Plumber Tips – Battery Compared to Pressure Backup Sump Pumps

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Take it from an Apollo plumber – if you have a basement or live anywhere near a floodplain, it’s best to have a sump pump and a backup sump pump. Flooding can happen unexpectedly and in neighborhoods previously spared.

To review, sump pumps are installed in the lowest area of a basement or crawlspace. They keep the building dry by pumping water out. As water from rain or melting snow flows into the pit via natural water migration through soil or drains, the pump activates.

Plumber Tip – Pros and Cons of Battery-Powered Sump Pumps

There’s nothing complicated about a battery-powered device. It’s traditional. Everyone understands it. Benefits of a battery-powered backup sump pump include simplicity of installation. Most use the same discharge pipe as the primary sump pump, so installation is fairly straightforward. We recommend you employ the services of a plumber because often a manufacturer’s warranty is connected to installation from an authorized dealer.

Second, battery backup sump pumps can be powerful, pumping 3000 gallons per hour at 10 feet of lift. Third, they’re versatile. Most homes qualify to use them.

Drawbacks include run time and overall battery life. Its runtime is limited because if the battery cannot recharge, it will die at some point. What if the ground is already saturated and you have another storm system on top of you? Water can accumulate quickly and push the sump pump to its limit. Even a little bit of standing water can cause tremendous damage.

Based on an average replacement of three to five years, the batteries must be monitored and tested often to ensure protection.

For some homeowners, this may not be a big deal, but for others, it may be cumbersome. It may even be impractical, for example, in a vacation home to monitor it with consistency.  

Plumber Tip – Pros and Cons of Water-Powered Sump Pumps

Water-powered sump pumps operate as they run water at a high speed through a pipe to generate suction. The suction empties the sump pit. Benefits include a potentially unlimited runtime.

As long as water is available, your pump will run driven by the municipal water pressure. For power outages which last more than a day or two, this could mean the difference between a secure and a wrecked basement. Secondly, you are relieved from worry about a battery’s status.

Drawbacks include a limit on use. Homes on well water are prevented from use because a power outage shuts off the well pump. A water-powered sump pump has specific plumbing requirements.

Ask a plumber from Apollo Home to evaluate your system to determine if your home meets the criteria. Also, because it requires more involved installation, it’s recommended a professional plumber handle it.

Having professional installation is not a drawback of course. We believe the peace of mind a homeowner receives from an Apollo Home plumber is a valuable benefit.

For instance, because water-powered pumps connect to your home’s water supply, they must be installed to prevent backflow of sump pump pit water into the town’s clean water source.

Trust an Apollo Home Plumber for Sump Pump Needs

Extend the life of your home mechanicals with a preventative maintenance plan, like the Apollo Care Plan. In addition to an annual evaluation of your plumbing and electrical systems, it includes two heating and cooling tune-ups.  

Over the last 100 years in Cincinnati, we’ve learned a lot and can use it to help you. At Apollo Home, we’re eager to share our expertise to keep you and your family safe and comfortable.

Our friendly plumbing professionals are licensed, industry-certified, and insured. They also pass multiple background checks for your peace of mind. Finally, as part of our commitment to professional development, each plumber receives paid continuing education.

This helps them to stay current with all brands and emerging technologies. They are happy to answer questions about plumbing services and how to care for sump pumps. Need an HVAC technician or an electrician? We can help there, too!

Don’t wait for the next hard rain – call Apollo Home for a plumber today!

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"Ernie & Mike did a superb job on my new furnace and A/C installation. Despite having more than a day’s work to do, they came in and stayed until the job was done. They were organized, efficient, and protected the rest of the house well. Got both furnace and A/C installed the same day. Ernie was courteous, informative, and clearly knew his job better than anyone I’ve encountered before. The units look so good guests now get The Tour of our new system. Apollo is clearly not a fly-by-night company. I would recommend them to anyone in need of a new furnace and/or A/C."
- Jerry A.
"I called Apollo because of a water leak I thought I had in our upstairs shower going into the kitchen. Robbie came and assured me everything was fine & looked at all the other plumbing. He ended up changing a few pipes for our washer & clearing a drain. He was very nice & knowledgeable with all my questions. I ended up signing up for the care plan & was very happy with my service."
- Cassandra B.
"The team at Apollo exceeded my expectations. As a business owner, my attention to the details and commitment to providing excellent service is high. From the sales rep. to the installation team, everyone’s performance was outstanding. For example, the installation team went to great lengths to protect our floors, placing floor runners and across the wood floors and up the stairs. They even were spot washing walls upon their departure. I highly recommend this company."
- Randy B.
"We scheduled an estimate AND a tune-up. We knew something was wrong with our furnace, but hoped we could make it through the rest of the season. Upon telling Bill what our furnace was doing, he warned us immediately what the possible outcome was going to be; a cracked heat exchanger. He watched the flames roll backward, tested carbon monoxide levels, which were so high they meter’s last reading was 5,600 before saying “high”. He immediately shut it down, tagged it, and explained that with levels that high and children in our home he wanted off right away. He continued his inspection and showed us via a camera that not only was it cracked in multiple places, but had holes all over it. He gave us a few options for repairing it; his knowledge as well as genuine concern was beneficial and refreshing. Luckily we also scheduled an estimator, Micah, to come too and we were able to get costs between repairing and replacing (with several options). We decided to replace with a much higher efficiency furnace and one sized properly to our home. Hands down, not only did they both provide us great service and knowledge, but without sounding dramatic, they may have saved our lives. This was our first time calling Apollo, but it won’t be our last."
- Sarah B.
"Apollo is an excellent company. I always receive great service. Alex A. was professional and friendly. He kept me informed during the process of checking my furnace and heat pump to make sure they were working properly. The company makes sure you are notified who is coming and when they are on the way. All my interactions with the company have been wonderful."
- Beverly S.
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