water-powered backup sump pump?

[eartha5]

Hi folks,

Wanted to ask if anyone knew if a water-powered backup sump pump would do us any good if we have LARGE water flow in severe rain events—like enough water that it requires a 1/2hp pump to keep up. I think I understand that water powered pumps have lower volume per minute capacities than electrics, so would it be useless to try to install a backup pump that is water-powered?

And a related question, the guys who installed our 1/3hp pump which proved to not be enough to clear the water, suggested that we just drop a second 1/2hp pump in the same small sump and hook it into the same 1 1/2 in discharge pipe, and that running the 1/3hp at a higher float level as a backup to the 1/2hp would provide a backup and some redundancy. I am instinctively concerned that two pumps slamming into the same 1 1/2 in line would not work efficiently and might actually undermine one another by causing back pressure against each pump's output.

What do you folks think? Many thanks.

 

[spete112]

I have heard of the water pressure pump however I don't have personal info about them. I can tell you there were many jobs that we did where the customer wanted two pumps. I would not worry about both feeding into a 1 1/2 line. That is all we ever did and that was with 10 feet of head pressure coming from a deep basement. Both pumps need to have their own check valve. Have you checked into running into your sanitary sewer that can be an option. Some city's will allow this and others will not. One more thing to check into one other small piece of advices make sure the bottom of your pit is clean no small rocks. That is one way to to kill the impellers.