Watchdog Battery Backup Sump Pump Fails

I have a 5 year old Basement Watchdog battery sump pump system installed in my basement. Today it fails to kick in when the main pump went off. When the water rises up to the float, the Watchdog backup sump pump did not start. I have to push the test button manually on the contrlller to start the backup sump pump. But it is supposed to watch out for the flood automatically in the basement. As you know, I am cleaning up the soaked basement right now.

My Watchdog contraller has been serviced by Watchdog company early in 2007, after it burned itself. The sump pump is almost brand new and has been installed for less than a month, replacing the previous pump that went bad without obvious cause. The system is almost new except the original battery which is 5 years old. It seems to me that the most reliable part in the system is the battery. The Watchdog controller and backup pump are short lived and only last no more than a couple of years. It is a pity for a backup sump pump!

Within 5 years with Watchdog, I have had a bad controller and replaced the pump once. The worst is that the Watchdog still does not perform and get my basement flooded.

It is time to try a different battery backup sump pump system OTHER THAN Watchdog!

Bye Bye Watchdog!

-J. C.

Downers Grove, Illinois

Comment On This

Yes I've just learned that watch dog is a poor quality product! It has failed everytime when needed! Doesn't have enough pressure to open the check valve. They state performance at 1000 GPH at 10' my test with a fresh battery was closer to a 100 GPH. Electronics are annoying to deal with, can't get the dumb thing to silence at times. Replaced with Zoellers pump! NO MORE WATCHDOG!