Frequently Asked Questions:

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Basepump Questions:

	Do the listed pumping rates include the municipal water that powers it? A. No. Only the water that is removed from the sump pit itself is counted. The added municipal water is not counted, is never introduced to the sump pit, and is only used to power the pump. This water is ejected outdoors after going through Basepump.
	How much water does Basepump use? A. Basepump uses 1 Gallon of municipal water to remove 2 Gallons of sump water, at 50 - 60 lbs. PSI. Water usage per gallons removed will decrease proportionately as the pressure increases. At 90 PSI it will use 1 Gallon to remove more than 2 Gallons from the sump. Since this is an emergency backup sump pump, this water usage is somewhat irrelevant. The average cost of that water, (about 2.5 cents each minute it runs in most locales), compared to a basement ruined by flooding, is an easy tradeoff. This cost is actually very close to the ordinary cost of the electricity used to run your primary pump. The water ONLY runs when Basepump is activated by a high water situation. As an extreme example, if Basepump were to run for 30 seconds once every 5 minutes for an entire 24 hour period, (288 cycles!) the average cost of operation for that day would be approximately $3.60! Compare that to the damage prevented or the replacement cost of batteries for a battery powered unit. The 3 Models of Basepump use differing amounts of water at various pressures. See the chart on the Basepump page to review those usage amounts.
	How do I know if I have enough water pressure and flow for Basepump? A. A standard static pressure gauge will tell you if you have the necessary 40 lbs. PSI minimum required to run Basepump. The best way to test the flow of water, is to use a hose spigot, a 5 gallon bucket, and a stopwatch. With the water fully on, carefully calculate the amount of time it takes to fill the bucket. If it fills in 40 seconds or less, you have adequate flow to run Model RB750; 30 seconds or less for Model HB1000; and 20 seconds or less for CB1500. Remember that this test is at your hose spigot. It is very likely that the pipe line to that spigot is smaller than 3/4" and a standard spigot will normally have some restriction in it. These limits are factored into this test. This helps determine which Basepump Model will most likely operate when connected right after the meter.
	Is there a maximum pressure and what happens if that is exceeded? A. The components of Basepump are rated well above 100 PSI. However, when 100 PSI is exceeded, the inlet valve may leak slightly, but only momentarily during the closing process. While the valve is closing, there is a momentary surge in the pressure inside the valve and this may cause the valve to "burp" slightly to relieve the excess. A few drops of water may escape at that moment and spray out a little, but that is all. To avoid this condition, if your incoming water pressure exceeds 90 PSI, tie in the water connection after the Pressure Regulator Valve.
	Choosing among Basepump Models RB 750, HB 1000, and CB 1500. A. Model RB 750 is for use in private homes typically having less than 2,500 square feet of basement area and a minimum 1/2" water service. The Model HB 1000 requires a minimum 3/4" water service. The Model CB 1500 requires a minimum 3/4" or and a Licensed Professional Plumber should install it. Carefully consider the pressure and flow requirements indicated above when ordering.
	Can I use 1/2" pipe to install any Basepump model? A. Yes! Only Model RB750 may be installed using 1/2" OR 3/4" pipe and tied into an existing 1/2" OR 3/4" water line from the main water service. Model HB1000 must be installed using 3/4" pipe from the main service line, which must also be 3/4" minimum. Model CB1500 may be installed using 3/4" OR 1" pipe and tied into an existing water service of the same or larger size. All shutoff valves in any installation must be full-flow, ball or gate type valves, and full-flow copper or equivalent piping such as PVC, CPVC, PEX, etc. are recommended. Check with your local Plumbing Department if you are unsure about any of this. Do not use or connect to galvanized iron pipe. Do not use piping that is not approved in your area. We sell easy-to-use, solder-free installation kits (without the pipe) for both copper pipe and PEX plastic pipe systems. Go to our Accessories Page for more information.
	Is a back-flow preventive device required? A. Some local plumbing codes require back-flow preventive devices on many water fixture installations to protect the potable water supply in the event of a flow-reversal in the system. Check with your local plumbing department if you have any questions about back-flow. Typically a Dual Check Valve or a SVB (Spill-Resistant Vacuum Breaker) are industry recognized Back-Flow devices that can be installed in the water supply pipe before Basepump. Basepump poses no threat to the potable water supply. It is open to the atmosphere on the discharge side and also has an integrated backflow device that prevents the reversal of water flow through the ejector valve.
	Can the discharge pipe for Basepump be connected to the discharge pipe from my primary sump pump? A. We recommend that Basepump be discharged separately to the outside. The purpose of Basepump is to take over no matter what the reason for your sump pump failure. Keeping it completely independent of your main pump does this. If a clogged or frozen discharge pipe causes your main pump to fail and you have used the same discharge pipe for Basepump, then Basepump will fail, too. If this risk is acceptable to you, then connect it with the Basepump discharge entering the main discharge at its highest point and avoid vertical runs of more than a few inches. If the main pump has a long (more than 6 feet) horizontal run, make sure it runs downhill to the exterior so gravity will work WITH the pump and not against it. Connecting to the main pump discharge still requires the use of the Discharge Relief Tee in most cases. Refer to installation instructions for the correct way to make this connection or call our toll-free number 800 554 1426 for help.
	How long will Basepump operate during a power failure? A. Basepump will operate as long as your municipal water supply is available. It is designed to empty the sump pit nearly to the bottom each time before shutting off. It will turn itself on and off automatically until the problem with the main pump is corrected.
	How do I buy a Basepump? A. Click on: Find a Distributor where you can see if there is a dealer or representative in your area. If not, you will be directed to Online Purchasing to buy directly from us. We ship everywhere in the US via UPS and to Canada via USPS
	Can I install a Basepump myself? A. If you are handy and can make copper pipe connections, you can probably install a Basepump. If you are a little unsure of yourself when it comes to soldering copper pipe, we have installation kits available. These kits use No-Sweat push-in type fittings instead of soldered ones. They are extremely easy to use and are accepted all over the country! Take a look at them on our Accessories Page. If this all seems too difficult or complicated for you, call a plumber!
	Does Basepump cycle quickly or does it run long enough to empty my sump? A. Some water powered sump pumps have a float mechanism that turns the pump on and off with very short run times in between. This This means the water in the sump remains at a high level and the pump is slamming on and off very quickly. This is because the float only needs to rise or fall a very short distance in order to operate. With Basepump you get a pump that can be pre-set to run long enough to empty your sump nearly all the way to the bottom. This means longer pumping cycles and complete pump-down to relieve hydrostatic pressure under the basement floor.

Hydropump Questions:

	What type of battery will I need for Hydropump and is it included? A. We recommend the use of a Size 27 Marine Deep Cycle Battery for the Residential Model RH 1400 & DH 1800 and Two of the same type batteries for the Professional Model PH 3500. Check with the battery manufacturer about how long before it needs replacing. Generally, this type of battery will last in this type of application for 3 - 5 years and requires periodic maintenance as the fluid inside the battery tends to "boil out" over time. About every 3-4 months the chambers need to be visually inspected and distilled water added to cover the plates inside. You may also use a Sealed Lead-acid battery or Gel battery. Check with the manufacturer of each type for information on its life, charging needs, etc. These typically cost more, last longer, and are maintenance-free. We do NOT include the battery. Ask for the best battery in size 27 that you can afford. Make sure the Battery Manufacturer's Warranty information is available and covers you for an acceptable period of time; at least one year. We carry Gel Batteries and AGM Batteries. These are long-lasting, maintenance-free batteries. See our Accessories Page.
	How long will Hydropump operate during a power failure? A. There are many factors that affect this answer. Refer to the Hydropump page for a chart of pumping times. Generally, 2 - 5 days on average, depending on how often it needs to run, the head pressure it is pumping against, the discharge piping, etc. Under continuous running, which we define as a 30 second run every 2 minutes, starting with a fully charged battery, and pumping against 9 feet of head pressure, the RH 1400 and DH 1800 will run 12 or more hours; PH 3500 uses 2 batteries and will run continuously for 24 hours. An extra battery can be added to the RH 1400 or the DH 1800 using our DBC Kit. This doubles the pumping times.
	Is the battery charger automatic? A. Yes. It senses when the battery has lost any of it's capacity and recharges the battery until it reaches a fully charged condition. If the charger senses that the battery has decayed to a level below 10 volts, it will determine that the battery cannot be trickle-charged and will not go on. At that point, a high capacity charger must be used or it may be time to replace the battery.
	Is the battery charger included? A. Yes. The RH 1400 and the DH 1800 include a 1.5 Amp charger with your purchase as well as a heavy duty extension cord. The PH 3500 includes a 5.2 Amp Charger. You will need to have a nearby ground fault protected outlet to operate these chargers. The difference between our charger and some of the other chargers out there is this: Ours is a "finish charger" which monitors the battery much more closely and does not allow it to drop in capacity very far before it kicks in. Some chargers are in use that sound like they are more powerful because they are rated at, say, 10 AMPS, but in reality, they do not do the kind of job that our charger does. Many of them allow the battery to decay upwards of 50% before they turn on. If your pump needs to run during that "low power" time, it won't run very long.
	How do I buy a Hydropump? A. Click on: Find a Distributor to see if there is a dealer or representative in your area. If not, then you will be directed to click Online Purchasing to buy directly from Base Products.