Sump Pump
Battery Backup Sump Pump System
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A Backup System Can
Protect your Home in a Power Outage
When a powerful storm passes through cities and towns, very
often it takes with it the entire neighborhood’s power supply. In
the event of a power outage, people are left with no light, no heat and
no running water; but a home is also left with a disabled sump pump. A
sump pump is your home’s first line of defense against groundwater
that could potentially enter your home and cause destruction. To ensure
that your home is not left vulnerable after a loss of power, install a
reliable backup system for your sump pump that will allow it to continue
working. Read on for more information about the benefits of generators
and battery-powered backup systems.
A
Battery Backup Sump Pump System
A battery-operated backup sump pump system looks a lot like
an oversized car battery. When the power is on in the house, a battery
system will automatically charge itself. The backup pump is activated
by a sensor that is located slightly higher than the one for the main
pump. In the event of an emergency, when water rises above the level of
the backup sensor, the backup system uses its DC power to turn itself
on. Depending on the particular model of battery-powered backup system,
there is generally enough power to keep your sump pump working for several
hours. The batteries come in two different styles: sealed and unsealed.
A sealed battery is considered maintenance-free and usually supplies power
for 3 to 3½ hours. An unsealed battery has ports that you can open
in order to check the level of the fluid and add distilled water as you
see fit. Typically, an unsealed battery will last for about 7 hours.
A Generator Backup
System
When buying a generator, it is crucial that you choose one that
has enough power to actually run a sump pump in the case of an emergency.
For example, a small sump pump requires 800 - 1000 watts with a surge
to 1200 - 1800 watts. All generators have a maximum and rated output.
The maximum output should never be sustained for more than 25 to 30 minutes
at a time. Most generators are gasoline-powered, a few run on diesel,
and some models have multi-fuel capabilities - running on gasoline, propane
or natural gas. These are generally full-featured machines with engine
idle control, GFCI receptacles and 120 Volt full power switch.
