Keep the discharge pipe completely separate (after all this IS an emergency system) from other plumbing and as LOW as possible. One welcome improvement is the fact that the alarm can now be switched off during an event, and the float switch is now redundant (2 floats). After almost 10 years of service, 4 batteries, and multiple power failures without mishap, I have decided to get a new one.you guessed it.this one again. If the HD doesn't have it, you could also consider a serviceable deep cycle marine battery. The higher the amps of the battery, the longer it will pump, and the more you will pay. And by the way, although the battery is not included, most Home Depots DO carry 2 models of the dry battery and also the acid to be added, the benefit here is a truly 'new' battery, which can be serviced (not sealed), and accepts the voltage probe (although the unit will still function with the probe). you better plan on multiple backups, or something else with high capacity. If your primary pump runs nonstop during storms, 1. That will tell you if this pump can handle it. But be sensible folks- know what your primary main pump capacity is, the lift, and how much it is pumping (hint: check the charts at your primary pump manufacturer web site, then charts at the basement watchdog site).

a careful installation with special routing to keep the discharge lift under 5' (I cheated and went directly through the foundation wall into a storm sewer, rather than up-and-over the foundation), and 2. This pump ran faithfully every 5-10 mins (using a 2 year old 925 cca boat deep cycle battery), and was still running when the power came back on after almost 4 days! It truly surprised me for a product in the entry level range. In 2006, we had a horrendous ice storm here, some areas without power for over 10 days. I always thought if the main pump went out, this thing would be dead in 1/2 a day at best. I live in an area that has a lot of groundwater.my 1/2 hp primary pump runs every 10 mins during peak flow, approx 40 gals per min 8' head (lift).

I bought the equivalent of this pump at the Home Depot in 2003.

Battery backup for sump pump switch