What Happens if a Sump Pump Loses Power?

Unfortunately, power outages and residential damage often go hand-in-hand. This is especially true when it comes to a sump pump and flooded basements. No one wants to wake up to see their basement covered in dirty water following a flash flood or rainstorm. Of course, there’s really no way of stopping a storm from rolling through, but you can certainly be prepared to handle whatever Mother Nature throws at you.

Sump Pumps

If you have a basement or crawlspace, you may also have a sump pump to protect your home from flooding. A sump pump is used to remove water that has accumulated in a water-collecting sump basin before it makes its way into the basement of a home. Sump pumps are often used in homes where basement flooding happens regularly or where the water table is above the foundation of a home.

While sump pumps are extremely effective and useful, they are not immune to certain external factors, such as a power outage. Loss of power during a storm can be bad news for your sump pump. While water is collecting around the foundation of your home, if your sump has lost power, it has lost its ability to remove that water, which then seeps into your basement or crawl space. And, unless you have flood insurance, your homeowner’s insurance policy probably doesn’t cover flood damage!

Have a Backup Plan

Sump pumps are a necessity for many homes but will only work if they have power. While some homes have a secondary electric pump installed to take over in the event the primary pump fails, the secondary pump will only work if it has power. Fortunately, there are a few different types of backup plans available.

Battery-Powered Sump Pumps

The most common backup is a battery-powered sump pump. A backup sump pump is designed to supplement a primary pump and will provide you with a few hours of power during a power outage. These systems contain batteries similar to a car or boat battery. In most models, the backup sump pump will kick on automatically when water levels rise to a certain point. Having a backup sump pump is an extremely helpful option that could save you thousands of dollars. However, depending on the amount of water entering your basement, a battery will only last 12-24 hours.

Hydraulic Pump

A second option is to add a hydraulic-powered pump. These are powered by water pressure coming into your home and don’t need a charged battery to work. Although hydraulic pumps have a potentially unlimited run time, they have a limited pumping volume and have specific plumbing requirements.

Sump Pump Alarm

In addition to having a backup plan, it’s a good idea to have an alarm installed in your sump basket as well. These alarms monitor the water levels and the alarm would sound when water levels in the sump basket exceed normal capacity. Some alarms even text or email you when the alarm sounds, so you’ll be notified even if you aren’t home. Although many alarms are battery-operated, the models that would notify you via text or email are connected to Wi-Fi. This means that they would only have that capability if you were receiving utility power.

Residential Standby Generator

Of course, our favorite backup plan during a power outage is a standby generator. A standby generator is permanently installed outside your home like an air conditioning unity. It constantly monitors the utility power that your home receives and turns on automatically when that power is interrupted. Standby generators can provide as much or a little power to your home as you choose. Of course, one major appliance that shouldn’t go without power is your sump pump. The huge advantage to a standby generator over the previously mentioned options is that it will provide power to the rest of your home during a power outage as well. Everything from your kitchen and deep freeze, to your air conditioning and heating systems will be able to be powered. Not only does this keep you comfortable during a storm, but it gives you peace of mind as well.

Prevent a Disaster with Midwest Generator Solutions

The generator specialists at Midwest Generator Solutions are a team of certified electricians who know their stuff. They’ll be able to assist you through the entire process of purchasing and installing your backup generator. From helping you find the right generator for your needs, to installing and maintaining that generator, when you partner with Midwest Generator Solutions, you know you’re prepared for storm season. Don’t wait until the storm hits. Call Midwest Generator Solutions today.