If you go with the third option, get an alarm that lets you know when the pump is running. I work for a water co, and we had a customer that has a house in a wet area and her water bill was $600 one quarter! Her primary pump died and she didn't know it. The water powered backup pump use 2 gallons to remove every one gallon. Some states do require backflow prevention devices also. Those need regular testing by a professional.

I bought a Liberty Pump Water Powered Back-Up and installed it myself fairly easily. It has a check valve built in.

There is a 4th option which would be good to add to this video - inverter/charger/power transfer switch that can produce the amperage necessary to run a sump pump (typically 13 amps or more, meaning a 1500 watt or greater inverter). The idea is the same concept as a generator, but (a) it is automatic and (b) only is providing power when the sump pump needs it, unlike the gas generator which would need to be running the entire time during the power outage. A few companies make these units, which are essentially like the inverters that you'd use to create 110VAC from your car or other 12VDC source. They are meant to be mounted on the wall near your sump pump and plugged in to 110VAC. The sump pump is plugged into the inverter and a heavy duty marine 12VDC battery is connected to it. When the AC is on, the unit trickle-charges the DC battery, When the AC goes off, it senses the outage and automatically connects the 12VDC battery to start producing 110VAC for the pump. I've read typical xfer time delay is 4 seconds. Obviously, same drawbacks as DC battery backup units with auxiliary pumps - finite run-time and need to maintain the battery. Additionally, I've read several customers reviews on some of these units which indicate reliability problems. The catch-22 between this battery back-up option and the dedicated DC aux pump/float/battery setup is that while the inverter uses your primary pump (which is usually MUCH more powerful than a typical 12VDC pump), it cannot address the issue of a failed primary pump, meaning it won't save you if the primary pump malfunctions even if supplied with AC. All that said, I think my long-term solution would have a brand new, in-the-box primary sump pump sitting on a shelf next to the pump pit, a internet-connected text/e-mail/phone messaging alarm setup (with UPS on the router and modem), a good quality inverter/charger/xfer switch, and a whole-house generator with auto xfer on critical household circuits (frig, freezer, telecom equipment and sump pump). I like redundancy.

This will work if you have a well but ONLY if you have a generator. Good video and advice options.

Helpful video. Thanks for posting.

There is a fourth; SEC battery backup. Pricey, but it powers the primary pump via a deep cell batt, that is also maintained by the SEC unit. Automatic when power fails.

Based on your arguments I was ready to go with a water-powered pump -- however a water-powered pump requires a backflow preventer and that fact opens up a huge can of worms. In my county a backflow preventer must be installed by permit by a master plumber, registered with the county, AND must be inspected and tested annually by a certified professional. This is too much foolishness for just a backup sump pump.

This is an older post, but figured I would comment. Has another ever considered or tried a "drill pump"? It obviously isn't perfect since it would require being home and maintaining it. I was considering running a hose into the sump well, and then figure out a way to tap in a hose connection about the check valve. Then just use a drill pump to pump it out. Thoughts?

I purchased a battery power station with emergency power supply (EPS) capability as a power back-up (option 4?) for when I'm away from home. The power station is plugged into the outlet and the sump is plugged into the power station. The power station uses line power by default and only uses it's own battery if line power goes down. The power station had to be sized to handle the sump's start-up power consumption watts, so it isn't the cheapest solution.

This was an interesting, quick informative video, but an estimate of cost for each item would have been helpful.

Option 4, run out and get a 2nd or 3rd battery. . Put the discharged battery on a high powered battery tender near a neighbors house w power to recharge it. Option 5. Tesla power wall

I like the venturi pump option because I pay a flat rate for water.

Will Allstate give me a discount for having a backup pump installed?

Agree with another commentator that cost estimate of each option would be helpful.

What brand of water powered pump do you have in this video? We have a 5000+ watt generator in case the power goes out and also an extra pump but this water pump would be awesome for our needs. Thanks

Make sure you check with your local water authority before installing your water fed back up. Some will require an expensive backflow device that must be tested annually by a certified plumber. The device itself could cost as much as $300 for a 3/4" device and the tests are usually anywhere from $50 to $150 a year depending on the contractor. Other authorities like ours don't allow them at all. If you install one and they find out later they can make you remove it with the full support of the EPA. Then you just wasted all that money. I would suggest the battery backup if you are looking to go the economical route. If you can afford it, go with the whole house generator. If your electric is out then so is your HVAC. I want my basement dry but I also don't want swamp butt.

Hello there . If I want to install a back up pump just in case the first one fail. is this posible and what are the options?

How about a case where the sump pump is simply plugged into an electrical outlet? Couldn't a backup battery like you'd use for camping be used? Plug in the pump battery and it works. But exactly what kind of backup battery would be needed?

Is it possible to use a battery to run a primary sump pump?

I think he overstated how long a battery will last. He based it on the pump running a couple times an hour. During a storm, it's going to run every couple of minutes. I expect the battery would run out after a few hours.

What about a regular, say 1500-2000 watt battery powered "generator", that you would just keep on hand (charged) and have the sump power plugged into that? I don't wanna mess w/ a gas one, don't want another pump in the pit (my existing pump is hooked up via galvanized, not pvc, so wouldn't be very easy to tie in)

Water powered pump is not an economic option for me...ridiculous high water rates! If I'm away for extended periods a gasoline powered generator backup is neither a smart option for 2 reasons. (1) I'm not there to crank up the generator in an emergency. (2) If the "pump" fails even with the generator...either way I'm kaput! The battery backup with a separate (auxiliary pump) is the next best option even though not perfect. No action needed...all automatic. When main electrical restored the battery recharges automatically. Hopefully the battery last long enough before power is restored...& there lies your only problem! Murphy's Law: If something can go wrong...it will! Damn!

I don't think I noticed it this was stated in the video, though probably obvious to most, the water pump uses water. So you will be consumer water from your water line. Estimate from Family Handyman article is 1 gallons used for every 2 gallons pumped.

Not always easy. Wait 3 months plus for Zoller battery backup up unit. Wish I had not ordered a zoller unit.

5:10 hilarious.....green shirt guy must be fun at parties.... Grey shirt guy give a little look at the camera like thanks for the tip "smart ass"

Battery is the only Way to go ! If kept Maintained , it should buy you enough time if you happen to be out of Town and your friends calls you and says " you better plan on getting home soon " cause of an outage ! Generator ? if your not home then what ? Water powered ? what if your not home ? good ideas is all ,,, battery Powered units are the Best !! these guys didn't even bring up " What if your not Home " so i guess 4th option is to watch the weather and news and if if going to be Shitty ,, stay home ,, haha

OMG...That tap water pump would cost me thousands of dollars in a 24hr period...City water is expensive!! Once water runs thru your water meter, your paying for it...!!