Introduction
Let’s just admit it. We need backups. We need backups because we need insurance. And it doesn’t make any difference when it comes to sump pumps. We need to have a sump pump backup because of some certain reasons which we will talk about below in this article.
The climate is becoming more and more unpredictable, and that can adversely affect you if you live in areas that are prone to flooding or if you have a house with a lot of underground water activity. You must be already planning on how to tackle those problems if you are reading this article and you must already have a sump basin in your basement to collect all the excess water in one place. Now you just need the best sump pump system for your needs that will do the work of getting that liquid out of your home. If you want to be sure that the system will work even during a power outage, as the best option you might want to get a battery backup sump pump system or combination sump pump backup system that can work in unison with the primary sump pump system.
In this review, we are going to talk about the best battery backup combination sump pumps for your basement.
PRODUCT COMPARISON CHART
WAYNE WSS20V Primary and Battery Backup Combination Sump Pump System
Price: $$$ | Hp: 1/3 | Max Gallons Per Hour 3800 | Warranty: 3 Years | Material: Cast Iron / Thermoplastic
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Wayne WSS30V Upgraded Combination 12-Volt Battery Back Up Systemp
Price: $$$$$ | Hp: 1/2 | Product Dimensions: 23.5 x 18.2 x 14 inches | Item Weight: 44.4 pounds | Material: Cast Iron / Stainless Steel
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Glentronics, Inc. DFK-961 Basement Watchdog Submersible Combination Sump Pump System
Price: $$ | Hp: 1/3 | Product Dimensions: 17.75 x 10 x 8.75 inches | Item Weight: 14.63 lbs | Material: Aluminum/Cast iron
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Wayne WSSM40V Combination Primary and Backup Sump Pump System
Price: $$$$$$ | Hp: 1/2 | Product Dimensions: 22.5 x 17 x 15 inches | Item Weight: 39.9 pounds | Material: Cast Iron
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Basement Watchdog BW4000 1730 Gallons Per Hour Combination Primary and Back-Up Pump System
Price: $$$$ | Hp: 1/2 | Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 11 x 18 inches | Item Weight: 26 pounds | Material: Cast Iron / Cast Aluminum
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Liberty Pumps PC257-441 PC-Series Sump Pump Combo, Models 257 and 441
Price: $$$$$$$ | Hp: 1/3 | Product Dimensions: 25 x 17 x 10 inches | Item Weight: 32 pounds | Material: Aluminum
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Little Giant WRSC-6 Compact Drainosaur Tank and Pump Combination System
Price: $ | Hp: 1/3 | Product Dimensions: 14.7 x 14.7 x 11.8 inches | Item Weight: 25 pounds | Material: Cast Iron
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Glentronics, Inc. PS-C11 PHCC 2770 Gallons Per Hour Pro Series Combination Sump Pump System
Price: $$$$$$$$ | Hp: 1/3 | Product Dimensions: 25.7 x 19.9 x 17.4 inches | Item Weight: 38.8 pounds | Material: Plastic
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Reviews
WAYNE WSS20V Pre-Assembled 120 V/12V 1/3 HP Primary and Battery Backup Combination Sump Pump System
This excellent Wayne sump pump backup system is one of the best sump pump backup systems and is built with foreign and domestic parts in the USA. The primary pump has been tested for 1 million cycles, and it is able to handle up to 1750 at 10 feet with the high-flow battery backup sump pumps. The battery is not included with the product. The top suction design is there to filters debris therefore, minimizes clogging. The primary pump is 1/3 HP strong, and it is able to handle up to 3800 at 10 feet. It has a cast iron production so it is sturdy and it also has thermoplastic insulation.
The warranty on the device is 3 years. The pump is currently unavailable, so we are not able to give you its price. There are not many reviews online for this product, but most of them are positive. We could not find any drawbacks to this device.
- Cast iron Durable construction
- 3-year warranty
- Currently available so we cannot show the sump pump’s price
- Too few user reviews
Wayne WSS30V Upgraded Combination 1/2 HP and 12-Volt Battery Sump Pump Backup System
Wayne, which is one of the best-rated sump pump brands worldwide and the countries on the front again with a powerful product which can handle high water tables. And this model is very easy to set up so you can call it a portable sump pump backup system since it is already pre-assembled. It is tested for 1 million cycles that is up to ten more times than it’s competition. The sump pump costs average.
The primary pump is able to handle 5100 GPH at 0 feet of the head while the sump pump backup is able to handle 2900 GPH at 0 feet of head. That makes it one of the more powerful pumps on the market.
The pump will work while the power is out and it will do so very quietly because of its design. The pump has cast iron and epoxy steel construction with no plastic parts. The battery is not included with the product. Unlike the previous model we have reviewed, there are many user reviews here so we can get a clearer picture of its actual performance. People were generally satisfied with the product, but there have been some issues with the circuit board. There needs to be more shielding on the circuitry and wiring.
- Durable model with no plastic in its casing.
- The model is very quiet
- Sump pump installation is pretty easy
- The circuitry could use some more shielding
Glentronics, Inc. DFK-961 1/3 Horsepower Basement Watchdog Submersible Combination Sump Pump Back Up System
The pump is designed to function well during power outages. Its primary pump will draw power from the AC power source until it is out and the backup pump will only start working once the primary power source shuts down or when the water levels become too large for the primary pump to handle. Both the primary pump and sump pump backup can be powered by batteries.
The controls are user-friendly also there is an alarm system in place for every eventuality.
The primary system pumps 2,600 GPH at 10 ft. lift and even more, 3,600 GPH at 0 ft. lift. The backup system pumps 1,000 GPH at 10 ft. lift and 2,000 GPH at 0 ft. lift.
- Works well during power outages.
- The system is pre-assembled for ease of installation.
- The controls are user-friendly
- Prone to breaking down
- Some complaints about its strength
Wayne WSSM40V 1/2 hp Combination Primary and Backup Sump Pump System
The Wayne sump pump model is currently unavailable, so we are not able to tell you the price. This combination sump pump is able to work on a 120 V outlet and its primary pump handles 4200 at 0 feet. The backup pump is also strong as it handles 3300 at 0 feet. The suction system is able to filter out debris and there is minimal clogging. You should also plan larger sump basins for this model since it is designed for those that are 15 inches in diameter or larger.
The sump pump alarm system is there to sound off when the pump switches from AC to battery power.
There is also an option to connect the system with your phone to receive those alerts. The backup system needs a 40 amp hour or 75 amp hour deep cycle battery. There are some problems with documentation since some instructions do not add up and require additional searches on the Internet during installation.
- A strong and durable model
- Able to handle debris in the basin without clogging up
- Good sump pump alarm system
- Designed for large sump basins
- Some problems with the instruction manual
Basement Watchdog BW4000 1730 Gallons Per Hour Combination Primary and Backup Pump System
The watchdog combination sump pump model we are reviewing here costs kind of average. The primary pump which is 1/2 HP strong pumps 3200 GHP at 10 feet while the backup pump handles 1730 GHP at 10 feet. The primary pump will pump as long as there is AC power coming and as soon as it is out, or the water level rises too much for it to handle, the backup will start-up on its own to do its job. Batteries need to be bought separately and acid batteries cannot be shipped, they need to be purchased locally. The system cannot work without the battery.
After All, the system did not receive good reviews. Many have complained because it breaking down after a short time. Since this is quite a costly option, that is not an acceptable occurrence. On the plus side, the pump is quiet, and it will not make problems for you in that regard.
- A strong pump with a backup.
- The pumps are very quiet
- Problems with the pumps breaking down after a short period of time.
- The controller sometimes breaks down
Liberty Pumps PC257-441 1/3-Horse Power PC-Series Sump Pump Backup Combo, Models 257 and 441
This pump is able to handle sump pits that are 15 inches or larger in diameter and it has a 1/3 HP primary motor with a discharge head at 23 feet. The backup pump also has a discharge head at 23 feet. It is ready to connect to 1-1/2-Inch discharge. The price tag on this model is above average. That means that you can expect a quality product that will last for a long time. You should take note of the fact that the pump is quite tall and even if you have a large basin, the thing might protrude from it so plan accordingly. The pump is reliable, and it is able to handle large volumes of water during downpours and since it is cast iron construction, it will not break down easily.
The only thing you need to worry about when you are buying this sump pump is to find the right battery backup system for it. You might need to get several to get it to work over extended periods of time.
- High quality cast iron product that is durable
- Easy maintenance
- Lasts a long time
- The model is very tall
- It has a high price tag
Little Giant WRSC-6 Compact Drainosaur Tank and Combination Sump Pump Backup System
The Little Giant submersible sump pump is pre-assembled so installing this sump pump is very easy, you will not need an expert to help set it up. It works on a 115 V outlet. And has an affordable price and since it is on sale with that price, that is a good deal because of the cast iron construction. It has a 3-1/2 Gallon tank size. The pump is very durable and according to the best sump pump reviews and sump pump ratings, most people have peace of their mind with their purchase.
There have been some cases where the pump has been damaged during shipping, but other than the hassle of having to wait for the replacement to arrive, the model is well worth the cash. The only major complaint was with the tank since the filter kept falling off and the cover broke.
- Good high-quality pump.
- Reasonable price.
- No major complaints
- Some problems with shipping.
- The tank is its weak point
Glentronics, Inc. PS-C11 PHCC 2770 Gallons Per Hour Pro Series 1/3 HP Combination Sump Pump Backup System
The primary basement or crawl space sump pump is able to handle 2770 GPH flow at the 10-Feet head with a 31 Feet maximum head. The backup pump is able to pump 1730 GPH at 100 feet. The pump starts working automatically when the power runs out and it switches to battery power. The backup will help out the moment it detects excess water in the sump basin. If there are any problems with the pump, the smart system can detect them and alert you to them so you can act in time.
The pump costs average and that is a reduced price. For that amount of money, you should get a high-quality product, but that is sometimes not the case. Parts can come in a broken state and while replacement parts will be sent, it happens too often and some people might get broken parts two times in a row.
- Strong pump.
- A smart system that sends out alarms.
- A reduced price
- Problems with quality – too many broken parts to ignore
Combination Sump Pump Backups – What are they and what are their advantages?
Benefits of having a backup
If you want to combine your primary sump pump and the sump pump backup system, and you do not want to worry about compatibility when searching for two different models, you might want to get a combination sump pump to get rid of that moisture in your home. That way, the sump pump drainage system should be in perfect harmony and you will not have to worry about it not working in during stormy weather.
The combination system offers the best of both worlds – you will be getting a pump that is able to draw on the primary power source with its primary pump and at the same time, you will have a backup that is going to get rid of dampness when the power runs out with battery power or that is just going to pick up the extra slack when the primary pump gets overworked because of the heavy volume of water.
Does it worth?
The pumps need to be in harmony with one another in order to work well under unexpected circumstances, so new technologies have been developed to keep them safe and functional. That means that you have an alarm system that sends alerts whenever there is a problem so you can react in time to avoid large property damages. Most if not all of these models can be hooked up to your phone by an app to keep you updated. These systems all tend to be a bit pricey (and there many hidden costs – batteries are usually sold separately) but they are well worth the cost when you think about how much you are saving by not having huge repair bills.
- Combination sump pump systems are able to give the best-rounded protection available
- They are usually pre-assembled, so they are easy to install
- These systems cost a lot of money
- They require larger basins
Conclusion
When it comes to storm protection or underground water damage, spending more money right now on the right sump pump systems almost always means spending much less money down the road on repair bills and it means less discomfort when you have to vacate your home for a week or two until the repairmen finish up their work.
In this review, we have presented some of the most popular systems that are sure to keep your house dry and drain all that water from your basement. You will need to do some research yourself since the area where you live might have some special features (a type of soil, amount and frequency of rainfall and flooding or some special municipal regulation) that requires a specialized machine or sump basin and drainage system. If you are still unsure of what you need, it is always a safe bet to buy a slightly more powerful device then a less powerful one to plan for all unforeseen circumstances.
