Basements 101: Everything You Need to Know About Sump Pumps

Basements 101: Everything You Need to Know About Sump Pumps

Spring is here and that means warmer temperatures. But while we all love the added sunlight, spring can also bring melting snow and spring rain, both of which can lead to flooded basements. The good news is you can protect your home from water damage by installing a sump pump. We offer a number of sump pump systems for a variety of different needs, along with deep cycle batteries to power your sump pump battery backup.

How Do Sump Pumps Work?

A sump pump sits in a small pit cut into an area below the surface of your basement floor. When the water level in this basin gets too high, a system valve will trigger the pump to automatically begin pumping excess water away from your home to a safer location like a storm drain, pond or dry well.

It’s important to keep in mind that sump pumps are powered by your home’s electricity. That means if the power goes out, so does your pump. This can be especially problematic in the cases of violent storms, which can shut down your sump pump just when you need it most.

Fortunately, you can protect against scenarios like this by adding a backup pump. A backup pump adds a second pump to your system that runs on battery power. This second pump will remain active during a loss of power and works as a valuable backup if your primary pump fails, or in cases where there is too much water for your primary pump to handle alone.

Batteries Plus Bulbs offers two different varieties of sump pump systems, Combination Pumps and Backup systems.

Combination Pumps

If you don’t currently have a sump pump, the Basement Watchdog Combination Sump Pump System series is perfect for your needs. It comes preassembled for easy installation. Plus, its compact design fits into pits with diameters as small as 12 inches. Best of all, it comes equipped with both a primary and battery backup pump. Here are the combination pumps that we currently offer.

The Basement Watchdog Combination Sump Pump System - features a primary pump capacity of 3,720 GPH (gallons per hour) at a 0 ft. lift and 3,100 GPH at 10 ft. lift. The backup pump expels 2,000 GPH at 0 ft. lift and 1,000 GPH at 10 ft. lift.

The Basement Watchdog Big Combination CONNECT Sump Pump System - This system features a primary pump capacity of 4,400 GPH at a 0 ft. lift and 3,540 GPH at 10 ft. lift. The backup pump performs at 2,600 GPH at 0 ft. lift and 1,850 GPH at 10 ft. lift.

Backup Pumps

As we mentioned above, a backup pump is an important way to insure that your system performs even in a sudden power loss. But what do you do if your current sump pump doesn’t have a backup?

The Basement Watchdog Emergency Battery Backup Sump Pump System series allows you to add an emergency backup pump to your current sump pump system. We currently offer three backup options. Each system includes a controller with a battery fluid sensor, a secondary pump with a one and a half inch PVC pipe adapter, a charger and a battery box to keep your battery safe. Here are the specifics for our three backup systems.

The Basement Watchdog Emergency Battery Backup Sump Pump System

• This backup sump pump system features a pump capacity of 2,000 GPH at 0 ft. lift & 1,000 GPH at 10 ft. of lift
• Duel, micro-reed switches
• 2-year limited warranty

The Basement Watchdog Special CONNECT Battery Backup Sump Pump System

• The Special CONNECT backup system features a pump capacity of 2,600 GPH at 0 ft. lift & 1,850 GPH at 10 ft. lift
• Duel, micro-reed switches
• 2-year limited warranty
• Remote notification through the Basement Watchdog WiFi Module

The Basement Watchdog Big Dog CONNECT Battery Backup Sump Pump System

• The Big Dog CONNECT backup system features a pump capacity of 3,500 GPH at 0 ft. lift & 2,200 GPH at 10 ft. of lift
• Duel, micro-reed switches
• 2-year limited warranty
• Remote notification through the Basement Watchdog WiFi Module
• Pump runs on AC or battery power

Backup Batteries

Let’s talk batteries. As mentioned above, a backup sump pump relies on batteries to keep functioning in the event of a power failure. We offer two different types of sump pump backup batteries, wet cell and AGM.

Wet cell batteries (also known as flooded batteries) have lead plates inside with an electrolyte liquid comprised of sulfuric acid and water (which will be added by our in-store associates). They are your most inexpensive option, however, they do require regular maintenance to protect the lead plates from deterioration. In order to prevent this, wet cell batteries require you to periodically refill them with deionized water. Both the Basement Watchdog Emergency Standby Battery and Basement Watchdog Big Standby Battery work with the fluid sensor on all Basement Watchdog sump pumps to sound an alarm when it requires more water.

For those looking for a simple, non-maintenance option, the Maintenance Free AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) Battery is your best bet. In an AGM battery, the lead plates are encased in glass fiber material, which absorbs the electrolyte liquid. This keeps the plates wet, without the need to keep them submerged. This design results in an increased energy capacity and faster charging times. Unlike wet cell batteries, AGM varieties are completely sealed, making them spill-proof. They won’t leak if punctured and require no additional maintenance, however, they are slightly more expensive than wet cell batteries.

We also carry a number of Duracell Ultra batteries ideally suited for sump pumps. Like their Basement Watchdog counterparts, these deep cycle batteries are available in both wet cell and AGM options. These Duracell varieties even come with a free replacement warranty (12 months for wet cell, 30 months for AGM). Learn more about sump pump batteries.

Sump pumps offer a simple, reliable way to help keep your basement dry. Shop our full assortment of sump pumps at your nearest Batteries Plus Bulbs. Or, browse from home when you Buy Online Pickup In-Store. As always, our associates are happy to answer all of your questions and help you find the right sump pump solution to fit your individual needs.