If you’re researching sump pumps, you already know how important they are when it comes to keeping a basement dry. But a good AC sump pump, even one as fast and reliable as the Zoeller M267 isn’t enough–you also need something that keeps working when the power goes out and you aren’t around to hook up a generator. So what’s are your options for a good backup sump pump?

We’ve reviewed a range of backup options this year, but the biggest differentiating factor is ultimately the source of power: battery or water. If you want the best DC-based sump pump on the market, right now that means you want the Wayne WSM3300. But if you want the most reliable backup instead of simply the fastest and most technological, you’re going to need to look past battery-based sump pumps and start investigating water-based pumps. They aren’t as fast as the fastest DC pumps, but they’ve got the advantage of being nearly indestructible as long as you’ve got running water from a municipal water line.

Lately, we’ve looked at several water-based pumps, including the Basepump HB1000, the Basepump RB 750-EZ, the Basepump RB 750 and the Liberty Pumps SJ10; all have done a great job pumping water, but we’ve been drawn to those that make DIY installation easy. Today we’ve found the best example yet of speed and ease of installation: the Basepump HB1000-PRO Water Powered Backup Sump Pump with Water Alarm. It’s essentially an upgraded version of the HB1000 in that it includes just about everything you need to install it on your own. We’ll review it in detail below, but to sum things up, it’s a great sump pup and a bargain at this price, and you can buy it here.

Key Features of the Basepump HB1000-PRO (60 Second Summary)

The Basepump HB1000-PRO is a water-powered backup backup sump pump. It can be used as a main pump as well, but it’s most frequently installed as a secondary pump because it requires no AC / DC power, and instead runs off water pressure from a municipal line. It can pump up to 1,400 gallons of sump water per hour (GPH) and is backed by a 5 year limited Basepump warranty. It is 16 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 6 inches tall; it weighs 8 pounds.

The HB1000-Pro has a 3/4 water inlet intake and can be adapted up to 1 inch inch inlets; scaling down to 1/2 inch is not recommended due to an inability to provide enough water volume. It features a 1 inch sump intake and a 1-1/2 inch sump discharge. As with other Basepumps, you’ll need a municipal water pressure between 40 PSI and 90 PSI. Two gallons of sump water will be removed for every pumped gallon of city water.

As with all water-based pumps, your actual pumping speed will vary depending on the water pressure at the inlet and the necessary pumping head. At 40 PSI, the GPH is 950; this rises to 1,000 GPH at 60 PSI, 1,200 GPH at 80 PSI, and 1,400 PSI at 90 PSI. The max pumping height is around 15 feet, although this will also vary with water pressure and piping configurations.

As with the HB1000, the HB1000-PRO includes a standalone battery-powered high water alarm. The 9 volt battery is included and the alarm sounds at 85 dB.

How Does the Basepump HB1000-PRO Compare to the RB HB1000, 750-EZ, and the Wayne WSM3300?

The main difference between the HB1000-PRO and the HB1000 involves the ease of installation. Push-fit pipe fittings (much like those Shark-Bite sells) are included, allowing you to connect the PRO to copper, PEX, or CVPC tubing without needing to sweat copper. A brass shutoff valve to allow for easy water shutoff to the unit, a dual check valve to avoid back flow, a push to-fit male adapter that lets you push a pipe into the pump to connect it, and a push-to-fit tee to connect the pump to your water supply are all included. These should be almost all of the things you need

Compared to the RB 750-EZ, the difference lies in pumping speed, as both feature the inclusion of a DIY all-in-one installation kit. Compared to the RB 750, the HB1000-PRO is both faster and includes the aforementioned installation components. The speed difference i significant; the HB1000-PRO tops out at 1,400 GPH compared to 900 GPH in the RB 750/EZ.

Compared to the WSM3300, the HB1000-PRO is slower but more reliable, due to not needing any form of electricity. It does require a constant water pressure from a city line, but this is more likely to remain than an AC power source (which is still necessary from time to time to charge the DC battery in any DC-based backup pump). It’s important to note, however, that the speed difference is significant: the HB1000-PRO tops out at 1,400 GPH compared to the 3,300 GPH in the WSM3300. The max head is also slightly lower in the HB1000-PRO at 15 feet compared to 20 feet.

Our Short and Long Term Experiences Installing and Using the Basepump HB1000-PRO

Thanks to the inclusion of the couplings and necessary accessories, installing the HB1000-PRO shouldn’t take more than three hours as long as you’ve got some plumbing experience or know someone who does. As with the HB1000, you’ll need to install the HB1000-PRO in a ceiling beam or joist in your basement. From there, it’s just like any other water-based pump: connect your city water line to the sump’s water inlet, connect your sump pipe to the sump’s sump inlet, and connect your discharge pipe to the sump’s outlet. Since push-fit connectors come with the PRO, you won’t need accessories to complete the installation in many cases.

Regarding longevity, you’re likely to enjoy many years of maintenance-free functionality if your HB1000-PRO is like most Basepumps we’ve seen and heard of. Practically speaking, this means between 10 and 20 years of functionality, although more years are certainly possible. As with other water-based sump pumps, the main threats to longevity are an excess in water pressure. Make sure your city line tops out at 90 PSI; if it goes beyond that, you’ll risk breaking seals and turning your basement into a swimming pool.

Troubleshooting and Installation Tips to Get Your Basepump HB1000-PRO Working Sooner

The main thing to keep in mind with the HB1000-PRO is that you’re going to need enough water pressure coming in from your city line for it to work the way it’s designed to. If you don’t have enough water pressure, it’s not going to work any faster than the RB 750 would. Basepump recommends you try the bucket test, which has you fill a 5 gallon bucket from a spigot outside your home (such as one that would normally feed a garden hose) and timing how long it takes to fill it with 5 gallons of water. If it takes under 30 seconds to get within two inches of the brim (where the fill line is typically located), you’ll be fine with the HB1000-PRO. If it takes under 20 seconds, you can upgrade to the CB1500. If it takes more than 30 seconds but fewer than 40, you’ll want the RB 750/EZ. If you use a frost free spigot, you need to trim your fill time by 25% to get correct results.

Basepump HB1000-PRO Pros, Cons, and Value Comparison

It’s hard to find flaws with the HB1000-PRO; it’s a capable and relatively fast water-based backup sump pump at a price most families can afford, especially when keeping in mind how long it’s likely to work without needing any kind of maintenance. Our main complaint with the HB1000, the need to buy accessories to complete the installation, has been alleviated by the PRO, which includes just about everything you need to get it installed out of the box in a typical basement.

It’s key to remember when choosing a backup sump pump that when you buy a water-based pump, you’re not going to get the blazing speeds available in the fastest DC-based sump pumps; water pumps simply work in a different way and don’t feature a motor to drive the water. If top speed is essential, you want a pump like the WSM3300. But if you want reliability above all, and you want it for decades, as well as the need to never worry about a power source expiring or running out of charge, then you need a water-based pump, and the HB1000-PRO is one of the best on the market. The only faster water-based pump we’re aware of is the CB1500.

You can buy the Basepump HB1000-PRO here on Amazon. You can buy the Basepump HB1000 here. You can buy the Basepump RB 750-EZ here. You can buy the Basepump RB 750 here. You can buy the Wayne WSM3300 here on Amazon. You can buy additional PEX tubing here and SharkBite connectors here. You can buy a silent check valve here.

If you find our work at PumpThatSump helpful, you can put our relentless reviewing of every pump and fixture on the market to the test by shopping via our links above for whatever you need to make your house a home. Despite being self-employed, we promise not to spend it all on health insurance.

Along with effective gutter and draining systems, a good sump pump is an essential component of a dry basement. But if you’re relying exclusively on an AC sump pump for water removal, you’re always going to be at the mercy of the next power outage, even if you’re using a high end sump pump like the Zoeller M267. Unless you’ve got a generator, this isn’t enough. So what options are on the market for backup systems?

We’ve reviewed most of the backup pumps on the market, and while there are many differences between them, the most important involves the source of power: battery or water. If you want a DC-based backup pump, the best on the market right now is the Wayne WSM3300. But if reliability is more important than speed, you’ll need to leave battery-powered sump pumps behind and move straight to water-based pumps. They aren’t as fast or fancy, but as long as you have water pressure from a municipal line, you’ll be able to pump water out of your basement for decades.

We’ve lately been reviewing a range of water-based pumps, including the Basepump RB 750-EZ, the Basepump RB 750 and the Liberty Pumps SJ10. Today we’ll review the upgraded version of the RB 750, the Basepump HB1000 Water Powered Backup Sump Pump. The key upgrades here are related to maximum water removal rates in gallons per hour. Our full review is below, but if you simply want to know whether to buy it and where, we give it two thumbs up and you can buy it here.

Key Features of the Basepump HB1000 (60 Second Summary)

The Basepump HB1000 is a water-based backup sump pump. It requires no AC or DC power, and instead works through water pressure from a city water line. It can pump up to 1,400 gallons of water per hour (GPH) and includes a 5 year Basepump limited warranty. It’s 16 inches long, 6 inches tall, and 4 inches wide while weighing 5 pounds. The part number is HB1000-D while the model number is HB1000.

The HB1000’s intake is 3/4 inches and you can scale that up to 1 inch or down to 1/2 inch inlets. The discharge size is 1-1/2 inches while the sump intake is 1 inch in diameter. As with the RB 750, you’ll need an inlet supply pressure between 40 PSI and 90 PSI. Two gallons of sump water are pumped with each pumped gallon of city water.

Pumping speed will vary with pumping height and water inlet pressure. The GPH at 40 PSI is 950, which rises to 1,000 GPH at 60 PSI, 1,200 GPH at 80 PSI, and 1,400 PSI at 90 PSI. Max lift is 15 feet, although this will vary with piping configurations and city water pressure.

Like the RB 750 and RB 750-EZ, the HB1000 includes a separate battery-powered high water alarm. The alarm sounds at 85 dB and uses a 9 volt battery, which is included.

How Does the Basepump HB1000 Compare to the RB 750-EZ and RB 750, the Liberty Pumps SJ10 SumpJet, and the Wayne WSM3300?

The primary difference between the HB1000 and the RB series involves pumping speed. The RB 750-EZ also has the advantage of coming with a lot of the accessories you’d need for a successful installation out of the box. The HB1000 and RB 750 will require either sweating copper or buying push-fit pipe fittings to fit them to copper, PEX, or CPVC tubing. Alternatively, you can buy the HB1000-PRO, which is the “EZ” version of the HB1000.  In terms of pumping speed, the max water removal rate of the HB1000 at 1,400 GPH is more than 50% greater than the max rate of the RB 750/EZ.

Compared to the SJ10, the HB1000 still features a greater max pumping speed (1,400 GPH vs 1,188 GPH) but has a narrower range of safe water inlet pressures (40 to 90 PSI vs 20 to 100 PSI). It also comes with a significantly lower max head at 15 feet vs 39 feet. However, the warranty will be significantly longer at 5 years compared to 3 years.

Compared to the WSM3300, the biggest differences involve power sources. With the HB1000, you won’t need any kind of electricity but you will need a municipal water supply. You’ll also get a much longer life due to the inherent design advantages of a water-based pump compared to a battery-dependent sump pump.  You have no moving parts that can break and the design is inherently maintenance free. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that the top pumping rate will be significantly slower at 1,400 GPH vs 3,300 GPH, while the max head will also be slightly lower at 15 feet vs 20 feet.

Our Short and Long Term Experiences Installing and Using the Basepump HB1000

Installing the HB1000 will take about three hours once you have the required components, presuming you have some experience with plumbing. As with Basepump’s other water-based sump pumps, the basic steps are to set the pump up in your basement ceiling, connect your city water line to the pump inlet, your sump pipe to the sump inlet, and the discharge pipe to the sump outlet. To avoid needing to sweat copper, you’ll want to look into buying PEX tubing and SharkBite connectors; they’ll cost a few dollars but will make the job far less technical.

In terms of longevity, you can expect many years of problem free service if your sump pump is like most we’ve seen and heard of from Basepump. In practical terms, this means somewhere between 10 and 20 years of functionality, though you might definitely get more out of yours. As with all water-based sump pumps, the primary risks to longevity are too high water pressure. Your city line needs to deliver no more than 90 PSI; if it delivers under 40, the pump won’t work, but if it delivers more than 90, you’ll break seals and create your own water park in the basement.

Troubleshooting and Installation Tips to Get Your Basepump HB1000 Working Sooner

It’s important to make sure you have enough water pressure from your supply line to power the HB1000. Basepump recommends the bucket test, which involves filling a 5 gallon bucket from an outside spigot (such as one that feeds a garden hose) and timing it. If it takes under 40 seconds to reach the fill line (typically two inches below the brim), you can use the RB750 or EZ. If it takes under 30 seconds, you can use the HB1000/PRO. If it takes under 20 seconds, you can use the CB1500. If you have a frost free spigot, you must reduce your fill times by 25% for accurate results. However, note that if it takes more than 30 seconds to fill the 5 gallon bucket, you won’t be able to use the HB1000/PRO because it won’t receive enough water pressure from the intake line to create the suction effect necessary for sump water removal.

Basepump HB1000 Pros, Cons, and Value Comparison

When it comes to water-based sump pumps, we’re hard pressed to find a faster model under $300 than the HB1000. It’s faster than the entry level RB 750 and RB 750-EZ while maintaining high levels of reliability and maintenance-free use. The main feature we’d like to have would be the inclusion of the accessories necessary for an out-of-the box installation, in order to reduce the need to go shopping for them. However, that’s precisely what the HB1000-PRO is for, so if you want everything you need from the start, you just need to spend a bit more. Whatever you choose, it’s important to remember that when you buy a water-based sump pump, you’re not going to get the fastest pumping speeds on the market out of it; that’s what turbocharged battery-based pumps like the WSM3300 are for. What you get from a quality water-backup pump like the HB1000 is decades of maintenance-free peace of mind, safe in the knowledge that the pump will keep your basement dry as long as you have water pressure. If that’s what you’re looking for, this is a solid choice.

You can buy the Basepump HB1000 here on Amazon. You can buy the Basepump HB1000-PRO here. You can buy the Basepump RB 750-EZ here. You can buy the Basepump RB 750 here. You can buy the Liberty Pumps SJ10 here. You can buy the Wayne WSM3300 here on Amazon. You can buy additional PEX tubing here and SharkBite connectors here. You can buy a silent check valve here.

If you find our work at PumpThatSump helpful, you can put our relentless reviewing of every pump and fixture on the market to the test by shopping via our links above for whatever you need to make your house a home. Despite being self-employed, we promise not to spend it all on health insurance.