PumpExpress.com has substantially increased its inventory of sump and dewatering pumps for Spring 2013. We have also taken on a new line of gas-powered trash pumps and accessories in response to increased demand for these products in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

“Since 2011 we’ve had two storm events classified as “100-year storms” that resulted in major flooding,” says Pump Express Sales Manager Fred Hettinger. “The subsequent rise in demand for sump pumps and other dewatering equipment—particularly for pumps that will run if the power goes out—played a major role in our stocking decisions this year.”

Rising demand for storm water pumps that will operate in challenging applications has led Pump Express to increase both the quantity and power of the dewatering equipment on offer in 2013.

“Traditional sump pumps move 30-50 gallons a minute. The newer equipment we’re stocking now is moving in excess of 200 gallons a minute,” says Hettinger. “In many cases we’ve doubled and tripled our stock of these pumps.”

Liberty, Zoeller, BJM, PHCC Pro Series and Berkeley are among the manufacturers most heavily represented in the 2013 inventory additions.

“Two years ago I would have never thought of bringing in a gas-powered trash pump because it’s a specialized pump designed to move large volumes of clear water in areas without a ready power source like a construction site,” says Hettinger “Post-Sandy, diesel and gas-powered pumps have become a growing segment of the pump market precisely because they can pump tremendous amounts of water without using electrical power.”

With some of the largest property management companies in the country approaching him to obtain this equipment, Hettinger believes that it’s growing popularity is not limited to flood-stricken areas of the Northeast.

“We’ve gotten requests for powerful dewatering pumps from throughout the Midwest and as far West as California because they’re currently flooding or they’re looking for pumps to keep on hand when flooding occurs,” says Hettinger. “There’s a greater need now to have the equipment in place to protect property and facilities and prevent storm damage from occurring. Pump Express is committed to providing customers with all of the pumping equipment they need.”

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“Up until a few years ago, the average person didn’t think much about their pumping equipment,” says PumpExpress.com’s pump product expert Craig McCrickard. “If you lived in a flood zone you might check on your sump pump in the spring but that’s about it. The megastorms we’ve seen in recent years changed that, particularly in hard hit areas like the Northeast. Today homeowners are not only looking for reliable sump pumps but also back-up systems that will kick in if the power goes out.”

McCrickard is part of a team assembled to raise the bar on what on-line pump shoppers are offered in terms of selection and information. The new venture will incorporate best practices used by veteran on-line retailers including pull-down menus, shopper reviews and buyers guides into an easy-to-use shopping site devoted to pumps, repair parts and accessories. A limited selection of electric motors and generators will also be offered.

“There’s been a lot of opportunity for road testing during the last few years with several manufacturers emerging as clear leaders.” says McCrickard. “Zoeller, Liberty Pumps and PHCC Pro Series are the three main wastewater pump manufacturers we’ll be focusing on. We plan to offer their sump, sewage and effluent pumps as stand-alone units and packaged systems. BJM puts out a great line of shredder pumps that we’ll be introducing a lot of customers to.”

The new site will also offer pumps for the full range of domestic non-wastewater applications including HVAC, recirculation and irrigation.

“The main thing that distinguishes PumpPoduct.com from Pump Express, our flagship site, is a shopping cart,” says General Manager Ed Drejman. “PumpExpress.com will continue to provide essential pump sizing and selection services to the commercial and industrial clients who require it, while PumpProducts.com will cater to the on-line shopper who has a pretty good idea of what he or she needs and is primarily interested in getting a quality pump at the best price.”

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©Liberty 

With all the media attention that preceded Hurricane Sandy, most East Coast homeowners put testing their basement sump pumps high on their pre-storm to-do lists. Those who didn’t, and experienced flooding as a result of pump failure, probably wish they had. Identifying a pump problem in advance could spare a homeowner thousands of dollars in water damage. The following is our step-by-step how-to list.

Open the pit that the sump pump sits inside and clear away any debris.

Pour several buckets of water into the pit. This should cause the pump to turn on and run with an even humming sound. If it doesn’t turn on, or you hear a grinding sound, you should make arrangements to have it repaired.

Check the discharge line for leaks. A leaking line should be replaced as soon as possible.

Those with homes prone to flooding should check sump pumps periodically during a storm and keep an empty bucket or small utility pump nearby in case the primary pump becomes overwhelmed or requires emptying by hand.

Battery back-up pumps are a good form of low-cost insurance against flooding as they will take over if the primary pump breaks down or stops working due to a power failure. Just as a primary sump pump will not run without power, a battery-operated unit will not operate without a battery. So be sure to have a fully charged battery installed.

Browse the sumps pumps, battery back-up pumps and batteries we stock and ship nationally at www.pumpexpress.com or call us for details: 1-800-298-4100

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“Every time we get one of these storms we learn about what customers are looking for and what the best products to serve their needs are, not just during the storm, but after as well,” says Pump Express Sales Manager Fred Hettinger.

Many homeowners who would have put off installing battery back-up pumps in their basements prior to the flooding caused by Hurricane Irene last year took the plunge in the aftermath and were on point for Sandy.

“Before the storm we sold a lot of deep cycle batteries for battery back-up pumps,” says Hettinger. “We typically increase our stock of these items in the spring and fall so we were able to meet customer demand.”

Power outages across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have raised the profile of battery-powered backup pumps and water-powered back-up pumps are gaining popularity in areas with municipal water supplies. Hettinger affirms that meeting the demand for battery and water-powered models will be a priority in the coming year.

“After the storm we had a lot of people calling for trash pumps so that’s another item we’ll be keeping in stock,” says Hettinger. “They’re used when large amounts of water need to be removed from roads, buildings and basements and they’re gas operated so you don’t need electricity to run them. I’m also stocking 50-foot, 2-inch fire hoses which are good for dewatering basements and 25-foot plastic corrugated hoses which a lot of people will attach to a second sump pump to assist the primary pump in pumping water from a residential basement.”

A problem associated with megastorm rains is water flowing into homes faster than consumer-grade sump pumps can operate. In light of the recent rise in storm frequency and intensity, growing numbers of residents are exploring heavier-duty pumps.

“We have a number of good products that we’re carrying now,” says Hettinger. “In the primary pump market we’re using a lot of Liberty pumps which are all cast iron and have an epoxy coating that resists oxidation. Pro Series manufactures a great product for the customer who’s looking for a turn-key product that’s both a primary pump and a battery back up pump. Their battery-back up pumps typically move 2-3 times the amount of water that a standard battery back-up pump does. For the customer who’s looking for a permanently-installed commercial grade dewatering system which ranges anywhere from ¾ to 15 horsepower, we stock heavy-duty
Liberty and Zoeller pumps. Above that we get into our larger dewatering pumps of which we have all kinds.”

“As for entirely new products” Hettinger says, “We’re exploring large pump rentals, including 4-inch and 6-inch trailer-mounted pumps.”

For more information on these and other pumps visit our website: www.pumpexpress.com or call  1-800-298-4100.

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FLOODING EXPERTS  The scene outside our headquarters after Irene

Before Hurricane Irene hit the Northeast on August 28 of last year, experts warned that it would be a major storm, but the course it took was one few could have predicted. Mandatory evacuations and other precautionary measures were enacted in coastal areas along the Eastern Seaboard but it was upland areas of New York State and Vermont, and low-lying parts of New Jersey, that got hit hardest, resulting in more than $7.8 billion in damages and vividly demonstrating the unpredictability of extreme weather.

At the start of hurricane season this year (June 1^st), national hurricane experts at Colorado State University predicted 13 major storms, 5 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes in the Atlantic basin, with a 48% chance of a major hurricane hitting the U.S. coast before the season ends in late November. At Pump Express we are keenly aware of the damage storm related flooding can do (see above). Here is our shortlist of best practices to protect your home and business from flooding:

Log on to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website, plug in the relevant information and pull up the community map that shows your property. Find out if you are in a flood-prone area. Determine your property’s elevation and if it is below flood level consider buying flood insurance.

Install a backflow check valve on your property’s sewer main to prevent the unwanted backflow of sewer water from the city main especially if your town has a combined sanitary and storm sewer system.

Make sure that you have a fully-functional basement sump pump and battery or water powered back-up sump pump on hand in case your primary pump fails. Power outages occur during heavy storms when you need the sump pump the most. Think of a backup sump pump as low-cost basement flood insurance.

For homes with a consistent (40-100psi) municipal water supply, Liberty and Zoeller offer reliable, cost-effective, WATER POWERED PUMPS. Because they don’t run on batteries, they are maintenance-free. However, they are not appropriate for use with an electrically powered well water system or as a substitute for a primary basement sump pump system.

BATTERY POWERED BACK-UP PUMPS can be switched on when the power goes out or the primary pump fails. Some battery back-up pumps run on deep-cycle maintenance-free marine batteries while others run on traditional acid batteries. These require the occasional addition of water.

Zoeller and Pro Series offer preassembled combination systems that couple a primary sump pump and battery backup sump pump in a single system. The primary pump operates off AC power.  If the power is interrupted, or more water is coming into the sump than the AC pump can handle, the backup sump pump will kick-in automatically.  In these systems the primary pump maintains and recharges the back-up battery automatically.

Learn more about the Pro Series line in this video.

Browse the back-up pumps we stock and ship nationally at  www.pumpexpress.com or call us for details: 1-800-298-4100

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