How to Install a Battery-Operated Backup Sump Pump | This Old House
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- Опубликовано: 20 сен 2024
- This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to keep a basement dry with a battery-operated backup sump pump-even when the power goes out. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)
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Shopping List for How to Install a Battery-Operated Backup Sump Pump:
- 110-volt sump pump with battery-powered backup sump pump
- check valve
- deep-cycle 12-volt marine battery with protective box
- Teflon tape
- 1_-inch-diameter PVC pipe and assorted fittings
- PVC primer and cement
- stainless steel hose clamps and hose-clamp connector
Tools for How to Install a Battery-Operated Backup Sump Pump:
- screwdriver
- handsaw
- utility knife
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How to Install a Battery-Operated Backup Sump Pump | This Old House
/ thisoldhouse
I just bought a home with a sump pump and after viewing your video I feel comfortable that I understand what I need to deal with it. I was anxious at first having never had a sump pump before. :-) Thank you for your vid!
Hi, how are there, can you let me know where you got that product and can you send me the link or product brand, thank you, because I just first time bought the house like that? Please help me
Four years ago we lost power for four days. If I wasn't home and didn't have a generator, our finished basement would have flooded. I then put in battery backup pumps. Lost power again last weekend and they worked like a charm.
Can you please tell me the model number and where to buy the sump pump? Thanks
Yes, please tell us the model and where can buy it
@@gaoanyonebaoli1675 They are Barracuda brands and bought them at Menards, a home improvement store.
Thank you, do you know this battery rechargeable
@@gaoanyonebaoli1675 The system I installed has a battery charger, 12v battery, and 12v auxiliary pump. The battery stays charged and the 12v pump kicks in if the water rises above where the 120v AC pump would normally kick in. There should be lots of You Tube videos about sump backup systems.
Richard is an American hero
he's one of the stars on our flag.
This guy is a plumbing god
Most home owners think when they install a battery back-up they're safe from flooding. Not true. If your battery back-up takes over during a heavy rain and runs frequently, the battery is only good for a couple of hours. Also, a sump pump requires inspections and attention if you want it to be reliable. You have to understand how often your pump cycles and when it should be replaced. Most people run to failure and never know there is a problem until their basement is flooded. If your house has a sump pump, that little piece of equipment should be your main priority.
😂😂
Great points ⭐️👍
We had flooding rains last night in NJ, and the sump pump cycled every 3 minutes for hours. I wonder how long a battery backup would last. We never lost power, but I was worried. I also wonder if I could keep a secondary battery charging to swap out if the first battery only lasts a couple of hours.
@@FrankV-Audio If your main pump was running every three minutes, I'd guess a battery back-up would last a few hours at best. It depends on how high of a head you're pumping and other factors. You could certainly keep an extra battery but think of the maintenance and upkeep. Batteries don't last forever, get dead cells, etc. My solution is a small suitcase size generator and have everything pre-wired so I can run the generator in my garage and plug it into a reverse socket in the back wall that feeds an outlet next to my sump pump. When needed, simply start the generator, plug it into the socket and move the sump pump to the generator outlet. But then again if I'm out of town, I'll be in trouble. Another solution is a water-jet back-up. ruclips.net/video/fbIzFAMZYN0/видео.html
@FrankV-Audio you could do that or just wire a second battery in parallel with the first, the charger will keep them both topped off and you'll double your power
3:09 I thought Richard was getting CPR
😆
plaguedr88 me too
Haha!
😂
Same 😂
Thanks! Glad to learn about those with the battery back-up!
Wow! That's some really hot basement.
The
Great video! Thank you
The disappointment on her face when he said about 4hrs to a full day 😂😂😂
Great video and nice explanation. Thanks for the wonderful video.
Awesome!
What, no weep hole Richard?
I wish I would've thought of the 45 fitting to offset a vertical run I did in my own basement before I notched two joists illegally. Now I gotta pay for mending plates.
Clean the pit out before installing the new pump. Just buy a Sumpro. Than you can use just one pump your 110v pump discharges way more than a back up pump
Great work Richard!!!
John M. Evangelis thanks
Brilliant!
Richard doesnt age....
age richard
So many "experts" in the comments lol. These cheap backup pumps are obviously not as durable and powerful as the primary pump because it's an emergency backup only. Ideally it would never need to be used, but it will get you through in a pinch if the power or primary pump goes out. I bought an entire kit with battery for under $350 on sale and it's good piece of mind.
What kit did you buy? I'm looking to buy a better primary pump and a backup pump with a battery.
@@asadilla1 what did you end up going with? Researching these now.
@@victor2410 I ended up having TC Hafford Basement Systems install their Triple Safe System. The battery is a Ritar DC12-120.
Curious, what would happen if your sump pump cover is sealed (with any open pipe capped off), and your sump pump fails (with no back up pump)? Would the water eventually seep out of the cover, or would it work its way up the discharge pipe since the water cannot escape?
You will have a basement full of water if you don’t catch it and get your pump running. The water will seep right through your concrete floor…I know this first hand because my GFI outlet for my sump pump tripped during a storm and I didn’t realize it until I had about 2 inches of water in basement. Luckily all I had to do was reset the outlet and the water was pumped out.
I will have mine professionally installed. Water and electrical connections, along with a encased battery
Unit, isn't something I am willing to do. My sump pump
Is getting old and don't want no errors on my part!
What brand backup is good to use?
What prevents the backup pump from pumping water backwards through the main pump?
The check valve on the output of each pump. This part was not explained.
@@jima4286 He explained the importance of a check valve, just didn't show that both pump outputs had one.
Why did you not drill a weep hole in the pipe or does the pump have one built in ?
Sometimes it comes with it pre-drilled but I was told airlock seldom happens so not necessary.
Us it possible to install a battery backup to your circuit without buying this kit?
I realize it's been a while since you left this comment, but in case you or others still have this good question:
Yes. The battery, pump(s), check valve, and monitor (rectifier + inverter + BMS + switch) can all be purchased separately. Of course, you'd need to install the battery and monitor need each other, and they're useless without a pump. :)
We just purchased a beautiful house with a sump pump, we've never ever had a home with one nor had either of us heard about it before purchasing our home, well until the home inspection. But my question is, should we also maybe purchase a 2nd back up battery to keep charged in the event the power is out longer and the pump may need to be run by the back up battery for longer than a day? Thank you in advance!
Good question. This is why I always install a water powered back up sump pump as if your power is out for an extended time a battery powered one is no good. You will always have water and it’s easy to install. Good luck and let me know if you need any help. 👍🏼
It depends how probable ypu think a long outage is. You may be better off with a generator. My home has dual sump pumps, both with their own battery back ups. I also have a propane generator in case of a power outage. It's a bit over the top, at least several things have to go wrong to flood though.
I would buy a gas powered external generator and run your sump pump to that.
What size generator did you buy? I am having trouble determining :surge" watts for 2 pumps.@@glxxyz
You can recharge the 12v battery with a car and jumper cables. Cars' alternators have different outputs, but an alternator should fully recharge a 100 Ah battery in less than an hour.
For comparison, a 100 Ah 12v battery should be able to power a sump pump for at least 2 days (assuming 350W running 4 seconds every 2 mins).
Where can I buy a set up like this? Or the name of these products?
get 2 batteries...and parallel cable them... :)
The "belt and suspenders" approach! ;-)
Why is it okay to reduce from 1.5” to 1.25”? That waste is getting pushed UP into that reduction, right?
It'll still work. In some situations it's preferred, in others, it's a compromise. Similar to HVAC.
no
What brand or system should I buy for the battery powered system?
Late response, Myers Or liberty are reliable brands
Nevermind the weep hole…a 1 1/2” pcv pipe pumping into a 1 1/4” outlet pipe? Drains can never reduce in size.
Can this be installed outside in the yard? Do I need to special waterproof box to put the battery outside?
This is not meant for out doors
Nice
Is this always the case with basements? Do they tend to flood fairly often during stormy seasons?
Depends upon where you live. Where I live all houses have basements and it takes an enormous storm for anyone it even be worried. About six years ago we got a hundred year storm and it only flooded houses that where close to the river.
If you live in the midwest, you live in a flood plains and the soil is saturated with water all year round.
If you live on the coast, the oceans keep the water saturated in the same way.
People who live on clay based soil prevents water from draining properly.
People who live on lakes, rivers, large bodies of water have issues.
People who live at the base of something like a mountain will experience all the runoff from that mountain and increase their water table relative to their neighbors uphill.
So yes it is a common issue.
Not always. If your external french drains are good, you'll never need an internal sump pump. I always think of sump pumps as not fixing the real problem, which would be solved by putting good external french drains around your foundation. However, some houses don't have room or have a bunch of concrete around the house where it would be really tough to put external french drains in, so a sump pump would be a better option.
Ive only ever lived in one house without a sump and that's because it was literally on a hill by itself. No drainage issues. Any house with a basement should have one, especially in the Midwest or southern Canada
What trickle charger did you use?
What alarm system was that on the backup pump setup?
Should come all together with the pump when you buy it.
Using Teflon tape on plastic piping (vs metals) is *not* recommended by many experts in the industry, just do an online search for the reasons why. Thread sealant, meanwhile, can be applied. But if the intent is to unscrew the pipe from the pump for regular maintenance and eventual replacement, I would recommend just hand-tightening as per manufacturer's instructions. There are online sources showing that priming (using purple cement to prep) PVC piping vs. no-priming at all can result in less integrity to the seal, just the opposite of the intended result, it has to do with the delay between applications. I avoided the debate and results by using ABS piping, which was what our original home builder used for the original outlet pipe set-up.
Can I get a print out of the system parts so I can replace my noisy 3/4 horse power system.
What happens if there's a big storm and it kills the electricity band it rains all night... After 4-5 hours, when the battery dies, there will be a swimming pool in the basement.
that is a totally different issue that requires a whole house generator at that point
If that is a concern, you can always buy bigger or multiple batteries. In a pinch, you can swap in a car battery, then use your car (assuming you can start it) to recharge the deep-cycle battery.
😂😂😂
@This Old House. Why don't they make a converter to run my primary sump pump when the power goes out?
Would still flood if primary pump failed. With battery pump serves a dual purpose acting as a backup failsafe (hence the alarm).
A big enough UPS & battery bank, like you'd use for a computer backup... Would do the trick nicely.
Using a computer UPS would work great as long as get a pure sine model. Most use a simulated sine since that is fine for most electronics and is cheaper to manufacture, but AC motors do not run well (if at all) on them.
Some computers don't run well on them either. My el-cheapo outdoor generator from Lowes could not power my computer when I had to use it on several occasions. I had to buy a sine UPS to run it if I had to start the generator.
Can you please let me know, What kind of battery do you use , and this battery rechargeable, and what products can charge this battery. Thank you
PumpSpy 2000W Primary Sump Pump Backup Power System, Do you know this can work together with the video products
These battery's are typical deep cycle marine battery's.
ok how do we disable the alarm?
Click the button on the battery
Were can i find that one way check valve for the bilge pump!
Every Home Depot, Menards, Ace hardware, Lowe's, True Value on the planet
@Pyroman / No they don't!
Menards does have one way check valves but they have a 1/2 pound spring on this video that check valve is a one way flapper well i found it on ebay " Flapper Check Valve"
I'm in need of buying a new pump what are the top three brands out there?
zoeller, liberty, hydromatic
Zoeller for sure.
3:08 I'm helping!
What make of sump pump did he install? Am I missing the info somewhere?
Liberty
That guy sure gets sweaty
3:35
perfect.
i could use that. :)
Me too! 10 years younger would be better tho.
Missouri Wind and Solar mwands dot com has a lot of battery based systems including wind turbines and solar systems. They are also working on a batteryless pond aeration system for under $800.
I have read a lot about these submersible pumps needing to be replaced after 2-4 years due to leaking seals and seizing up vs a cast iron pedestal pump that can last 15-20 years.
Also the battery backup pumps usually fail or don't have enough power to pump an 8+ feet head. They make a 24v version that uses two batteries, but it is insanely expensive and only good for a few years.
I keep reading about drilling a hole in the outlet pipe. Richard doesn't in this case, so I wonder if it is really necessary?
Martin Connor lots of pumps have the anti air lock hole in the housing these days. The instruction manual will tell you if it's necessary.
I just bought a backup pump kit and it had one built in.
@@ScubaCat3 This Liberty Pump definitely tells you to do it
You should have used water backup pump from liberty or zoeller. Why create additional work if battery backup fails, Who is going to look to maintain battery,, another hassle and a chance for additional charge for the plumber!
Those typically have very low performance
I have a fully finished basement. There is no way to run water to my pump to use a water powered backup with ripping up drywall.
This might not be the best solution but it is the best for some people can get.
Wrong
Water is good cause there is no battery. Major con is you could end up with a huge water bill if the power is out long. Course that is better than a flooded basement tho....
Liberty water backup has a 2-1 ratio for efficiency, (2 parts fresh water to pump out 1 part storm water) and it is powerful enough to evacuate a pit in under a minute, or keep up with rain flooding until you can run a generator to your regular pump,
Of course if your on vacation for a week and power or pump goes out for couple days, you’d be in crap either way.
I suggest a water powered educator backup pump. They are more reliable than battery power. They only need water pressure to operate.
I agree but if you are on a well it would not work
Get rid of the corrugated pipe
Those are 22.5 inch fittings. Not 45s.
He likes 45°s
that little backup pump won't be able to pomp all the water in case of heavy rain.I know it 1st hand.I bought a generator and feel safer in case of no power.
Generators only work if you are home. Sump pump failure doesn't happen when it's convenient.
That backup pump is the same size as the regular pump so it should be able to
@@shawnsdrumcave and you could always buy more batteries and run them parallel if one battery gave 24 hours 2 will give 48 hours.
The dude work in roto rooter
we just bought a house and it has a sump. first time ever dealing with such a thing. downside is that it pumps into the sewer and we've been told that is illegal. downside is that the washing machine also drains into the sump. from what I understand there is not going to be a cheap easy fix for this. anyone have any ideas as to not take my wallet out and burn it?
You figure anything out?
@@gtarules1 I've gotten to the point where I'm just not gonna worry about it. It's apparently been like this since the house was built back in the 70s
pumps into a street sewer? why would the washing machine drain into that ? im pretty sure it was legal to drain it into a sewer probably back in the 70s. if thats the case then it would be fine just no new developments can drain into streets or sewers.
@@XXMETAL4LIF3XX that's pretty much it. The house was built in '74. The basement doesn't have a normal floor drain. Our sewer line is 4' up the wall and everything drains/is pumped into that. Though we've got what looks like a 4 or 6 in pipe at the bottom of our sump but I have no idea where that comes from or goes. A relative guessed that it was a French drain but I doubt it. The washing machine drain is concreted into the sump so it has to have been built like that.
@@k333rl wow that is really interesting, even for 1974 that seems odd though, by then there was a lot of standards in building . my house is 1954 has sump pump and just pumps ground water into the street , these days thats not even allowed. we had a french drain put in and a second back up pump about 20 years ago. i dont see any issue though with yours draining into the sewer. all goes to the treatment plant.
Fads bears fright
damn I've never seen primer run that far!
That primer and glue was put on as sloppy as Bob Vila would have done. Richard is usually more meticulous.
I've glued thousands of miles of PVC CPVC SYS15, I've never seen primer run that far.
I guess they could have held the pipe horizontal a bit longer for it to finish drying, but who doesn't like a little purple decoration to liven things up?
Four hours of continuous use or 1 day of intermittent use doesn't seem enough when you consider the cost of these hybrid backup systems. The marine battery is not even included in the kit. You're looking at $500+ for all parts and some say the batteries only last 3 to 5 years.
And your deductible is ?
Go back to renting, like your mentality dictates--- Moron !
Yes, the battery will fail right when you need it. Battery technology is still lacking.
Batteries last 3 to 5 years of actual use, discharge and charging.
Keeping a battery topped off on a float charge, stored properly in a climate controlled area you're getting 10 years or more.
However even if that wasn't the case, remember that 3 to 5 year mark is promising not that the battery will work or not, but that the battery will retain a certain percentage of it's original capacity.
I.e. this normally means after 3 to 5 years we promise the battery will still have at least 80% capacity at say a 20 hour discharge rate and still able to put out 80% of it's CCA.
Also largely batteries fail due to not properly taking care of them, with flooded you should check levels yearly in your vehicle or backup batteries(There are caps, unscrew, make sure electrolite solution is above the annode and cathode and if not, add distilled water) and if levels are really low that allows for sulfation which destroys batteries over time.
Also largely batteries are cheap. Want more power and longer use? Buy a battery box that will fit 2 to 4 batteries(Roughly 50$ instead of 25$, or 150 for the 4 battery one) and have that be your backup.
Buy a cheap battery tester, do a test yearly or every couple years, and hell a battery flooded is roughly only 100$.
Rather cheap to replace that every 3 years, but again proper maintenance and keeping levels up, and largely because this should only be used when power fails, I wouldn't be surprised if it lasted 20 years.
@@shawnsdrumcave They also sell 12V solar panels super cheap now
@@shawnsdrumcave if you have municipal water check out Base Pump HB-1000 on Amazon it is a backup pump that uses your municipal water venturi style to empty your sump when you have power failure. It uses one gallon of water for every 2 gallons its empties from your sump, saves you so you can get home and start your generator. Also check out the youtube video of it being installed if your skeptical. I just had it installed life saver
4 /5 hrs on a back up really isn’t much you better hope power goes back on with in that time
Rather have a water line powered sump pump as a backup. No battery required.
Yes just installed one its fantastic.
@Pyroman / the water is directly connected to the pump, it is automatic it doesnt use power or battery.
@Pyroman / you need to plumb from your water main to the pump
Must be a city dweller. Does not work in the sticks
Since you're connecting to a public water supply you'll need a check-valve and it has to be installed by a professional and certified by the village/city/county/town you live in. You can let the pump water go backwards into public water. Check with your local government before doing this (avoid fines).
Shoulda mentioned the battery needs distilled water added to it every 6 months..
But don't worry if the back up pump battery goes dead, just leave the basement window open and the water (once it gets to about 5 feet deep) will drain into the yard...
thers a charger that keeps the battery charged up . I bought one. doooo
Always a dork in every crowd-- Go beat it !
Maxid1 iij
unless say a tree branch knocks the power out and the power co cant make it for a few days
@@coolbrotherj Then you could plug it into your vehicle for an hour and charge it that way since it's 12V
only a DAY of use from the battery bigger than the freaking' car battery???????? I would think it would last AT LEAST for three days of intermittent use or a full day with continuous use.
Car batteries are small. Way smaller than you realise. They have just enough power to start a car. They only never run out because they are constantly kept topped off by the alternator.
That shelf for the battery looks sus
Really great and informative video! Only thing I'd add is that you should both be wearing masks around each other
Lol, this was filmed 7 years ago....
Lol
What's with all that sweating...
Low quality system. The back up pump will only work during primary pump failure or during an electrical outage. So it never gets exercised, only called into demand under extreme cases. Should have used a system such as a Metropolitan which has a higher quality primary pump, and equally high quality back up pump, and a controller that exercises both pumps so all is ready to go. They also offer a single or dual battery set up for longer life. As for the installer, how about cutting the discharge pipe straight and using a banded coupling for extra strength, and what about a check valve to prevent pump cycling?? Not to mention the sloppy primer job.
You must be fun at parties.
are you still crying about it 3 years later?
If you're already an expert why are you watching, or commenting. Make your own video.
How to install a battery backup pump... DONT!!!! EVER!!!
Install a water powered backup pump. When that 12v battery ends up being shot 5 years later you are screwed. Also what if it needs to run for 4 hours?
The only problem with a water powered backup pump is you need to have water pressure to operate it. That's fine for those on city water. But for those of us on well water you need to go with a battery backup system
they have matching hairlines
holy cow he is sweating a lot
I would lay my pipe somewhere else :)
Zinger
Gonna take a long time with 2" sections.
A professional won't recommend a chicken power pump too small to handle sump high flow rate condition.
"Why don't you unplug those 110V connections?"
barefeet and sandals when working.... and in that dirty, smelly basement.... eeeek
The power will be the weak point. And not enough pumps in some cases. Why not have it on a natural energy source back up.Trickle charger from the Solar panel/wind/gen. Run on a treadmill that is hooked to the trickle charger to charge it once a day when it is not sunny and burn some of that fat off I don't know. I would not have my battery rely on the power as shown here and the battery is way close to the floor and just in the way, looks tacky and a potential homeowners insurance nightmare when it falls or someone thinks it may be funny to mess with it.
Sandpaper gets those burs off way easier and is safer than a razor blade as well.
Might as well run that outlet pipe just a little higher from the pump so that once it gets to the proper elevation it can then run down hill resulting in less work these little pumps have to do in the grand scheme of things.
Speaking of which, these entire systems are not to expensive so why not have 2. You are protecting your home or if you are flipping homes this is a huge selling point when it comes to buyers in my opinion.
Don't half step this investment/protection.
Stoooooop
She needs better electrical if she’s going to grow weed down there.