Using an inefficient pump is also a problem in green house gas generation. Just like with our cars, even though 4 or fewer cylinders will get you there comfortably, six and eights are preferred. There really is no good reason, but people buy them anyway. Pond pumps are also able to do the job more efficiently than utility or sump pumps, and are designed for the job they do. You can get there real fast and spend a lot on the gas to do that, or you can get there fast enough, and spend half as much on gas. Same with water pumps. You can spend a lot of money to move the water, or you can spend less. You can risk polluting your water with oil, or you can get a safe pump. Any of the primary options creates bigger problems for the planet. I try to live efficiently. And hope others will too, as it is less expensive personally, and more healthy for everyone in the long run. Being able to afford to do something wrong, doesn't make it right. If you can't find the right way to spend your money, give it to someone that can. Oh, in the interest of full disclosure, I am not perfect, that is god's business. I am simply trying to be excellent! (Though still FAR from that!) I smoke, I drink, I use weed killer, I use bug killer, I drive a car, I have an OLD septic system, I have some incandescent light bulbs, and I have a chlorinated swimming pool. But, I smoke and drink less than I used to. I follow the directions on the killer cans, and use them now as a LAST resort, I drive a car that gets 38 mi/gal, have compact florescents in my most used fixtures, and want to convert the pool to a pond, just couldn't sell the Mrs. on it. Yes, I have a long way to go, but I am better now than ever, and encourage others to try to improve as well. Little bits here and there from everyone, ad up to big bits that are good for everyone. So please, use the most efficient pump you can. -TT -TT

The battery backup is installed on top of your regular sump pump. Problem is that even with 2 marine batteries, it can only go for about a day. Our basement flooded when the power was out for 3 days and it kept raining. You can use a portable generator but that involves snaking extension cords from the outside through the first floor into the basement to the sump pump. We took advantage of the flood to empty out our basement storage and finish the basement, and installed an automatic stand-by generator that is hooked up to the natural gas line. It's great for peace of mind since our sump pump ran every 15 seconds during Hurricane Sandy. Automatic standby generators may cost about $6000 up installed. If you don't have natural gas to your house or close by the price at least doubles because you'd have to install a propane tank. A cheaper alternative is to have an electrician add an automatic transfer switch with a generator subpanel in your garage which has the sump pump and other necessities on it. Then you can use a portable generator and just run it to the subpanel rather than all through your house. I believe this would cost $500 plus the cost of the generator. You'd have to manually hook it up and add gas to it through canisters.

Sounds like it might be a little oversize. How abnormal is "three days of heavy rain" for your area? The Zoeller 267 appears to be listed as a sewage ejection pump. Why so heavy duty for a sump pump?] Is the other pump smaller? How easy is it top swap them? 20 times an hour for 10 seconds is going to put a load on start windings and it is not going to be submerged much while running for cooling.

"My plumber is familiar with water-powered pumps, but says they're not compatible with a sealed sump..." Find another plumber. Add a vent to a sealed sump and then it is exactly the same as a non-sealed sump.