The Basement Watchdog Combo Preassembled Primary & Battery Backup Sump Pump System…
- Sump Pump
- Corded electric, Battery
- 1
- Black
A preassembled primary and backup combo that most buyers install without a plumber, though its bundle of cords and floats can be a tight fit through a sump basin lid.
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How it ranks among the 10 sump pumps we track
4.3★ across 311 Amazon ratings, Bayesian-smoothed toward the category average.
311 Amazon ratings, weighted on a log scale so huge counts don't drown everything.
100+ bought on Amazon last month.
Brand identity, imagery, description and spec coverage.
The ProductDome score is separate from the Amazon rating shown above: it combines the Bayesian-smoothed Amazon rating with evidence volume, tracked demand, and data quality across the 10 sump pumps we track - how the scorecard works · full sump pumps data report. Confidence: high - strong rating volume and complete data.Updated 7 days ago. Data-computed, not a hands-on test. Compiled by the ProductDome Research Team.
Overview
The Basement Watchdog CITS-50 is a preassembled and preplumbed combo system pairing a primary sump pump with a battery backup pump and a monitoring controller, built around a copper wound PSC motor.
The primary pump moves up to 4,400 GPH at 0 feet of lift, while the backup pump adds up to 2,890 GPH and runs off AGM or wet cell batteries bought separately. A WiFi connect module, also sold separately, enables text, email, and push alerts through the Basement Watchdog app.
- Preassembled primary and battery backup combo with check valves built in
- Copper wound PSC motor rated 1/2 HP
- 24 hour monitoring with alarm and warning light
- Compatible with AGM and wet cell backup batteries
Who it's for
Fits homeowners who want a primary pump and a battery backup pre wired together rather than sourced and plumbed separately. Less suited to anyone with a sump lid where floats have to route through a narrow opening, since a couple of buyers found that awkward.
What buyers say
From Amazon customer reviews.
Buyers repeatedly call the install straightforward since the pumps arrive preassembled with check valves already in place, and several say the unit is quieter than what it replaced. A few report the primary and backup cords and floats are permanently attached, making it harder to route them through a sump basin with a lid. One buyer had the main pump stop activating within 3 months from what seemed like a float assembly problem.
Strengths and trade-offs
Drawn from this product's published specifications.
- Ships preassembled and preplumbed with check valves already installed
- Backup pump and battery keep the basement dry if the primary fails
- Runs quietly according to multiple buyers
- WiFi module option adds remote alerts through the app
- Cords for the backup controller and primary float are not disconnectable, so fishing them through a sump lid means unbolting the floats
- Battery and WiFi connect module are sold separately
- One buyer had the main pump fail within 3 months from a float assembly issue
Performance notes
The primary pump's copper wound PSC motor is rated for efficiency and long service life, moving 73 GPM at 0 feet of lift and 59 GPM at 10 feet. The backup pump and controller run continuously in the background, monitoring pump, power, and battery status, and will sound an alarm and light a warning if the primary fails, at which point the backup pump takes over on battery power.
Specifications
| Brand | Basement Watchdog |
|---|---|
| Model | CITS-50 |
| Dimensions & fit | |
| Item Weight | 27 pounds |
| Maximum Lifting Height | 25 feet |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 8.8 × 11.8 × 18 inches |
| Capacity & performance | |
| Flow Rate | 73.3 gpm |
| Power & efficiency | |
| Power Source | Corded electric, Battery |
| Voltage | 12 volts |
| Horsepower | 0.5 hp |
| Construction & materials | |
| Material Type | Cast Iron (Primary); Plastic (Backup) |
| Color | Black |
| Included components | |
| Included Components | THE BASEMENT WATCHDOG Big Combo CONNECT Model CITS-50 1/2 HP Primary and Battery Backup Sump Pump System with Smart WiFi Capable and 24 Hour a Day Monitoring Controller |
| Other details | |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Item Type Name | THE BASEMENT WATCHDOG Big Combo CONNECT Model CITS-50 1/2 HP Primary and Battery Backup Sump Pump System with Smart WiFi Capable and 24 Hour a Day Monitoring Controller |
| Product Style | Sump Pump |
How it compares
This product against the closest alternatives we track in sump pumps.
| Product | Amazon rating | Ratings | ProductDome score |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Basement Watchdog Combo Preassembled Primary & Battery Backup Sump Pump System…This product | 4.3 / 5 | 311 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Superior Pump 91250 1800GPH Thermoplastic Submersible Utility Pump with 10-Foot CordSuperior Pump | 4.6 / 5 | 26,000 | 4.7 / 5 |
| WAYNE CDU800 1/2 HP Submersible Sump PumpWayne | 4.8 / 5 | 1,300 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Zoeller M53 Mighty-mate Submersible Sump PumpZoeller | 4.6 / 5 | 3,200 | 4.3 / 5 |
| SumpJet® Water Powered Backup Emergency Sump PumpLiberty Pumps | 4.6 / 5 | 1,300 | 4.2 / 5 |
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Questions about the Basement Watchdog CITS-50
Common buyer questions answered straight from the product spec data - no fluff, no "it depends".
Does the Basement Watchdog CITS-50 include the backup battery?
No, the battery is sold separately, and the system works with either AGM or wet cell batteries.
Can I get phone alerts from the Basement Watchdog CITS-50?
Yes, but only after adding the Basement Watchdog CONNECT WiFi module, a separate purchase that enables text, email, and push notifications.
How much water can the CITS-50 pump?
The primary pump moves up to 4,400 GPH at 0 feet of lift, and the backup pump adds up to 2,890 GPH at 0 feet of lift when the primary fails.