FAQ's
Basement Flood Protector Inc. has been in business since 1974 and as you might expect we have had numerous questions over the years. To help you get the most out of your visit to the Basement Flood Protector Web site we have posted several of the most frequently asked questions.
Please take a moment to review our frequently asked questions. If you can't find the answer to your question here, please E-mail us info@floodnot.com and one of our representatives will be glad to help you.
General FAQ's
• Do you charge to come look at my water problem and write up an estimate?
• What types of services do you offer for my basement water leak problem?
• I am interested in window well covers for my basement. Do you make these custom to fit any size window or are they a standard size like at Home Depot?
• Do you sell locks for your window well covers?
• Do you sell replacement parts for your sump pumps?
• What if I need drain tile and my basement is already finished?
• What types of warranty do your products and services offer?
• Do you structurally repair or correct settled foundations?
Protector System FAQs (ePumps and Classic systems)
• Where are your products made?
• What do the numbered model names mean?
• How do I know which Protector system I need?
• How can a pump phone and email me?
• Is there any charge for the continuing ePump monitoring?
• Why shouldn't I just buy a system from the Big Box store?
• I'm a contractor. Can I be included in the notification process of the ePumps that I sell to my customers?
• I like the notification idea, but I don't want to be bothered all the time. Can I customize the notification settings?
• The installation my contractor did looks great. How do I know the notification is working?
• Do you make primary electric pumps too?
General FAQ's
Do you charge to come look at my water problem and write up an estimate?
No, we will gladly visit your location and write up a free estimate. Chicago suburbs.
What types of services do you offer for my basement water leak problem?
We offer a full range of services to permanently repair any basement water leak issue. Our services include foundation crack repair, interior drain tile, sump pits, exterior foundation membranes, sump pumps, ejector pumps, sewer ejector pumps, battery sump pumps, down spout and sump discharge drainage, french and trench drainage, power rodding, pipe televising, clean-out stations, repair and replace sewer mains, lift stations, drain installations, well extension and replacement, B.O.C.A. Code escape well installation and more. Please visit our services page to learn more.
I am interested in window well covers for my basement. Do you make these custom to fit any size window or are they a standard size like at Home Depot?
All our window well covers are custom made. Visit our window well cover page to learn more.
Do you sell locks for your window well covers?
Yes, your window well covers can be secured with our simple and safe interior locks.
Do you sell replacement parts for The Protector® Battery Sump Pumps system?
Yes, we offer a complete line of products including replacement parts.
What if my basement is already finished?
Drain tile or other repairs can still be done in a finished basement. It often does, however, require more prep work. If we are installing drain tile with a cove plate, drywall or paneling on walls usually needs to be removed at least a foot or two up from the floor. Then, the studs must be cut in order to accommodate the cove plate system of the interior drain tile (if cove plate is not being installed, removing the studs is not necessary). See pictures toward the bottom of this page.
What types of warranty do your products and services offer?
Our warranties vary depending on the type of product or service. Our basement waterproofing services are designed to be a permanent solution so we guarantee them for life. Please visit our products page for more information on product warranties.
Do you structurally repair or correct settled foundations?
No, but we highly recommend Dave Pate & Son's, Ltd for such problems. You can visit them at www.sinking.com
Protector Battery Sump Pump FAQs (for ePump alert questions, see the link to the left)
Q. Where are your products made?
A. Our products are PROUDLY made in the USA! In fact, most of the components are made right here in our Illinois manufacturing location. These days, just about every other brand you will find is made off-shore. Supporting quality American manufacturing is just one more reason to buy the Protector brand.
Q. What do the numbered model names mean?
A. They are the full power gallons per hour at 10' of total dynamic head. This is the most common way of measuring a pump's capability. Beware of companies that cheat by measuring at 8' or just simply overstate their capacities.
Q. How do I know which Protector system I need?
A. Most people look at it as a question of needs and wants. The system you NEED is the one that can keep up with the flow your sump pit collects. How often does your electric pump run during a heavy rain? Also, consider how long of a power outage you want to protect against. This is the best way to gauge what level (size) system you NEED. Too many people come to us after they flooded because they thought the hardware store pump was the answer.
On the other hand, WANTS is a whole other story. Self testing and notification are considered WANTS by some customers and NEEDS by others (and us). After all, why spend the money on anything unless you know when it is no longer working. Don't fool yourself that you are actually going to regularly test it. Our ePumps self test twice per day and are monitored by our dedicated server. If anything is reported wrong, you get phone calls and emails. You are equipped with the information necessary to prevent a flood, instead of scrambling during the next storm because you didn't know something failed a month ago...
Q. How can a pump phone and email me?
A. There has been a major investment in server and software technology on our side that receives the call from the Protector ePump system. During the call, which lasts about 10 seconds, our server requests the serial number and error code from your unit, hangs up, looks up your registration information, and then initiates the calls and emails to you. This all takes place within minutes. Very cool.
Q. Is there any charge for the continuing ePump monitoring?
A. Monitoring and alert notification is included with your purchase for the first three years. We charge a nominal fee after that of $59 per year. Note that we are NOT in this to make money on the monitoring business. The $59 amounts to less than $5 per month and is simply to cover the costs of servers, phone lines, etc.
Q. Why shouldn't I just buy a system from the Big Box store?
A. There are quite a few reasons that we spell out in the descriptions of each system on this website... click here The biggest reason though is quality. Not just the quality of the system components, but the quality of the warranty, service, and people.
Q. I'm a contractor. Can I be included in the notification process of the ePumps that I sell to my customers?
A. Yes. Each contractor has that option.
Q. I like the notification idea, but I don't want to be bothered all the time. Can I customize the notification settings.
A. Great question. First of all, if the system needs to call you, you WANT it to call you. In our humble opinion, being woken at 3am is worth your basement not flooding. That said, you WILL soon have the capability to customize notifications. For example, you might choose to waive receipt of less cucial notifications during sleeping hours. This feature (and many others) will be added as they are completed (at no extra charge to you). The Protector DualCom ePump is the only system that can only get better as time goes on!
Q. The installation my contractor did looks great. How do I know the notification is working?
A. If you want to verify that the notification process is working, this is probably the easiest test:
1. Unplug the Protector DualCom ePump from the electrical outlet. It will think the power is out and start beeping and position 'C' will change from 'I' to 'O'. Do not "clear" or "silence" the unit.
2. After about 30 minutes, the ePump will dial out to our server. You should receive a phone call and emails within a few minutes after that.
3. Plug The Protector DualCom ePump back in. No additional 'reset' is necessary.
A quicker test is to lift and hold Sensor 2 (the upper sensor) in the "up" position for a couple minutes. Watch the controller's screen. Once the message "Dialing", then "Connected", and finally "InfoSent" have appeared, continue to hold for 1 more minute, then let go. You should receive phone calls and emails within a couple minutes telling you that you have a "High Water Detected".
To silence the system, hold the function button until 'S' appears in position 'G' and then let go. 'S' is for silence and will prevent the unit from beeping for 24 hours for 2 reasons: power outage, pump running. (tip for the future: to prevent the unit from beeping for ANY reason for 5 days, hold the function button until 'D' for disable and let go.) See the "ePump Alert Info" link to the left.
Q. Do you make primary electric pumps too?
A. Yes, we sell and install the revolutionary Protector EcoPower Electric Sump Pumps. These pumps are high capacity, low draw, and have unique switches. |
