Category: Backup Sump Pumps

Water-Powered Backup Sump Pumps: Ultimate Guide

Over the past several decades, backup sump pumps powered only by your home’s municipal water pressure have grown in popularity as an alternative option to the common battery-powered emergency backup sump pump systems. Water-powered backup sump pumps are a unique and inventive solution to protecting your basement from flooding during power outages or primary sump pump failures.

As homeowners have discovered the deficiencies of battery backup sump pumps — namely their limited run time and propensity to fail during prolonged rain storms—Water Commander  water-powered sump pumps as emergency backups have gained a devoted following since they are much more reliable.

Best Water-Powered Sump Pump?

Water Commander water-powered sump pumps are significantly better than any other water-powered brand. Water Commander’s ultra-performance model, model MG36, is able to pump faster than high-end battery backups and 2-3x more than any other water-powered backup. Our high-performance model MG22 also pumps more than any other brand and is installed in thousands of homes across the country.

Pros and Cons of Water-Powered Sump Pumps

If you’re considering a water-powered backup sump pump, it helps to know the pros and cons of water-powered pumps compared to battery backup sump pumps. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the major benefits and disadvantages.

Our comparisons are specific to Water Commander™, the water-powered backup sump pump that has unmatched pumping speeds and quality compared to other water-powered brands. (Learn more about Water Commander™.)

How Do Water-Powered Sump Pumps Work?

When people first hear about water-powered backup sump pumps, they immediately have questions about how exactly this type of pump operates. Does it really pump water? How does it work?

We’ve assembled this complete guide explaining everything you need to know on how water-powered sump pumps work, including basic installation setup and key parts of water-powered sump pumps, while also explaining the physics behind how it pumps.

How Much Water Does a Water-Powered Sump Pump Use?

A very common question people ask when they learn about water-powered backup sump pumps is, “How much water does it use?” This is a great question, since unlike other emergency backup pumps that use batteries, water-powered pumps rely on your home’s water pressure to generate their pumping power. You don’t have to worry about using electricity or batteries, but it does use some water.

We can’t speak to other water powered sump pumps, but we can give you an idea of how much water our Water Commander™ water-powered backup sump pump uses. […]

Why Independent Discharge for Your Backup Sump Pump Is Best

When you install a emergency backup sump pump system, you have to choose between using a independent discharge pipe solely for your backup pump or tying into the preexisting discharge pipe used by your primary sump pump.

Although it is very common to use the existing discharge pipe, an independent discharge is preferred for three important reasons: […]

How Long Does a Backup Sump Pump Battery Last?

We have talked with hundreds of homeowners over the years who have had their basements unexpectedly flood due to a failed battery backup sump pump system. More often than not, the culprit is a dead battery. So before you invest in a backup sump pump system, it’s important to understand exactly how long the battery in your system will last and consider alternative backup sump pump options, such as a water-powered backup sump pump. […]