The Importance of a Battery Backup Sump Pump System
August 11, 2009 by Power Generator and Backup Power Tips
Filed under About Generators
Basements can quickly fill with water and ruin carpet, furniture, drywall and everything else so it is extremely important to me to have a good backup sump pump system in place. Most Basement battery sump pump batteries are shipped dry without acid so that they will remain fresh until you activate them. Filling the battery can be done easily. Many companies have developed an even more impressive system called the Ultrasump. This system is actually a second sump that piggie-backs on top of your original system.
A will often come with an alarm. If the water rises too high, the alarm will sound while the backup sump pump continues to run. A battery backup system is essential if the basement is finished, especially with carpeting or hardwood floors. A controller automatically switches from electricity to the battery in the event of a power outage so there is no needs to worry while your home, away, at work or vacation. The peace of mind that a battery powered back up system offers is priceless.
Electricity is not 100% reliable as many storms can cause power failures. You can feel safer with a backup protection device in place that runs without electric power? Most major plumbing or larger national size home centers carry a large selection of electric generator accessories perfect for all types of electric generators. If you finish off your basement a backup sump should be on the top of your list.
Sump pumps are usually hardwired into a home’s electrical system, and may have a battery backup. Some even use the home’s pressurized water supply to power the pump, eliminating the need for electricity. Sumps are installed in the lowest section of the basement and will pump out any water that has entered the basement before it starts flooding the basement floor. As groundwater makes its way into the basement, it is diverted into the sump pit or sump basin. The pumps normally work in combination with a sump pit. The sump pit is simply a hole dug into the ground, generally in the basement of a house, which allows water to collect into it. This sump basket is made of a high strength plastic and installed by the plumber during the rough plumbing phase of construction.
A sump pump, in general, is a category that encompasses a number of styles of pumps that are used to pump out collected fluid. This classification includes bilge and ballast pumps, centrifugal pumps, cantilever pumps, sewage pump pumps, submersible sump pumps and utility pumps, among others. Sump pumps are rated in gallons per minute (GPM). They also are rated by motor capacity. Sump pumps may also have a battery backup installed to ensure continuous operation.
Submersible pumps are quieter and tend to have a longer life because their sealed, oil-cooled motors are protected from moisture and dust. For the typical 1/3 HP pump, the average lift ability is 25 feet and flow capacity is about 25 GPM. Submersible pumps are designed to be submerged in water and sit on the bottom of the sump. The on/off switch, which is attached to the pump, can be a ball float connected to an internal pressure switch or a sealed, adjustable mercury-activated float switch. Submersible pumps are entirely mounted inside the pit, and they have a specially seal to prevent electrical short circuits.
The usual life span of a sump pump depends directly on how often the sump tank fills up, the depth of the properties water table, if any debris has made their way into the basket and even the quality of the pump that was installed. The pump is definitely something not to take lightly and to have the piece of mind that the basement you just spent a lot of money on will not get ruined during the next big rain or power outage.
Thanks to Chris DiCicco for contributing this article to our Generators blog:
A will often come with an alarm. If the water rises too high, the alarm will sound while the backup sump pump continues to run. A battery backup system is essential if the basement is finished, especially with carpeting or hardwood floors. A controller automatically switches from electricity to the battery in the event of a power outage so there is no needs to worry while your home, away, at work or vacation. The peace of mind that a battery powered back up system offers is priceless.
Electricity is not 100% reliable as many storms can cause power failures. You can feel safer with a backup protection device in place that runs without electric power? Most major plumbing or larger national size home centers carry a large selection of electric generator accessories perfect for all types of electric generators. If you finish off your basement a backup sump should be on the top of your list.
Sump pumps are usually hardwired into a home’s electrical system, and may have a battery backup. Some even use the home’s pressurized water supply to power the pump, eliminating the need for electricity. Sumps are installed in the lowest section of the basement and will pump out any water that has entered the basement before it starts flooding the basement floor. As groundwater makes its way into the basement, it is diverted into the sump pit or sump basin. The pumps normally work in combination with a sump pit. The sump pit is simply a hole dug into the ground, generally in the basement of a house, which allows water to collect into it. This sump basket is made of a high strength plastic and installed by the plumber during the rough plumbing phase of construction.
A sump pump, in general, is a category that encompasses a number of styles of pumps that are used to pump out collected fluid. This classification includes bilge and ballast pumps, centrifugal pumps, cantilever pumps, sewage pump pumps, submersible sump pumps and utility pumps, among others. Sump pumps are rated in gallons per minute (GPM). They also are rated by motor capacity. Sump pumps may also have a battery backup installed to ensure continuous operation.
Submersible pumps are quieter and tend to have a longer life because their sealed, oil-cooled motors are protected from moisture and dust. For the typical 1/3 HP pump, the average lift ability is 25 feet and flow capacity is about 25 GPM. Submersible pumps are designed to be submerged in water and sit on the bottom of the sump. The on/off switch, which is attached to the pump, can be a ball float connected to an internal pressure switch or a sealed, adjustable mercury-activated float switch. Submersible pumps are entirely mounted inside the pit, and they have a specially seal to prevent electrical short circuits.
The usual life span of a sump pump depends directly on how often the sump tank fills up, the depth of the properties water table, if any debris has made their way into the basket and even the quality of the pump that was installed. The pump is definitely something not to take lightly and to have the piece of mind that the basement you just spent a lot of money on will not get ruined during the next big rain or power outage.
Thanks to Chris DiCicco for contributing this article to our Generators blog:
DiCicco Building Company has been a Michigan Remodeling contractor for over 20 years. We are also leaders in Kitchen and Bath Remodeling along with being an award winning custom residential home builder. We also specialize in Finished Basements and home additions.
Benefits of a Portable Generator
July 25, 2009 by Power Generator and Backup Power Tips
Filed under About Generators
Reliable Emergency Power
There are several benefits to having a portable generator in your home. Portable generators are reliable for supplying power for lighting and to electrical devices when the electrical service to your home experiences a power failure. Lightening, high winds, fires, vehicles hitting power poles, and other unexpected events can cause the electrical power supplied to your home by a service provider, to fail.
People that use medical devices powered by electricity in the home to manage pain and other aspects of medical conditions can be especially vulnerable when a home’s electrical system fails. Portable generators are beneficial because they can maintain power to medical devices so that the critical support they provide can continue without interruption. The peace of mind that comes with this is immeasurable.
Stumbling around in the dark due to a power failure could result in a serious fall and injuries. Using candles for temporary lighting is not a good idea because of the danger they pose. Melting candle wax can cause serious burns and candles can easily ignite curtains and other nearby materials, causing a fire. Relying on flashlights for lighting until power returns to your home is not that great of an idea either. First, you will have to find your flashlights in the dark, and then you may find them not to be functioning because the batteries have run down. You can alleviate the aggravation and hazards that all of these can pose to you, by having a portable generator on hand to supply the temporary lighting that you and your family need.
Backup Support
A portable generator has other benefits besides supplying temporary lighting and emergency power to critical medical devices. During extreme weather, your home’s power could be lost for several days. A portable generator offers backup support by providing the power needed for your refrigerator to maintain stable and safe temperatures to ensure that foods remain safe to eat. A portable generator can also power some important mechanical fixtures in the home like a sump pump. During a power outage, a portable generator can supply power for a small portable heater for warmth on a cold winter day, or a couple of fans to keep the house cooler on a hot summer day. The benefits to this are clear.
It is important to remember that portable generators are intended only as backup supports to a homes power system that can provide power to some electrical devices in the home on a temporary basis. Portable generators cannot supply the electrical power that an entire household typically consumes. Using a portable generator to power any electrical devices for a lengthy period is not advisable. Doing so can diminish its efficiency and shorten the life of your portable generator. It is a good idea to jot down the wattage of power used by the most important electrical devices in your home. You can discuss the total wattage of power needed with an expert in portable generators, who can help you in choosing a portable generator that can handle supplying power to those devices in your home temporarily. Not having to endure a severe interruption to your activities due to a power failure in the home is certainly a benefit of owning a portable generator that is worth considering and speaking with a professional dealer/supplier of home generators about.
Efficiency, Function, and Affordability
Many people are unaware that portable generators are available in a wide variety of models, sizes, functions, efficiency and power ratings, and prices. Most portable generators function with a high level of efficiency, provide power with consistent reliability, and are cost-effective both to purchase and to use.
The internet is useful for learning about the different potable generator models that are available and for side-by-side comparisons of different models and their pricing. It is also common to find discounts online that are not possible from offline vendors due to the higher overhead costs that brick and mortar storeowners are forced to pay to operate their businesses.
There are several factors used in determining which portable generator model would work best to supply you with temporary power in your home. The present electrical setup in your home, what electrical devices the portable generator is expected to power, how much wattage is consumed by each of them, your budget, and how much it will cost to run your portable generator, are just a few of the factors used for finding the best portable generator for your home.
Don’t Be Powerless and in the Dark
When the forecast calls for severe weather, rest assured that, your portable generator can provide you and your family with power to the essential electrical devices needed most for safety and comfort.
An unexpected power outage to your home does not have to cause a severe interruption to your normal activities. A portable generator will supply you with the power needed to keep the important electrical devices in your home working so that you can go about most of your activities.
Thanks to Brian Jenkins for contributing this article to our Generators blog:
There are several benefits to having a portable generator in your home. Portable generators are reliable for supplying power for lighting and to electrical devices when the electrical service to your home experiences a power failure. Lightening, high winds, fires, vehicles hitting power poles, and other unexpected events can cause the electrical power supplied to your home by a service provider, to fail.
People that use medical devices powered by electricity in the home to manage pain and other aspects of medical conditions can be especially vulnerable when a home’s electrical system fails. Portable generators are beneficial because they can maintain power to medical devices so that the critical support they provide can continue without interruption. The peace of mind that comes with this is immeasurable.
Stumbling around in the dark due to a power failure could result in a serious fall and injuries. Using candles for temporary lighting is not a good idea because of the danger they pose. Melting candle wax can cause serious burns and candles can easily ignite curtains and other nearby materials, causing a fire. Relying on flashlights for lighting until power returns to your home is not that great of an idea either. First, you will have to find your flashlights in the dark, and then you may find them not to be functioning because the batteries have run down. You can alleviate the aggravation and hazards that all of these can pose to you, by having a portable generator on hand to supply the temporary lighting that you and your family need.
Backup Support
A portable generator has other benefits besides supplying temporary lighting and emergency power to critical medical devices. During extreme weather, your home’s power could be lost for several days. A portable generator offers backup support by providing the power needed for your refrigerator to maintain stable and safe temperatures to ensure that foods remain safe to eat. A portable generator can also power some important mechanical fixtures in the home like a sump pump. During a power outage, a portable generator can supply power for a small portable heater for warmth on a cold winter day, or a couple of fans to keep the house cooler on a hot summer day. The benefits to this are clear.
It is important to remember that portable generators are intended only as backup supports to a homes power system that can provide power to some electrical devices in the home on a temporary basis. Portable generators cannot supply the electrical power that an entire household typically consumes. Using a portable generator to power any electrical devices for a lengthy period is not advisable. Doing so can diminish its efficiency and shorten the life of your portable generator. It is a good idea to jot down the wattage of power used by the most important electrical devices in your home. You can discuss the total wattage of power needed with an expert in portable generators, who can help you in choosing a portable generator that can handle supplying power to those devices in your home temporarily. Not having to endure a severe interruption to your activities due to a power failure in the home is certainly a benefit of owning a portable generator that is worth considering and speaking with a professional dealer/supplier of home generators about.
Efficiency, Function, and Affordability
Many people are unaware that portable generators are available in a wide variety of models, sizes, functions, efficiency and power ratings, and prices. Most portable generators function with a high level of efficiency, provide power with consistent reliability, and are cost-effective both to purchase and to use.
The internet is useful for learning about the different potable generator models that are available and for side-by-side comparisons of different models and their pricing. It is also common to find discounts online that are not possible from offline vendors due to the higher overhead costs that brick and mortar storeowners are forced to pay to operate their businesses.
There are several factors used in determining which portable generator model would work best to supply you with temporary power in your home. The present electrical setup in your home, what electrical devices the portable generator is expected to power, how much wattage is consumed by each of them, your budget, and how much it will cost to run your portable generator, are just a few of the factors used for finding the best portable generator for your home.
Don’t Be Powerless and in the Dark
When the forecast calls for severe weather, rest assured that, your portable generator can provide you and your family with power to the essential electrical devices needed most for safety and comfort.
An unexpected power outage to your home does not have to cause a severe interruption to your normal activities. A portable generator will supply you with the power needed to keep the important electrical devices in your home working so that you can go about most of your activities.
Thanks to Brian Jenkins for contributing this article to our Generators blog:
Brain Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about power equipment and power sources for the home, workplace and camping environments such as Winco Generators
