Sump pumps are designed to keep your home safe from floodwater, but they need electricity to do their job. What happens when a flood takes out your municipal energy supply? In most cases, you’ll be left with no way to remove the extra water.
There’s one simple solution to this problem: installing a battery-powered backup pump. Let’s take a closer look at what these nifty devices do and help you figure out which model will work best for you.
What Are Battery-Powered Backup Sump Pumps?
Battery-powered backup sump pumps are exactly what they sound like: secondary sump pumps hooked up to a battery instead of to your home’s electrical system. They are connected to your primary pump and will turn on if their sensors detect flooding and the primary pump does not activate in response. Many models also activate if the primary pump cannot drain the incoming water quickly enough to prevent it from building up, offering extra power when it’s needed most.
Most of these backup pumps have enough battery life to keep pumping on and off for multiple days, so you don’t have to worry about extended blackouts. Eventually, though, they will run out of power and will need to be electrically recharged. Make sure yours receives regular charging, testing, and maintenance so you can face every blackout with plenty of power stored up.
Finding the Right Model
There are many types of battery-powered backup pumps on the market today. When choosing one for your home, consider factors like:
- The type of battery they use (lithium-ion vs. lead-acid)
- Their pump capacity (how much water they can move)
- Their battery capacity (how much power they can provide)
- Whether they have additional features, such as automatic troubleshooting systems, remote monitoring, or water level alerts
Pumps with extra features often cost more to install, so keep this in mind while you’re shopping.
Generally, you’ll want a backup pump that matches or nearly matches your main sump pump’s capacity and that can run for at least 12 hours on a full charge. When in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Your friendly neighbourhood plumbing company can guide you toward a pump model that suits both your needs and your budget.
Protect Your Home from Floods with Fowler Plumbing
A backup sump pump can only help keep floods at bay if it’s installed in your home before disaster strikes. That’s why there’s no time to waste. Contact us today for professional battery-powered backup sump pump installation and maintenance and let us help you stay one step ahead of flood damage.