Does your house constantly lose electricity when there’s a storm? whether or not, you might want to consider getting a battery backup sump pump for your basement. What’s the point of having a basement sump pump if it goes down with your electricity when it is most needed?
A battery backup for a sump pump is a system that allows the pump to continue operating in the event of a power outage. It consists of a battery and a charger that are connected to the sump pump, as well as a control panel that monitors the operation of the pump and the battery.
During normal operation, the sump pump is powered by the home’s electrical system, and the battery remains charged. If the power goes out, the control panel will detect the outage and switch the pump over to battery power. The battery will then power the pump until the power is restored or the battery runs out of charge.
Battery backups for sump pumps are an important safety feature, as they can help to prevent water damage in the event of a power outage. They are especially useful for homes in areas that are prone to flooding or heavy rain, as these conditions can often coincide with power outages.
A battery backup for a sump pump is a good investment for any homeowner who is concerned about the risk of water damage due to power outages or other disruptions to the home’s electrical system.
My house, which is located in Laurel, Maryland, loses power frequently, especially when there’s a severe storm. Unfortunately, our sump pump is not battery powered. It has no battery backup. So when it rains a lot and windy, ironically, our defense mechanism against flooding doesn’t exist anymore.
Some homeowners like myself keep a portable electricity generator as an emergency sump pump backup system. It is also a great idea, but a battery backup sump pump can take care of all the hassle and it works when it is really needed. Installing a battery backup sump pump is a great investment for your house protection.
The most common battery backup sump pumps can pump water out for anywhere between 5 hours to 15 hours, depends on the brand you get. But if you choose a battery backup sump pump just based on the hours of pumping, you are doing it wrong. You also must consider the pumping capacity of a battery backup sump pump. Here is a list of things you need to keep in mind when choosing a battery sump pump for your basement.
- How many gallons per hour (GPH) can your sump pump handle? 1000 GPH? 3000 GPH?
- How fast can it recharge itself?
- Does it switch automatically when the power fails?
- Does it have a self-diagnosis or testing features?
- Does it alarm when there’s a problem?
- Does it show the percentage of power remaining in the battery?
Those are the things you need to keep in mind when choosing a battery backup sump pump for your basement.