Sump Pump Battery Backups – Are They Worth the Investment and Do I Need One?

Can you remember the last time you had a power outage? It most likely happened during a severe storm, right?  Doesn’t that always seem to be the time when everything gets the most chaotic and your world goes from sunshine and rainbows to horror and dismay at the speed of lightning?

During these rough times you have a lot on your plate…

You are worried about whether the kids are alright, trying to find candles and flashlights, and maybe even seeking shelter in your basement or bathroom.

The last thing you want to have to worry about is whether or not your sump pump is operating the way it should.

You see…your sump pump is responsible for keeping all of the water out of your basement so that you don’t have a flood to deal with on top of everything else, and typically what happens is, when the power goes out, the sump pump backup system that is installed kicks on but it does not operate your regular pump.

Instead it operates a much smaller pump that is about ⅓  of the size of your regular pump and you end up with a significant amount of water damage due to the pump not being able to keep up with the water intake.

Installing a quality sump pump battery backup system ensures that all of your valuables and treasures are safe in the event that a power outage does occur, so you can have the peace of mind knowing that you won’t need a canoe to fish all of your stuff out of your flooded basement.

What is a sump pump battery backup?

Many people are confused when it comes to trying to figure out what exactly a sump pump battery backup is. The reason for all of the confusion is because there are some battery backup sump pumps on the market that are add-on DC battery-operated pumps and the main purpose of these backups is to act as a fail-safe should a power outage occur. This type of backup takes the place of the primary pump in the event of electrical or mechanical failure and runs a pump that is about ⅓ of the size of the primary pump.

A true sump pump battery backup system works together with the primary pump and is not a replacement. This type of system allows for your primary pump to keep working while supplying it the needed power for a much longer period of time than the previously mentioned DC battery operated systems.

That means your home and all of your valuables are protected since you are using the same pump that is in use under normal power operations and not a much smaller one that doesn’t have the ability to stand up to the treacherous storms that are trying to flood your basement.

Also, there is no guarantee that the backup DC pump will even work because it has been sitting idle waiting for a power outage while the primary pump has been doing all the work…

How does a sump pump battery backup work?

A sump pump battery backup goes to work as soon as the system notices there is a power outage. It supplies the necessary power to keep your primary pump operable so that if your basement should start to take on water, it gets pumped out at the speed it would under normal operating conditions.

The sump pump is plugged into the backup battery system which is mounted to a wall and a powerful marine battery that is also connected to the system is used as a backup power source. When you experience a power outage that marine battery is used as the main power source until your power is restored at which point the marine battery is recharged by your AC utility power.

DC-Powered Auxiliary Pump Vs. AC-Powered Sump Pump Battery Backup

Since we’ve talked about two different types of backup systems that can be used for your sump pump we feel that it is important to compare the two so you have a better idea why an AC-Powered sump pump battery backup system is the best investment for you to make.

DC-Powered Auxiliary Pump

This type of system employs the use of a second add-on pump that takes over for your primary pump in the event of a power outage or mechanical failure. It is installed in the sump pit so if something should happen to it then your sump pump must be dug up in order to make repairs or more likely to replace the system all together.

One of the main drawbacks to using a DC backup system is the reduced pumping capacity that operates at 12 VDC which isn’t nearly powerful enough to push all of the water out of the system as fast as it needs to, so even using one of these systems you could find yourself in deep water very quickly.

AC-Powered Sump Pump Battery Backup

There are a huge number of benefits that you will gain by investing in an AC-Powered battery backup for your sump pump. For one, it operates with the existing pump so there are no extra pumps that you have to worry about doing maintenance on or replacing if they should break down. That means you get continuous operation from your primary pump which is plenty powerful enough to pump all of the water out of your basement before it floods. It operates between 100-128 VAC and is wall-mounted so if there are any repairs or replacements that need to be done they can be done in minutes instead of hours or days.

Which Sump Pump Battery Backup Do We Recommend

If you really want to keep your basement dry then we highly recommend the Pump Sentry Model 822PS as your main sump pump battery backup. This battery backup system is unmatched by the competition and provides you with all of the benefits and features needed to make sure you have peace of mind during your next power outage.

• Effortless Installation (easy hookup)
• No need to replace your existing pump or install an additional one
• Powerful enough for most home sump pumps
• Durable (10 year life expectancy)
• Made in the U.S.A-Can be serviced locally
• 2 year warranty

Final Word on Sump Pump Battery Backups

As you can see, adding a battery backup to an existing sump pump is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do for your basement. You will have the peace of mind knowing that you are protected during flood-like conditions when power outages most frequently occur and you will be able to run the primary pump instead of the puny DC-powered add-on pumps.

If you truly want the best protection out there, then make sure to take a look at the Pump Sentry 822PS and protect your home and valuables from water damage. If you wait until it’s too late to decide whether a sump pump battery backup is worth the investment or not, then you could end up watching a boatload of money float away with the rest of your soggy belongings.