Why Install a Water Powered Sump Pump on My Basement Ceiling?
The Advantages of Basepump’s Unique Ceiling-Mounted Design
One of the first questions we encounter from homeowners about Basepump water powered sump pumps is, “Why install them on the basement ceiling?”
That is a very fair question, considering that Basepump is the only ceiling-mounted water powered sump pump available on the market. Here are the advantages of Basepump’s unique design.
Pumping Power
Since the pump ejector is mounted to your basement ceiling joist, high above the sump pit, it does not have to fight against downward water pressure. Because of this, it can deliver dependable pumping power without putting undue strain on the pump. As a result, Basepump pumps remove more water pure hour than other water powered pumps on the market, and they can even rival the flow rates of many battery backup sump pumps.
Longevity
Basepump’s ceiling mount keeps it far away from the harsh environment of the sump pit: the scale build up, corrosion, debris, and clogs that can damage or wear out pumps prematurely.
Backflow Prevention
Traditional water powered sump pumps, which are installed down in the sump pit, have discharge pipes filled with dirty sump pit water. Unless protected, this dirty water could potentially be siphoned backwards into the clean municipal water source if a backflow condition occurred – for example due to a sudden loss of city water pressure. To protect against this, town plumbing departments usually require that homes with traditional water powered sump pumps install a Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) backflow preventer.
These devices come with some drawbacks, however. They are expensive, (sometimes costing $150 or more) and need an annual certification by an inspector (a $70 - $80 cost). Finally, they reduce the pump's pumping capacity by restricting water flow to the pump.
Basepump's unique design provides a solution to this problem. As the only ceiling-mounted water powered sump pump available, Basepump is the only one that can use a different type of backflow preventer, called a vacuum breaker. This device works by "breaking" the suction vacuum of a backflow condition, if it were to occur, automatically protecting your clean water source. Many Basepump water powered sump pumps come with built-in vacuum breaker backflow preventers, which do not reduce the pump's pumping capacity (included in models: RB750-AVB, HB1000-AVB, and CB1500-AVB).
Basepump vacuum breakers meet industry backflow prevention standards (ASSE Listed, CSA Certified, IAPMO Listed), and most municipalities recognize them as sound means of preventing backflow conditions.
In addition, it is worth nothing that, even without a backflow preventer, Basepump's ceiling-mounted location would make a backflow condition extremely unlikely in the first place.
Why? Because of gravity: There is no back pressure on the Basepump Ejector, and its discharge pipe is vented to the atmosphere at a lower height than the pump itself. Coupled with the pump’s location high above the sump pit, this means that gravity will keep both the discharge pipe and sump suction pipe empty of sump pit water, unless the pump is operating. The result: if a backflow condition were ever to occur, it would almost certainly just suck in air.
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This article is intended for informational purposes. Before beginning any construction project at your home, please ensure that you take necessary safety precautions and consult construction professionals whenever necessary.