - you can go with the somewhat lower-priced Zoeller M53, as the M53 doesn't have the caste iron impellor. So the exact model you get will depend on your exact application and what you have to deal with. Both models are really great submersible sump pumps, and can be worth their weight in gold when a good storm hits.

One feature I like is the fact that Zoeller didn't go with any cheap sheet metal parts that can quickly corrode or rust out on you. With stainless steel screws, and a corrosion resistant powder coated epoxy finish, this sump pump is designed and well-built for the long haul.

Here's a review from one owner of the Zoeller M57 Basement Sump Pump:

I have an unusual set-up in my house: my roof drains rainwater into my basement sump pump pit, and the water is then pummped out through the house's waste line. Because of this set-up, my sump pump gets a real workout on a regular basis, and it also has to accomodate dirt, sand, grit, and some leaves. Recently the switch wore out on my Zoeller M53 sump pump after over 10 years of worry free use. I initially searched Home Depot and Lowes for a new pump, but reviews of their pumps frequently reported major problems after as little as 2 years of light use! Also, their pumps are not equipped to deal with small solids, so it didn't take much thought to decide that I should replace a Zoeller with another Zoeller. This time I bought the Zoeller M57 model, but the only difference between the M57 and the M53 is whether the base structure is made of plastic or iron. I don't really see much advantage of either one over the other, but I bought the M57 with the iron base. I can sleep easy again knowing that no matter how much it rains, my Zoeller M57 can handle the job with ease.

Review by B. Denton - See original review here

Right Now, You Can Buy This Basement Sump Pump for 17% Off Retail

The technical specs on this 'Zoeller M57' are:

• All cast iron construction - No screens to clog.
• Stainless steel screws, switch arm, guard and handle.
• Cast iron impeller
• Lower and upper bearings, oil fed, cast iron
• Cast iron impeller
• Oil-filled, hermetically sealed, automatic reset thermal overload protected motor

Here's another interesting review written by an owner:

Had this pump for four years in my house and eight years in my businesses & it has never failed yet. Zoeller's M57 shares the same dimensions and is nearly identical to the M53. The M57 has all cast iron construction and a cast iron impeller instead. Like the M53, it can pump 43 gallons (163L)/minute, passes half-inch solids, and shares a 1.5" discharge. Zoeller is the industry standard: don't let anyone tell you differently. It's the brand the professionals use and the plumbers recommend. Unless you need the extra casing weight and prefer a cast iron impeller, get the M53.

Review by Z. Ridling - Read the original review here.

So if your willing to spend the money to buy the best sump pump you can get - to protect your home - you really can't go wrong with a Zoeller M57. You'll actually spend less money than the deductible on your home insurance policy - care to bet?

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Wayne ESP25 12 Volt Battery Backup Sump Pump

Having a backup sump pump that can be battery powered is critical during storms - where your electricity can easily be knocked out for hours or days at a time - and you still have a need to pump out the basement water. Nothing can be more frustrating that having the equipment you need, but nothing to power it! And since your homeowner's insurance deductible is almost certainly higher than the cost of a good sump pump system, it only makes good sense to be prepared for power outages as well as storms.

Made out of reinforced thermoplastic - the Wayne ESP25 can pump up to 3,300 gallons per hour... and up to 2,300 gallons per hour straight up a 10 foot lift. Having a battery backed up sump pump that can handle a large volume of water is critical in storms... I know you aren't going to tell me that your Electric Company is more reliable than mine in a storm!

The Wayne ESP25 uses a Reed float switch design that uses a very minimal travel area - meaning it will fit in smaller pits, and not have float hangups. This makes it easier to install, and gives a little bit more reliability. It's also important to note that the Wayne ESP25 also keeps your battery properly charged, and comes with an alarm that keeps you informed.

Just one bit of bad news - the battery is not included, and although this backup sump pump will run on a 40ah 12v battery, I'd highly recommend that you spend the extra money and include the 75ah 12 battery. The 74 Amp Hour battery simply gives you more power for a longer period of time - and your home is worth the slight additional cost.

Here's a review from one owner of the Wayne ESP25 Battery Backup Sump Pump:

I bought the ESP25 backup pump several weeks ago and installed it just last week. I also replaced the existing AC pump that had been in operation for 23+ years - original with the house (Trident, model P1511, 1/2 hp). As much water as I pump I just couldn't trust it to continue...I'd say it did very well and never had an issue. I will keep it around as a backup for the AC pump. Had I been able to read the nameplate on the Trident while it was still in the hole, I probably would have used Trident again.

I replaced the Trident with a Coleman, 1/2 horse at the same time I installed the Wayne backup unit. I had never worked with PVC and I hate plumbing type fixes since I always have to go back the store to get additional parts. In this case I read the Wayne install manual and knew all parts necessary. I bought 2 10ft PVC pipes, 90 and 45 degree connectors and the primer/cement. Also purchased a size 27, 105 amp/hr deep cycle battery ($94). My sump hole is 18in across so both pumps fit nicely and since the Wayne pump has the float attached to the exhaust pipe there is no interference with the float on the AC pump. The Wayne discharge pipe Y's into the main discharge pipe from the AC pump - per the instruction manual. The Wayne install and test directions were easy to follow and complete. During the install I had unplugged (from AC outlets) both pumps while working on the discharge pipe outside the house when all of a sudden the water started pouring out the pipe...I had forgotten the Wayne unit was battery run...it had its first test and passed! So far the Wayne pump has not been necessary since our electricity has not gone off. I certainly feel more confident knowing it is in place and ready to work if necessary.

Review by Den - See original review here

Right Now, You Can Buy This Battery Backup Sump Pump for 23% Off Retail

The technical specs on this 'Wayne ESP25' are:

• 2300-Gallons per hour at 10-feet of lift
• Corrosion resistant thermoplastic construction
• Alarm sounds to notify you when the backup system is active
• Requires one 40-ampere hour or one 75-ampere hour battery
• 1-Year limited warranty

Here's another short but sweet review written by an owner:

I reviewed lots of back up sump pumps online, and I chose the Wayne ESP25 for its capacity and maintenance free battery. I installed the unit in one day, and it works well.

Review by Jonathan V. - Read the original review here.

So if you're looking for a good backup system to add secondary protection during a power outage, the ESP25 Battery Backup Sump Pump from Wayne would be an excellent choice that you wouldn't regret.

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Zoeller M53 Mighty-Mate Basement Sump Pump

What is a sump pump or a backup sump pump? Well, these are basically the pumps used for taking out water or other types of fluids from a place where it has accumulated and unwanted. Your basement, for example. There are various types of sump pumps available in the market, but some companies stand out for the quality of their product... In my opinion, Zoeller is one such company. Sump pumps can be categorized on the basis of their capacity measured in gallons per minute (GPM) and the kind (and reliability) of motor used in them.

Now, the big question is, "where to throw this water?" Well, of course you cannot just pump out the water from your basement without knowing the place where it needs to be dumped. Usually people opt for a municipal storm drain. In case there is a dry well around your house then it can also be used for the same purpose. The best place is to dump the water on the neighbor's property... (ha! just checking to see if you're really reading...)

Sump pump drainage is critical to avoiding water damage - particularly in your basement. So reliability is what you're looking for, right? Here's a review from one owner of the M-53 Zoeller Mighty Mate Sump Pump:

Well tonight I thought it was finally time to replace my sump pump (Zoeller M53)after 18 years! The float was sticking in the up position and it wasn't shutting off. Well after some messing with it the issue was a piece of debris stuck under the float so I moved it and now it's working fine. Don't go out and buy a piece of junk from China from a local store, go with a Zoeller! Maybe it is time to replace it after 18 years but since it's working fine I think I'll just let it keep going! Really a quality product!

Review by K. Patteri - See original review here

Right Now, You Can Buy This Mighty Mate Sump Pump for 22% Off Retail

The technical specs on this 'Mighty Mate' are:

• Cast switch case, motor and pump housing with powder coated epoxy finish.
• Glass-filled polypropylene
• Engineered, glass-filled, plastic impeller with metal insert
• Stainless steel guard & handle.
• Bearing - lower & upper oil fed cast iron

Here's another excellent review written by an owner of a Zoeller product:

A house we are remodeling had a leaky basement. Heavy rains lasting a few days resulted in an inch or more of water in the basement. A real mess. We got bids from 6 basement waterproofing companies. Five companies said they installed Zoeller M-53s because they were the most reliable pump they were aware of, and angry customers with failed pumps were bad for business.

The company we hired did a great job, as the basement is now bone dry regardless of rainstorms. The M-53 is so quiet, that unless you are near the sump basin, you can't hear it run. It's only been a year since installation, so I can't rate pump longevity; but so far, it's worked just fine.

The contractor installed a sump basin with TWO pumps: an M-53 and the Zoeller model 507 backup pump, which uses a 12-volt marine-battery. At a 5 feet head (from pump to water discharge), the M-53 pumps 43 gallons per minute, and the 507 does 23 GPM. A backup battery operated pump provides extra protection when the primary AC pump fails due to: storms, brownouts, the primary pump fails due to damage, mechanical malfunction or obstructions in the pit, or when the primary pump fails due to damage, mechanical malfunction or obstructions in the pit, or when the primary pump fails to keep up with excessive water due to rain or overloading. As far as I know, the 507 has never kicked-in, but it does eliminate worries about basement flooding.

The bottom assembly (containing the feet) is plastic on this pump, as is the impeller. Zoeller makes a better version, called the M-57, which is identical to this one, except the base is cast iron, as is the impeller. A cast iron impeller will hold up better to gravel, sand, or other hard things being sucked in to the pump, as compared to the plastic impeller of the M53.

Review by V. Agresti - Read the full review here.

So if you're looking to protect your home from water damage, the M-53 Mighty Mate Sump Pump from Zoeller would be a fine choice for both price and reliability.

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