I'm tring to find out which is the best sump pump to buy? Can't find any ifo at CR does anyone have any info ythat might help?

I agree with Bill. We just had some major storms here in Milwaukee and I got about 9 inches of rain in the course of 3 days! My sump pump still works, but barely. I am now in the market for a new one just as soon as the hardware stores around here can get some from the manufacturers! It would be useful to have CR do some testing on various models and brands.

I agree also. On the east coast we have had crazy unexpected weather. My area in the Washington metro area has seen many flooded basements this year, as well as tornados etc. I'd like to see reviews on sump pumps and backup pumps or the best alternatives to support the pumps during a power outage.

Backup sump pump reviews would be very valuable as well as home backup generator systems.

Backup sump pump research would be great; does CR reply to comments to let folks know if a topic will be researched and written about...or are these posts for readers only?

CR folks: WE NEED SUMP PUMPS! HELP!

We could also use sump pump reviews. Going to have to buy one before it gets on the site but it could help others.

I have to go out, tonight, to buy a sump pump. It failed, after 20 years of service, while I was away on vacation. I returned to a somewhat flooded basement. I am disappointed to find no CU reviews of sump pumps and no guidance for purchasing them. This is something CU needs to address, since it is such an obvious need for so many homeowners. Flooding from failures causes millions of dollars in damages to homes each year. I have heard that I will be unable to find one as reliable as the 20 year old model that I must now replace. Is that true?

Ditto the above requests for sump pump reviews. Need to replace mine...should have done it before Tropical Storm Edouard 14 hours away.

ditto-- the review for sump pumps there is a string of ten in the blog I'm on; hopefully consumers reports will come to the rescue and show my subscription price was worth paying.

I typed in "sump pumps" with the search engine on CR's website and this comment section was the only one I found... I hope someone from CR will read these comments and address the need for an article/review on sump pumps. Thanks!

Basement flooded,borrowed sump pump from a friend,not good enough!I will be shopping for one today!I went to Consumers Reports for info.,but found none!WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!
North Shore Long Island New York,being hit with tornados,hail storms,torrential rain!Could have used some help!

Would like to see Sump Pump purchase info and ratings. Disappointed that none already exists within CR despite what appears to be numerous inquiries. Using the standard rule of every published comment accounts for at least five that went undocumented...I'd say there is some substantial interest in you doing a piece on Sump Pumps...and SOON. Thanks.

Add me to the list of sump -pump neophytes who need your help.
I left the Home Depot sump pump dept. last night, more confused than ever, and ran home to get advice from CR (you haven't lived till a New York City sewer backs up into your basement) But no luck!! Can you 'bail us out' ??

What else can I say? Disappointed to not find any reviews on sump pumps. :(

I'll add my name to the "petition to get sump pump reviews"... I'm in Montana, away from the major storms, but we still get flooding with the snow runoff from the mountains in the spring. This is a product that is used across the country. I look forward to the review.

CR will review wine and chocolate but not sump pumps?????????? Here in the Midwest, sump pumps are not a choice they are a necessity!

Sump Pump review please, including with backup battery alternatives.

Find it a bit strange that there is no report on sump pumps on your site, with all the floods and storms that have hit us recently. If I am not mistaken, I think I have seen such a report in one of your earlier issues of your magazine.

yes sump pump reviews would be a great thing to have

I agree, it's a shame they haven't done any research on this yet. I've been through 3 sump pumps in 2 years all of the same brand (rhymes with Wasement Batchdog) and I'm fed up. I was hoping to log in and get a recommendation for a good brand before I drive from store to store and there is nothing here! Very disappointing.

Please, Please do some testings on sump pumps. I know absolutely nothing about them, yet we use them daily and they do fail. Going to shop for a sump pump is liking walking into a used car lot and having everyone give you the sales pitch and not knowing if they are telling you the truth or just trying to sell you something! Are there certain sizes, different motors, reliable brands, backup types? Looking to Consumer Reports for the truth!

Holly

Another terrible weekend storm in the Chicago area - time for a new sump pump and I was disappointed to see or really not to find recommendations from CR. When can we expect something?

I would also like to see a review of back up sump pumps. There are many choices and it would be good to have CR input on the decision. Hope to see a review though it will be too late for me.

Please do a review of sump pumps and particularly those with battery back-up options! Why does CR set up these blog sites if they do not read them and complete the necessary reviews requested.

Moved from Chicago to the country. Don't know much about sump pums and backups. Last weekend had over 6" of rain and pump could barely keep up. Would like to buy a more quality unit.

Michigan here, where yes, for many of us, sump pumps are a necessity! Please make sump pump reviews a priority. Thank you.

Rainy season is almost upon us here in Oregon. I'm in the market for a battery backup for my sump pump. So I logged into CR for the first time in weeks (months?) and found...nothing. Would definitely like to see a review of sump pumps and backups. Thanks.

We need your help CR!

How do the sump pumps rank?

The water is rising and your report would really float my boat.

I agree with all of the previous comments. It would be enormously helpful to have some guidance from CR about evaluating sump pumps, particularly battery assisted sump pumps. We will probably have to do something about a battery assisted pump without guidance, but I would rather not.

I am looking for the best backup sump pump system. And along with all of the above, I am a little dissapointed that C.R. cannot help. Consider research, there are many out here in need.

Ditto to all of the above. I need to install a battery backup sump pump and am surprised to see no reviews by CR. How can I find out if any reviews will be forthcoming soon?

I am looking for a battery back-up sump pump and joined CR for recommendations. I am very disappointed that there are no reviews.

I too am highly disappointed that there aren't any sump pump ratings and it would appear that no one at CR reads these postings to get the idea that there is a demand for this research. I am looking for information on sump pump battery backups.

Yes, sump pump and back up pump system reviews, please!!! We have had a "never needed until now" 3 year old battery back up system fail and are looking for something more reliable. The back up systems that are powered by the city water line look interesting, but I would really like more data/information on them before relying on it.

I to came here and typed in Sump pumps and found only questions. No answers and I need answers. We just purchased a home and we need to replace the sump pump. Seems like there are several out there. Anyone have an experience, positive, with a particular brand????

Very annoyed with CR approach with no action on Sump Pumps. Evaluation on these pumps would be appreciated by so many. BOO on CR.

I agree, I am on looking for help in buying a new sump pump and there's nothing here. Thanks for all the other stuff you have been able to help with, but this time I have nothing to go on. This cannot be that difficult of a project.

After searching for ratings for sump pumps I find nothing but 36 comments written by consumer report customers begging for consumer report researching on sump pumps. What gives? I agree with all the comments but especially the one that says you researched chocolates and wines (a real important pleasure in life) but not sump pumps (a really, really important necessity to just about everyone who rents or owns a home. I'm spending thousands converting my "basement" to a "recreation room" but need a fail safe back up system in the event my recreation room is faced with a potential flood.

I have to add my name to the sump pump needy list. I had to get a new one 4 years ago, and bought the only brand Home Depot offered -- only to have it go bad TODAY. The last one I had was more than 20 years old! (Of course the warranty on this was was, you guessed it, *3* years.) CR -- Let's get some sump pump data, please!

Hey, CR, WAKE UP!!! With all of the wild weather we're having, please do a piece on sump pumps and battery back-up systems.

Okay, CR! Time to get with the program here! 2008 is officially the wettest year on record here in Chicago. Major flooding in September & December. How about some guidance on sumps & back-up systems, PLEASE! Most very homeowner has at least 1 sump pump. My "Watchdog" backup has only offered me headaches. HELP!

I second this sump pumps & backup sump pumps review petition, too.

Hmmm, I too came with hope. Alas no sump pump review. Heavy sigh.

I would also like a review of all primary and backup sump pumps, but here is some feedback on the units that I have:

I have now had to replace 2 pumps in a row that were both less than a year old. They were both Simer 1/2HP heavy duty pumps. They are supposedly one of the best residential models Menard's sells, but both burned out at about 8 months. They were covered under the 5yr warranty, so this time I paid $30 extra and got the Simer 3/4HP with a lifetime warranty. I was obviously weary about sticking with Simer brand, but I knew if I switched brands, the replacement would have taken a lot longer because I would have had to re-cut and glue all the piping.
My backup unit is The Basement Watchdog and it preformed perfectly for the week and a half that my primary unit was out this last time. I'm not sure of the model number, but I believe they have 3 different models and mine was the middle-priced one. It has plenty of power to empty my sump and push the water up a 10ft rise and out 80ft of underground tubing. I have been very happy with The Basement Watchdog as the backup unit and highly recommend it! Not so much for the Simer pumps!

I need some info on sump pumps, can you help me out here, otherwise I just spend $5.95 for nothing.

Need review of standard pumos as well as battery powered backup pumps!!! Help CR!!!!!!!!

I too need a back-up battery for our sump pump. I would be nice to have them reviewed here on C.R., but have any of you C.R. customers done some homework? Any suggestions?

I also need info on water powered backup sump pumps, whats up cr?

Please test sump pumps! There is very little reliable information available. Thank you.

I agree with all of the requests listed here for CR testing backup sump pump systems. CR should be able to figure out that it's customer base is made up of many analytical "Planner" type people who would like to have this important information in order to make better decisions about a critical piece of equipment for their homes. CR should also be able to respond from a customer service position.

I copied this comment from above because it says it all.

After searching for ratings for sump pumps I find nothing but 36 comments written by consumer report customers begging for consumer report researching on sump pumps. What gives? I agree with all the comments but especially the one that says you researched chocolates and wines (a real important pleasure in life) but not sump pumps (a really, really important necessity to just about everyone who rents or owns a home. I'm spending thousands converting my "basement" to a "recreation room" but need a fail safe back up system in the event my recreation room is faced with a potential flood.

THIS IS A MUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Hydromatic V25 failed...again. I thought it was fixed the last time it failed. Now I understand they're not worth repairing - that it's best just to buy a new one. But what brand? Consumer Reports - can you help?

Sump Pump reviews and advise badly needed.

Many different brands. Some are combination with main and backup and what seem to be the best can only be purchased by installers.

I tried to get wholesale prices on models that are better than those found in Home Depot or Lowe's and the wholesalers would only provide the retail prices.

Your "Post a Comment" invitation begins with "All comments are reviewed by our moderators, and will not appear on this blog unless they have been approved."
First of all, your moderators should evaluate why these sump pump requests are blogged under "How to microwave food."
Secondly, you should wonder / question / evaluate why so many people (in just the last 8 months!) are seeking help with battery and back-up sump pump systems.
Finally, you need to determine which are the best battery back-up systems for sump pumps, which millions of Americans (and CR members)do, or need to, rely upon to protect valuable possessions stored in their potentially (and actually) flooding basements.

I agree with the above comments. It shouldn't take that long to do a review of sump pump back up systems and many of us rely on these systems when the power goes out. This is a practical review that is needed now.

Please provide testing info, etc concerning sump pumps and battery backups soon. We just had torrential rains and flooded basements in Ct.
The float on my old Flotec pump failed and had to operate the pump on/off by hand. Will be getting another Flotec pump to replace the old one unless CR reports something better soon.

It's 2009 and we're planning for Fall rains. Info about sump pumps by August or September 2009, please. (-8

While I am looking for CR on sump pumps I found everyone else that was looking for sump pumps also. I am looking for the best one myself too. What I do know about them is that Ridgid sump pumps come with a LIFETIME warranty and this is the best solution I found. First of all I am not saying they are good. But what I do is buy a Ridgid sump pump and then a water detector. So that if any water touches this little device it starts to go off like a fire alarm. If any one else has any other good info let me know but this is the best answer I have so far.

A little side note. I buy all Ridgid power tools for the simple fact that everything comes with the lifetime warranty. If something stops working I just take it to home depot and the tell me to take one off the shelf and bring it up.

Simer, which is the company that markets the Ace in the Hole back up setup, Ridgid has fine pumps with no questions return to where you buy it; in my case Home Depot. Either way, get the ones for a little more money, and in some cases the same money as five year warranties; that have a lifetime warranty. Menard's is a retailer for Simer.